U WANTED MADE IN U.S.A., or SHINN FU??

Yeah, I know... I didn't want to waste my time on this one 'cause I know it's gonna get shut down.... I've seen it happen before...

 

so true, if we stopped engineering stuff for them to copy and take the credit for , they would be fucked


See...VVVV read bad cad's 3rd paragraph

"We still do the top-level product here because we won't tell the Asians how to build it, and they can't figure it out."

 

I work for a medium sized manufacturer in Wisconsin. We have about 1300 US employees, are privately held, and in our little industry we're considered to be the evil Big Corporate Company, whatever that means.

When I started here 15 years ago we were 100% Made In The USA. ALL of our like sized competitors were building 100% in Asia. We proudly put the red, white, and blue "Made in the USA" stickers on our product. Many of you have our stuff in your garage.

Today we do 25% of the volume in the USA and 75% in Asia. Why? We have to compete, or we die. When it comes time to pull out the wallet and pay, not enough customers will pay ANY premium for "Made in the USA". We still do the top-level product here because we won't tell the Asians how to build it, and they can't figure it out.

We get bashed constantly for moving production, by consumers, dumb-ass media, and even small-shop competitors. Some people openly express hatred for us and question our morals. But the truth is we're still doing more volume in the USA than all the little shops added together.

The point about our "disposable society" is a very good one. Wastefulness costs this country trillions, pure and simple. And I'd add to the list of sins the belief that everyone is entitled to live like a millionaire and have one of everything. WTF?

Is it less moral for a corporation to profit than for a consumer to fill their house with things they want? No. Same thing.

I'm in design and development because I live to build stuff. That's why I build cars, too. It sucks to see the exports decline, and the Asian made contract production increase. And it kills me to see 20 year fabricators laid off. And believe it or not, I know it wears very hard on the boss, too.

I buy USA when at all possible, and I live with less often, because it's the only action I believe actually makes a difference. The only way to save my own job.

 

Back in 93 I bought my first new "made in America pickup". I looked at the Chevy, Dodge, Ford, and all the others. I bought a Nissan. Parts may have come from overseas but at least it was assembled in Tenn. It was a damned good pickup. Right up to the point where the timing belt let go at 78k miles and that "interferance" engine smacked a piston with a valve and cracked the head. My brother has had 3 Dodge cars that he got cheap because the-r interferance Mitsubichi designed engines let go the same way. Sadly Nissan and Honda make more cars here than our own big 3 car companies do. The funny part is the most popular car in China is a Buick! But even that's made in China. LOL

We used to be smarter and our stuff worked well, lasted and was repairable. I've got a 97 Chevy S-10 Blazer with a fuel sender that wanders. I have to remove the tank, replace the entire fuel pump assembly (Not Cheap) and put it all back together because they weren't smart enough to provide an access panel in the rear floor, much less make the sender a separate replaceable part so you wouldn't have to replace the entire assembly. I'm not an engineer, but I think I would have been bright enough to see this as a design flaw. I'll keep running with 70 Chevelles, 60's Falcons and Model-A's. Those are repairable.

If you want it done right, build it yourself.

 

You know... “Made in America" doesn’t mean shit that could be Canada or Mexico or Brazil or Paraguay

For it to be made here it's gotta say "made in the U.S.A"

 

The cost of doing business in the US is a large part of the outsourceing. Workers comp insurance outrageous, medical insurance outrageous, local, state and federal taxes on employees as well as property and profit. Social security payments outrageous, tort laws allow malcontents and bums job security. Product liability insurance outrageous. On and on, sad commentary on our once powerful industrial country.. Try and buy american, but as many have said, harder and harder to do.

 

Of course Canada is well known for producing low quality poorly made cheap tools.(we really do abuse our workers and children before we send them out polar bear hunting or igloo building.)
Why the need to even mention Canada? are you assuming the majority of the readers haven't figured out Canadian made isn't 'Made in the U.S.A'.(most Mexican made equipment proudly carries stampings or labels stating just that)

 

Does this look like a lie?

International Comparison of Math, Reading, and Science Skills Among 15-Year-Olds

<!--BodyText-->More than 250,000 15-year old students from 41 countries participated in the assessment. The countries included all major industrialized nations (results for Britain were not available) and 11 other nations that chose to participate. The test scores are from 2003.

