Korean Job Discussion Forums

NoExplode · Joined: 15 Oct 2008

Not baggin solely on Korea, but why are zippers in Asia such crap quality? It's puzzling to me because I realize that even back home, our garments and therefore zippers, are from Asia. However, in my adult life, I can remember having maybe one or two failing zippers. On all my clothes, my whole life.

Fast-Forward to Korea, and I have yet to buy an item with a zipper that has NOT broken. On one of my jackets, I'm on my 5th zipper. Am I alone on this one?

Anyone know where I can get premium, Western-standard/quality zippers?

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

Right after I came to Korea the 2 pairs of columbia khakis I had blew their zippers. 1 had one pair for 2 years and the other pair for around 8 months.
They both blew within about 2 weeks of each other. I haven't blown a zipper in 15 years.

I got them repaired at a korean shop, so far so good.

Maybe its something in the air.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

Because it's all made in China. Not 'baggin' on China, but they output a lot of crap. And the ones to blame are the local companies out for more bucks, not the workers.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Incidentally, did you know that most of the world's zippers are made by YKK, a Japanese company? Look at any pair of pants you brought from home and chances are you'll see their logo on the zipper. I recall hearing they had a near monopoly for a while, but I doubt that lasted.

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

Like most things from China, the zippers are lower quality so you can't expect dependable quality. The concept is make cheap crap for next to nothing, profit from it, and then have customers coming back for more inside a year to replace prematurely worn out goods. They don't want us to have good solid quality as that means we won't hardly ever buy anything. How often does someone who wears H.S. Trask shoes go shoe shopping?

kiknkorea · Joined: 16 May 2008

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:19 am Post subject:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Yeah, it's probably China. I never realized how shoddy some of their products are before coming here. Usually though a better and more expensive alternative can be found.

The worst example of a bad product I bought here though was orange juice in a convenience store. No safety seal, seems like the container had been used before. Foolishly enough I still drank it and no problem, but won't be buying that one again. "Dole" Orange Juice I believe it was.