Too bad news for Iskin

[PaulChowHK]

This is good they making them case in Canada they helping giving jobs. Do you knowing how many people's working for them?

Screen protector material coming from Japan and Taiwan. Then Chineses factory cutting them. IPhone cost about $0.50 then foreign company's selling maybe $10

This being big problem with you guys you always looking for how much moneys you can make you no fair you customers.

In China stores no stupid they buying from factory now and soon all brands are them own bra nd. They still selling high price maybe 25% less but can going down and still making big profit. The same happening in you country and soon many companys gone. This like cancer using you body to staying alive but slowly eat it until it dies

 

[elementskins]

I think all apple users prefer the quality of products over the value. For example all of us are buying expensive laptops, computers, and phones because we know how the quality is with Apple. And with this vendor elementskins his products may be of better quality than the Chinese. That is what we as apple users are looking for to protect our valuable devices. Also with the screen protection I didn't get some cheap one, I looked for the best and found it. Xoskins has the best screen protectors out there.

You are exactly correct. Customers that buy Apple Products look to the quality of a product first, then to cost. Android customers are typically the opposite, oddly enough.

If you look at the market, there are some extraordinary Apple iOS accessories. Companies like Lunatik, Element Case (no, not related), Atomic, Grove, etc that produce beautifully designed products. Apple customers flock to these items because, like the Apple device they were made to protect, they are innovative and accent or enhance the Apple product.

 

[elementskins]

This is good they making them case in Canada they helping giving jobs. Do you knowing how many people's working for them?

Screen protector material coming from Japan and Taiwan. Then Chineses factory cutting them. IPhone cost about $0.50 then foreign company's selling maybe $10

This being big problem with you guys you always looking for how much moneys you can make you no fair you customers.

In China stores no stupid they buying from factory now and soon all brands are them own bra nd. They still selling high price maybe 25% less but can going down and still making big profit. The same happening in you country and soon many companys gone. This like cancer using you body to staying alive but slowly eat it until it dies

I'm a small, family run company.

I get asked a lot, "Why don't you just have your product made in China?". There are a number of reasons, but first and foremost, it's because I like the fact that it CAN be done here in North America. The dollars my business produce stay right here, in my local economy, as opposed to putting a MB or BMW in the driveway of a factory owner in China. It also means that I know exactly what is going out the door in terms of product make up and quality.

My customers like that we make our here.

 

[PaulChowHK]

I'm a small, family run company.

I get asked a lot, "Why don't you just have your product made in China?". There are a number of reasons, but first and foremost, it's because I like the fact that it CAN be done here in North America. The dollars my business produce stay right here, in my local economy, as opposed to putting a MB or BMW in the driveway of a factory owner in China. It also means that I know exactly what is going out the door in terms of product make up and quality.

My customers like that we make our here.

it very good you total Canada company. How many workers help making living in you company? What material you uSe?

 

[ttttttboy66]

material

The best material I have seen out there is the polyurethane and it is cheap to. For example I have seen it at XO Skins and probably the best I have experienced. What about you element skins? What do you use?

 

[elementskins]

We make skin kits, much like iCarbon, LuckyLabs and a few others, so I use a lot of 3M Di-Noc film, but I've also started working with real leathers that we apply a PSA adhesive to ourselves. Also looking at adding a Laser to the equipment list so that we can work with more types of materials, like woods, metals, etc.

I personally like the unique products, as opposed to the silicon or plastic cases that are everywhere. I hate how most cases take away from the look of the iOS devices.

 

[PaulChowHK]

We make skin kits, much like iCarbon, LuckyLabs and a few others, so I use a lot of 3M Di-Noc film, but I've also started working with real leathers that we apply a PSA adhesive to ourselves. Also looking at adding a Laser to the equipment list so that we can work with more types of materials, like woods, metals, etc.

I personally like the unique products, as opposed to the silicon or plastic cases that are everywhere. I hate how most cases take away from the look of the iOS devices.

you no understand I asking you. How many Canada employees you have, how many machines you have, do you buying material in Canada. You sayng you Canada and are made in Canada. Give my clear answer. If it is too embarassing to tell me then just be no clear as you doing now. I think Iskin is Canada company but they clear they totaly made in China and most other company same just like Apple. So tell my what making you Canada company?

