The Heat asks: Should Mattel have apologized to China for the toy recalls?

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"The quality issues with Chinese products are more an issue of individual manufacturing and design groups and not generic quality issues with Chinese goods. That does not mean that China does not need to improve its regulatory systems. Having a standard makes it easier for all involved. The final responsibility always lies with the company that orders and sells the product. The Chinese manufacturer was working as a contract manufacturer building a product to a specification. If you put your name on the product you will be held responsible by the consumer for your quality. The contract manufacturer needs to keep a quality reputation if they plan to receive future orders. When Mattel blamed a rogue contract manufacturer for the lead paint problem they were probably correct. When China blamed a incompetent manufacturer for the magnets falling off they were probably correct. Both need to fix their problems and move on." - John D, Miami

"There is no doubt in my mind that China used its influence and power to force Mattel to make this ridiculous apology. Since coming into its own over the last 20 years, China has gone out of its way to prove to the world that it can do whatever it wants with no repercussions. To be fair, the Mattel representative making the apology probably had to choose between his beliefs and his career when deciding to make this absurd statement to China." - Erik W.

"Mattel chose to use Chinese labor (which is often slave labor) to drive down the cost of production and increase profits. The effect has been to the detriment of the middle class work force in the US. This is by design, make no mistake --- corporations are working with the government to erode the standard of living in the Western Hemisphere. When public and private enterprise (read corporations and government) work together the end result is fascism by definition. Mattel should apologize to the American People for their deceit. Furthermore, CNBC should apologize to the American People for allowing Erin Burnett to go on the air and exclaim, 'If China was to remove lead from their toys and poisons from their products, then their cost of production would go up, and the prices of the goods in Wal-Mart would go up. Frankly, right now, China is our best friend.' CNBC’s reporting is shameful. Mattel’s actions are shameful. But then so are the actions of the current Administration." - Terry

"Mattel should apologize to China for overblowing the recalls and giving people around the world such a wrong impression that all the problems are China Made, even when most of the recalls were due to the design problems.  So many politicians and media jump on the China bashing wagon. We do see the underlying hatred towards China.  Even the latest cribs recall today, if you watch the report by CNBC, viewers will end up with such an impression that the problem is 'China Made.' Why not just tell people the TRUTH?  According to what WSJ reported on its website, 'U.S. regulators recalled about one million Chinese-made baby cribs, branded Simplicity and Graco, after the cribs were linked to at least two infant deaths. In both deaths, the cribs were assembled incorrectly by consumers.'  CNBC should be ashamed of its China Bashing Bias."  - Richie C.

"How pathetic. As an investor I would have zero faith in the ability of Mattel's management. To cave to China because the holiday buying season is near shows the same shortsightedness and lack of attention to detail that caused the manufacturing problems. To tell China to stuff it, the correct response, and to set up manufacturing somewhere else would have increased short term losses but would send the necessary message to China." -  Christopher S.

"Mattel should apologize for its lack of quality control and guidance to its Chinese manufacturers. China has more billionaires than the US. They are a huge trading partner and deserve the proper respect and guidance about our many and sometimes frivolous protection laws. They are not the threat economically that our ignorant Politicians and Writers want to project. 99% of the Chinese are dirt poor. They actually live off the land!!  CNBC needs to stop putting '2nd Guessers' on the air unless they have actually spent at least a month in China. You know better. You're quickly becoming 'Talk Radio!'" - James T.

"Not just Mattel should apologize to China, the whole U.S. media should apologize to China for bashing China and Chinese-made products without merit. Why should this even be a question at all? Come on, China makes probably 90% of the toys being sold in the U.S. Of course every time there is a problem toy, it's a good chance that it was made in China. But that does not mean any significant amount of products or toys made in China are bad." - J.W.

"You are sloppy in reporting. There are two issues for Mattel; product design and lead paint. You keep going back and forth with statements re what they are apologizing for or should be,  taking that Congressional bit (the context of lead paint) and then saying that they are inconsistent and using the bit about the 'design' apology, thus making it one issue. You all are getting as sloppy in reporting (or maybe politically motivated) (or more interested in entertainment/ad revenue) as your sisters (or should I call them brothers), NBC News and MSNBC News. It is depressing for me because I appreciate much of your programming and many of the people presenting, but maybe it is just time to switch and try out your competition as I have done with your 'sisters.'" - Lois B.

"I think the issue is not the context of either one of the apologies as they both carry a bit of political agenda in it.  However, maybe we can also look at how suppliers are developed and managed on top of how toys are designed more in depth. Moreover, I am sure we have seen toys being exported from China for many years now. Why is it all of a sudden in 2007 that there is a huge issue? Is there a real economic / business reason(s) for the issue to arise? Inflation over there causes manufacturers to cut corners or Mattel's system and procedure to get the price down?" - Roger T., Canada

"Far too often blame is given to manufacturers, in lieu of the Company that engineers or sets product cost to achieve higher profit margins. Mattel is directly at fault here, and should have made those apologies. When profit overrides safety, those at the top that condone this should suffer the consequences (lawsuits, criminal prosecution, and shame). Our children are our future." - Tiggerooh

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