Buy American!

[SUPERCOUPE]

That's already happening actually. I believe the numbers were for 2007, that showed only 45% of US companies who moved operations to China were realizing any profit from it. 2008 fuel costs must have been a Real crusher! The Whole Problem is that the entire basis for doing business has become to satisfy the needs of the short term instant gratification investor. Meanwhile we are at the point of collapse from the short sightedness of this exact thing. A couple bucks in dividends to the average US investor who's livelyhood has been destroyed can't replace what's lost and don't mean Anything! Meanwhile the fat cats got in made money on large stock trades and got out, leaving US to not only hold the bag, but to REpurchase the bag! Add the fact that China, remember COMMUNIST CHINA has a long history of never doing any fair trading. Stealing every technology they can/which we've now Given them. And now they OWN us because that's where all this bailout money is coming from and will be paid back to with interest.

Alright, with that I'm logging out before this becomes too political for thinner skinned individuals and gets this thread locked.

 

[BooUrns!]

Canada makes things? Really, other that maple syrup and Canadian Bacon, what is made in Canada? I know they make some car parts and assemble them there, but what else???

In order to sell their products in our country, the Big 3 were required to set up separate companies and manufacturing facilities here in Canada (this was a policy put in place way back before NAFTA). So they just went across the river from Detroit and set up shop in Windsor/Missisuaga etc. Essentially it's the same place, just an international boundary in there somewhere. They also found it somewhat advantageous as the American dollar has traditionally had more buying power up here. Our manufacturing sector was in real trouble last year when the dollar reached parity. Their fiscal advantage dissapeared.

BTW: the canadian subsidiaries of the big 3 aren't in as much financial trouble as their american parent companies but we're still bailing them out anyway.

Other than that, what do we produce? Natural resources: Wood Water and OIL/NG. We're a resource economy. I'm sure there are some other types of manufactured goods but the majority of the stuff we sell to the US is stuff you need to make other things.

So buy american, just make sure you've bought Canadian first.

 

[brad d]

Guys I could be way off on this one but this has always bugged me.... all the US/CDN/EU companies shipped their plants and labour over to China for one reason. To increase share holders profits. Who are those share holders anyway!!!!

I would not say its for profits.. our company buys some raw materials from China.. we do this to be competitive and to be able to pass on the savings that our customers demand.. that in turn there customers demand. This is in the window and door industry.

And I don't think any one pay on par for china made goods.. I just got a bendpak XRP10.. I know some of it is made in china and expect it for the price.. but at the same time I dont expect it to be of the same quality as a Mohawk.. nor would I pay the same price for it.


The main way I see companys making more profit from china is by selling in volume. Think of a simple product like a engine hoist.. back in the day not many people had them because they were pricey, but people who needed them had them and weekend warriors rented them.. But now with shops like harbor fright and northern tool this stuff is so cheap why not own it?? like a engine stand for 25$.. people use to make them.. but why bother now?

 

[DHS]

With companys like Walmart driving prices down with no concern about quaility, Manufacture have to either go with china made or go out of business. I love to buy American when I can but it is getting harder and harder. Also I believe that Unions also drive the prices much higher in the USA.

 

[SUPERCOUPE]

I would not say its for profits.. our company buys some raw materials from China.. we do this to be competitive and to be able to pass on the savings that our customers demand.. that in turn there customers demand. This is in the window and door industry.

And I don't think any one pay on par for china made goods.. I just got a bendpak XRP10.. I know some of it is made in china and expect it for the price.. but at the same time I dont expect it to be of the same quality as a Mohawk.. nor would I pay the same price for it.


The main way I see companys making more profit from china is by selling in volume. Think of a simple product like a engine hoist.. back in the day not many people had them because they were pricey, but people who needed them had them and weekend warriors rented them.. But now with shops like harbor fright and northern tool this stuff is so cheap why not own it?? like a engine stand for 25$.. people use to make them.. but why bother now?

I'm confused, do you mean raw materials literally? Or component products? I was of the impression that the raw materials were flowing Into China. IE scrap prices @ $350ton over the summer due to Chinese mfg needs.

I'm guilty of buying some Chinese equipment that was cheaper and expected to be usable but lower quality myself. I nearly bought the American sheetmetal brake, but on the advice of a graybeard got the cheaper unit to build capital and afford the higher priced unit later. It does give those of us starting out an advantage in initial cost, but that's paid back in labor to use inferior goods. The engine hoist for expl. is a rinkydink affair compared to the old American one I got at auction for $65! If people could afford better tools I think they'd buy them. But globalization is the enemy. Our standard of living is under attack just as our liberties, and soon enough we realize that we can't even afford the cheap Chinese junk anymore. Not to mention that so few can even afford to buy the services we intend to render with these products. So the cycle worsens. BUY AMERICAN!