 

[Who Cares]

you no understand I asking you. How many Canada employees you have, how many machines you have, do you buying material in Canada. You sayng you Canada and are made in Canada. Give my clear answer. If it is too embarassing to tell me then just be no clear as you doing now. I think Iskin is Canada company but they clear they totaly made in China and most other company same just like Apple. So tell my what making you Canada company?

Paul, what is your agenda?

Are you working for a China factory making cases?.

I know of iSkin,but have no allegiance to them, companies come & go but what is it about them that you don't like.

If a company is based in Canada & chooses to employ Canadian workers does it matter where the materials come from or where they make the product?.

Tthey employ Canadian workers & pay Canadian taxes so its up to them if they choose to call themselves a Canadian company. Why do you care about this so much?.

iPhones use components from Korean companies & are built by a Taiwanese company using Chinese workers. Does this make the iPhone Chinese?.

Get over it, trade is international, materials, production etc can be sourced globally where it is most convenient.

 

[elementskins]

you no understand I asking you. How many Canada employees you have, how many machines you have, do you buying material in Canada. You sayng you Canada and are made in Canada. Give my clear answer. If it is too embarassing to tell me then just be no clear as you doing now. I think Iskin is Canada company but they clear they totaly made in China and most other company same just like Apple. So tell my what making you Canada company?

Paul, respectfully, I don't need to answer any of your questions, nor do I need to justify myself or my business to you. Why does it matter how many employees I have, what equipment I use, or where i source my materials. Frankly, it's none of your business, and has nothing to do with the substance of this thread.

What matters to me is that we manufacture our product ourselves, right here in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Like many companies, I could easily go to China to source product if I was just looking to make a quick buck selling generic cases, but that's not what we are about. There are already more than enough companies doing that, like iSkins and most other low end case companies.

I don't have anything against businesses looking to China or other such emerging countries, but I do find it frustrating when I see constant knock offs of those companies products being sold as genuine product. Frankly, I'd be pissed off if I had gone to a factory in china to manufacture a product I designed, only to find out they are also selling the product out the back door themselves, bypassing me.

China is undoubtably a manufacturing powerhouse, but they have a lot to learn about honorable business practices. Not everything is about money.

 

[PaulChowHK]

Paul, respectfully, I don't need to answer any of your questions, nor do I need to justify myself or my business to you. Why does it matter how many employees I have, what equipment I use, or where i source my materials. Frankly, it's none of your business, and has nothing to do with the substance of this thread.

What matters to me is that we manufacture our product ourselves, right here in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Like many companies, I could easily go to China to source product if I was just looking to make a quick buck selling generic cases, but that's not what we are about. There are already more than enough companies doing that, like iSkins and most other low end case companies.

I don't have anything against businesses looking to China or other such emerging countries, but I do find it frustrating when I see constant knock offs of those companies products being sold as genuine product. Frankly, I'd be pissed off if I had gone to a factory in china to manufacture a product I designed, only to find out they are also selling the product out the back door themselves, bypassing me.

China is undoubtably a manufacturing powerhouse, but they have a lot to learn about honorable business practices. Not everything is about money.

Sorry this China custom ask how many workers you have and how big you factory. You are good company to making you cases in Canada. I wishing you good future.

 

[ttttttboy66]

We make skin kits, much like iCarbon, LuckyLabs and a few others, so I use a lot of 3M Di-Noc film, but I've also started working with real leathers that we apply a PSA adhesive to ourselves. Also looking at adding a Laser to the equipment list so that we can work with more types of materials, like woods, metals, etc.

I personally like the unique products, as opposed to the silicon or plastic cases that are everywhere. I hate how most cases take away from the look of the iOS devices.

wow that is pretty cool with the natural look. do you think it will work with futuristic look that these smart phones have. i mean they can kind of contradict. i would definitely buy one of your cases and then suit it up with an XO Skin like i have now.

