Englisch - an impressive language..

M

Michael_MA

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Jun 14, 2009
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I know german is a complicated laguage and therefore we are taught in school a lot of words and representations - no you englisch guys (sorry for not distinguishing between Brits, Us, Canadian and Aussie's here  [wink] you have it rather easy, you learn a few words [poke] and thats it..  the other's need to get adapted  [big grin]
...
so now lets get to the point..
If you write about commodities, what do you exactly mean.. cause there are unfornatly around 12 different translations for the same word.
Im almost lost here.

can someone clarify ?

btw. this posting is in regard to the recent posting about Festool prices going up starting 1.March.

kind regards, Mike
 
In that case, the definition is as follows:

any unprocessed or partially processed good, as grain, fruits, and vegetables, or precious metals
Click to expand...

So raw steel stock, blocks of copper & aluminium, etc. that are bought & sold before being used to make actual products, like tools.
 
Orange juice concentrate, pork bellies, cotton, wheat, butter (by the ton) are also commodities. Big money in pork bellies!
 
A commodity is also something that has become common. This is probably the sense in which it was used in the original forum post.

For example, if a good or service has become a commodity, it means there are many manufacturers making it with little differences between the brands and the market price is low. Think of most random orbit sanders. Contrast this with a "specialty" sander such as a Festool sander where its special features allow the manufacturer i.e. Festool to charge a higher price than other regular brand RO sanders.
 
When an OEM manufactures a product themselves it is considered a product of special consequence that requires the development of deep, dark proprietary knowledge, often referred to as 'core competency'. No one but the OEM could ever develop an equivalent capacity or skill level to be nearly as proficient at the manufacturing process as the OEM, UNTIL, the OEM cannot make enough to satisfy the market demand. At that point they might find an independant source who, lo and behold, can make the same product better, faster, and cheaper than they could. This leads to the natural conclusion that ANYBODY on the outside can make the same product and what once was a highly regarded and critical internally manufactured  component, no matter how complex, becomes a COMMODITY; no different than a nut or bolt. And subject to the same cost squeeze pressures as WalMart visited upon Vlassic pickles. DAMHIKT

(With all due apologies to the nut and bolt manufacturers out there.)
 
Hey Folks,

Many thanks to all of you  - You are a real precious crowd !

now i got the common sense out of it and know how to interpret it correctly.
i learned a lot from your explanations - very well done !

a big  [thanks] to all of you !

kind regards, Mike
 
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