Proud of my American made purchase
So today as I am replacing my rotors & brakes on the front of my ranger I found that I needed a 15mm socket.
I was about to go to harbor fake & buy a chinese junk set, but as I was getting my coffee I remembered how pizzed I was over my chinese made boots that used to be American made.
So I did a U turn & went a few extra miles to Sears.
Got an 11 piece 3/8 drive set of Craftsman metric sockets on sale for $19.99.
That’s cheaper than the import junk.
WOO HOO doing my part
Buying American does matter!!!!!!!!!
ps—- did buy 3 sets of T shank jigsaw blades at a buck per set—- clearance table—– Swiss made.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
Replies
Is Craftsman stuff specifically American made? They're not relabeling imported goods? I need some sockets and may just get 'em there.
I was going to give a link that says craftsman handtools are made in USA with a big ol "DUH", but as I did a quick yahoo search I came across a few sites warning to look out for Craftsman made in other places ( Mexico & Taiwan).
As I went into panic mode & did a special trip back out to my truck----- container label said "Made In USA".
each socket also engraved with "Made In USA"
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
Up here for some reason it is legal for "British Columbia Hothouse Cucumbers" to be grown in Mexico, as long as the country of origin is also shown somewhere on the label. I'm baffled.
Hoo-Ray!
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The label is made in the USA and they slap it on foreign junk? Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I recall there being a city in Japan called , Usa. Must be one in Chineer too.
Edit: Yup..here it is.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+17278
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Edited 4/27/2008 7:03 am ET by Sphere
I recall there being a city in Japan called , Usa. Must be one in Chineer too.
There may be a Usa in every country in the world but the law says the label has to have the COUNTRY of origin, not the city!
Doug
Is the "made in ------" label a LAW?
I did not know that.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
I don't know if you have to label everything or not, except food---- that is a law.
If you do put a country of origin label on it that is regulated by the Federal Trade Commision.
Stanley & Sears have been sued over this in the past.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
The things ya find out when you're not trying to learn just amazes me..(G)Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Blue,
I think they are stamped out here and finished elsewhere or visa versa.
a lot of the Crapsman hand tools are made in Colorodo Springs....
but....
Emerson does the work and from a couple of people I know that work there...
well quality isn't really watched all that much...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
David,
It meets the requirements to be labeled as such However that I think is 51% american content.. If I recall they are stamped here and finished there or the other way around.
I have a question for those of you who insist on American Made.
For years this country exported manufactured goods to other countries. We got (as a country ) where we are because of that .
So is there not a large measure of hypocrisy in having sold over seas and then not buying in return?
If all you do is buy and use things made or grown in this country and in turn only support those who grow , make and sell only in this country I could see it. but I seriously doubt that is the case.
The big 4 Auto Manu. , Micro soft, Boeing, our arms industry , much of our farm produce is sold overseas.
Might want to think about what happens if the rest of the world made the same decision about buying only home country products.
You may have noticed I bought something that was Swiss made at the same time.
I go with America first, Canada second, countries that allow trade unions 3rd, Mexico 4th (unions will be on the rise in Mexico) all others after that.
I am on a non Chinese diet at the moment----- if half of them died cause I refuse to buy their products then so be it, maybe that will spark the revolution needed to hang their whole goverment.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
I did notice the swiss knife. Union /non-union I can understand, if that criteria as applied to domestic products as well.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I am on a non Chinese diet at the moment----- if half of them died cause I refuse to buy their products then so be it,
When I was a kid, they were starving to death cuz I wasn't eating my dinner.
Ate all those damn green beans and still they're dying?
Joe H
Edited 4/26/2008 8:12 pm by JoeH
Edited 4/26/2008 8:13 pm by JoeH
When my daughter was but a child we raised our own meat animals including hogs. Kids took part in the process and knew where what we ate came from. One year we called them the "Starving Chinese" as a bit of a twisted joke so that the kids could feed the table and garden scraps to the "Starving Chinese" and feel good about not finishing every thing on their plates. After butchering my daughter (who loved pork at the time) would often ask her Mom if we could have some "Starving Chinese" for dinner.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
" After butchering my daughter (who loved pork at the time) would often ask her Mom if we could have some "Starving Chinese" for dinner."How could she talk after she was butchered? ;) Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
very tuff kid...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Takes after her Mom. ;-)
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Leave her in the crock pot all day, that'll straighten her out.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts. You nut, you.