Mean Performance on Mathematics Scale

<TABLE class=sgmltable border=1><TBODY><TR><TH vAlign=bottom align=left> </TH><TH vAlign=bottom colSpan=2 align=middle>Range of ranks<SUP class=fnr>1</SUP></TH></TR><TR><TH vAlign=bottom align=left>Country</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Upper
rank<SUP class=fnr>2</SUP></TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Lower
rank<SUP class=fnr>3</SUP></TH></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Hong Kong (China)</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>1</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Finland</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>1</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>South Korea</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>1</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>5</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Netherlands</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>2</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>7</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Liechtenstein</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>2</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>9</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Japan</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>3</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Canada</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>5</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>9</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Belgium</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>5</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Macao (China)</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>6</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Switzerland</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>6</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Australia</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>9</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>New Zealand</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>9</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>13</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Czech Republic</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>12</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>17</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Iceland</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>13</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>16</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Denmark</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>13</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>17</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>France</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>14</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>18</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Sweden</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>15</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Austria</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>16</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>20</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Germany</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>17</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>21</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Ireland</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>17</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>21</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Slovak Republic</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>19</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>24</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Norway</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>21</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>24</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Luxembourg</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>22</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>24</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Poland</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>22</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>26</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Hungary</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>22</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>27</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Spain</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>25</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>28</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Latvia</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>25</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>28</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>United States</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>25</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>28</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Russian Federation</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>29</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>31</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Portugal</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>29</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>31</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Italy</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>29</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>31</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Greece</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>32</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>33</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Serbia</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>32</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>34</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Turkey</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>33</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>36</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Uruguay</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>34</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>36</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Thailand</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>34</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>36</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Mexico</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>37</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>37</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Indonesia</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>38</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>40</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Tunisia</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>38</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>40</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>Brazil</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>38</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>40</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Read more: International Comparison of Math, Reading, and Science Skills Among 15-Year-Olds — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html#ixzz1OARFdz5I​

 

Cool, number 16! and beat the big brother

 

"We have met the enemy and it is us." - Pogo

Like me some Pogo

 

Are the tools used to make the stands all made in America as well?

 

As someone in manufacturing I will post my opinon.

<O</OIt is hard to compete on cost for high volume products made in China. Thes<ST1</ST1e stands and items like that have enough of a market that it will be made outside of the United States just becaouse of costs.

S<ST1</ST1<O</Oo how do we compete? They float their currency; they don't have OSHA, government regulations etc etc etc... Well two weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour a steel mill in Cleveland Ohio. 25 <ST1</ST1years ago they had 18,000 workers, (yes 18,000) today they have 1,500 people making more verities of material producing the same volume of material!!! That's what we are working on is automation, we have to do this to survive! Now one thing most people don't know is that we make more product in this country than we ever have! However we are making it with a fraction of the people. Manufacturing creates wealth for our country; we can not survive as a country based on hospitality! At our small company all of our capital equipment is made in foreign countries. But we can make parts and compete with the world. In the past 2 months I have been in 3 conversations about major US based international equipment companies moving production back here! We are involved in another project manufacturing sheet metal cab corners and for the first time in 15 years the tooling for this project was made here!

However we can compete... let's talk rod parts. There are many parts made here and many foreign made, some foreign parts are crap and some domestically made parts are crap. I have read many a thread about a new fender that just does not fit. So who is to blame? It is YOU AND ME. We bitch about the parts but we accept them! If they don't fit return the damn thing and demand a refund! Tell them that you want a part that works! Being in manufacturing I can tell you that it is just as easy to make a quality part as it is to make a crappy part, it is just as much work so do it right the first time.

<O</OSo when ordering a part ask where it is made, if it is made in the United States then buy it, if not find one that is! If no one makes it domestically ask a supplier to produce them and help spread the word! We can make most every part a rod needs here at a fair price... we as the buyer just need to demand it.

D<O</Oemand Quality USA made products for your cars and for your life!

<O</OThanks for letting me vent.<O</O

 

Mission accomplished.

 

I'm hoping you folks have seen these places....

http://www.madeinusaproductsstore.com/

http://madeintheusastore.com/index.html

And if you get in/around the Western New York area you can check this place out in person.

https://www.saveourcountryfirst.com/Default.aspx


-Bigchief.

 

The true reason the US is a consumer nation and no longer a production nation is due in part to the enormous amount of red tape, taxes, and gov't regulations clamped down on US based manufacturing businesses. Overseas they don't have OSHA and all of the workers rights and labor unions we have here. Not that unions and keeping workers safe and paid fairly is wrong, I'm all for that, but it's based on these things that gov't places an unbelievable amount of regulations on manufacturing companies. So much so that for any company to manufacture goods in the US is not a profitable ideal. If any companies still do, it's out of pride or that they manufacture items that require extremely close tolerances and must be of the absolute highest quality. It's not because Americans are lazy or greedy, it's because overseas does not take care of the employee the way employers do here. Well that and the gov't is so much of an organized crime bracket that they will not allow anyone to buy, sell, or make anything without giving them a decent part of the action.

 

I started reading Tooltalk on papawswrench forum.
It really opened my eyes. I started buying old MADE IN USA wrenches and learned that I am buying History. I have paid $8 for 11 wrenches, $5 for 6 wrenches and $40 for 33 wrenches.I have learned how to tell which wrenches were made before 1929 and have begun making up sets of antique wrenches.
I found out that I have been using 1930 and 1940 and 1950 wrenches on my cars made in 1930, 40 and the 50s.
Alloyartifacts has some fascinating information on old wrenches.

