Originally Posted by
Sy Reene
Well, we could ask for evidence supporting these assertions. ie. That is that there is more or less QC done in a factory producing a name brand product, than the factory producing a non-name branded product. Or the evidence that higher end components (aka having a higher price tag) have a greater likelihood of being designed and manufactured to a higher standard. Of course we all want to believe this to be be true and therefore why we shell out more money for a brand sold at the local REI than on Alibaba, but where is the support for these conclusions?
Brand reputation and history is the main evidence. If I buy an S-Works carbon bar I can reasonably expect a high level of quality and safety. If I buy a random unknown, unbranded carbon bar then I can expect nothing. It is a complete lottery.
This principle applies to most products. Sometimes the consequences of poor design and quality are benign and sometimes not. Unknown carbon bars are not something I would personally take a risk on.