Foreign Made Tools

[Merkava_4]

Great comments.

And you did not cover the economic reality that is happening today. You import because it is cheap without corresponding local and export production, the value of your currency goes down and soon the cheap **** costs you more than the stuff it replaced.

Lets see Japan was cheap, currency changed now they have to produce here or elsewhere, we cannot afford the made in Japan and that was just the start, it keeps happening.

So along with the above, I usually find that long term I end up paying more or having to buy HF class junk. The high quality imports seem to currently be going for the same or little more than locally made.

What you said would work fine if China didn't fix the value of their currency to the American dollar; if they allowed their currency to float like other countries do, then maybe the falling value of the American dollar would make the cost of their products go up and we could compete on a level playing field.

 

[rsanter]

what it comes down to is reputation and perception.
we accept the foreign stuff that work and has earned a reputation as such and the perception is that there are no electronics made in the US anymore. we have become adjusted to this 'reality'

with the tools, we still have suppliers that make them in the US and some of the brands are near and dear to out hearts. just think about the situation with 'new coke', we did not like the change because they were changing something that had gone beyond the brand name.

craftsman, snap on, coke, etc have made 'collector' items and clothing and such that we are willing to buy (read that...we are paying to advirtise for them). when was the last time you saw a collector line for dell computers or motorolla phones?

chinese tools have the reputation of junk
chinese electronics have the reputation to work
note I say reputation....


on another note. a company that I used to work for put out a request for quote for some plastic items. there was a company in LA that was very price compeditive with china. when I visited their plant it was spotless clean and highly automated. had a whole mold shop full of highly skilled (and well paid) mold makers and some great CNC equipment as well as some of the traditional manual machines. this company has bothered to do what it takes to be modern and compeditive. by the way, they make a bunch of the plastic parts that go into the made in the USA jap cars that people buy.

it can be done, the owners of the manufacturing plants have to be willing to open their eyes and do it.

bob