 

I wanted a cherry picker, to get a USA-made one I bought a used one at a swap meet. I did good, too, I got the big 2-ton one for $70 after I sold the made-in-china engine stand I had to buy to get both for $100. Even at the $100 I was good, since the cheapest one I can buy outright new is a Harbor Frieght 1-ton. It's even welded at the base.

But on the hand tools I don't mind the junk because it's guaranteed - I figure if I end up breaking it 5 or 10 times maybe it will hurt them more than if I just buy one made in America that I don't have to replace.

I should add that I have a rack of Made In USA wrenches I picked up when an ancient hardware store closed. I picked a few to keep and took the rest to shows - and I had a hard time getting $4 a shot out of these NEW wrenches when I'm asking 1/3 to 1/2 the original price on it. I finally stopped carrying them around.

 

Even Hershey's chocolate is made in Mexico!

 

some are still made in the usa some are not..........read CAREFULLY.

I did buy a floor jack from them a few years ago and the one I got was made here and the other 2 models where hencho in china.

Also I believe bluebird hoists are still made in the states, but they're not cheap. the "knock down" one i want is about $1500, but it comes apart in 5 pieces without tools for easy storage.

 

It's the Bla, bla, bla's that is the cause of most business failures. Seriously.

 

What a shame!!

 

At the rate the American workers are getting the beatdown and the cash is flowing up, it won't be long before we are making stuff for China again. If they don't consider us too stupid and uneducated to do the work that is.

 

Some of Hein-Werner's product lines have been imported for a number of years. I have a Hein-Werner 2 ton floor jack that I bought from their rep at an industrial show that I was working about 25 years ago. Got it home and read the fine print on the label: "Made in Taiwan".

Also. the "Made in..." tag can be misleading. I recently saw a window sign showing store hours (the printed type available at hardware stores) that said in bold type at the bottom "Made For USA" ... in tiny print it said Made in China".

Old joke when I was a kid and most Japanese imports were cheap/shoddy junk ... some allegedly had a "MADE IN USA" label. Usa was a factory town in Japan.

 

Im begining to think that the made in USA stickers are made in China

 

Its a real shame. Over here we are not immune either. Our government has sold many successful enterprises offshore due to economic reasons. I was once proud to buy locally made products, knowing they were of good quality, and the money spent on them was returned to our fellow workers and businesses. Its definitely a numbers game...

 

I like to try and buy kiwi made products,Keep locals in a job, if I can find them but the price is usually 3 times that of the crap from china.We have a company over here that has made it big time making merino clothing and exporting it worldwide, Used to buy it all the time, then in their greed they now send all the NZ grown wool to china have the clothing made and send it back, I Don't buy It anymore they can get fucked. Was just having a laugh about chinese made shit today at work, why the hell do they even bother making some things, ive seen tools last minutes then break, we had a chinese floor crane that you couldn't even push around the floor cause the cast iron wheels were drilled off centre, Replaced them with some nylon castors but the weldings that dodgey that when I had a hemi hanging off it the other day I was shitting that it would callopse.
All comes down to money and greed I guess, They just don't make stuff like they used to!!

 

One thing that occurs to me is that now that the manufacturing base in the US is GONE, how in the hell does the Govt think we're going to put people back to work! WHERE?...

 

Sir, if YOU read carefully, I said and I quote, " check out the site and draw your own conclusions ", that means YOU can look at the item YOU might be interested in and quess what sir, .............................come to your own decision on the item YOU want. Thank you.

 

Yes sir, I understand and thank you, I retired at the ripe old age of 50, safe to say I can run a business or even two or three. I just want to know and enlighten folks interested where we are in our BELOVED U.S.A., and the cost of just the materials to build the gizmo, nothing more. This thread was not to be a economics lesson. Your missing the whole other point too, AMERICA was founded on guy's like me and pork-n-beaner who have a dream, and will do what ever it takes, legally and ethically mind you, to live the American dream. Hard work, sacrifice, a mom-n-pop enterprise that people can believe in, giving jobs to the community for Americans who want to work and be proud that someday thier children might use what was made 50-60-70 years ago. Kind of reminds you WHY we are all here on this forum, driving and preserving, and enjoying the cars someones grandfather made. Haven't we ALL had enough of some corporate structure that will eventually sell out to a overseas manufacturer just for profit. I'm just trying to promote the thought process here, everyone can go on an on and on, what's wrong with our great country. I started a thread, HAMB friendly, an item/commodity that's important to all of us, to start the dialog, and see if can we fix this issue. Almost daily is a thread on H/F, or Made in China this and that. Time to pull together, not argue. We are only talking about simple steel structural tubing, hardware, simple machining, and some welding, and finally powdercoating, ALL of which can be made or done here in the U.S.A. Thank you. TR

 

Thank you RYAN, for letting us discuss matters such as this on the forum. I know I speak for all of us.