BUY AMERICAN (avoid that made in China)

[CA renter]

[quote=briansd1][quote=CA renter]
Brian,

Perhaps your experience is different from ours (and everyone else I know). Maybe you’ve managed to find goods made in China that were somehow equal to the quality we used to get in US made goods. Personally, I’ve never seen it.[/quote]

Ok, that might well be.

I’ve always had an eye for quality so I don’t buy junk.

I’m a big fan of globalization because it brought “luxury” the masses.

Quality is not about durability but design and utility.

For example, take Ikea. They brought designer furniture to the masses. Of course the durability of their furniture doesn’t compare to the solid oak furniture of the past. But that oak furniture was crudely designed, finished, and expensive. Looking inside any old house that’s never been updated in decades and you’ll see the “quality” of the past.

Now young households can furnish their apartments cheaply and nicely for a certain period of time, then move on.

Today, we have so many more choices that our grandparents didn’t have. Granted, many of those new products are of bad quality. But we don’t have to buy them.[/quote]

We disagree greatly on what “quality” means. To me, quality is ALL about durability.

BTW, I think you consider yourself to be an environmentalist. Do you think it’s better that a piece of furniture lasts generations, or is it better for the environment if people can “move on” with new things? As an example, I have an Ethan Allen set that was purchased from a neighbor in the 1970s, when it was already old and used; it’s still in perfectly good condition, and will probably easily last another hundred years or more.
Are you considering the environmental impact from initial production (pollution and resource usage) to the disposal of the goods? Building durable goods that last as long as possible is tantamount to protecting our environment.

[Coronita]

I thought I’d share an interesting headspinner this weekend. My fridge died and I went to go looking to purchase one. I tried finding one that was still made in U.S., but most interesting are that several brands are rebranded from the same manufacturer, and even different brands appear to source parts and manufacturing facilities from some of the other manufacturers.

Looking at GE:
Low tier: made in Mexico
Mid tier/higher tier: made in Korea….

Whirpool:
Low tier: made in Mexico
High tier: found 2 models made in U.S.

KitchenAid: out of my price range (but not made here u.s)

Kenmore: Most fridges are now rebranded LG or Samsung

LG:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

Samsung:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

So I found that an LG fridge was comparable to the one by Whirpool…Except the LG unit was $800 less, had a generally better compressor (linear compressor) was warrantied for 10 years, and also qualified for the $200 cash for appliances bailout and the $25 energy credit from SDGE (finally, some of that bailout money made it to me :))

I ended up caving and got the LG…Oh well…My dishwasher is a Whirpool, which was also made in U.S….

[Coronita]

I thought I’d share an interesting headspinner this weekend. My fridge died and I went to go looking to purchase one. I tried finding one that was still made in U.S., but most interesting are that several brands are rebranded from the same manufacturer, and even different brands appear to source parts and manufacturing facilities from some of the other manufacturers.

Looking at GE:
Low tier: made in Mexico
Mid tier/higher tier: made in Korea….

Whirpool:
Low tier: made in Mexico
High tier: found 2 models made in U.S.

KitchenAid: out of my price range (but not made here u.s)

Kenmore: Most fridges are now rebranded LG or Samsung

LG:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

Samsung:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

So I found that an LG fridge was comparable to the one by Whirpool…Except the LG unit was $800 less, had a generally better compressor (linear compressor) was warrantied for 10 years, and also qualified for the $200 cash for appliances bailout and the $25 energy credit from SDGE (finally, some of that bailout money made it to me :))

I ended up caving and got the LG…Oh well…My dishwasher is a Whirpool, which was also made in U.S….

[Coronita]

I thought I’d share an interesting headspinner this weekend. My fridge died and I went to go looking to purchase one. I tried finding one that was still made in U.S., but most interesting are that several brands are rebranded from the same manufacturer, and even different brands appear to source parts and manufacturing facilities from some of the other manufacturers.

Looking at GE:
Low tier: made in Mexico
Mid tier/higher tier: made in Korea….

Whirpool:
Low tier: made in Mexico
High tier: found 2 models made in U.S.

