China products VS USA made.

[rw6298]

We were talking about this lastnight and I wanted to see what you all had to say.


If you were looking at buying a product and there were two different brands of the same product. One that was made in China and another that was made in the USA. You couldn't see anything different in the product but you knew the one that cost less was made in China. Which one would you buy.


How much would the % have to be before you just brought the cheapest one.


10% Less
20% Less
30% Less
40% Less
Would never by a product that was made overseas if I could help it.


I said it would have to be around 40% cost savings before I went with the China one. It would also depend on the cost of the product. If we are talking about $5. I will always stick with USA. But if it's thousands of $. Then I better start looking the product over.

 

[redneckford]

We were talking about this lastnight and I wanted to see what you all had to say.


If you were looking at buying a product and there were two different brands of the same product. One that was made in China and another that was made in the USA. You couldn't see anything different in the product but you knew the one that cost less was made in China. Which one would you buy.


How much would the % have to be before you just brought the cheapest one.


10% Less
20% Less
30% Less
40% Less
Would never by a product that was made overseas if I could help it.


I said it would have to be around 40% cost savings before I went with the China one. It would also depend on the cost of the product. If we are talking about $5. I will always stick with USA. But if it's thousands of $. Then I better start looking the product over.

AND THE ANSWER IS------GO GET WA- M---TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A CHOICE---You will find that many products that claim to be made in the US are made in other countries and "assembled" in the US---Heck people that build stuff in the US shop at Wally World cause they are savings money----who cares about a job---the government will just bail us out!!!!

 

[jinman]

My neighbor is building a small storage shed/workshop. Last Saturday, he bought a small General Electric window unit air conditioner for it. Right on the box it said, "Made in China." My guess is that there are many things we use today with USA brand names that are really outsourced to China, Mexico, India, or other region with low labor costs. For example, is your new grapple you posted about in another thread a completely US product? Where is the steel from? Are the components of the hydraulic cylinder all from the US? How about hoses and fittings?

I recently was talking to a man who makes all the air conditioning vent components for Kubota's RTV line of utility vehicles. My FIL has worked for this man for almost 30 years. I asked him if he did his own injection molding of parts and adjustable louvers. He said that he did all of those in his local shop, but that all his dies and molds were made in China.

There is also a long thread on TBN about Dark Horse Tillers and other implements at TSC. Many people purchased those very inexpensive tillers only to find out they were vastly inferior to the King Kutter that was being copied. The truth is that lower cost is only value when the product delivers at the expected level of quality. If I sell you something for 50% less than any other product, but it breaks the first time I use it, then it is worthless. However, if that product lasts 10 years and the higher priced one lasts 20 years, isn't the value about the same? These are very hard decisions because we have a very broad spectrum of expectations and needs on this forum. I suspect you will get a wide variety of responses.

 

[rback33]

Interesting question RW. You point about the actual cost of the item weighing in is very true. I would have to say in the 30% to 40% myself. That said.. it would be REAL tough for me to buy a Chinese tractor... Others would disagree I know...

 

[texbaylea]

I usually have an idea of what a product is worth to me. If I need to meet that price level and knowing that most of the products now being sold in the US are foreign made I look at the supposed manufacturer. What is their approach, maximize profit or support the customer. I have no hesitancy buying from Grizzly, for example, since I know that they have in factory quality control. Their designs are similar or the same as HF, for example, but I have never had a problem with Grizzly products and would, by preference, buy from them.

Vernon

 

[wedge40]

I could be wrong but this sounds like market research for the new grapple. So with that in mind I'd say it would only have to be 10% less. But then again I could be joking.

Wedge

 

[john_bud]

China can produce some high quality products. But they can also slap lead paint on them, or add deadly chemicals etc etc. Look what they did to their own kid's milk and our kids toys!

