Don't get me wrong, the times where I thought I need to go on a "mission" on the interwebs is long gone.
We're not on missions, but rather having a discussion on what we think and feel. I agree with some of your thoughts, and I believe you agree with some of mine. My mind is very analytical. I dissect each part of a conversation to try and see where others are coming from, and to have a counter-point to each idea. That is unless I completely agree.
There is a supplier for every demand, and I still think that "You get what you pay for" is valid.
In some circumstances I agree. I know a guy that paid $500 USD for a wallet while in the Kingdom of Bahrain. While I personally don't see the need for a wallet that expensive, especially because all it is is a name brand wallet, but others might disagree. This of course is an extreme example, but to further speak my point, I don't believe that a $50 wallet is any different than my $25 that I've had for the past 5 years or so.
To avoid using low quality or inferior parts there is still the option to go with OE suppliers and keep the list of suppliers short.
The benefit is, that OE suppliers have to do all the testing and proof, without this done, they would not receive their certificates and would no longer be OE suppliers.
Cheap aftermarket suppliers have none of this.
I agree that OE is normally the best route for quality parts. These parts, in my opinion, are often the best (especially when they've gone through 10 versions to upgrade the original) but are also more expensive. For example looking up the original turbo for my car, through VW, it's
$1553.04 for an OE VNT15 turbo. While I know it's
better it sill carries a 1 year warranty, the same as other vendors that are not OE.
And to be honest: Would you want to start an lawsuit with some factory in China in case of an serious issue? They would not care at all probably....
This is where things may be different between Austria and the United States. I've had my head in enough law books, international code, CFRs, etc, to know the reality of suing a large company in China or the United States (even VW) is a lose-lose situation. Firstly because unlike them, we don't have unlimited funds, secondly as opposed to based on the preponderance of the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt is a much greater hurdle to jump. Maybe in Austria it's easier just to walk down and sue a corporation, but here it's much more difficult.
Like written above, warranty stuff and so on is not applicable in tuning/motorsports anyway, its an optional thing from the vendor, and therefor can be stretched/denied as the vendor wishes. (More or less)
But in OE applications for street legal use, we in Austria have a warranty period by law, and in case of an failing part causing an serious accident or further defects on the car, as supplier you have to proof that you provided OE quality or above. (Thats why it is easiest and safest way to stick with OE suppliers and avoid selling cheapo stuff from 3rd party aftermarket suppliers with 0 certificates)
Again, this must be different between our countries. Hell, you can buy a new car, have a history of a particular failure or code, and it's like pulling teeth to have the dealership and the manufacturer to agree that it's a lack of craftsmanship. We do have Federal Organizations that help the consumer with recalls, but they can only do so much. A good example that comes to my head is the Toyota Tundra. In between the valve cover and the cam cage it develops a leak. Not all of them do, but enough that a group of individuals experience the same situation. Nothing is done. Instead your options are to either do it yourself or pay a crazy amount of money for the dealership to do it (unless you can find a reputable shop to do it).
On my FB page you find some of the pictures of bad examples, but you must understand that there will be no "Name and shame" going on, simply because this will get me into trouble with the suppliers denying this **** came from their company.
I can understand that point. Don't get into trouble, if that would occur.
Also please understand that I don't always have the chance to take pictures of every bad part I get in my hands because sometimes the customer is with me and does not wan't it to be posted up, and sometimes I simply don't have the time or clean hands to take pictures.
Again, no worries. All I'm looking for is proof that XXX vendor provided customer XXX with XXX part and it failed because of XXX. It's very easy for me to assume that it's a simple case, but I'm not a vendor, so I don't know.
One more thing to consider when making decisions:
Very often poeple who had bad experience with a cheap suplier will not make a big shout out on it, firstly because some may be ashamed that they fell into this trick, some fear a fight with the supplier (see above) and some just dont care and go a different route afterwards.
Hell, again this is where we differ as countries and their citizens. I'm sitting here singing the praises of companies, that others might find
inferior. If my engine blows up, trust me when I say I'll be ashamed, if it was due to a part that I should've spent XXX instead of being cheap. But believe you me, I'm going to sing from the roof tops, in the way that others have, so that people learn from my mistakes. That said, for every failure that we hear about, there are untold numbers of success stories that people don't go around bragging about. It's in our nature to talk negatively about our experience over talking positively. For these forums and FB groups to work (as I believe they should), then we need to talk about these things. In the same way we should help individuals when they have problems, we should talk about experiences with different vendors and their products.
This is my experience of the last 10 years, it does not refer to the company named in the OP, but in general.
And it gets worse the more suppliers of cheap turbos flood the market.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Majesty78.
Here are my final thoughts.
China has gotten better in the last 10 years. Their GDP went from almost 6.1 trillion in 2010 to 14.2 trillion in 2019 (and it's expected to be more this year). If you compare 2010 to 2000 and it was 1.2 trillion. What I'm getting at is they're growing and producing more and more each year. In fact, they are the largest exporter currently. I'd wager that the quality control from 2000 was worse than 2010, which was worse than 2019-2020.
We all have a choice to make in the end. If rods can be made all at the same factory in China, and each different vendor lasers their name brand on them, why would a consumer pay two times as much for the same part? Turbos, I think you can agree, are a totally different story. These we have to go on by word of mouth of others, and their experiences, including those that have a tendency to blame others for their mistakes (but weeding them out if we can). Then, and only then, can we make an informed decision as to which route we go.
There are plenty of examples of XXX name-brand vendor having quality control issues if you go back far enough in their history (say the last 10 years). Turbos being a big problem. You can find some customers that were happy with their support, and others that were screwed over (at least in their eyes). Those that felt screwed over had valid points, but I still felt that XXX vendor HAD to be good. Look at their website. Look at all the video's online. It was only after I called and spoke with them that I realized I would've made a mistake purchasing my go-fast parts from them. "We offer a military discount!" "well, not on those parts..." "We all drive TDI's, whereas vendor from Canada has never owned one." "You don't want to go with that setup with XXX vendor, you want our XXX turbo, our tune box (that is locked to them) and XXX injectors to reach that goal." Speaking with them over the course of a month or so taught me that I didn't want to do business with them. Since going my route, I've gotten my car faster that I had ever wanted, and I'm about to make it faster. If it blows up, I dry my tears, and move on. But had I spent 2-3 times as much for the same parts for the same inevitable conclusion I'd be crying more.
Sorry for the long reply.
en.powertdi.pl
for that alone. 