KitchenAid: out of my price range (but not made here u.s)

Kenmore: Most fridges are now rebranded LG or Samsung

LG:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

Samsung:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

So I found that an LG fridge was comparable to the one by Whirpool…Except the LG unit was $800 less, had a generally better compressor (linear compressor) was warrantied for 10 years, and also qualified for the $200 cash for appliances bailout and the $25 energy credit from SDGE (finally, some of that bailout money made it to me :))

I ended up caving and got the LG…Oh well…My dishwasher is a Whirpool, which was also made in U.S….

[Coronita]

I thought I’d share an interesting headspinner this weekend. My fridge died and I went to go looking to purchase one. I tried finding one that was still made in U.S., but most interesting are that several brands are rebranded from the same manufacturer, and even different brands appear to source parts and manufacturing facilities from some of the other manufacturers.

Looking at GE:
Low tier: made in Mexico
Mid tier/higher tier: made in Korea….

Whirpool:
Low tier: made in Mexico
High tier: found 2 models made in U.S.

KitchenAid: out of my price range (but not made here u.s)

Kenmore: Most fridges are now rebranded LG or Samsung

LG:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

Samsung:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

So I found that an LG fridge was comparable to the one by Whirpool…Except the LG unit was $800 less, had a generally better compressor (linear compressor) was warrantied for 10 years, and also qualified for the $200 cash for appliances bailout and the $25 energy credit from SDGE (finally, some of that bailout money made it to me :))

I ended up caving and got the LG…Oh well…My dishwasher is a Whirpool, which was also made in U.S….

[Coronita]

I thought I’d share an interesting headspinner this weekend. My fridge died and I went to go looking to purchase one. I tried finding one that was still made in U.S., but most interesting are that several brands are rebranded from the same manufacturer, and even different brands appear to source parts and manufacturing facilities from some of the other manufacturers.

Looking at GE:
Low tier: made in Mexico
Mid tier/higher tier: made in Korea….

Whirpool:
Low tier: made in Mexico
High tier: found 2 models made in U.S.

KitchenAid: out of my price range (but not made here u.s)

Kenmore: Most fridges are now rebranded LG or Samsung

LG:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

Samsung:
Low to mid-tier: made in Mexico (LOL)
High end: made in Korea

So I found that an LG fridge was comparable to the one by Whirpool…Except the LG unit was $800 less, had a generally better compressor (linear compressor) was warrantied for 10 years, and also qualified for the $200 cash for appliances bailout and the $25 energy credit from SDGE (finally, some of that bailout money made it to me :))

I ended up caving and got the LG…Oh well…My dishwasher is a Whirpool, which was also made in U.S….

[zzz]

jp, burts bees and tom’s of maine have both sold out to corporate giants.

for me, not buying from china not only has to do with their less than stellar human rights, but quality. i don’t just single out china, i single out other countries as well that either do not high quality standards, or if they do, don’t appear to abide by them given the multiple failure. for me, its mostly around food and beauty products. this doesn’t mean i buy american. it really isn’t even about the country. i am with the others on this forum that my choices are not based in someone’s race, religion nor nationality. some of the choices are about quality, some preference, and others about being sustainable.

its up to you the consumer to understand more about the products and the companies you choose to buy from if you’re interested in quality and safety, regardless of the country it was grown or produced in.

unfortunately i find most people when it comes to food, really don’t care how it was grown, what conditions the workers have, or the practices of the company. they buy on price and taste. and these are people who can afford to spend money on local or organic food, but choose not to.

if people care so little about eating potential toxins, they surely aren’t spending energy figuring out the details behind how their coffee mug was made.

[zzz]

jp, burts bees and tom’s of maine have both sold out to corporate giants.

for me, not buying from china not only has to do with their less than stellar human rights, but quality. i don’t just single out china, i single out other countries as well that either do not high quality standards, or if they do, don’t appear to abide by them given the multiple failure. for me, its mostly around food and beauty products. this doesn’t mean i buy american. it really isn’t even about the country. i am with the others on this forum that my choices are not based in someone’s race, religion nor nationality. some of the choices are about quality, some preference, and others about being sustainable.

its up to you the consumer to understand more about the products and the companies you choose to buy from if you’re interested in quality and safety, regardless of the country it was grown or produced in.

unfortunately i find most people when it comes to food, really don’t care how it was grown, what conditions the workers have, or the practices of the company. they buy on price and taste. and these are people who can afford to spend money on local or organic food, but choose not to.

if people care so little about eating potential toxins, they surely aren’t spending energy figuring out the details behind how their coffee mug was made.