OOP's Got me! Daughter did once stun dinner guests by graphically describing the butchering of her favorite rabbit (named "Mary"), the same rabbit that we were having for dinner that night. Guest didn't quite connect the pet with dinner until daughter said "Mary tastes good doesn't she!" ;-)
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Ouch! Marty's right...she's one tuff kid! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Told this one before but a friend and his family were camping with us at the Rod and Gun Club at Ft Gordon during deer sseason. We were walking by the processing station with our son and the other guy's 7 or 8 yr old daughter.
One of the hunters said "don't worry little girl that isn't Bambi". She did not hesitate a second and said " no his head is on our den wall".
When she was 16 or 17 she was flying from VA up to NY and picking up gray market Porsches and BMW's by herself.
LOL My daughter cracked this joke one day : " "Bambi" killed off a whole generation of hunters"
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I like yur attitude about China....
try to do the same...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I am on a non Chinese diet at the moment
Me too. It started with the dog food, then kids' toys, blood thinner, etc. I'm even saving money because some stuff isn't available except from China, so I do without. It's amazing how much cheap plastic #### you don't really need.
As to diet, Thai and Vietnamese food have it all over Chinese, at least what passes for Chinese food in Maine.
Not that it's a rational, well-researched position... BUT... I worry that we have too little manufacturing left in this country. The quality of imported goods is not what worries me, it's the fact that we don't even make our own nails any more. People need jobs. We can't all just sell each other insurance, and we can't all be the CEO of a major corporation. Lots of folks need to clock in every day and make widgets. When I was a young'un with no brains and no money I left home and moved far away to the big city. I got a job there in a screen wire plant. Man was I happy to have that job, at least until I met some contractors and got to carpentering.
I had similar experiences. I also see the loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector and worry.. I was just pointing out the fact that what we complain about is in reality a two way street and IMO of our own making. I actually think that the real reason for the problem has way more to do with our expectations of what we are entitled to in material goods and lifestyle. To afford our expectations means we have to be well paid so as to have excess $ to buy what we desire to have.
The more we demand higher pay , the higher the cost to produce, the higher the cost of living and producing and upwards the spiral goes.
Soon it reaches a point it cannot be met unless costs are cut in the providing of the goods because earnings cannot keep rising at a rate to keep pace with costs. That dog has been trying to eat it's tail for a long time now.The result ? Save costs by finding cheaper methods and places to produce. I can easily understand Plumbbills decision based on the union factor. At least there he is trying to see that his purchases are from those who are less able to exploit the worker.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I don't think that "Micro soft, Boeing, our arms industry , much of our farm produce" has any problem being sold overseas. Facts is, with the devaluing American Dollar, out exports are looking darn cheap to other countries.
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You gotta be careful about calling Boeing American made. It is an American company but planes are really a global effort. Only a small percentage of each plane is actually made here. Most of the 787 wing and fuselage is actually made in Japan and Italy with only a couple sections being made in the US.
The only major part Boeing is actually building is the vertical stabilizer.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/275465_japan27.html
Edited 4/26/2008 6:35 pm ET by TomW
is 787 the Dreamliner that is not in full swing yet? They are breaking ground as a global manufacturer with that one, but that is also part of the reason it is 14 months off schedule.
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The 777 is also largely built in other parts of the world.
767 fuselage sections built in Japan. Vert & Horiz Stab built in Italy. Lot's more that I can't remember. Cockpit section & Wing built (tip to tip including center wing box) in Seattle.
The examples I gave were off the top of the head well known American companies and I am sure there are thousands and thousands of other companies as well. You are correct , the devaluation of the $ is making our stuff less expensive overseas. It also is driving our costs of living up as we buy more and more from overseas. I wish I could remember the title of a book I read back in the late sixties or early seventies. It was written in the style of a Leon Uris novel (may well actually have been his) that predicted the rise of OPEC and the gaining of control of the economic world by devaluing the $ over other world currencies.
The premise was that by first controlling oil by gaining local control of output and pricing , then the US financial markets by investing the oil money in the US market, that within one or two generations the US could be brought to it's knees without a major face to face military confrontation.Seems an awfully prophetic a read right now.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I suspect that another part of what is going on is that 20 years or so ago, leaders here could see that our strong dollar meant that we were effectively removing ourselves from a lot of international trade and driving jobs offshore, because our products were priced so high - partly based on high labour costs so trade agreements and other deals have manipulated things so as to bring on more parity and keep some jobs here.
