I would like to make a topic about Chinese fingerboard products but first I will introduce myself for those who don't know me very well.

I am Xi Jin, born in China, raised in England and am currently working in Yantai, China as a teacher at a Business College. I am ethnically Chinese with British nationality. I was introduced to plastic fingerboards/Tech Decks in 2000 and have been enjoying fingerboarding and collecting boards since then. I have also been skateboarding since 2003. I gained my first sponsor a few months ago and am proud to represent Close Up. I have also recently gained the position of Moderator here at FingerboardHQ.

As a person with significant ties to China and as an established fingerboarder, I feel I have a very good reason to contribute my thoughts on this ongoing controversial topic in our scene. I feel a common misconception is that any product manufactured in China is a low quality, bulk-made product with cheap prices that destroy the market for legitimate companies and may also dissuade newcomers from further integrating into the hobby if they are dissatisfied with the inferior Chinese products.

I would like to make a few key points of my thoughts on this issue:

1 - I agree that bulk-made Chinese fingerboard products are inferior to other products
Regular Tech Decks, "China trucks", "China wheels" and "China tape" are inferior to equivalent products made by most other companies. China trucks are cheap and although they do their job quite well for the cheap price are still inferior to Close Up trucks, BRTs and Ytrucks. China bearing wheels' material feels unsuitable for fingerboarding and many of the bearings have problems but are still sold. The tape is not bad for a low price tape, though it is fragile and I prefer other tapes. As for the decks, I can't honestly comment as I've not tried one but I have heard of problems with their shape and lack of countersinking and lacquer. However, I am not saying that no one should buy these things if they are inferior to other products. There are also modifications of these products to make them better but I still think other products are better than these mods.

2 - Buying Chinese products can support good distributions
Flatface are known for selling "Dump trucks". They're simply rebranded China trucks but Flatface sells these as a cheaper truck for people who can't afford more expensive trucks but also supports the scene by sponsoring events worldwide. However, not all distributions that sell Chinese products are there to support the scene but simply sell them for their own profit. You should not support these distros.

3 - Not all products from China are bad
I noticed a lot of people talking about the new Life decks from Hong Kong sold on Flatface and people automatically assuming they were bad.

Check out some other products they make in China...

Here are some glow in the dark bearing wheels for 99 (+10 to 30) CNY


Translucent bearing wheels for 89 (+?) CNY


Plaza kit, 5999 (+200 to 800) CNY


Size:


Some ramps for 599 (+20 to 60) CNY


Bike rack for 59 (+10 to 30) CNY


Planter for 139 (+20 to 40) CNY


Box/container for 120 (+10 to 30) CNY


Stone bench for 80 (+10 to 30) CNY


Just some stuff I've found. There are other wheels, ramps, rails and stuff too but I wanted to show the ones I thought were most interesting. This stuff isn't mine but I think I will buy the 2 sets of wheels I posted here.

Glad you brought this topic here Xi, it gives a small insight to a community that seems to have been shunted by the recent mass-produced products.

nice topic

Where do they sell the glow in the dark wheels?

Danny Hynam wrote:

Where do they sell the glow in the dark wheels?

i think fingerdecks sells them

^ In that case, I'll pass. xD

I have no problem with Dump Trucks or products being sold by companies like Flatface that I know is going back to the scene.

What I do have a problem with...

Companies trying to pass of China products as if they were their own original products that were made with the same love as a Berlinwood or a homemade deck. This kind of bullshit makes me all sorts of mad.

Nobody buys a pair of dumptrucks because they want really awesome products, they buy them because they need a pair of trucks and know that if the money goes to Mike it's at least going to make it's way back into the scene somehow.

Good topic my friend melvin needs to read this.

damn if the glow in the dark ones are actually decent wheels i definately want a set!

Where can I buy that rail???

Peter.A wrote:

Where can I buy that rail???

Found all these on taobao.com

do you have antionce fingerboard. xi

nitromelvin wrote:

do you have antionce fingerboard. xi

no one knows antiiomce melvin they are just shit china products i think xi is showing us the good part of china fingerboards

The glow in the dark wheels look good.

the flowers in the planter box is a bit over the top but nonetheless some of it looks really good.

im really liking the translucent bearing wheels i can picture those on a sick old school set up

This is really cool

I wanna know who those people with those ramps are!
I wanna know how good these guys are!

I find it absolutely fascinating when there are like whole scenes that we just happen to know nothing about - like Japan!
So cool

This topic is extremely controversial; as a result, I'll briefly state my opinion: I believe that supporting companies that support the scene is the best thing you can do as a consumer, period. There is almost no debating that.

Not all products from China are bad; that is the truth in everything, but mass produced products will never be the BEST. Think about it in terms of pool sticks (I am a big pool player): a handmade, custom cue will outperform any cue made in a factory. Another example: guitars. Guitars made overseas are generally cheap, guitars that are made with love and care will perform the best.

So are products from China hurting the scene? Quite possibly, but there is also the opposite argument that cheaper products helps promote fingerboarding because it makes it more accessible. If you want quality, you know where to go and that you will have to pay for it!

Xi could you help me get that bike rack??

^Look at you signature, and then look at what you posted.

Get one from close up or flatface.

I know but thats for like china wheels and stuff, i agree with him with greedy distributors... But this one bike rack would be so perfect. Ive always wanted one but Im not gonnna pay 50 USD for one from Flatface....

Cheers for clearing it up Xi, an interesting read too!

I've only ever tried China tape, and agree on everything you've said here.

CasparH wrote:

I know but thats for like china wheels and stuff, i agree with him with greedy distributors... But this one bike rack would be so perfect. Ive always wanted one but Im not gonnna pay 50 USD for one from Flatface....

Thats exactly the same thinking that makes people buy china stuff.

HarryYeates wrote:

Cheers for clearing it up Xi, an interesting read too!

I've only ever tried China tape, and agree on everything you've said here.

You have surely tried China Trucks...


And Alex J, It may be the wrong way of thinking but I guess since its so cheap its soo hrad to resist!

So what is china tape? I heard it is good.