What would you have done? (American made vs. China)

[chillywilly]

Needed a clicking bathtub drain cap for my kids bathtub in oil rubbed bronze finish. Went to Von Tobel hardware store because it was close even though I knew I'd pay a small premium for not using a big box retailer like Home Depot or Menards. Walked in and it was $27.99 (American Made) but they didn't have the finish I needed. Went to the other side of town (Menards) which I didn't want to but they had it in my size and finish for $6.99 (Brand Made in China) 4 times more at the previous store. I bought chinese one from Menards because it was in stock and because of the price.

What would you of done?

 

[chords]

Tough call

 

[maddogg]

I have so much on my plate that I would have unfortunately bought the Chinese one too. Don't feel bad. Some projects just need to get done.

 

[matti]

I would've bought the Chinese one.

 

[ezra]

if they dont have the color then u have to get the china.
if they had the brushed bronze I would have payed the money .
if only hoping it would last longer than 2 yrs max out of the china john Menard special.
all the newer trap kits are crap

 

[rev500]

Reason for Low Price

It is a tough call. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid buying China product. My job has taken me to China 14 times in the last three years. I can tell you there is a reason for the low price and it is not just low labor cost. China labor rates are going up fast. In our business when we quote new business we have to use a special quote form for year over year labor costs increase for China. China is now outsourcing to other country's for low cost labor! My company has fought to keep our North American business supported out of our North American plant and we have. We can be just as competitive and continue to be. Our China plants builds for the local market there.

 

[lenny]

I agree tough call,,,I have a friend that only buys car parts on line from Rock Auto and always brags about the deals he gets but he's constantly buying parts. I believe the parts are inferior and do not last as long but in a pinch sometimes we need to get er done.

 

[Hoosier]

I would have done what you did - the color you needed wasn't available.

I just had to buy a new diverter for my shower. Bought the Chinese one from Menards because it matched up to the broken chinese one on there. I'd like to replace all the plumbing on that bath/shower at some point, so that's why I went cheap. Hard to argue with $7 vs. 28, but I assume there is more than just country of origin for a 4x price multiple.

 

[indy_500]

I agree tough call,,,I have a friend that only buys car parts on line from Rock Auto and always brags about the deals he gets but he's constantly buying parts. I believe the parts are inferior and do not last as long but in a pinch sometimes we need to get er done.

can't buy usa parts hardly anymore for cars. I always buy online but ebay shop for all my auto parts, always get the best brand available for the same price as the auto parts store wants for the in house chinese crap.

 

[polarisrider1]

can't buy usa parts hardly anymore for cars. I always buy online but ebay shop for all my auto parts, always get the best brand available for the same price as the auto parts store wants for the in house chinese crap.

Ya right. Hayes Clutches how american is that. Box is printed here maybe. Clutch disc fron Argentina, Presure plate from India, Throw out bearing from Thiland, Boxed in Peru and sold to me thinking I was still buying American. Ya south american for some of it. Try to find a Timkin bearing, Borg Beck presure plate and a tru Hayes clutch disc anymore.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

chinese....only because its what you need'd

 

[anonomoose]

Nope! Not gunna do it....
We all rationalize our purchases, even when we know it is costing us in the long run. At what point do we say, enough?
I won't buy food or candy made outside the country
I won't buy tools made outside the country, I buy used when possible assuring that.
I won’t buy Chinese knock-offs for car parts either.
I won't put a neighbor out of work to save a few dollars because ultimately what HE buys or should I say....what he WOULD have bought if he had his job still, supports me.
What you needed to do is get away from the box stores who eagerly sell the cheap stuff to you who don't discriminate, and put the company that is hanging on for dear life out of business. Get on line and buy it there…..ask if it is made in USA or the great beyond sucking our dollars away.

Go to Germany and see what THEY do...they understand that buying anything other than GERMAN is putting your fellow man out of work...so they don't do it.

If we stop buying this crap, they won't offer it....if ten thousand people did this, it would make a difference....if ten million did it, the process would stop completely.
There is always a 3rd world country to exploit, slave labor rates, child labor laws don't exist, and pollution is something that is just a way of life.
Each one of us can make a difference each time we strap on the Chevy and head for the store....look at the label, make the choice....it helps us all!
We control our whole destiny for our grand kids, and it is up to each one of us to remember that.
I won't use that junk and it is junk. You will be lucky if you don't have to replace that thing again in a year when the weld on the back breaks off or the finish flakes off. Jumping back in there to fix it again.....means you didn't save a thing.
Here is how I do it.....I look at where it is made and even though it costs 27 dollars if I HAD no other alternative, I would lay out the bread for the USA part. Yeah, I paid more for it but I also sent a message that I won't be sucker punched....and the bean counters back in the high rises who get the numbers can see that this time it didn't work.
In reality...there IS NO ALTERNATIVE, IS THERE??? The job you save will be your son's or daughter's job. Contrary to all the talking heads....not everyone can get employed in the "service sector" of our economy.

 

[fish633]

Annonmoose,Spot on brother.

