Tools

[DieselSaves]

Sorry but I am not paying money for all American Made goods. If the American product is comparable in price I will purchase it. If I am buyinjg a floor jack and a chinese floor jack is $90 and the American Made floor jack is $350, guess what floor jack I am buying.

A lot of times you can't even buy certain made American made goods, they don't exist! To produce them here would price them totally out of the market.

I remember debating these arguments since I first started checking COO labels on products. Over the years the causes of the shift, from making things in America to simply making the profits in America, have become clearer. China artificially suppressing its currency, ever increasing regulations on American manufacturing, all of the political minutiae that is a firestorm in itself, that's just business. Average peoples lack of concern for where this road leads is what is really disheartening. Their embracing this new model almost makes me angry.

I like how this board in general shys away from politics. Tools are good, wholesome things. They do no evil, they make our lives better. This issue might just transcend the product itself.

$.02

 

[jd_1138]

Yeah, the topic of global economics is way too big to discuss fully in a forum dedicated to garages and tools, so ANY post about it will be incomplete. The person in the quote with the example of the $350 American jack and the $90 Chinese one -- those #'s are way off. An American jack would not be that much more in cost. Gotta remember that those cheap Chinese jacks have to be shipped around the world, and there are other costs associated with Chinese products (increased warranty claims, loss of loyal customers, degrading the customer base, etc.).

My friend has a '96 Ford F150 with about 350,000 miles on it. I am glad it wasn't made in China. It wouldn't have lasted this long had it been. He just went today and picked up his Amish construction crew in it and is towing their massive utility trailer full of tools. The proof is in the pudding. Go to YouTube and watch all the videos of elevators in China failing. There are actual clips of people being cut in half. The value of life is not as great in certain areas. People are looked upon as cogs in the system.

 

[Dave455]

Here in the U.K. I can buy a British made 3/16 screwdriver for a couple of pounds, but ... I need to take the trouble to find one, and then order it online or whatever!

Alternatively, I can buy one straight away from the nearest DIY shop! The DIY shop version will be Taiwanese if I'm lucky, and Chinese if I'm not! The former won't be good, the latter useless, and either will cost me MORE than the British made version bought sensibly (The profit going to the shop, probably a big chain)!

So, it's not always about money! Sometimes it simply comes down to caring enough about the things we buy to ensure we get a good deal, and taking the trouble to find and source decent stuff! That DIY shop is usually full of blokes moaning how bad the quality is 'today', but who can't be bothered to do something about it!

P.S. I'm not some 'Buy British' fanatic. I like to support British firms, but mainly because they supply such decent stuff at such fair prices! I'm equally happy supporting U.S. companies, or German, or whatever, who do the same! What I'm not prepared to do is give some greedy shop chain £4 for a screwdriver that probably costs 20 pence!!!

 

[FarmerPete]

A few years back I started looking at COO on food products. So many times I would just by the item that was cheapest. It never even crossed my mind that they might be from different countries. I remember buying a can of mushrooms. One was from Pennsylvania, and the other was from China. The China one was $0.10 cheaper. (Not insignificant on a $0.60 can). I don't mind spending $0.10 here and there to support USA business, but often you don't have a choice. If the price difference was more, it's hard to take the moral high ground when ultimately, I'm probably just throwing my money away.

 

[John in OH]

This topic has been debated dozens of times on this forum to the point that it is just a waste of time.

But, the issue is not just economic. There are serious cultural, social and ethical issues as well as the global competitive concerns. Take a few minutes to read this recent CNN article on Chinese labor camps:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/world/asia/china-labor-camp-halloween-sos/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Whenever possible (and it isn't always possible) I try to avoid Chinese products as I don't want my money supporting a culture that is rotten at its core.

 

[scaron]

i think everyone should try to support their domestic manufacturers and work force as much as possible.

it always bugs me when people say "i don't give a f*** about american manufacturing or american workers" or "well, my job will never get offshored so why do i have to care" but as niemoller said, "first they came...". supporting labor arbitrage and other such facets of our neo-gilded-age economy will hurt us all eventually.

you think the chinese care about us? they don't. if we don't care, who will?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

In my terms:
"China" is short for "communist red china".. or "communist" for short.. I have my share of "communist" ****, but I do not brag about it...
Sad thing is, there are good workers over there that are just trying to make a living and support their families. Will they work for food and shelter?.....

We have corporate bean counters and tougher gov. regulations. Then the unions get bashed... The result is fewer USA jobs...... Pisses me off...

 

[richfinn]

I bought a new Honda as it was UK built.

I try to buy UK made clothes and boots

I buy USA/German/UK tools if I can

I buy Chinese electronic gadgets because no one else can get anywhere close to the quality for the price. I would love a Bang and Oulofsen Hifi but it's out of my league.

I don't knock the Chinese man in the street the are polite hard working and innovative.

I honestly believe the political structure there will collapse as the quality of ROC goods increases. Money always trumps ideology eventually.