 

[gngan]

Long time agos Chinese no knowing what IPhone but now thank you to Internet they knowing everything's and most important t he price and now they like army ants eating all business. Many factories compet with each others on the same case like Incase otter box. They very smart. Some molds take foreigner 4 weeks they make in 10 days but for the themself then selling to same customers for so little moneys. Dog eat dog and this why some companys in big trouble. They losing the business they needing not die. But now even Chinese lose because IPhone no changing and noting hot in market.

Seriously, I am also from HK but did you write these things in Chinese and translate it in google? If you can't make a post that is understandable to an English forum then go post it in local forums (www.discuss.com.hk or uwants.com).

 

[PaulChowHK]

Seriously, I am also from HK but did you write these things in Chinese and translate it in google? If you can't make a post that is understandable to an English forum then go post it in local forums (www.discuss.com.hk or uwants.com).

Nice seeing you English so good, one days me good too. I just passing infomrations I tinking interesting to the MacRumors group and writing same I talking to my foreign friends but they no having problem understanding me.

Today I getting more information from friend who owning factory. They saying someone for USA customs asking questions about one of them customer. Seems money paying factor too low value they tell customs they paying factor. They checking them bank to seeing how much they paying and see if same as they declaring to customs I finding more information next weeks. Maybe could being big fine for foreign company because this happening many years.

 

[gngan]

Nice seeing you English so good, one days me good too. I just passing infomrations I tinking interesting to the MacRumors group and writing same I talking to my foreign friends but they no having problem understanding me.

Today I getting more information from friend who owning factory. They saying someone for USA customs asking questions about one of them customer. Seems money paying factor too low value they tell customs they paying factor. They checking them bank to seeing how much they paying and see if same as they declaring to customs I finding more information next weeks. Maybe could being big fine for foreign company because this happening many years.

Not saying whose English is better or not but at least make it understandable. For instance, i can follow and understand your first paragraph but clueless about your second paragraph.

Don't just translate Cantonese to English. "One days me good too"? That's pretty much translate straight from Cantonese. Stop using google translate and post it in an English forum.

 

[PaulChowHK]

Not saying whose English is better or not but at least make it understandable. For instance, i can follow and understand your first paragraph but clueless about your second paragraph.

Don't just translate Cantonese to English. "One days me good too"? That's pretty much translate straight from Cantonese. Stop using google translate and post it in an English forum.

Sorry I offending you. I teaching my children you got something to saying then saying it and if people's not understanding they will ask you to explaining.

One day me good too is meaning try again and again and you getting better each time

 

[hitops]

lol this is a funny thread. You guys need to chill out, Paul is trying his best to explain some very interesting and compelling information about the case industry. It's funny to watch people be the language police when they can't string 2 hot words of chinese together if their lives depended on it.

What Paul is relating are basic facts of business in the west vs china that if you read any newspaper or bother to be informed whatsoever, are self-evident. Chinese factories rip off designs from western brand names, manufacture them without the development costs, and sell them cheaper. This happens in countless industries, every single day.

Some of you want to believe there is a level of 'quality' that is preserved with western brands. LOL, sounds like trying to convince yourself spending $40 on a case is worth it. You sound like the clueless American tourist who just assumes what's done at home is better and decides this assumption is enough to try and educate a foreigner. Problem is its clear Paul knows far more about this subject than anyone else here. He is explaining the fact that the SAME factory that makes your preferred case, also makes the SAME case on the side and sells it without the name brand. For $2. Want to stick your head in the sand to make yourself feel better about handing over the $30-40 for the plastic that says 'iSkin', who am I to stop you? Tell yourself you bought it in America so it's better? If it makes you feel better, then great.

A very polite person is telling you about the facts of life on this. You've responded with a bunch of very arrogant sounding ethnocentric babble largely focused partly on his language skills, a completely irrelevant part of this discussion. My guess is this is a defensive mechanism to cope with the reality of what he is saying.

Paul, respectfully, I don't need to answer any of your questions, nor do I need to justify myself or my business to you. Why does it matter how many employees I have, what equipment I use, or where i source my materials. Frankly, it's none of your business, and has nothing to do with the substance of this thread.

