Corporate America kills good things

Hell corporations here have moved their "headquaters" off shore too - TO AVOID PAYING TAXES!!!! If you don't buy products MADE in the USA then you are supproting the corporate greed machine, where ever their "boardroom" is. MADE in the USA dosen't just mean ****embled* here, it means the PARTS are made here as well. I know nowadays its getting increasing harder to find products like that - & that's BECAUSE of the corporate greed. Fact is because of greed this country has gone to hell. It's next to impossible to find quality products. Hell even the BOLTS this thread is about are now made in china - are sub-standard - & you can't trust them to be the grade they are marked! The airplane industry had this problem recently & it played havoc with them for awhile - untill they determined what the problem was. Now they're buying USA made bolts (products) like everyone should.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

America - made in China! :-(

 

We have met the enemy and he is us.

 

Quite True Paul It used to be that it you reached in a bin for a Aircraft bolt you had the right piece The FAA has made it now so that Our parts room has to have paperwork to account as to who made the hardware and who sold it to us. Due to problems in material standards and heat treatment. So if you guys get a good deal on some aircraft hardware look out it may be bogus. Remember you spends your money you take your chances in these type of deals.

Dawg

 

That's freakin' insane. Glad I got my set a few years ago. $5k for a Miller Electric AeroWave TIG machine is a bargain for all the work it does compared to a $120 Harbor Freight buzzbox, but a wrench is a wrench. I'll pay more for quality but when I could literally buy 27 other sets for the same price? That's terrible.

As for Wal-Mart, it's their suppliers who jump ship and send manufacturing plants overseas. Wal-Mart seems to take a lot of blame for the things that the companies who produce their stuff do. Wal-Mart doesn't make anything, they're a retailer of other people's goods.

I'm not too worried about the 'global economy'. There was a time in the US during the industrial revolution that we dumped poison into rivers and did a lot of irresponsible stuff, but we learned and we changed. These other countries are having their own industrial revolution, and they too will learn, just like we did.

 

Actually no...

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
http://www.worthwhilemag.com/entry/2004/12/15/is_walmart_good_for_us.php
http://dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Business/Allegedly_Unethical_Firms/Wal-Mart/
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0126-05.htm
http://walmar****ch.com/
http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html

They push themselves to be the suppliers #1 customer then dictate prices to them, this in turn forces the supplier to make a choice, move to less expensive manufacturing/labor or go out of business. It is very well do***ented, not to mention the way they treat their employees....

 

I think that most hamber's understand this issue better than the average person.If you tell someone that you refuse to shop at walmart or home depot etc,you may as well be talking to your dog.They either are too ignorant or apathetic or refuse to look beyond the veil of low prices and the long term consequences.By the way,I'm not saying dogs are ignorant or apathetic,most are smarter and more fun to be around than most people I've met! If I could just find one that could turn a wrench! Well that's my 2 cents,for what it's worth.

 

I agree brother. Amen.

 

Yep! We can blame corporate America all we want, but we, as a society are our own worst enemy. Can't blame corporations for making the buying and selling decisions they do. Guess what(?), that's why they prosper.

I feel your pain Notebooms, believe me. I use the local hardware and auto parts stores as much as possible, but, by in large, Americans will go with convenience most every time. Of course we all know that usually spells CURTAINS for the Mom and Pop Shops trying to compete but the alternatives to free enterprise are even less pretty. ****s....

 

Ah, the question of truth....

Now you guys can really kick my *** for even thinking about using a Home Depot bolt for a head bolt.... lol. (it was a bit longer than 4", btw, but that wasnt the point.) Suppose I should be glad it didnt exist.

What I found at OSH was a decent grade 8 bolt. It'll work fine.

-scott noteboom

 

back on topic ..... did ya get your car fixed ? .... also i have seen your wagon in pix before .... are you the guy who built it ? ... and i read on another thread you were gonna change it . why ?.... it is about perfect the way it is ...... not giving ya **** just curious ...

 

I have been watching this thread since notebloom posted it and I think you better consider government with all of the safety legislation,EPA,NAFTA.,consumer legislation and all of the political correct **** that is on the front page with all of the lib left ***holes who are out there

 

tractor supply had grade 5 & 8 7/16 bolts, just what i needed for the backing plate on my front brakes

 

I would have a hard time spending 5000.00 on something with wheels I couldn't drive.
I have had good luck with getting stuff from Fastenall. But that don't help when you need a bolt right now as in this situation.

 

I agree. I don't blame Wal-mart I blame the peole that shop there. I don't think it is always a money thing, Walmart is not always cheaper. Most things are probably cheaper but I'll bet there's plenty of things that are the same price as other stores. I think it's because people are lazy. They want to get a hair cut, new gl***es, an oil change, eat lunch, shop for groceries, buy some new clothes and get there prescription filled all at the same time and same place. So they can hurry back home, flop down on the couch and watch the latest BS reality show. Never mind the consequences, it's cheap I'm busy, I'm in a hurry!!

I avoid wal-mart like the plague but if you tell people that they look at you like you've lost your mind. Luckily we still have a really good family owned hardware store here in my town. It's a second or third generation family owned store that's been in business 40 or 50 years. They have everything, they are a little higher but I don't mind. It's nice to know you can go there and have someone wait on you that knows a phillips screwdriver from an allen wrench. Good to see I'm not the only one that thinks this way!

To bad more businesses are not like this guy.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/102/open_snapper.html

Neat website

http://www.usstuff.com/index.htm

 

About done with the top end rebuild on the Caddy. Still need to finish off the cooling system, and upgrade to bigger Caddy AC generator for more juice to power the airbags. Couple photos attached. Once i'm running (within the week,) i'll build exhaust and begin rebuilding suspension / airbags.

The wagon.... No, didnt build it-- Bill Wishart, another local SJ guy did. I bought it for my wife, but find myself driving it a lot--as i've fallen for the car... it's a nice ride.

As far as changing it..... not looking to do much of anything. Putting some new tires w/ a bit more white, do some interior work (interior hasnt been touched yet,) fix airbag solenoid leak, etc. I agree..... Billy built the car about perfect the way it is.

-scott noteboom

 

I Hate going into Home Depot, but I'm there and Lowes all the time. I really prefer going to the local little hardware store when I just can't put up with the crowds and lines. Osh is pretty cool, but we don't have to worry about them being boughty too soon. They are owned by Sears.

 

But Sears recently got bought by KMart...

 

still curious
what on the top end of a Caddy takes a 7/16 x 4" NC bolt?

 

60s- Answered that in an earlier post above.... A head bolt (slightly longer than 4 inches, but length wasn't the issue- lack of 7/16 bolts all together was.)-scott noteboom