How Important is Made in the USA?

[beppington]

Hi Ted: I scanned thru your website (Everything Attachments - Skid Steer Attachments, Tractor Attachments, 3 Point Hitch Attachments, Farm Tractor Implements.) ... Is anything/ everything you have available now "Made in the USA"?

(Sorry, I'm not familiar enough with even the more common implement brands to know where they're made, i.e. King Kutter, seen the name all over the place, just don't know where they're made)

 

[HydrauLink]

Ted, We're with you on this. We decided early on that 'Made in the USA' was important to us as well, especially in this rough economy. As long as the quality stays high and the prices are competitive, buying American is very important. Well done!

 

[Brad_Blazer]

On outwardly identical implements I would probably pay the 10% premium for "All components made in USA" By the way does that include the steel stock?

You are probably in a good position to test the market. Make a batch of each, advertise the USA premium option and see who bites.

 

[sweettractors]

I have been looking at tractors and implements for 33 years, for a living and before that as a farmer. The very first things that I look at when I am thinking about making a purchase, is design, parts availability, how well constructed and lastly price. I don't care what the brand is or where it is made as long as it meets all my criteria for that piece. I don't believe in paying extra for a specific machine brand or made in a particular country, if it don't come up to par. I love Made in the USA, however, it has to "measure up" first. Ken Sweet

 

[JoeinTX]

Agree with Reg from the previous page. Country of origin doesn't always necessarily equate to a particular level of quality. Everyone's definition of "quality" is not always the same either. There is some very good stuff from overseas.....and some very questionable stuff. Unfortunately, the same goes for stuff from right here.

I shop at Harbor Freight for a lot of items that are occasional, light use types of things. Saves me a chunk of change over items that I need once in a while and are not part of operating a business or earning me my living. I see some foreign made products that are perfectly acceptable quality-wise for my uses at a real price advantage. I have ZERO problem buying them considering I've got to watch my own wallet.

For me, I think people pay the premium for quality implements that are professional grade or special use regardless of maker or place of manufacture. For lesser use, light duty tools people shop on price and, again, w/o much attention to where it's made.

I guess the best thing to know is what type of customer you are marketing to? Mass-market, casual-to-semi-regular user? I'd go with the lower bottom line. Gearing toward some special niche or level of customer that goes to war with their implements on a regular basis? Go with the absolute best parts you can find and emphasize the **** out of it while minimizing the price point.

 

[smstonypoint]

Agree with Reg from the previous page. Country of origin doesn't always necessarily equate to a particular level of quality. Everyone's definition of "quality" is not always the same either. There is some very good stuff from overseas.....and some very questionable stuff. Unfortunately, the same goes for stuff from right here.

<snip>

I agree with Joe.

One definition of "quality" is fitness for use and uses differ. I'm not a mechanic and my Craftsmen sockets, wrenches, etc. have been fit for my use. So, those Craftsmen tools are "quality" products from my perspective. The same tools may not be fit for a professional mechanic, who would say that Matco, Snap-on, etc. are "quality" products.

Steve

 

[eepete]

Short answer: Yes, I'ld pay 10% more for equal quality if it was Made in the USA.

Long Answer: We live in a global economy, and it's very hard to get anything that is 100% made in the USA. So I'd like to get some idea of where the content comes from, and just what work was done on the product in the USA. For example, "Driveline from xyz", "gear box from xyz", "Steel from xyz" and "All cutting of steel, welding, and painting done in the USA". Also tell me where it was designed so I know where the white collar jobs are. So rather than just rely on a "Made in USA" sticker, why not also take a paragraph or two and tell potential buyers the details that will help them make a decision. You are not selling $2 socks, you're selling expensive implements and people will take the time to read a paragraph or two.
Note also that post-sale support is as important as price.

Comment: It's probably easier to get implements with substantial USA content. If electronics are involved, there are very few chips, semiconductors and other components that are manufactured in the US. But there are a lot of circuit boards and assembly work that is done here. The best Apple computer can do is a "Designed in the US". So some things are easier to get high US content than others.
A global economy is good for everyone, but it has to be a two way street not the one way outsourced mess we have today.
I buy the "cheap stuff" when I plan to use it at 1/10th of it's rating or when I've thrown my hands up on finding or being abel to figure out if what I'm looking at is of good quality or not. If you can't tell you cover your bets by buying cheap. It can be hard to tell if the extra money you paid went into the product and worker wages or into the marketing and profit. Sometime extensive marketing and distribution is used to sell something rathe than re-designing the product so it's right.

Pete

 

[sal64]

it should be ,but cost is more important these days.

 

[mmurphy]

I would gladly pay 10 percent more for ''MADE IN THE USA''. We have free trade agreement in which keeps cost down for made in China or what ever country, but yet they still tax ares. (Most) Some free trade agreement. I annoy people at parts stores cause I ask them where parts are made. So when I can get USA made products, I request it.

 

[sweettractors]

I would gladly pay 10 percent more for ''MADE IN THE USA''. We have free trade agreement in which keeps cost down for made in China or what ever country, but yet they still tax ares. (Most) Some free trade agreement. I annoy people at parts stores cause I ask them where parts are made. So when I can get USA made products, I request it.

Don't let them slip Assembled in the USA past you. That is a common sales procedure you hear a lot about. In addition, Made in the USA "Offically" may only require a certain percentage of the product to be made in the USA and the rest can come from anywhere (like 75%-25%)? BTW, Where did the raw steel in a agriculture USA made machine originate from, China or USA? How many steel mills are actually producing steel in the USA today. Ken Sweet