The better companies know that in the long run, their reputation will double the money they put into repairs. Dragas and Lennar are doing the right thing. Companies that don’t, after Barbara Walters get’s done with them, will see that integrity is alive and well. The Chinese manufacturers should give money back to them and the U.S. If this was our mess that we made in their country we would be paying to clean it up.
I agree with Texas. My husband and I have started a couple of years ago to make a concious effort not to buy anything that is made in China. It is difficult but not impossible. Hardest to find are shoes & purses. I am still willing to buy product made in other countries because I don’t hear of them making us sick. Be careful because even product which by thier brand name try to mislead you into thinking they are US made are generally made in China. M&M you need to rethink the issue.
I wanted a toaster oven. Went to Walmart, Bi-mart and Costco. Couldn’t find one that was not made in china. I think it’s impossible to not buy something from China.
As Americans, we’re the result of Western cultural traditions, so we fail to see the roots of this problem- just as in the current terrorism conflict.
Having traveled overseas to many places (China included)- I will say that I’ve met alot of good people, but also that the biggest reason we see defective or inferior products from these places is cultural. Many cultures have little regard for their own people, let alone foreigners. So, they’re not going to get heartburn about lead paint in your children’s toys or sulfur emitting drywall.
They made a buck. If they deceived you or injured you in the process, that’s just life to them. Until we recognize the complete difference in accepted attitude toward issues such as this in non-Western cultures, we’ll never have clarity in our diplomacy or trade relations.
Many scandalous stories about builders engaging in irresponsible business practices, even criminal acts, are quickly forgotten and/or never aired where the public sees them. The same will be true for builders who fail to take responsibility for using defective products, or for shoddy work. How many people are still buying from builders who have been fined by the feds and found guilty of fraud? Too many…and many do not even know it happened. Same will be true for this drywall mess. Scandals are swept under the rug and quickly forgotten. For those consumers who aren’t online and handy w/internet research, they don’t have a ghost of a chance to learn this stuff and avoid bad companies.
So much for reputation.
As for releases, homeowners should be wary about signing them to get quick (?) repairs. They may be signing away all their rights, only to get inferior repairs. It’s not even known yet for sure how to properly remediate this bad drywall. Hurrying it thru the courts, as in the consolidation of the federal drywall cases in a Louisiana court for Jan 2010, may sound like quicker relief, but I wonder if people will end up getting worthless repairs or tiny settlements, and then will find they gave up all recourse by agreeing to that ‘quick resolution.’
Someone on here commented that it’s about impossible NOT to buy stuff from China, or the plethora of other countries that we import things from. There is a lot of truth in this. If it’s something you need, even if it says it’s American made, it may in fact have parts from China, and it takes a lot of time and effort and research to find things that are truly American made anymore. This kind of greed, to export our industries overseas, outsource jobs overseas, etc, is ruining this country, (along w/all the corporate fraud, govt corruption, etc of course!). People don’t have jobs, or job security, and we make less and less stuff here. We need to have our own industries and keep people working. Soon, we won’t even be able to afford the cheap imported junk. Then, what? We become the next 3rd world country where other countries send their sweat shop, polluting industries, for our cheap labor and lack of oversight?
We write some international ins. I have been to Shanghai twice and have made some contacts with Chinese agents. One of them has repeatedly emailed to me about the issue of problems with Chinese products. He says that they have to be more stringent in dealing with their manufacturers. He says, as we would, that a buyer is entitled to get a product that is proper. He and other Chinese want them to clean up their act, but obviously this will take time. This is not an excuse, merely to show that some people there care about doing the right thing.
Dont buy the stuff
they cant even get the food right! Let alone drywall when will we learn wait till the next big scare what they put in the plastics importers beware and the insurers of the importer be ware the standards and not the same where this maybe a global economy the playing feild is not level nor are the effects on our most precious national recource our own people! Get real buy american ~ no i am not a unionist but a realist.
I’m shocked that no one has yet accused Obama of being at fault for the drywall installed in these homes. I’m sure it was a plot of the Kenyan government to cause the overthrow of the USA! Come on, IJ readers, you’re disappointing me.
I recently moved out of my home and my furniure and other belongings have retained the odor from the drywall.I have had the upholstered items professionally cleaned and the entire house treated with ozone. So far nothing has worked. I would appreciate any info to how to neutralize the odor.
If these people want to be pissed at somebody it should be the Chinese, the contractor, and the city/state inspector who approved the construction. Not only was this an unforeseen risk that wasn’t contemplated in the rates, it’s a products case. It fails to meet the definition of “damage” to the home. Carriers shouldn’t pay a dime.
The better companies know that in the long run, their reputation will double the money they put into repairs. Dragas and Lennar are doing the right thing. Companies that don’t, after Barbara Walters get’s done with them, will see that integrity is alive and well. The Chinese manufacturers should give money back to them and the U.S. If this was our mess that we made in their country we would be paying to clean it up.
