Do You Recall "Made in the USA"?

I certainly will be making a concerted effort to buy North American this Christmas.

I will not put up with purchasing anymore offshore crap.

The problem isn't just that products from overseas (or from south of the border for that matter) are cheaper. A couple years ago I was working in the construction field and I wanted to buy American, so I bought all my clothes at a local store that had many American products. I bought a pair of work boots that cost $130 and were made in the USA, I figured these would last a while but after only about six months they were junk...and I mean every part of them fell apart. After that I went to "Wally World" as I call it and bought a $25 pair of work boots made in China...they lasted me over a year and a half. I try to buy American when I can, but companies have to start taking pride in that "Made in USA" stamp again.

Once upon a time every toy and some other items in the 5 & 10 bore the label or inscription "Made in Japan" or "Made in Nipon." They bought all the scrap iron then for 'toys?' and shipped it back to us beginning 12/07/41 !

Same game today, same scenario, different actors. Not simple cut finger, and stick a bandage on it and kiss it to make it feel better toys but lethal poisonous toys that can kill innocent kids and unsuspecting parents who are oblivious to the dangers.

I don't believe american products are any better, but they are certainly safer. I think this is a unique opprotunity for american producers to ramp up thier quality and give foreign products a one-two punch that will keep american consumers buying american made products even if they cost more. My feeling is that the lead paint/date rape drug toys are the result of cost cutting by foreign producers due to the weakening dollar and improving asian markets, but the need to keep prices low for the still important american markets. I don't remember any of my He-Man, Transformers, matchbox/hot wheels cars or GI Joe toys from the early 80's ever having lead paint scares, and they were all made in China.

I do belive that when Americans build a quality product, it is vastly superior to asian built ones. For example, how many of us, in the last 5 years, have seen a tri-five ('55,'56,'57) chevrolet bel-air? How many have you seen? Now, in the last 5 years, how many early 1980's Honda civics have you seen? Not a fair compairison? Ok, how many 1980's AMC Eagles have you seen? (I personally see them EVERYWHERE still being used as daily drivers). Ever notice how Corvettes never really depreciate?

Of course, the "made in america/hencho en mexico/made in china" lines are being blurred everyday. I reccently saw a Honda (or maybe it was a Hundai) that was wholly manufactured in Huntsville Alabama with the exception of the engine.

I am now rallying around "Made in USA" products. I had so much trouble finding the items in the store that I started doing online research. Believe it or not, there are still MANY products made in USA. I created a database so consumers can find things really easy. You can find it at www.madebyyankees.net

As for the boots, there are MANY boot manufactures in the USA. I'm sure someone has quality boots. By the way, I would be interested in knowing the USA Brand that didn't hold up.

Thanks

The boot company was Thorogood (not sure if I spelled that right).

Here in canada we are bombarded with chinese products, all of which are junk. Some of them are of course cheap but you get get you pay for, more or less, usually less. That is o.k if you buy something to be disposable but if you want to have something that lasts, works, and keeps working buy American or Canadian. Last week in Home Depot I bought a 4 ft. level, made by Blue Streak in the U.S.A. I wasn't going there to buy a level. I already have several, but the made in U.S.A. label caught my eye and with very careful examination, everything about it screams quality. Beautifully made. It was $37. Around the corner was a rack of made in China 4 ft. levels made of plastic. Everything about that one absolutely reaks of junk. Practically worthless as a level, not bad for beating of an attacking dog. It was $13. 1/3 of the price, 1/100th the quality. Actual cost to the carpenter, made in U.S.A. priceless, made in China, worthless.

As for the lad with the work boots, be aware, scam artists are importing crap and labelling them with domestic labels of manufacturers and regulators.

I always buy American whenever possible, and when you factor in aggravation and lost time and general B.S. it's way cheaper

Here, Here Ripsaw!!!

I've got to agree with you on every point. I've noticed here in Canada you have to be very careful of "Made in America" labels. If you check your products carefully you will usually always find the Chinese knockoffs have some Mandarin on them somewhere (id tags, inspector tags,etc.). I've also noticed here in Canada that some of these Chinese knockoff manufacturers have even gone to great lengths to copy CSA (Canada Standards Association) tags.

Buyer Beware but you can find good, quality, genuine made in America products.

Just as Ripsaw has.

UFG

Thanks UFG

I might mention that also on C.B.C. radio last week they had a documentary about that and they said that the government has tracked 30,000 products that were cheap knock offs of the real thing. A lot of them had the C.S.A. label on them (for our American friends this is the Canadian Standards Association which is actually far more stringent with electrical goods than the u.l.c.)

They actually were going to stores and confiscating Christams lights with a phoney C.S.A. label because they were so cheap that they had caused fires. YIKES!!

I intend to send this link http://www.madebyyankees.net/ submitted by one of our friends earlier to every one I know

Stay alive, Buy American

I will shamelessly plug, and continue to plug Sears Roebuck & Co. They have more made in USA products than any other that I am a ware of. The also continue to demonstrate responsible community concern.

My 4 year old son will reply when asked "What is the only good store in the mall"?

"Sears"

Unfortunately Sears Canada buyers outsource most of their buying to China. We here in Canada cannot buy the same quality tools and especially the toolboxes that you get in the US.

I also strongly believe that this issue is important. So much so that I started http://america.nmade.info/ - a website that features quality American made products and categorizes them by state of manufacture.

Whatever country you are from, it is better for your economy if you support businesses within your country. This just makes economic and environmental sense.

I'm glad that there is such a lively discussion about this issue.