Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

I think this is a bit of a myth to be honest.

The idea that the factory in china that makes a high end trek frame, makes a few extra and doesnt brand them. Making them with the same quality of materials and using the same amount of time and skill, to produce the quality. Trek require for QC.

The fact is most carbon fiber bike parts are are produced in the east. The factorys therefore have the materials, equipment, and skills to produce the sort of quality the big names make us pay the big bucks for.

But do they use these on their OEM stuff? who knows. Its he branding that gives accountablility. You save a bunch of money in return for taking a bit of a risk. Wether or not its worth it, is down to the individual.

(FTR. I've bought a load of OEM carbon products. I have also paid extra to buy 'inhouse' produced goods. (fence sitter))

This isn't exactly what I'm saying. What I am saying is that these parts are manufactured in Asia anyway and then bought by Trek/Spec/Etc. They'll buy a fixed quantity and these will then be branded and packaged according to the buyer. The same thing happens with all manner of goods, jeans, trainers, etc. What we in the west pay a premium for is the brand (name/labels/stickers) and the packaging over the true value of the product in terms of its cost to manufacture.

Branding may well give accountability but when the product itself is the same what's the risk? I say this with the cynicism and knowledge of having worked in the advertising industry for almost 20 years.

For example, a well known and very good mechanic on these very boards saw the carbon forks I picked up for a song (under £50 new) from Hong Kong on eBay on my Fuji track. He was impressed and was convinced I'd just taken the stickers off what he thought were forks from a well known Italian brand. I let him believe what he wanted to believe. Pretty much as brands do with us.