Droid phone question

[TheDJ]

Hello all,

I currently own the Droid (original) and my contract is up. Originally, I thought about switching to the iPhone. I did some research and found out that the products are made in a factory known as Foxconn with brutal conditions for its workers, even some committing suicide.

I know there is no "fair-trade" phones on the market, but does anyone know where the Google phones are produced? Are they manufactured in the same kind of conditions as the iPhone?

Thanks

 

[dezymond]

No idea to be honest, but I imagine some places don't provide very workable conditions.

Out of curiosity, where did you find this information?

 

[TheDJ]

No idea to be honest, but I imagine some places don't provide very workable conditions.

Out of curiosity, where did you find this information?

Hi Dezymond,

Thanks for the reply. I was reading an article on Steve Jobs and came across the fact that Apple uses Foxconn to produce their products. Here are some links with the information. (If you do a search for iPhone Foxconn, or iPhone sweatshops you will get plenty of information.):

The fate of a generation of workers: Foxconn undercover fully translated (update: videos added) -- Engadget
Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch - Asia, World - The Independent
Foxconn suicides highlight China?s sweatshop conditions
Your iPhone is Made by “Interns” in an Abusive Sweatshop | The New York Observer

So, before purchasing my next smartphone, I want to know who is making the product, and if it is anything like the conditions at Foxconn, I will not be purchasing.

 

[dezymond]

Wow, I definitely did not know about this. One of the things we never pay attention to is how our everyday devices are made and this is quite an eye opener.

Good to see someone who's so concerned with the well-being of complete strangers avoid a product because of the manufacturer's conditions. Unfortunately I don't know where other companies make their phones, but thank you for bringing this up. Might dig around the internet to find out more info on other companies, I'm sure I won't like what I find, but things like this can't be easily solved. If there are petitions or anything I'll be glad to drop my name on them.

 

[TheDJ]

Wow, I definitely did not know about this. One of the things we never pay attention to is how our everyday devices are made and this is quite an eye opener.

Good to see someone who's so concerned with the well-being of complete strangers avoid a product because of the manufacturer's conditions. Unfortunately I don't know where other companies make their phones, but thank you for bringing this up. Might dig around the internet to find out more info on other companies, I'm sure I won't like what I find, but things like this can't be easily solved. If there are petitions or anything I'll be glad to drop my name on them.

Hi Dezymond,

I will admit that I did not know either until I read the article on Steve Jobs. I was shocked myself and deeply saddened. Thanks for the kind comments and I am glad I could let others see the brutality of these people at the expense of electronics.

Here are a few links with organizations who are trying to fight against this abuse:
Sacom
makeITfair
Fair Trade USA | Every Purchase Matters

As you mentioned, its like trying to stop world hunger, but I at least will not be a part of this abuse. I am going to do some digging on the Android phones and see if I can come up with anything.

Thanks,
DJ

 

[thehorsedroid]

i heard foxconn make people sign contracts saying they wont commit suicide, horrible tbh

 

[MissionImprobable]

The contracts they have to sign say that they won't hold the company liable if they commit suicide, as in disallowing lawsuits by remaining family members. They ended up stopping that after public outrage though.

It's interesting in that this is exactly what faced American workers in the late 1800s:
1) Long Hours
2) Extremely low pay just at or below the poverty line
3) Dangerous working conditions, here in the form of beatings
4) Task-oriented work, i.e., monotonous, repetitive actions
5) Physical separation between management and laborer
6) Company-owned housing
7) Inability to organize and forcible contracts

Of course, this is likely what workers in any of the sweatshops that produce goods for most first-world countries face as well.

 

[TheDJ]

I did some research and all the top mobile phone companies and electronic companies outsource and people face similar situations. It's unfortunate, but at least we can do our best and see what is happening out in these other countries and be more informed.

 

[Chizzele]

That is why its always better to buy american made... the problem though is that whatever is made here is much more expensive cause everyone wants to make a lot of money and not work more then 40 hours a week, get benefits and paid vacations. So its a tough loop, we want cheap prices but we don't want people to be mistreated... someone has to pay the price for an affordable product in one was or another...

 

[TheDJ]

You are right, that is the problem. I would pay more for a phone if it was made in the USA with better working conditions. It is not that way though, hopefully companies can do better when it comes to items such as electronics.

 

[garrett]

The problem is just about every major electronics company uses the same factory(Foxconn) to manufacture their products.... apple, acer, amazon, asus, intel, cisco, HP, HTC, LG, Dell, Nintendo, Microsoft, MSI, Motorola, Samsung, and Vizio just to name a few.... the chances of someone not having a foxconn product somewhere in their house is pretty rare.


they also manufacture a large portion of car radios in just about every brand, as well as circuit boards used in regular home appliances like dishwashers, stoves, refridgerators, ...ETC

I was reading somewhere a few months back that something like 89% of americans have at least 1 foxconn product in their homes.

 

[TheDJ]

Garrett,

Yes, it is almost impossible to own anything electronic that does not come from Foxconn (or some other factory in China). It is amazing when you think about it. For now I am going to better inform myself of what I am purchasing to make the best purchasing decision.