How about Made in Malaysia?

[mrlynn]

Follow-up to my couch-shopping thread:

http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,1596173

To resume:

It was thumbs down on Danish Modern: great looking, but no back support.

So on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, when we should have been out canoeing, we went across Mass Ave in Cambridge from Bo Concept to a store with the unappealing name of CityScheme, and after much dithering ended up ordering an Italian sectional with a rounded corner (rather than a couch and loveseat), sort of like this:

http://www.avetexfurniture.com/grace-nic...-sofa.html

but without the 'chaise' component. The beauty of this system, for us, is the racheting headrests, which when down make for a relatively modern look and don't block our living-room window, but when up provide decent back and head support. The style isn't wonderful, but not awful either; a little too industrial, but not floppy and overstuffed, like you see in the big stores.

This unit is actually made in Malaysia, and takes some three or four months to ship (by slow container; it'll be a Christmas present). But at least it's not China. I'm not a hundred percent sure this is not a knock-off, rather than actual Nicoletti furniture (it's invoiced as ItalHome Grace),

http://www.nicoletticaliasofas.com/grace.html

but what the heck. We made the weekend tax-holiday deadline and saved 6.25%. I was inclined to red leather, but the wife demurred, so we ordered a boring brown. Oh well. I told her I would get a red convertible instead.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a Macintosh forum! So I'll change the subject:

I'm being swayed by the new Air ads that are arrive by email, and thinking that my three-year-old 13" MBP seems a little bulky. . . But of course the Airs don't have optical drives, and that means toting a separate one on trips, for auditioning CDs. But then, I have a couple of quite-light battery-powered CD Walkman-style players that might do as well for that, and don't take as much room on the seat tray on the Northeast Regional coaches as the MBP does. . .

/Mr Lynn

[cbelt3]

"At least it's not China".... erm.... Maylasian workers are handled more poorly than Chinese workers. So sorry...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Malaysia

"Most workers can join unions, but this right is restricted by the Trade Unions Act (TUA) and the Industrial Relations Act (IRA), as well as by other laws limiting the freedom of association. The right to strike is so severely limited that stringent that striking is effectively all but impossible. Private-sector workers are allowed to engage in collective bargaining. There is no minimum wage in either the private or public sector. Forced labour is illgal, but occurs, with many women and children essentially being forced to work in households, and many of them suffering abuse. Children under 14 are not allowed to work but some exceptions are permitted. The Employment Act limits working hours and imposes other restrictions, but they are not enforced strictly. Many foreign employees work under unfair and abusive conditions, with employers withholding pay and confiscating passports. There is an Occupational Safety and Health Act, but workers who walk out of dangerous workplaces are subject to dismissal.[3]

"

[DP]

cbelt3 wrote:
"At least it's not China".... erm.... Maylasian workers are handled more poorly than Chinese workers. So sorry...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Malaysia

"Most workers can join unions, but this right is restricted by the Trade Unions Act (TUA) and the Industrial Relations Act (IRA), as well as by other laws limiting the freedom of association. The right to strike is so severely limited that stringent that striking is effectively all but impossible. Private-sector workers are allowed to engage in collective bargaining. There is no minimum wage in either the private or public sector. Forced labour is illgal, but occurs, with many women and children essentially being forced to work in households, and many of them suffering abuse. Children under 14 are not allowed to work but some exceptions are permitted. The Employment Act limits working hours and imposes other restrictions, but they are not enforced strictly. Many foreign employees work under unfair and abusive conditions, with employers withholding pay and confiscating passports. There is an Occupational Safety and Health Act, but workers who walk out of dangerous workplaces are subject to dismissal.[3]

"

I think the same exact thing occurs in China too. Chinese workers have tried striking only to be dealt with harshly, among other things. But to me the bottom line is that the PRC is a communist (ostensibly) government that in theory is diametrically opposed to capitalism, yet is nothing but capitalist! Without the input of the people of course and when the workers do speak up, they are slapped down right now.
And it's our money that has made the PRC what it is today.

[mrlynn]

Yes, DP is right. Neither are wonderful places for freedom and liberty, but Chinese capitalism is really state-controlled and government by the Party tyrannical, so I prefer sending my dollars to Malaysia (in this case, via Italy, whatever is left).

/Mr Lynn

[Speedy]

Dang, we'd have to build an addition to shoehorn that into our mansion.

[sekker]

We buy Amish for furniture, when we can. Their long work hours (and rules against cell phone use on the job) are self imposed!

Seriously, tho, finding a way for all workers on the planet to have safe on-the-job conditions and earning a fair wage is perhaps the most important next step towards sustainable living on Spaceship Earth.

[mrlynn]

Speedy wrote:
Dang, we'd have to build an addition to shoehorn that into our mansion.

We actually have a fairly small living room (c. 14' x 13'). We're replacing a couch-and-loveseat L with a small table in the corner with a sectional L that's 122" x 106" (10' 2" x 8' 10"). The 106" side is pushing it a foot past the current love seat, but we think it will work and still leave enough room to get in. The back of that side forms a hallway to the front door (space not counted as 'living room').

/Mr Lynn

[haikuman]

There is a long list of Countries with human rights violations including the good old USA.
Your concern for whom you are buying from is a point well taken. I have spent time in Malaysia
I have found this country to be relatively progressive.

I hope your furniture turns out be comfortable and enjoyable.
Rudie*(:>*

edit: One of my students ordered and received some Bedroom furniture from Malaysia
A bed and dresser after assembly he was very pleased. The wood is beautiful.

[mrlynn]

Thanks, Rudie. That's reassuring; even if it turns out to be a knock-off, it might still be well-made.

I got close to Malaysia once. I visited a friend who was doing research in a village on the coast in southern Thailand. I have never since had fish dishes that were as delightful and delicious.

/Mr Lynn

[mrlynn]

UPDATE:

It may be made in China after all. I found out a little more about the company, Italian Home, a distributor for Italian maker Nicoletti. But the couches for the American market are made in China:

http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/53...?intref=sr

The sales gal told us it was made in Malaysia. So it's possible that since that article in 2010, they have diversified manufacturing to Malaysia. Or maybe not.

Anyway, I made an effort. And what the heck: my Macs and iPhone are all made in China, too.

/Mr Lynn