How soon until we we see the atty commls for this?
FUTURE SOLUTION—-DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM CHINA!!!!!!!DUH!
You’re an idiot.
Hmmm, let’s see – lead paint in childrens’ toys, melamine in pet food, and now gas-emitting drywall. I’m not sure Texas Agent is the idiot here….
This should be a product case againts the Chinese manufacturer. And MM (mindless moron), think before you say something stupid.
I agree with Texas. My husband and I have started a couple of years ago to make a concious effort not to buy anything that is made in China. It is difficult but not impossible. Hardest to find are shoes & purses. I am still willing to buy product made in other countries because I don’t hear of them making us sick. Be careful because even product which by thier brand name try to mislead you into thinking they are US made are generally made in China. M&M you need to rethink the issue.
I wanted a toaster oven. Went to Walmart, Bi-mart and Costco. Couldn’t find one that was not made in china. I think it’s impossible to not buy something from China.
NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM CHINA OR MEXICO. America is stupid to continue to trade with and cater to both.
As Americans, we’re the result of Western cultural traditions, so we fail to see the roots of this problem- just as in the current terrorism conflict.
Having traveled overseas to many places (China included)- I will say that I’ve met alot of good people, but also that the biggest reason we see defective or inferior products from these places is cultural. Many cultures have little regard for their own people, let alone foreigners. So, they’re not going to get heartburn about lead paint in your children’s toys or sulfur emitting drywall.
They made a buck. If they deceived you or injured you in the process, that’s just life to them. Until we recognize the complete difference in accepted attitude toward issues such as this in non-Western cultures, we’ll never have clarity in our diplomacy or trade relations.
Many scandalous stories about builders engaging in irresponsible business practices, even criminal acts, are quickly forgotten and/or never aired where the public sees them. The same will be true for builders who fail to take responsibility for using defective products, or for shoddy work. How many people are still buying from builders who have been fined by the feds and found guilty of fraud? Too many…and many do not even know it happened. Same will be true for this drywall mess. Scandals are swept under the rug and quickly forgotten. For those consumers who aren’t online and handy w/internet research, they don’t have a ghost of a chance to learn this stuff and avoid bad companies.
So much for reputation.
As for releases, homeowners should be wary about signing them to get quick (?) repairs. They may be signing away all their rights, only to get inferior repairs. It’s not even known yet for sure how to properly remediate this bad drywall. Hurrying it thru the courts, as in the consolidation of the federal drywall cases in a Louisiana court for Jan 2010, may sound like quicker relief, but I wonder if people will end up getting worthless repairs or tiny settlements, and then will find they gave up all recourse by agreeing to that ‘quick resolution.’
Someone on here commented that it’s about impossible NOT to buy stuff from China, or the plethora of other countries that we import things from. There is a lot of truth in this. If it’s something you need, even if it says it’s American made, it may in fact have parts from China, and it takes a lot of time and effort and research to find things that are truly American made anymore. This kind of greed, to export our industries overseas, outsource jobs overseas, etc, is ruining this country, (along w/all the corporate fraud, govt corruption, etc of course!). People don’t have jobs, or job security, and we make less and less stuff here. We need to have our own industries and keep people working. Soon, we won’t even be able to afford the cheap imported junk. Then, what? We become the next 3rd world country where other countries send their sweat shop, polluting industries, for our cheap labor and lack of oversight?
We write some international ins. I have been to Shanghai twice and have made some contacts with Chinese agents. One of them has repeatedly emailed to me about the issue of problems with Chinese products. He says that they have to be more stringent in dealing with their manufacturers. He says, as we would, that a buyer is entitled to get a product that is proper. He and other Chinese want them to clean up their act, but obviously this will take time. This is not an excuse, merely to show that some people there care about doing the right thing.
Dont buy the stuff
they cant even get the food right! Let alone drywall when will we learn wait till the next big scare what they put in the plastics importers beware and the insurers of the importer be ware the standards and not the same where this maybe a global economy the playing feild is not level nor are the effects on our most precious national recource our own people! Get real buy american ~ no i am not a unionist but a realist.
I’m shocked that no one has yet accused Obama of being at fault for the drywall installed in these homes. I’m sure it was a plot of the Kenyan government to cause the overthrow of the USA! Come on, IJ readers, you’re disappointing me.
I recently moved out of my home and my furniure and other belongings have retained the odor from the drywall.I have had the upholstered items professionally cleaned and the entire house treated with ozone. So far nothing has worked. I would appreciate any info to how to neutralize the odor.
If these people want to be pissed at somebody it should be the Chinese, the contractor, and the city/state inspector who approved the construction. Not only was this an unforeseen risk that wasn’t contemplated in the rates, it’s a products case. It fails to meet the definition of “damage” to the home. Carriers shouldn’t pay a dime.
Surely all their homes and buildings don’t reek of sulfur…