Some very valid points, but there's always two perspectives to a story. My cleaning company which I run is treated as a hobby and something that I thoroughly enjoy. My import operations are run purely as a business mechanism, in business there are no ethics apart from the profit margin and if you can be cheaper than the competitors and provide the same service, whilst maintaining a low fixed cost your on to a winner. As pointed out my experience with whirlaway is one of a good one. I recently had a few bad ones in a bunch, they where good enough to have them returned back and on inspection, it was a factory fault, even my shipping was reimbursed!!!!!! I have recently started supplying a limited amount of equipment to organisations that treat Japanese knotweed, my product may be inferior to others that are available on the market, but my sales growth has seen a 30% growth month on month.
It's not always what you know it's sometimes a case of who you know. I know of individuals who import goods that you would think how the hell did they manage that, its all about greasing the middle mans palms, not ethical but fact.