Competitive covers a lot of ground. Price, longevity, power, quality? Which is being used to define "competitive". Is cheaper than the last guy the true definition now?

We are not making the same mistakes made with Japanese products. The Japanese learned that higher quality brought greater dividends in sales and customer loyalty. The Chinese are still trying to find new ways to screw (or kill) their buyers. The latest in using illegal enhanced growth chemicals in watermelons.

There is a tremendous cultural difference between the Japanese and the Chinese. One has honor, the other does not. Both lie but the Japanese are dishonored when they are caught. The Chinese would simply say the other Chinese vendor lied more, so what's the problem. The Japanese take pride in their quality and workmanship. The Chinese only take as much profit out of their wares as they can squeeze. Japanese warranties are generally easy to collect on. Chinese warranties are pretty much up to the selling dealer since the Chinese do not pay for warranty labor, and only sometimes provide warranty parts.