The "Cheap China Cr--" is just that. Weak metal, few welds, poor quality, poor paint, inferior bearings, odd sizes, no support, dealers come and go like tu--s in a toilet. In our area three dealers of china tractors have come and gone in the past 2-3 years. I would rather pay more for a used american implement than a shiny new one that WILL break.

I recall one thing from the Olympics, the way pro china liberal reporters were shocked that 40% of the people they interviewed on the streets said that they thought of the USA as "The Enemy". Do you really think you will get top drawer products from them???

 

[thl]

I work in 'Supply Chain' for a major distributor in a US aftermarket. Much of that market is imported from China. Seeing it first hand, my choice is simple. Buy US wherever possible. Always higher quality and no sense shipping the cash off shore never to return.

Terry

 

[Ken_CT]

I could be wrong but this sounds like market research for the new grapple.
Wedge

I agree.

 

[drivadesl]

Given the scenario you described, I would buy the made in US product, and have no problem paying for it. Even when the products look identical, more often than not, the USA components, materials, and fit and finish are superior. Yes there are exceptions, and there are shoddy US products also. If I find one, I don't buy it any more. You can't avoid imported stuff, its every where, but I have no problem paying more for US made goods.

 

[Lewiston]

Given the scenario you described, I would buy the made in US product, and have no problem paying for it. Even when the products look identical, more often than not, the USA components, materials, and fit and finish are superior. Yes there are exceptions, and there are shoddy US products also. If I find one, I don't buy it any more. You can't avoid imported stuff, its every where, but I have no problem paying more for US made goods.

I agree. The other day while in TSC every product I wanted to purchase, from air compressor accessories to logging chains, was made in China. I ended up leaving, very frustrated, without purchasing anything.

 

[Jeepnford]

I'm to the point I'll do without something if it's made in China, unless it's something I absolutely have to have,which is rare. Vice Grips are going over there which really ticks me off,so I'd like to find something similar made here for welding clamps and such,if there is anything.

 

[Ryan03]

I'm to the point I'll do without something if it's made in China, unless it's something I absolutely have to have,which is rare. Vice Grips are going over there which really ticks me off,so I'd like to find something similar made here for welding clamps and such,if there is anything.

Craftsman makes a nice lineup of locking pliers. Craftsman used to be made in the USA, since KMart bought sears a couple years ago, I don`t know if this is true anymore. Snap On also makes some nice stuff, but it is hard for some to justify the cost. As far as buying American, I try to when I can afford to and it is practical, but anymore, that is getting harder and harder to do. I have a Korean Tractor, it is a Farmtrac. Same story as previously mentioned, all the parts are manafactured over seas, and they were assembled by Americans in NC. I could not afford a new Deer, so I bought what I could afford. It is a decent Tractor, but I would be a fool to expect Deer quality and attention to detail for 14k new, when comparable green machines were close to 20k. On the other hand, being a mechanic for a living, I buy Snap On tools for my work set, and craftsman for home, both are good, one is great, and you pay for it. I would say 100 dollars and under, I will pay 40%, $100 to 2k 25% and beyond that most of the time 10 to 15%, although there are exceptions where I will spend way more if I think thats what it will take to give me complete satisfaction with my purchase.

 

[Alan L.]

The only products I buy that are Chinese are inexpensive items where you don't lose much if its crap. There isn't a discount big enough to where I would buy a Chinese tractor.

 

[horse7]

It depends on what I want it for. Some tools you don't care too much about, failure is an option and the use is light and occasional (or the tool is likely to be 'borrowed'...).

Other tools, if they fail the job stops. Or the tool is used a lot, and extra cost for better longevity and quality is justified. In this case North American or European is the way to go usually, some Japanese and Taiwanese tools are quite good too. If one can check the tool before buying, a minority of the Chinese tools are quite good, lacking fit and finish maybe but durable.

