langenc said:
I wonder what the price difference really is-American made vs China made??
The price to consumer don't seem to make a big DROP when China makes em and the companies imply tey are made so much cheaper there.. What happens to the difference in $$$?
Ive seen it happen w/ so many good products.
Hi,
Sadly, a lot of companies are trading on a good name that took decades to build, but only takes one genius MBA a short time to ruin. I actually don't mind buying Chinese products, IF I pay Chinese prices, which more often than not means what the dollar stores charge. And I expect an appropriate level, or lack, of quality.
But if I'm going to be charged American prices, I want the same quality the company used as a selling point before jumping on the boat to go overseas. When that's missing, I feel taken advantage of--or just plain ripped off--and try as much as possible to avoid that brand in the future. I can become rather "unbashful" about sharing my thoughts with those around me, as well. I also have taken to writing more, and less friendly, letters to those companies. Might not do any good, but at least someone did get a chance to know how I felt before they hit "Delete."
Some companies "get it." Witness Buck Knives and New Balance shoes as a couple I know of: both went to China, and are bringing at least some of their production back to the States. Neither's US made products match their Chinese offerings in price, yet people seem to be willing to pay the higher price to get a better product. In Buck's case, I think bad "press" on forums and social media was a big player, while New Balance mentioned as they expanded their local SoCal manufacturing facilities just a few years ago the difficulty of dealing with the Chinese on several levels, quality being a big one. When someone expands in CA, with all our ill-conceived legislated roadblocks to business success, it really makes the Chinese look bad! Other companies don't get it, or don't care, so it's a crap shoot.
But maybe there's one way to attract some attention:
When one gets a paper catalog or looks online, there's often a notation the product is "Imported." But what does that mean? "Imported" on its own is not a dirty word, but as it's applied, it may become one. For example, I have a gun case that's "made" in the US of "US and imported" materials. Well, digging deeper, I learned those "imported" materials are rather high quality cloth, from one of the oldest mills in Scotland. Excellent! Another gun related item is Browning shotguns. "Imported" with them could mean Belgium, Portugal or Japan, which are on the "good guys" list in my book. But when another one says "Imported" it means "Made in China." If I know that, I'll avoid the product whenever possible.
So what if we were to start badgering our legislatures to strengthen the truth in advertising laws to require stating the country of origin by name, rather than just allowing the umbrella term "imported?" I like to think a lot of consumers would start voting more with their wallets and credit cards, perhaps enough so as to attract attention from the companies involved.
Just a thought...
Rick C