Too Many Things "Made in China" Backlash?-Where Do My Things Come From?

If one of these said companies goes public I am more than willing to invest. I believe the trend in consumerism is towards information and customization. People want to make informed decisions (as long as its spoonfed to them). People also want products to be "customized" at least enough that the product seems partially unique. Look at the success of netflix, pandora, chipotle...I'm sure their models could be applied to something like clothing.

People complain about jobs moving to China yet they keep buying products from Wal Mart, Target, Kohls, dollar stores. When given the option, people look toward price. However I was very suprised and pleased to learn that the very cheap plates that I own are made in the USA

I agree with you in general. However it's getting to the point where it can be genuinely difficult to find some items that are made in the USA - I'm not talking about televisions or things like that either - at any price.

Until the recent "jean craze" I was unable to find any made in the USA jeans for years. They probably existed, but I didn't know about them and wasn't aware of forums like this one.

I was really excited when Vizio was launched...made in the USA. Although I'm not an opponent of globalization and outsourcing to China, I have purchased a few things that aren't just cast/molded plastic (laptops, shoes, jackets) and the quality difference is there. There is a reason the only time I purchased a chinese made laptop I exchanged it twice before paying the extra $150 for a nearly identical Toshiba. Would you really like to ride a plane made in China? Pacemakers? Guns?

 

There are some things that can be made in China, but there are a lot of things that should be left to people who care where it will go and what it will do, and those people seem to exist more abundantly in the countries that actually use said products.

 

Regarding what Saltricks said, I had a business idea once...to make a site that would be like an "offers" site (google offers, groupon, daily deals, etc.) that focuses on products manufactured in the USA. Kind of like a Woot.com for all the junkies looking for domestically manufactured goods...don't know if there would be a market or not for that :P

I personally enjoy the Made in USA aspect of my domestic-manufactured goods.  To me, it's an integral part of the appeal, especially if it's a classic "Americana" item like blue jeans, penny loafers, or an OCBD.  My daily driver is an imported car (Civic Hybrid), but my father raised me working on old school Fords, and I probably would have bought a Fusion Hybrid or some such had they been around when I bought my car.  At some point, it's just elitism or nerdsnobbery, but it's something that pleases me and I figure it really isn't causing harm to anyone if I want to spend a few more dollars on something just for the "Made in USA" tag. 

 

Except for American Apparel. Dov gives me the creeps. 

Is your Toshiba laptop actually made in Japan, or was it manufactured in China? One thinks it might be the latter.

Nope. Chinese airlines mostly use Boeing and Airbus, China doesn't make medium and large sized passenger jets(yet).

The Norinco Type 56(Chinese AK47) is probably one of the most popular, reliable and successful assault rifles ever made, used the world over. Anything arms and military, I think China tends to be quite good at them. Not necessarily using the latest technology and they might be a bit old fashioned, but usually Chinese weapons tend to be tried'n'trusted, good, solid and reliable.

+1 on the Norinco AK47s. I own a couple of them and they are simple in construction and very reliable. But a friend has a Norinco .45 Colt knock-off that rusted very quickly, so not a fan of all the Chinese firearms. I go German or US on the pistols (Walther, HK) and Colt, except for a Russian Makarov 9x18 that works quite well. For rifles i go US, with Ruger (Mini-14 and Mini-30) and a pre-ban Colt AR-15. Shotguns are Beretta Onyx 686 O/U and Remington pump, both 12 ga.

For a laptop I use a MacBook Pro 17in, made in China no doubt, but I really like it.

I suppose every man has his price. I personally try to buy US made items when possible, but sometimes you just can't find things that are not made overseas.

Electronics are a tough one. My plasma TV is made in the US (Pioneer Kuro). They stopped making them in 2009. Beyond that, what other US made electronics can you buy? Frankly, I just don't know.

The good news is that choices are still available. I recently priced cabinets for my upcoming kitchen remodel. I nixed the China-made cabinets even though they were 50% of the cost of US made cabinets and ended up going with cabinets made here in Pennsylvania. I also managed to get US made windows installed last year (the tax credit helped). Last month I ordered a new couch set and it is being shipped from the factory in North Carolina.

It's possible to "walk the walk" but I suspect nobody can buy 100% American. As with most things in life, you do your best and hope it all works out.

Edit: I don't think using guns (in the US) is a fair example because Bill Clinton banned further importation of Chinese guns and ammunition during his stint as President. Combine that with the 1989 import ban handed down by George Bush Sr. and you basically don't have an even playing field for US made guns vs foreign made guns.

As far as retail goods go buying domestic is difficult because I'm from Australia. The only domestic products I see myself buying as far as valuable goods go are musical instruments like Cole Clark and ulbrich amps

I totally support manufacturing in my own country rather than Asian countries. As an alternative I will seek made in The EU but even then its really only very high end which are

made in Europe.

My countries textile and footware industries all but died and moved to China by the late 90's.

 

Companies like Burberry only make the 100% Gabberdine trench in the UK factory and Cashmere scarves in Scotland,

silk scaves in Italy, many mens suits are made in Italy, Gaberdine/polyester mix trenches in Turkey and other jackets and coats in various countries such as Romania and Portugal.

Sadly the entire Burberry Sport range is made in China including some mens and womens bags and down jackets in Thailand!

Disgraceful anything for that brand made in Asia at those prices... from experience the Asian customers refuse to by anything that states made in China.

 

 

 

 

To add to the mix, a Burberry item from the US occasionally turns up (my 2008 cotton shell, wool lining trench).

Burberry is an interesting case. They do offer lots of European stuff, but it's at extraordinary prices for what it is. The Burberry sport line isn't my style for streetwear, and regardless of my income, I will not wear £1,200 worth of clothing to the gym.

Here's what I'd pay for American/Western European goods. This is what I am willing and able to pay at this point in my life as a gen-Y'er.

All prices are up to
Denim: $150
khakis: $100 (I prefer khakis, but understand that denim enjoys a fashion premium, hence the extra $50)
Sweater (wool): $110
Shirt (casual, button down): $80
Boxers/undergarments: $25
sneakers: $90
Shoes (brown leather, casual, mass produced): $200
Shoes (black, business, mass produced): $300
Suit: $750


Obviously I could be convinced to pay more for fabric, quality, fashion appeal etc etc. (Not to mention a rise in income). I wonder if made-in-USA could be done with the prices I supplied.

I often wonder when the shortcuts and compromises that China has and continue to make in order to sell goods at such a low price point will catch up to them. The sacrificing of the health of the environment and the people of your country can not go on forever.