[zzz]

jp, burts bees and tom’s of maine have both sold out to corporate giants.

for me, not buying from china not only has to do with their less than stellar human rights, but quality. i don’t just single out china, i single out other countries as well that either do not high quality standards, or if they do, don’t appear to abide by them given the multiple failure. for me, its mostly around food and beauty products. this doesn’t mean i buy american. it really isn’t even about the country. i am with the others on this forum that my choices are not based in someone’s race, religion nor nationality. some of the choices are about quality, some preference, and others about being sustainable.

its up to you the consumer to understand more about the products and the companies you choose to buy from if you’re interested in quality and safety, regardless of the country it was grown or produced in.

unfortunately i find most people when it comes to food, really don’t care how it was grown, what conditions the workers have, or the practices of the company. they buy on price and taste. and these are people who can afford to spend money on local or organic food, but choose not to.

if people care so little about eating potential toxins, they surely aren’t spending energy figuring out the details behind how their coffee mug was made.

[zzz]

jp, burts bees and tom’s of maine have both sold out to corporate giants.

for me, not buying from china not only has to do with their less than stellar human rights, but quality. i don’t just single out china, i single out other countries as well that either do not high quality standards, or if they do, don’t appear to abide by them given the multiple failure. for me, its mostly around food and beauty products. this doesn’t mean i buy american. it really isn’t even about the country. i am with the others on this forum that my choices are not based in someone’s race, religion nor nationality. some of the choices are about quality, some preference, and others about being sustainable.

its up to you the consumer to understand more about the products and the companies you choose to buy from if you’re interested in quality and safety, regardless of the country it was grown or produced in.

unfortunately i find most people when it comes to food, really don’t care how it was grown, what conditions the workers have, or the practices of the company. they buy on price and taste. and these are people who can afford to spend money on local or organic food, but choose not to.

if people care so little about eating potential toxins, they surely aren’t spending energy figuring out the details behind how their coffee mug was made.

[zzz]

jp, burts bees and tom’s of maine have both sold out to corporate giants.

for me, not buying from china not only has to do with their less than stellar human rights, but quality. i don’t just single out china, i single out other countries as well that either do not high quality standards, or if they do, don’t appear to abide by them given the multiple failure. for me, its mostly around food and beauty products. this doesn’t mean i buy american. it really isn’t even about the country. i am with the others on this forum that my choices are not based in someone’s race, religion nor nationality. some of the choices are about quality, some preference, and others about being sustainable.

its up to you the consumer to understand more about the products and the companies you choose to buy from if you’re interested in quality and safety, regardless of the country it was grown or produced in.

unfortunately i find most people when it comes to food, really don’t care how it was grown, what conditions the workers have, or the practices of the company. they buy on price and taste. and these are people who can afford to spend money on local or organic food, but choose not to.

if people care so little about eating potential toxins, they surely aren’t spending energy figuring out the details behind how their coffee mug was made.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I do try to avoid “made in China” products for health, quality, human rights etc reasons, but it is HARD. Most of the stuff that is on offer is made there– it’s either buy Chinese-made, or do without.

I’ve managed to buy a mover’s hand cart and a hammer that were both made in the USA. Both more expensive than the made-in-china ones next to them on the shelf, but also visibly much higher quality.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I do try to avoid “made in China” products for health, quality, human rights etc reasons, but it is HARD. Most of the stuff that is on offer is made there– it’s either buy Chinese-made, or do without.

I’ve managed to buy a mover’s hand cart and a hammer that were both made in the USA. Both more expensive than the made-in-china ones next to them on the shelf, but also visibly much higher quality.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I do try to avoid “made in China” products for health, quality, human rights etc reasons, but it is HARD. Most of the stuff that is on offer is made there– it’s either buy Chinese-made, or do without.

I’ve managed to buy a mover’s hand cart and a hammer that were both made in the USA. Both more expensive than the made-in-china ones next to them on the shelf, but also visibly much higher quality.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I do try to avoid “made in China” products for health, quality, human rights etc reasons, but it is HARD. Most of the stuff that is on offer is made there– it’s either buy Chinese-made, or do without.

I’ve managed to buy a mover’s hand cart and a hammer that were both made in the USA. Both more expensive than the made-in-china ones next to them on the shelf, but also visibly much higher quality.

[Author]

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