 

[byrn71]

I agree, but I also believe that the American quality isn't what it used to be. Companies have to cut so much just to make a dime and with all those cuts comes poor quality and insufficiant materials. I try to buy American when I ever I can, but I dont do it because its going to last any longer, I am just proud of the country I live in.

 

[snoluver1]

So are we just talking about China vs America here, or any other country vs America?

I wasn't aware America actually "made" stuff anymore. Even if it says "made in America", 9 times out of 10 it was usually just package or assembled here. Most likely by an illegal, who sent his paycheck back home to mama Sita.
Even if a product is actually made here, it was made on a machine full of foreign parts, it was put on a truck or train full of foreign parts, and the fuel they used to ship it around the country came from foreign soil.

No mater how you slice it up, we live in a global economy and I don't see that changing anytime soon! PLEASE, someone correct me if I'm wrong.!!!

 

[anonomoose]

We live in a global economy because the MAN says we should. What is it getting you?

Who gets hurt when a stainless steel company opens up in a country far away, and turns around and ships it back to us and we buy it in our "discount" stores, who are we going to blame if another company doing business here say in Wisconsin cuts way back on staff and tries to survive?

It ALL makes a difference. We have been TRAINED to not think that way. WE allow it to happen because we are complacent and just shrug our shoulders and say, "Gee whiz, nobody makes it here anymore...."

If we all do that, we might as well start changing our primary language from English to ......

Make a difference, and LOOK the next time you are about to buy. We aren't as global as you think, and the more we do to change that the better your son or daughter will have it. Teach them to do it too. In the end...if you don't buy it they won't bring it. Create a job.....buy American and remember to check every single time you buy something...it matters.

 

[Hoosier]

So are we just talking about China vs America here, or any other country vs America?

I wasn't aware America actually "made" stuff anymore. Even if it says "made in America", 9 times out of 10 it was usually just package or assembled here. Most likely by an illegal, who sent his paycheck back home to mama Sita.
Even if a product is actually made here, it was made on a machine full of foreign parts, it was put on a truck or train full of foreign parts, and the fuel they used to ship it around the country came from foreign soil.

No mater how you slice it up, we live in a global economy and I don't see that changing anytime soon! PLEASE, someone correct me if I'm wrong.!!!

Bergstrom carbides are made in your state of IL. One example.

 

[98panther]

I would have bought the USA $27.99 part.
Then found a local USA company to re-plate it in the correct color.

Nothing but the best for my kids drain!

 

[chillywilly]

Nope! Not gunna do it....
We all rationalize our purchases, even when we know it is costing us in the long run. At what point do we say, enough?
I won't buy food or candy made outside the country
I won't buy tools made outside the country, I buy used when possible assuring that.
I won’t buy Chinese knock-offs for car parts either.
I won't put a neighbor out of work to save a few dollars because ultimately what HE buys or should I say....what he WOULD have bought if he had his job still, supports me.
What you needed to do is get away from the box stores who eagerly sell the cheap stuff to you who don't discriminate, and put the company that is hanging on for dear life out of business. Get on line and buy it there…..ask if it is made in USA or the great beyond sucking our dollars away.

Go to Germany and see what THEY do...they understand that buying anything other than GERMAN is putting your fellow man out of work...so they don't do it.

If we stop buying this crap, they won't offer it....if ten thousand people did this, it would make a difference....if ten million did it, the process would stop completely.
There is always a 3rd world country to exploit, slave labor rates, child labor laws don't exist, and pollution is something that is just a way of life.
Each one of us can make a difference each time we strap on the Chevy and head for the store....look at the label, make the choice....it helps us all!
We control our whole destiny for our grand kids, and it is up to each one of us to remember that.
I won't use that junk and it is junk. You will be lucky if you don't have to replace that thing again in a year when the weld on the back breaks off or the finish flakes off. Jumping back in there to fix it again.....means you didn't save a thing.
Here is how I do it.....I look at where it is made and even though it costs 27 dollars if I HAD no other alternative, I would lay out the bread for the USA part. Yeah, I paid more for it but I also sent a message that I won't be sucker punched....and the bean counters back in the high rises who get the numbers can see that this time it didn't work.
In reality...there IS NO ALTERNATIVE, IS THERE??? The job you save will be your son's or daughter's job. Contrary to all the talking heads....not everyone can get employed in the "service sector" of our economy.

I agree with alot of what you said, but isn't paying 4 times as much alot like getting "sucker punched" ???

 

[snoluver1]

Bergstrom car bides are made in your state of IL. One example.

The iron ore for those skegs was dug out of the ground with a Caterpillar backhoe with an engine made in India/China. Then it was put on a train with a Cummins engine made in Britan and shipped to a foundry where they put it in a blast furnace made in Spain. Next we put it on a truck with a Mecedes engine made in Germany. Now we put it in a press/milling machine etc, etc. The DC controls on that machine were made in Mexico. The dies where made in Japan. Now we need to package it. Plastic made from an injection molding machine made in Korea. Print cartrage for the lableing made in Twain. It goes on and on and on.

You see where I'm going with this? Just because a product says made in USA, does not mean that company isn't supporting foreign economies.