It will be interesting to see if they can differentiate their commodity simply based on the assembly location being the US. That's a heck of a marketing task. If that is the only way they differentiate, then I don't see these selling well outside of middle America Walmarts given how they did the "ostentatious" packaging which is clearly targeting that group. If they have some price advantage, or really have some technical glory, then they have the potential to sell well online.
I think it would be a cool idea for Element to approach the Amazon Basics brand manager(s) for a contract. Since they are located in the US, Amazon could use them for built to order TVs and greatly reduce the risk they would have to entering the television marketplace. I'm sure it's a super complicated industry though, and I'm oversimplifying the situation.
I can't help but wonder who holds the reigns on their supplier negotiations and what incentives there are for those suppliers given that they are likely at least partially owned by the other major television manufacturers and the Chinese government.
@pirateninja I spoke directly with the CEO about this very issue. I asked him point blank if the "Made in USA" was the only marketing rah-rah they could muster.
Surprisingly (especially despite their totally ostentatious packaging), his response was that he was more concerned with features and that he knew the Made in USA thing was not something to rest the entire brand on. This is the exact reason they partnered with JBL, a premium, household audio brand, for these sets. They want to compete on features first, and consider Made in the USA as an added bonus.
Cool thanks for the info, I did notice the "The BEST Sounding Tv. Period." and the JBL logo but they are overshadowed by the ... well ... box design.
I'm really excited to see how things work out and what route they end up taking. It would provide some unique insight in to the industry just to see what their results are like.
I think you cover a good portion of the market with that. You're going to get the "rah rah murrica!" crowd with the box design, and the critical consumers with the actual innards.
Once parts sourcing starts to move to the US, then it makes everyone even happier.
I don't know. That box design really turns me off. First: It looks like a box of fireworks. Second: My first thought upon discovering it is not fireworks is, "If their 'big deal' is that it's made in the USA, then how crappy must the actual product be?"
I don't know. That box design really turns me off. First: It looks like a box of fireworks. Second: My first thought upon discovering it is not fireworks is, "If their 'big deal' is that it's made in the USA, then how crappy must the actual product be?"
Pretty much what I was thinking. It looks like a Wal-Mart special. You know, the kind that's cheap for a reason...
I think Made in the USA is a significant differentiating factor for HDTV's simply because all HDTV's are at least some version of pretty good these days. Go into a big box store, look at one LCD panel from the next, all pumping out pretty gorgeous 1920X1080 video at a minimum of 60hz, every set at least looks like some version of awesome. Now I realize the contrast ratio is a huge factor in determining image quality but the margin from the better to the lesser sets has narrowed over the past couple years, it's to the point where all LCD panels at least look some version of good, and Element is going to differentiate by putting in some standard speakers that don't suck, I'm sure for many consumers it will be fine. Sure, there are guys like us that will obsess over every minute detail, but for most consumers that made in the USA sticker will mean something even if the blacks are not quite as dark as on the nicest Samsung LED on the floor.
I bought a 40" lcd element from local walmart store, have had the tv for 4 months,walmart warranty was only for 90 days. Have been having trouble with the sound,comes and goes, can have volume turned as high as it will go and can't hardly hear it. ( I don't have a hearing problem.) I called the customer service number and was told I had to send the tv have it repaired,,,147 miles,,,right!! 147 miles and I had to pay for the shipping!! Haven't checked the cost but I'm sure it will be outrageous!! So buyers beware!!!!!!
why are the electronics are still made some other country instead of giving the american workers more jobs and giving element the full prestige of the made in usa label,for now i would not buy from element until they make tvs here 100%.
I think this was discussed in this very thread, but the main reason is that getting the production lines up for the component parts is much more difficult than assembly.
There are only a few manufacturers of LCD panels in the world and they have spent many many dollars on perfecting the R& D and subsequent production processes. For Element (or even a company with a much larger footprint) to just strike out on their own making panels (which would require securing patent rights from at least 1 or two of the existing panel manufacturers) and all of the supporting electronics would be a fast track to bankruptcy.
And even so, at the electronics angle: What constitutes made-in-America electronics for you? Sure, the boards can be put together and populated with chips here, but getting a fab together to strike the chips themselves, with all of the different types of chips involved would be ridiculously expensive, particularly when compared to the cost of buying off-the-shelf from manufacturers who produce (literal) millions of the same chips every year.
Personally, I would never expect something to be made 100.00% in -any- country. Raw materials come from all over the world. Plus, I would actually prefer the panel itself to be made in one of the distinguished existing LCD makers' plants. What you can do in America is things like the design, interface software, plastic bezel (injection molding), the TV stand, the wiring, etc, then assemble it here as well.
In short, it's not the 100% part we should get hung up on. Instead focus on just shifting more of the feasible workload to the USA.
Unfortunately for all the good of being made in the USA they treat their USA consumers disgracefully. Terribly unfortunate. Element Electronics wont last. Just look at the consumer dissatisfaction comments everywhere on the internet.
Comments
I think it would be a cool idea for Element to approach the Amazon Basics brand manager(s) for a contract. Since they are located in the US, Amazon could use them for built to order TVs and greatly reduce the risk they would have to entering the television marketplace. I'm sure it's a super complicated industry though, and I'm oversimplifying the situation.
I can't help but wonder who holds the reigns on their supplier negotiations and what incentives there are for those suppliers given that they are likely at least partially owned by the other major television manufacturers and the Chinese government.
Surprisingly (especially despite their totally ostentatious packaging), his response was that he was more concerned with features and that he knew the Made in USA thing was not something to rest the entire brand on. This is the exact reason they partnered with JBL, a premium, household audio brand, for these sets. They want to compete on features first, and consider Made in the USA as an added bonus.
I'm really excited to see how things work out and what route they end up taking. It would provide some unique insight in to the industry just to see what their results are like.
Once parts sourcing starts to move to the US, then it makes everyone even happier.
I'd love to see/hear one in person though.
There are only a few manufacturers of LCD panels in the world and they have spent many many dollars on perfecting the R& D and subsequent production processes. For Element (or even a company with a much larger footprint) to just strike out on their own making panels (which would require securing patent rights from at least 1 or two of the existing panel manufacturers) and all of the supporting electronics would be a fast track to bankruptcy.
And even so, at the electronics angle: What constitutes made-in-America electronics for you? Sure, the boards can be put together and populated with chips here, but getting a fab together to strike the chips themselves, with all of the different types of chips involved would be ridiculously expensive, particularly when compared to the cost of buying off-the-shelf from manufacturers who produce (literal) millions of the same chips every year.
In short, it's not the 100% part we should get hung up on. Instead focus on just shifting more of the feasible workload to the USA.
Eat that Mrs. Jarnigan! (6th grade composition teacher)