Let's say a consumer buys something like a cup of coffee or a pickup truck. Now let's say that it was a lousy cup of coffee or maybe the truck was a lemon.
Under these conditions, the vendor might lose the customer. That customer will buy someone else's coffee or truck. That's the price of bad quality in a consumer economy.
That said, chances are the customer will not quit coffee for tea altogether. They will recognize that the vendor made something substandard, but the idea of coffee as a morning beverage is not destroyed. Likewise they will not start hauling lumber on a bicycle.
This is because the consumer knows what coffee is. They know what a pickup truck is supposed to be. Their faith in the general concept is not shaken, just their faith in that particular vendor.
Which brings us to the world of metal castings. I was at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh this past Saturday to watch the Pitt - Notre Dame game. There exists a pavilion outside the stadium where the marching bands perform prior to kick off (and both bands were just super). It is a set of large steps or stairs that act as seating for the gathered fans. The architect built in some cast aluminum blocks to prevent skateboarders from using the stairs (there is a Rancid song in here somewhere... poor misunderstood skateboarders). The original parts were aluminum castings. They were really over ground. Why even have a pattern or a drawing when you are going to grind the heck out of it anyway? What a waste. These parts make castings in general look bad (photo).
Evidently as they wore out they got replaced with extrusions (photo). Ouch. Now I have no way of knowing whether the poor appearance of the original parts played a role. But I do know that the pie for castings has been shrunk. And the mish-mash of overground castings and extrusions looks awful.
So please... Foundries and buyers should discuss grinding in advance of issuing a PO. And they should discuss handling of replacement parts in advance as well. That way everyone wins and the structure looks beautiful for years to come.
I don't know what to say to the skateboarders.