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Pifffin,
plus Boeing etc.. are making products overseas. and importing them here into America.. Almost nothing made by Caterpillar for example is made in America anymore
I don't really care where it's made, just don't try to pass it off as QUALITY. Don't copy other companys designs, I may want a Rolex not a Bolex. Don't poison me or my pets either. I could go on but I hope you get the gist. Someone alot smarter than me once told me when you stop manufacturing it's the begining of the end.
dovetail,
Since we import massively more than we export there is little risk of that.. Your typical Chevy pickup for example has less American content then the Honda..
It's a world market and Never be sold the idea that American labor is too expensive.. What usualy occurs is management needs to spend significantly to make the quality of foriegn products so rather than making the capitol investment they blame it on our labor costs and buy from countries with even higher labor costs..
My way of supporting American workers is to buy American when it is feasible and makes sense. Sometimes that just means doing a little more research to see if an American-made product is available. Currently, even that doesn't really ensure that your money is going where you want it to.
So many different investors around the world own everything. The portion of the price of any product that goes to the people who actually make it is relatively small.
You could buy a Chinese-made product from a company that is owned primarily by American investors who will take in most of the earnings, or you could buy an American-made product that is owned mostly by Chinese investors. How would you know what part of the money goes to which country?
It's really not that easy to figure these things out. The bigger question is "who do you trust to give you the correct information to inform your buying decisions?" At this time, you have to be very careful of who you trust.
This thought just struck me:
Where were the rotors made for the American built Ford Ranger? :)
TFB (Bill)
Edited 4/26/2008 10:10 pm by ToolFreakBlue
Ford Ranger is not 100% American made.
After market rotors were made in taiwan
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
I'm sure they get parts from all over the place, but the Rangers are assembled in St. Paul, MN (along with all the Mazda pickups...same truck except for a different grille.)
just today, tore my garage apart looking for the wrenches for my porter cable 7 1/2 inch. circular saw,and I took it apart to clean it and was so glad to see the made in us logobut also saddened that this is not so easy to find anymore. I am all for for free trade and buying other goods but now, you can't buy much made in the us anymore.
I got used to the high quality tools and goods, and we did not take it for granted we bought them and were proud, other countires bought them, but the annoying part is that companies overseas did not seem to care about the quality. nowadays, it is hard to think of this country asa leader in manufacutring when you can't find the us goods.we made quality good ,now everyone else is and mnot us and I think we all miss the made in us pride.
Too true
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
Quality is where you find it, and that can be ANYWHERE.As far as buying made in the USA stuff goes, I like the idea and I surely do want to support our own economy. But the sad fact is that manufacturers are going elsewhere to have their goods produced. By and large, I believe most Americans like the BUY USA concept in principle, but are not willing to pay the higher price. This is the WalMart mentality that is so pervasive in our buying habits, that things are supposed to be cheap in price. With consumer goods so inexpensive, it is wishful thinking to suppose the general population would be willing to shell out more money when it is already addicted to low prices. TARGET's slogan says it well: "Expect More, Pay Less".
"By and large, I believe most Americans like the BUY USA concept in principle, but are not willing to pay the higher price. This is the WalMart mentality that is so pervasive in our buying habits, that things are supposed to be cheap in price. With consumer goods so inexpensive, it is wishful thinking to suppose the general population would be willing to shell out more money when it is already addicted to low prices."Us older folks know that the Americans used to build high quality tools that would last a very long time. We are still willing to pay a very high price for a tool like that. Back in the 70's, the bean counters figured out that if they sell a great tool for a high price, they will only profit once. That's when corporate greed kicked in and they eliminated the excellent engineering and started building a much shorter shelf life into the tools. They capitalized on the name knowing full well that the product wasn't the same. When that happened, it only made sense to start looking for lower prices on these throwaway tools. Don't blame the consumers. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Jim-Very good point to bring up about short life span of tools and the lowering of quality. My question remains, how many of the general population are willing to pay significantly more for quality/longevity? Do people on the average even care? Just wonderin'. Now, you and I and I'm willing to bet many carpenter types would be willing to spend $800.00 on a drill/driver that will last a lifetime.And you're so poignantly right about it not being the consumers' fault, led around like cows by the marketers.
