I can't explain everyone else's aversion to Chinese products, but I can explain mine, which I suspect a number of people are likely to share.
First, there was a time when Japanese products were looked down upon (long before I was a consumer, in fact, it started before I was born), but they, as a nation, quickly learned that people didn't want to buy junk. By the mid-80's, they were recognized as making top-notch products that were highly sought.
Korea was much the same story, only the time lines started later.
China could be similar, but I think things may be a little different here, but before I go into the why or how, I want to say what it is that has put me off of their products. Children's toys laced with lead, milk and pet food laced with melamine, virtually no environmental controls on pollution, lack of regard by their government for human lives, exploitation of their workforce, many of whom are children, poor quality control on critical safety products, which allow products that can fail catastrophically make it into the supply stream in large numbers, cutting corners in the manufacturing process leading to an inferior product... I can go on. Sure, there are many other countries that will have these same or similar issues, but there is no other country who's products are in the markets worldwide in as large a volume.
With China, the scenario seems to be different than it is with Japan and Korea. The latter two are capitalist countries, and they learned what the markets wanted in order to survive. China is a communist country, with a government that has a less than stellar record. Companies from capitalist countries want to do business with China, for several reasons. Firstly, they are the world's largest market, so a great place to sell product. But they are also a closed market, and the government forces companies to set up joint venture plants there in order to be able to sell their products in China, and share their technology. Because of this investment and/or the very cheap labour, and low production costs due to lack of environmental regulations, many companies are finding it very cheap to produce what appears to be the same product they've made elsewhere, for far less. Corporate greed, and pressure from consumers worldwide for lower prices (both are at play) mean more production is shifting to the red nation. Maybe costs are 50% lower there, but consumers may see a 10% reduction in price - the consumer is satisfied getting a lower priced product, and corporate greed satisfied as they pocket the rest.
So what about quality driving consumers away? For many products, the lower quality is not a big issue (like clothing). Economies in many countries right now are not fairing too well, and consumers are trying to pinch every penny, so often, low cost wins. Quality shortcomings are often not revealed until large quantities of that product have been sold, and an investigation/recall later ensues. And with many product categories, there is no alternative but made in China any more.
Until the government changes there, there will not be the forces to drive environmental compliance to what most of the western world considers acceptable, nor will the labour force be treated fairly. Enforcement of safety regulations won't happen until then, and therefore dangerous products will continue to be produced on a large scale there.
Quality control (as well as environmental and workforce issues) are now entirely in the hands of the company that is sourcing goods there. If that manufacturer sets up their own factory, they can influence this hugely, and can, if they so desire, build a product that is just as good as one built anywhere else. But that is just it - if they so desire. Not all of them do, as that raises production costs. If the factory is an outsourced one, then most things go out the window. Look at Mattel. And how are you, as a consumer going to be able to tell how your Chinese sourced product was made when you see it on the shelf at Walmart?
This could happen with factories in other countries with similar circumstances.
I am sure there are some flaws in my argument, and I'm sure there are those who will argue the flaws, but overall, I stand by my argument.