Ok, this is my 2nd try at this (lost my last reply). If I can put into a nutshell. As a person who does this outsourcing (reluctantly at times I'll add). There are many reasons why this happens. Yes, to some extent we don't have to deal with Human Resources issues overseas. However, it also happens that if you're already getting goods in Vietnam (ie I deal in packaging) it makes sense to have your print supplier in the same location if the (and this is ALWAYS the caveat) the price is right. And that's the real key. Unfortunately/fortunately depending on your perspective our government has spent many years working to build ties with other countries to obtain trade/resources/negotiate issues and due to this we've grown a global economy. We've created this "problem" ourselves. And the quotes are on purpose as ONCE-UPON-A-TIME, we used to be known internationally as a great presence among other countries for negotiating peace, trade, etc. However, now due to our focus on looking for cheap labor and goods…we're forgetting what's going on at home (among other issues). And, I might add the rest of the world has followed that example. But I digress.
The gist of it is, large volume establishments have built a whole base of employees (there's the jobs) on outsourcing. You have buyers who now look solely for the most inexpensive quality goods possible and for the most inexpensive way to get them back home. That's where my role as somewhat the equalizer (Project Coordinator) comes in (ha!). It's our role to judge whether or not the goods and services (in this case print) are comparable or better to those of our US counterparts. Sometimes, they don't pass muster. So, we may find the print vendor in China can produce at lower cost, but if the materials don't hold up, the print vendor in NY wins the contract.
