Cadbury's taken over by Kraft

George

You make a valid point but the harsh reality is that we are a densly populated little island with nearly 60 million people crammed into it.

Building more houses is fine but just wait for the environmentalist to protest when a pond full of newts is about to be concreted over.

Shoot6x7

There is no need for anyone to get into credit card debt. I am sorry but you cut your cloth to suit your purse. It is not necessary to own a 50" television or expensive knick knacks. If you borrow money (other than a mortgage) you are spending money you do not have and that is foolish.

Regards

Mick

Capitalism (unchecked) is making the rich richer, the poor poorer. The middle class is dwindling and becoming the working poor.

We need to address this trend ...

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
But the cost of housing also needs to drop by a factor of four if the average British worker is to survive on Polish levels of wage!

Yes this would be possible, but we need to retrict the competition for house by removing planning controls so that cheap housing could be built in an unregulated fashion.

This would stop speculators holding onto planning approved land, and thus allow for building on suitable [ie near to places of employment] agricultural land ...

Stark but true.

I would love to see this revolution in housing in the UK, as it would allow anyone with energy and a workish attitude to have their own house to own by the time of their retirement!

ATB from George

God bless you George! Regards, Paul.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:
George

You make a valid point but the harsh reality is that we are a densly populated little island with nearly 60 million people crammed into it.

Building more houses is fine but just wait for the environmentalist to protest when a pond full of newts is about to be concreted over.

Shoot6x7

There is no need for anyone to get into credit card debt. I am sorry but you cut your cloth to suit your purse. It is not necessary to own a 50" television or expensive knick knacks. If you borrow money (other than a mortgage) you are spending money you do not have and that is foolish.

Regards

Mick

I just bet you have lots of cash my friend

I try hard not to buy anything manufactured in China, but it is getting hard - my action won't change anything I know and is futile, but it makes me feel better - people will continue to buy rubbish if it is cheap - they really don't have to if they shop around. I'd like to see a import tax that made buying such goods less appealing. I always buy local produce where I can.

No more houses around here - please - think of the newts - we need our countryside.

Chaps

Buying cheap usually inlvolves buying twice and I tend to buy top end because it is always more cost effective in the long term and anyway do you really want to surround yourself with horrid products.

Naim is the perfect example for music reproduction, there is nothing else to compare for quality, longevity and the ability to communicate music. I am confident that Naim will service the products for the rest of my life, so why buy anything else.

Likewise the camera and binoculars are Leica, the toaster a Dualit, the food blender a Bamix, and I have just treated myself to a second Billingham holdhall bag for use in Spain.

All of these things will outlast me and I need only make a once off purchase and am happy in the knowledge that I have the best product available.

Why buy tat, I just cannot understand it.

Regards

Mick

PS I have just done a small household repair using a Britool screwdriver which I purchased as an Apprentice in 1965. I think that speaks for itself.

Mick, right on the button.
Buy tat if you want new bling (thats debatable) stuff to be replaced every year

Camera - Canon 5D + 50D + too many lenses to list.
Bino's - Swarovski
Scope - Opticron
Toaster - Dualit (35 years old)
Cars made in Bavaria & Solihull

Don't do bag stuff - my travel in the bush habits break even the good ones, so Samsonite & similar do that.

Screw drivers, spanners, sockets and all tools - all at least 40 years old - SNAP ON

Mike-B and Mick,

You guys like the top-shelf stuff and that's great, but ...

What if these venerable companies were bought by a larger more mainstream company and they want to exploit the brand name, but have no interest in keeping the quality ? That is happening today.

Makita tools aren't what they used to be ...

Look at Hunter Wellie's ... made in China now, it was too expensive for the UK factory.

Then wait for SnapOn to start reducing quality because they don't need to.

btw I love my Billingham bags, but boy are they pricey in Canada.

Hi shoot6x7, I think we have that covered in previous posts in this string. Its a real legitimate fear, but its the way of the world these days, nothing lasts forever, & we can't do much about it & neither can the politicians.
Check out the average age of companies, they all come & go, they all get swallowed up etc.
One of my previous companies - Westinghouse - they who influenced the course of history, who lit up USA (& Canada), built nuclear power stations, sent stuff into space, leading edge research etc.,in 1995. They sold themselves to CBS, they got broken up, parts sold (me) asset stripped & disappeared into CBS Corporation. Nothing remains of the old Westinghouse except the pictures in the archive. But all the stripped stuff went to other owners & mostly doing the same or better than before.

If Naim get sold or disappear, which they inevitably will one day, something else will either own them & if the marketplace need exists another product will fill the quality marketplace position void.

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Cadburys make cr*p chocolate. Corporate raiders from the US can't make it any worse. But if, on the odd occasion that I want to eat chocolate, I'll go for Montezuma's or something from Paris or Belgium.

That's one opinion, millions would disagree. I think the chocolate you mention is in a totally different price category. Apples for apples please when giving personal opinions.

I could eat cadbury's all day. Paris chocolate is CRAP

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin-W:

quote:

Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
got to agree. Uk chocolate is execrable.

Indeed. But American chocolate is even worse.

Define "American Chocolate." I agree that Hershey's and co are crap, but there are many small chocolate makers tarting up here who are making great chocolate. It's much like the small craft brewery explosion we've seen in the last 10-15 years.