Yellow: The New White?

Throughout my childhood, youth and adulthood in the UK, white goods were always white. And white they seemed to stay. But since moving to China in 2002 I have noticed that every white appliance I have purchased has quickly turned an ugly shade of yellow.

When shopping last weekend for a new fridge, I was surprised to hear that it seems to be an accepted reality in China that ALL white goods ALWAYS turn yellow. Indeed, my Chinese wife was genuinely surprised when I told her that in some countries White Goods actually stay White!

I find it sad that the Chinese have for so long been at the receiving end of poor quality standards that they now have this as an acceptable benchmark. If the American and Korean manufacturers of the yellow White Goods that reside in my China home were to ship this sort of rubbish to the UK they would very quickly have a major recall on their hands. But not in China...and that is a real shame.

David King
Shanghai, 2nd May 2010