 

[USMCvet]

I try my best to buy American. Not, specifically because I want to support the US economy, which I try to do anyway, but because American products are generally better than Chinese. That being said, I have no problem buying Western European tools either. It is however getting very difficult to buy only American. When you need some tool on the spot and have to go to your nearest hardware store or Home Depot or whatever, you are at the mercy of whatever they sell which is usually Chinese made. When I'm in Europe and I need some tool on the dime and go to a hardware store or whatever the tool I will buy is most likely going to be either made in France, Germany, Spain or Italy, not in China. We are destroying our own economy by limiting our choices. Almost everything sold in this country is Chinese. This is truly pathetic!

How true. We were in HD last year looking for a specific kitchen faucet. Aside from MOEN, all the other brands were Made in China with the one exception of American Standard, which was Made in Mexico. We had to laugh at that one.

 

[M3Pilot]

I got an email from a friend recently suggesting I spend all I can on Tennesse whisky,tatoos & prostitutes. He said that's just about the only things I can get that are for sure made in America. Come to think of it,the prostitutes might be imported too.

 

[brad d]

I'm confused, do you mean raw materials literally? Or component products?

some of our resins and glass fibers, then we turn them into window components here in canada.

 

[jerk_chicken]

It's all been downhill since particleboard became successful.

 

[garfunkle24]

Canada makes things? Really, other that maple syrup and Canadian Bacon, what is made in Canada? I know they make some car parts and assemble them there, but what else???

Montreal has a huge manafacturing sector, including aerospace. Look at Bombardier for an example, planes/tranes etc. Hitachi is another big player up here; Windmills, Heavy Equipment etc. In fact you'll find that the USA has a had a much bigger change from primary and secondary industry to the tertiary (service) industries than Canada has.

We are still a more resource-producing and manafacturing nation than the USA is. Think how rarely you see USA made stuff anymore and then realise that Canada is only like a 10th the population.

How overt do you think the presence of Canadian-made goods is going to be?

 

[Dave88LX]

They don't make it easy to "buy American" these days.

 

[brad d]

I got some tures for my little girls gokart and was happy to see the knobby tires were made in the USA

 

[porschedude996TT]

In order to sell their products in our country, the Big 3 were required to set up separate companies and manufacturing facilities here in Canada (this was a policy put in place way back before NAFTA). So they just went across the river from Detroit and set up shop in Windsor/Missisuaga etc. Essentially it's the same place, just an international boundary in there somewhere. They also found it somewhat advantageous as the American dollar has traditionally had more buying power up here. Our manufacturing sector was in real trouble last year when the dollar reached parity. Their fiscal advantage dissapeared.

BTW: the canadian subsidiaries of the big 3 aren't in as much financial trouble as their american parent companies but we're still bailing them out anyway.

Other than that, what do we produce? Natural resources: Wood Water and OIL/NG. We're a resource economy. I'm sure there are some other types of manufactured goods but the majority of the stuff we sell to the US is stuff you need to make other things.

So buy american, just make sure you've bought Canadian first.

Oh yah, I forgot about all Wood products... The 3/8" OSB that I used for exterior sheeting was made in Canada and it was/is a fine product.

Beer, did someone say Beer? I forgot the obvious. As punishment, I will have to consume mass quantities of Canadian Made Beer as repentance.

 

[fasteddie24]

Its going to be hard to get off the China addiction, your dollar just does not go as far.... Keep in mind that lots of Americans make money from selling, transporting and warehousing these cheap products.

How do you guys feel about Canadian products? My company sells 80% of our product in the US

Canadian products are as close to US made as you'll ever get. We gotta stick together. Love Windsor, great restaurants, bars, but unfortunately, they're suffering like us in Detroit.

 

[ScorpioSnake]

Hi, new to the board...

I try to buy American as much as possible, It's definitely getting more difficult.

I do make an exception when it comes to electronics; I tend to lean towards Japanese manufacturers - they seem to make all the best stuff when it comes to high-tech goodies.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Canada makes things? Really, other that maple syrup and Canadian Bacon, what is made in Canada? I know they make some car parts and assemble them there, but what else???

They make RUSH music and Trailer Park Boys TV shows.

Adam

 

[RaceDeck1]

After reading many of the posts, I think many agree that the main "Import" issues we are talking about are countries like China and for all the reasons that we have discussed in this thread. I do not believe we are losing many jobs to countries like Canada, Germany, England, etc for any of the same reasons we are in China, They are on a whole different playing field, where human rights, enviromental impact and so on are not a consideration.

As a manufacturer, we do compete on a global market and sell RaceDeck all over the world competitively ( except China ).

 

[jeepkj02]

I always prefer buying American over Chinese or any foreign country. Even when they cost more, because I know I'm getting a superior and higher quality product.