In the case of the Sceptre products, even the consumer-reviews seem to be a good indication that you take a risk when you buy that brand.
On the Chinese manufacture. Here's my casual understanding of a history behind it. In this regard, I'm responding to a letter I saw in the LA Times today about "product reliability" and USA-manufacture. While I might agree with the writer's sentiment, I don't believe she "got it right."
W.E. Deming had gone around to American manufacturers to sell his "quality control" approach based on industrial applied statistics. That was in the late 1940's. They didn't listen. He started consulting with the Japanese, even when MacArthur was still Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. By the late '70s, Iacocca was accusing the Japanese of "dumping" cars into the US market, but Deming's work had come to fruition: tolerances were tighter, and despite rust-prone body panels, you got high-quality for what you paid to get a Honda. Ford Motor jumped on the bandwagon in the early '80s -- I know, because I participated in a consulting staff working with Deming and Ford.
The entire point -- applied further toward consumer electronics -- is that "quality" requires a "culture." At the same time, ask any older Chinese what they think of the Japanese. They still remember the "Rape of Nanking." I think they're still undergoing a cultural transformation of their industry, too intent on short-run profits, lax on intellectual-property rights and government regulation of trade and safety.
So while there may be some good consumer electronics products coming out of Chinese factories, you're best to do some research on the history of a product's "reliability."
Sansui -- still based in Japan -- has supposedly outsourced some of its manufacture to China, and lost its reputation (it owned Akai and Nakamichi). It is now considered to be a manufacturer of low-end, mass-market products. We took a chance on a Sansui LED_LCD TV for a small den-room, and were stunned at what we got for the price. On the other hand, we're waiting to see how long it lasts.
As for ghosting, I've had Viewsonic, Hanns-G and Hannspree monitors, an LG HDTV and the 24" Sansui I mentioned. I've never seen this ghosting -- gaming, home-theater application or regular broadcast TV. Never seen it before. Yet I have a friend with an old one-ton Sony tube-style early HDTV, and he insists that he has "ghosting." I just think . . . it's time for him to make a trip to the Goodwill dropoff and then on to COSTCO or some place where they sell the newer technology.
By the way. If you are fond of shrimp on your dinner-plate -- get it from USA, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand or Mexico. But don't buy Chinese shrimp. Not if you value your health.
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