Regarding the chart, I find it interesting that it shows the US labor percent of total manufacturing costs as half that of China. So even with higher priced US laborers, vs. the Chinese "slave laborers", the percent of total cost is still less. I assume that means that if a US manufacturer has to pay a guy $35/hr to drill a hole, they'll eventually buy a machine to replace him. For the US laborer, we're forced to increase our capabilities to compete.
I feel like the original poster took an unfair beating. The thread assumption seems to be that the local bike shop was selling US made over Chinese made product. I do not think that is likely but I admit I don't know. In this case, I think what was a question of buying from your local retailer vs. over the internet turned into US vs. them, i.e. China, which I think was a bit unfair.