I'd like you to answer these questions. You started out talking about how you make your products in Canada, and how this makes you a Canadian company. As a Canadian, I'm also curious whether you sources all your materials here as well, or is the final manufacturing location what makes you 'canadian'? Paul is pointing out that unfortunately for you and many companies, Chinese companies can do what you do cheaper and faster. Your edge may be the simple appeal of being 'canadian made', and I salute you for that. But the bottom line is that the quality from China is good for cases, and the factory that produces 12 hours of good otterbox cases that sell for $30 then makes 12 hours of the same case without the otterbox logo that sells for $3. Manufacuring a hunk of plastic is quite a different thing than manufacturing an iphone, and is easily reproduced.

 

[hotsauce]

I feel free to call it out because of two reasons:

1. Not a native English speaker, in fact my native language is Spanish

2. Not from the US, live in it, but wasn't born or raised in it.


So the whole non-English native point falls on a moot point with me.

You meant "falls on deaf ears" or "is a moot point"? Your grammar pisses me off. You sound like someone trying to use educated words but falling short. I'd rather read broken English than your misguided pretentiousness any day.

 

[catalyst6]

I feel free to call it out because of two reasons:

1. Not a native English speaker, in fact my native language is Spanish

2. Not from the US, live in it, but wasn't born or raised in it.


So the whole non-English native point falls on a moot point with me.

I imagine you as one of those guys that actually present talking points in real life with numbered lists.

Since you are not a native English speaker, maybe you don't know that it's pretty silly.

 

[jav6454]

You meant "falls on deaf ears" or "is a moot point"? Your grammar pisses me off. You sound like someone trying to use educated words but falling short. I'd rather read broken English than your misguided pretentiousness any day.

I imagine you as one of those guys that actually present talking points in real life with numbered lists.

Since you are not a native English speaker, maybe you don't know that it's pretty silly.

You two must be so proud of yourselves by bringing back a dead argument on an already dead thread. Great job! You guys are an example to follow.

 

[elementskins]

I'd like you to answer these questions. You started out talking about how you make your products in Canada, and how this makes you a Canadian company. As a Canadian, I'm also curious whether you sources all your materials here as well, or is the final manufacturing location what makes you 'canadian'? Paul is pointing out that unfortunately for you and many companies, Chinese companies can do what you do cheaper and faster. Your edge may be the simple appeal of being 'canadian made', and I salute you for that. But the bottom line is that the quality from China is good for cases, and the factory that produces 12 hours of good otterbox cases that sell for $30 then makes 12 hours of the same case without the otterbox logo that sells for $3. Manufacuring a hunk of plastic is quite a different thing than manufacturing an iphone, and is easily reproduced.

I don't need to get into what equipment we use, how many people I employ, etc, as that has no bearing on the discussion, however, I have no problems answering the question about what makes our product, and our company, Canadian.

First. I am Canadian, born and raised. Our company is also Canadian, incorporated and based right here in Metro Vancouver. So, that should address the personal and corporate side.

Second, Products we make. I use a number of different materials for our products, which are sourced from around the world. For Instance, 3M's Di-Noc is made in Japan, the Leathers we use are made in the US and Europe. The Adhesive system that we use on the leathers is made here in Canada. Our packaging is printed in the US, and diecut and assembled here in Vancouver. We bring in the materials from these various locations to our facility here in Vancovuer, and from there, make the final products that ship to retailers and customers.

By definition, a products "place of Origin" is determined not by where it's raw materials come from, but from where the final product was produced. We take raw materials and produce a final product here in North America.

By this same token, this is why an iPhone is "Made in China". While it's parts come from a number of countries, it becomes an iPhone in China. If it was assembled in the USA, it would be considered "Made in the USA"

Can our product be produced in China cheaper, probably. We could cut corners and thus costs by using knock off materials that were of lower quality. We could save a bit on Labour, although in our case, labour does not contribute greatly to the cost of manufacturing. The speed of production would be the same either way, as I control how much product we produce.

Many of todays products NEED to be made in China due to the lack of facilities and supply lines in other parts of the world. My products do not, and I believe in supporting my local economy first.

Clinton Calwell
ElementSkins, Inc.