Lithium Price Plunge - No One Buying EVs

[Fernando]

Apple iphone, Ralph Lauren, and Birkenstocks.

I can see an iPhone going with Ralph Lauren Clothing as well as someone with Birkenstocks. It's the pairing of Birkenstocks and Ralph Lauren that I'm having issues with.

I mainly wear my Birkenstocks at home and while on vacation.
When I was in Asia, no one wore Birkenstocks. I must be that Ugly American.

 

[Mike Ault]

Not many countries can mass produce with the manufacturing capabilities like China.
It has been a win win for Apple (and their shareholders).
All products I bought from Apple had been top notch quality and no defects. Very few companies can give such great products and service.

And China has signed an "unlimited cooperation agreement" with Russia. Do you still think we should be supporting China? Would you buy iPhones from a nation of pedophiles if they were high quality and cheap?

 

[Fernando]

And China has signed an "unlimited cooperation agreement" with Russia. Do you still think we should be supporting China? Would you buy iPhones from a nation of pedophiles if they were high quality and cheap?

America loves low prices, If not for China, many prices would be even higher.
Have you looked at Temu? Prices are much much lower than Amazon.
I recently bought a bow tie for $14.99 here but Temu has it at under $2 (I'm going to return my bow tie back to Nordstrom Rack).
I was going to buy a handkerchief for my suit for $10.99 but ran out here but Temu can buy a set - bow tie, handkerchief, and cuffs - for under $3.
I imagine even with tariffs, it's still cheap to buy from Temu.

 

[Mike Ault]

America loves low prices, If not for China, many prices would be even higher.
Have you looked at Temu? Prices are much much lower than Amazon.
I recently bought a bow tie for $14.99 here but Temu has it at under $2 (I'm going to return my bow tie back to Nordstrom Rack).
I was going to buy a handkerchief for my suit for $10.99 but ran out here but Temu can buy a set - bow tie, handkerchief, and cuffs - for under $3.
I imagine even with tariffs, it's still cheap to buy from Temu.

And I buy things from Harbor Freight for lack of better options as well. But I'm certainly not patting myself on the back for it. I have a 60-year-old Sears craftsman grinder that still works as good as new. I know better than to expect anything close to that quality from China. Disposable crap gives us the "illusion of prosperity", when in reality it simply keeps us on a hamster wheel earning enough money to buy replacement crap. Great business plan for "stockholders", not so much for "customers". Or the environment, for that matter.

 

[Dublin ohio]

That day will come with robotics.

When it comes to electronics most of the assembly of the individual components on the circuit boards is automated even the soldering. That type of automation has been around since at least the 80's. Although it has been refined. The labor costs are in loading the machines and final assembly and of course maintaining the equipment. U.S companies have access to the robotics needed. It is the labor and regulatory costs that are prohibitive

 

[Mike Ault]

When it comes to electronics most of the assembly of the individual components on the circuit boards is automated even the soldering. That type of automation has been around since at least the 80's. Although it has been refined. The labor costs are in loading the machines and final assembly and of course maintaining the equipment. U.S companies have access to the robotics needed. It is the labor and regulatory costs that are prohibitive

Which regulations over the domestic electronics industry would you like to see scrapped?

 

[Dublin ohio]

I have a 60-year-old Sears craftsman grinder that still works as good as new.

I still have a 1/2" Black & Decker commercial drill, a 3/8" Milwaukee hole shooter drill and a Black & Decker commercial saw cat circular saw that are all about that old. Have had to replace some brushes and a few power cords.

 

[Mike Ault]

I still have a 1/2" Black & Decker commercial drill, a 3/8" Milwaukee hole shooter drill and a Black & Decker commercial saw cat circular saw that are all about that old. Have had to replace some brushes and a few power cords.

I'm embarrassed to say that my fine American-made Craftsman grinder is mounted atop a grinder stand from Harbor Freight. Just seems wrong.

 

[Fernando]

When it comes to electronics most of the assembly of the individual components on the circuit boards is automated even the soldering. That type of automation has been around since at least the 80's. Although it has been refined. The labor costs are in loading the machines and final assembly and of course maintaining the equipment. U.S companies have access to the robotics needed. It is the labor and regulatory costs that are prohibitive

There are certain jobs that can't be done overseas.
When labor in America costs so much, business are "forced" either to use foreign remote workers or more machinery/robotics earlier than planned.
For example, union Port workers are overpaid and many of those jobs can eventually be done by machines.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Which regulations over the domestic electronics industry would you like to see scrapped?

Pick an agency. There is always some type of over regulation. EPA, OSHA, permitting processes. Too much bureaucracy