How Important is Made in the USA?

[two_bit_score]

As long as it is quality manufactured I try and buy Made in the USA as much as possible even if it costs 10% more!! Good luck,
Jim

another one. :thumbsup:

 

[devildog1]

Ken,
Just a short and honest answer is YES! I believe in America and American Workmen products, I would always be willing to pay 10% more if product was made in the good ole U.S.A. Good Luck in what ever your decision is, I just hope that your idea catches on. Ya know there is a store in upstate N.Y. near Rome that started out earlier this year, the only items they sell have to be made in the U.S.A. From what I hear they are doing a good business.
DevilDog

 

[Raindem]

I would gladly pay 10% more for Made in USA if that increase buys a better quality product. But too often that higher price is paying for union activities, environmental regs, liability insurance, higher taxes, etc. I refuse to subsidize the many liberal agenda items that tend to drive up the cost of manufacturing in the U.S.

 

[mjncad]

Do I like seeing 'Made in USA' on my products? Yes. Does it bother me to see 'Made in ______?' Not necessarily as I've had good and bad USA and imported items.

But what pisses me off anymore is 'Made in China.' I sent Milwaukee tools a gripe about them making premium priced tools in China. China to me is a four-letter word using five letters.

If you make a high quality product, the ~10% shouldn't be a deal breaker until you get into higher priced products. Then you might need to shoot for a 5% price premium to stay competitive.

Look at Harbor Freight; they sell crap; but they're so cheap on the price, people come back for more. The same goes for the fast-food industry.

One way or another, you will need to place a country of origin label on your products. Do your best to make the best quality product you can at a competitive price, and with luck you will make out. Make an expensive piece of crap, and you may as well close the doors before you get started.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I would gladly pay 10% more for Made in USA if that increase buys a better quality product. But too often that higher price is paying for union activities, environmental regs, liability insurance, higher taxes, etc. I refuse to subsidize the many liberal agenda items that tend to drive up the cost of manufacturing in the U.S.

I don't like paying for that kind of stuff either!

We are not a big box store, and do not have those types of problems. Since we are family owned (in business since 1946), and not listed on some stock exchange somewhere, we can stay lean and mean, and everyone that works for me EARNS their paycheck. No big white collar bonuses here.

If our own line of implements we produce cost a 5% or 10% premium, you can bet your bottom dollar that it was spent to make the product 20% better, not to just increase our profit margin. We would rather make our customers repeat buyers . . .

 

[sweettractors]

I don't like paying for that kind of stuff either!

We are not a big box store, and do not have those types of problems. Since we are family owned (in business since 1946), and not listed on some stock exchange somewhere, we can stay lean and mean, and everyone that works for me EARNS their paycheck. No big white collar bonuses here.

If our own line of implements we produce cost a 5% or 10% premium, you can bet your bottom dollar that it was spent to make the product 20% better, not to just increase our profit margin. We would rather make our customers repeat buyers . . .

Ted, I would think your informational videos would be worth the additional 5-10% extra in product cost. I have done a few of those videos and when you do that on a large scale like you do, I am sure it takes a full time internet/video employee just to take care of that added service. Ken Sweet

 

[turbo36]

I would gladly pay 10% more for Made in USA if that increase buys a better quality product. But too often that higher price is paying for union activities, environmental regs, liability insurance, higher taxes, etc. I refuse to subsidize the many liberal agenda items that tend to drive up the cost of manufacturing in the U.S.

This is an interesting statement, are you saying that if a USA product costs more it must be due to socialism? If that were true, then the reason Chinese products costs less must be because of Communism? I guess communism trumps socialism.

The reason USA product costs more is because of our high standard of living, if you and I were willing to live at the same level as the Indians and Chinese then our labor would cost less and our products would cost less.

I don't know what you do for a living but I can guarantee I could get done just as well and cheaper in China.

 

[gregsons]

First think i look for when i buy anything is where it was made. I look for Made in the USA not where it was put togher. then i look at the construction. if all is the same i would always pay more for the usa product. Sometime the usa product is low quality and i buy from over seas.

 

[gwjd]

i would say that i look at a the total quality cheep american bolts like lower grade worse than high grade foreign ones. but i have a feeling your implements will be of high quality so id fork out the 10% then agin i will not be buying any for a long time

 

[ModMech]

I would gladly pay 10% more for Made in USA if that increase buys a better quality product. But too often that higher price is paying for union activities, environmental regs, liability insurance, higher taxes, etc. I refuse to subsidize the many liberal agenda items that tend to drive up the cost of manufacturing in the U.S.

I'd respond to that but I have to go dump my used oil in the pond, bury the old batteries in the ditch, threaten to fire any employee that won't work thru lunch (for no pay), tell the geezer to put another band-aid on it and stop complaining about the blood, and send off another letter to my represetative thanking them for artificially depressing the value of the dollar.