Frequently if I am not sure I would buy the cheap Chinese stuff (never Indian, the quality is so bad they need to pay me to take it. Once India drops the 'iron curry bowl' in manufacturing that may change although larger machinery they are making inroads.), and if the tool wears out in use then obviously I should buy something better. The same idea applies to the market target too-- I bought a consumer hammer drill (Sears) eventually shattered the shaft (fixed that), stepped up and bought the Sears Industrial (back when they had those) and wore that out, then Milwaukee (now Chinese, but not then, tool still in use for smaller holes) and finally went all the way to the biggest portable Hitachi spline hammer I could lay my hands on. The Hitachi, now that is a hammer drill.... out competes the American drills in that range. Euro drills are precision, but not so durable under American abuse.

The biggest problem with pricing is that most people can't tell what the extra cost goes for. This is one of the advantages of sites like Amazon, where one can read reviews and get an idea of the quality of the item.

 

[art]

The Chinese and India can build excellent quality just like the rest of the world! We just go there looking for the cheap stuff! I don't think any of us would generally buy their good stuff over american made.

Price is not a replacement for quality! It will come back to haunt you! My father-in-law told me many times he was not a mechanic or ever would be! He told me of his troubles, looking at his tool selections quality told it all!!!!

 

[jwstewar]

I needed some extra air hose this past weekend. Went to Lowes. Only thing they had was Chinese made. I bought a PVC one (2 of my other hoses are Coleman PVC - Made in the USA from Sam's Club and that is what I typically use with no problems). Took it home, put the ends on it. Hooked it up and used the Craftsman impact wrench to tighten one bolt on the deck I was working on. Laid the wrench down. BOOM!!! Thought someone shot at me for a second. The new hose busted. I looked at the hose, the whole thing was swollen. It'll be going back. I called Monica (who was still in town) to go pick me up the rubber hose they had at Lowes. It is also Chinese made, it is so thin and just keeps kinking. Guess what I'm going to do? Return it too. I'm going to go to Harbor Freight and pick up 2 of their 50' Rubber Hoses made by Goodyear in the USA - at least that is what it says on the hose.

 

[yankeerider]

It's more dependent on things other than price. Expected frequency of use, collateral damage if it fails during use, etc. In general, I (knowingly) buy Chinese only for infrequently used, low cost tools. That said, I was disappointed (but not particularly surprised) to find the electro-hydraulic plow lift for our new gator was made in China. I do think there's a difference between Chinese (or other 3rd-world) produced goods which are simply retailed in the USA and those which have been specified by and furnished by established companies based in the U.S. of A or other "developed nations."

Perhaps also related- I bought my DR chipper over the Jinma largely because it was built in the USA. I think I would have got more for my money with the Jinma, but the DR suits my needs very well, and thre's a factory store in the next town. Price was about the same.

 

[RichM96067]

As a last resort I would purchased the chinese goods.

 

[flusher]

It's more dependent on things other than price. Expected frequency of use, collateral damage if it fails during use, etc. In general, I (knowingly) buy Chinese only for infrequently used, low cost tools. That said, I was disappointed (but not particularly surprised) to find the electro-hydraulic plow lift for our new gator was made in China. I do think there's a difference between Chinese (or other 3rd-world) produced goods which are simply retailed in the USA and those which have been specified by and furnished by established companies based in the U.S. of A or other "developed nations."

Perhaps also related- I bought my DR chipper over the Jinma largely because it was built in the USA. I think I would have got more for my money with the Jinma, but the DR suits my needs very well, and thre's a factory store in the next town. Price was about the same.

That's what I do--buy name brand for stuff I want to use for years-- buy Harbor Freight, etc stuff for throwaway use.

Although---

I'm still using an $89 pancake compressor from HF with my $99 HF 6-in-1 nailgun. Both going strong after three years and over 10 thousand nails driven so far.

And I just replaced my Northern Tool $149 compound miter saw I bought about 5 years ago. The Chinese motor still ran great (has excellent bearings). What caused me to get a new saw is the structural failure of the plastic safety sheld on the saw (I refuse to operate without one of those). So now I have a $199 Ryobi compound miter saw that also works great.