imported flatpacks-proceed with caution, some are toxic

Guys, I have to say that I think the name of this topic - "Chinese flatpacks" is derogatory.

The problem with the products is not that they are Chinese, a great deal of what we buy today comes from there - it's about quality.

Some countries (China included) have higher standards than Australia for some products. You can get good and bad quality made in Australia. It's the specifier and importer who is to blame... not China. EP

Thanks, the title has improved but it should be called "imported" not "Chinese"...

A lot of locally used MDF comes from Malaysia does it comply?

Track down the importer - that is where the problem ******.

Thanks
EP

Hi Cobylee

I understand.

Thanks for hearing... Ed

theres a couple of links on the first page of this thread that comment on bunnings....

well i have been sitting back and observing this thread for a while now ,so here goes ,i have installers (subbies) that wont even think about installing the imported(chinese)kitchens ,their reasons are /to much work installing/they have unacceptable door clearances/makes your eyes water when cutting or drilling/they dont fit with standard australian appliances -the list goes on and on ,Bunnings will tell you that they come from adelaide south australia and thats true but they are imported from china through that importer who then passes them on to bunnings ,dont be fooled by the promotions ,you as the customer have to do a fair bit of assembling and screwing to make these cabinets work ,and if you put a screw in the wrong place ,well there goes your warranty ,i have heard of people trying to assemble the flatpax cabinets for 2 weeks without much luck ,now in my humble opinion if i were to spend 2 weeks trying to assemble and at least make the end product look as good as if i had paid an licenced installed and it looked like crap then i would tell no one and put that down to memory ,or the dearly beloved (bless her heart) will remind me again and again and again ,is it really worth the pain ,

actually you are right about vested interest ,but my interest is in the allowing of these cheap imports into the country against buying locally or australian made products ,i get at least one application a day for a trade apprenticeship from aussie kids looking for a job and it infuriates me that i cant find them one ,most of the kids have good enough marks to get anything but they are finding it difficult to break the shell through to employment ,but you still buy the cheap overseas product and the money goes overseas to help some chinese family earn their $5.00 per day ,well heres a suggestion buy the imported crap ,and if or when you have children and they cant get a job think back to this thread and ponder the part you have played .

Did this topic just change to "buying Aust jobs"? I thought we were discussing the potential toxicity of imports.

That is what this discussion is trying to achieve I thought. To try and determine just what the facts are in regard to the products brought into question. So far we have some fairly strong suggestions that some, but not all of the products suggested to be unsafe are actually unsafe.

My comments were based on my actual experience with one of the products and the information I have gathered from their representative, not my emotional attachment to the industry etc. They were offered in balance to your suggestion that general quality might be another reason to avoid them.

You might find it easier to remain calm if you focussed on the gathering and supplying of evidence, rather than conjecture and stereotyping. Or instead you might prefer to continue to rant about the injustice of a global economy, and that's a worthy cause, but one probably best served in another topic.

Back on topic please, and tread carefully all....