The United States has had an "illness" with manufacturing for quite some time now,companies like Maytag are just the rash it's come out in.
Maytag probably has more of it's production in the United States than most appliance makers, and their stock price is suffering because if it. While many other compaines pulled up stakes and fled to Canada or Mexico, Maytag tries to keep many US plants open. This despite high labour and other costs that make those plants and therefore the products produced in them somewhat uncompetitive in the market place.
The name of the game at the moment is sales numbers. If a company does not meet them, shareholders and Wall Street revolt. So appliance makers keep on producing "junk" and no one really complains because everyone is living high on cheap credit. Heck bet most of these appliances are still being paid for when they end up on the scrap heap.
Maytag probably could go back to building dishwashers and laundry appliances that are quality and built to last, but at what cost? Would there be a market large enough to support such appliances at price points that make a profit?
With SQ back in the home laundry appliance market, we shall know more when they report their first and second quarter earnings. If the appliances are selling well, and getting good market reviews, maybe other appliance makers will take note.
Launderess
Maytag probably has more of it's production in the United States than most appliance makers, and their stock price is suffering because if it. While many other compaines pulled up stakes and fled to Canada or Mexico, Maytag tries to keep many US plants open. This despite high labour and other costs that make those plants and therefore the products produced in them somewhat uncompetitive in the market place.
The name of the game at the moment is sales numbers. If a company does not meet them, shareholders and Wall Street revolt. So appliance makers keep on producing "junk" and no one really complains because everyone is living high on cheap credit. Heck bet most of these appliances are still being paid for when they end up on the scrap heap.
Maytag probably could go back to building dishwashers and laundry appliances that are quality and built to last, but at what cost? Would there be a market large enough to support such appliances at price points that make a profit?
With SQ back in the home laundry appliance market, we shall know more when they report their first and second quarter earnings. If the appliances are selling well, and getting good market reviews, maybe other appliance makers will take note.
Launderess