When I was young, I certainly would have invested in tools like that. My knowledge of tools that last forever started with my introduction to the Porter Cable 508 power saw. They had an incredible bearing system that lasted forever if you greased it. They were old back in the 70's and still are running today. Rockwell bought out porter cable and immediately shelved their engineering and designs and put out a significantly inferior product with the new labels. They encountered so much grief that they had to run from the Porter Cable name and re-labeled their junk with the Rockwell name, and increased the shelf life (slightly) in their next release. I switched to Milwaukee and never went back to "Made in America" Porter Cable. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Walmart affect -
If they sold an American made bicycle for $10 more than the chinese bike, I would choose the American made bike.
If they sold American made shoes for 20% more than Chinese shoes, I'd buy American.
But I can't find American made, unless I go to the specialty bike shops or shoe stores. I am not looking for a $500 bike or $200 pair of sneakers.
Is there a web page that would help us figure out what we can look for that is made in the USA?
""Is there a web page that would help us figure out what we can look for that is made in the USA?"" Probably , but you would have to use your Chinese made computer components to find it.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
google
American made goods
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Nowadays even a $500 bike will be made in China or Taiwan. Most American made bikes will be $1500-$2000 AND UP. Thing is, China and Taiwan make some very good bike frames. They also make some real cr*p, just like anywhere, America included.
http://www.usstuff.com/tools.htm
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
Craftsman sockets are great....stay away from the ratchet handles...they have been el crapo for 30+ years. I have an old set from the 50's, beat to all get out and still performs like the day I bought them. I have gotten the free replacements on the ratchet handles so many time I lost count.
When Craftsman switched to the lever like Snap-on they couldn't compete.
I agree that they don't last----- I have busted more than my fair share.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
Just today I found one tool I own that is 100% American made steel. It's a pick for digging trenches, cordless kind, that's got three stamps on the steel shank, one says USA, one says 66 and the other is just a "Y" shaped symbol. I assume the "66" means it was manufactured in 1966. Took it out and used it for a couple of hours just to see how it feels to work with an American tool. You can't find them like that today...no way!
even harder to find an authentic American made worker attached to the end of one of them.
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That is a "Trueism" ...I'm prone to make up terms and phrases as I see fit. This authentic American began using it rather then an Italian made rototiller because Nigerian oil is too expensive in American dollars.
A couple of months back I bought a Starrett I-beam level. Right on it it says made in USA. My electrician and I were always joking about Made in USA or not. Anyway, I pull out my level and show him where its etched on the wood "Made in USA." The first words out of his mouth were, wow!, when did they start growing mahogany in this country!
Redwing Boots are made in the USA!
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
Not the ones sold at GI Joes.
Every friggin boot there was Chinese---- Red Wing, Danner, Irish setter, Wolverines et al
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
I recently bought a pair of redwings, and a pair of wolverines.Both looked for all the world like they were made in the USA...Both are made in China.I do have to say, though, the workmanship seems to be pretty good.Even the leather is pretty good. Really thick.I like the fit and feel of the redwings, better.If I could remove the steel toes from the wolverines, I might like them better.
Politics: the blind insulting the blind.
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I get the Red Wing model 1178's.
According to Red Wing these are USA made.
A few years ago they discontinued them but still make two runs annually for their Texas dealers.
I am sure you can get some shipped up your way when you wear out the others.
If you get the 1178's it'll be a while before you wear them out.
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
I try to buy American when I can, and have been happy that the Redwings I have bought for the last 16yrs. were American made. Redwing discontinued the style I wore for all those years and the replacement is "American made with foreign materials". The store clerk said about half of Redwings shoes are from China now.
DavidW
What model did you wear?
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
View Image"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
found this....
http://www.alfatools.com/
was in a bad need of a 2" USS rethreader.... found it too.. in stock.... be here tomorrow...
most of the tools listed are declared American made....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Of course it matters--
But you know what really matters? Pride.
Italian Tile and Marble... (they sell the tough stuff at home--and only export the best).
When I ordered my HP laser printer I was pleased to see the Made in Japan label. My Japanese truck(built in California), is still on the original brake pads at 80,000 miles. The printer mileage is about 5x that of the last HP (made in China).
There are two schools of thought. One says make it the best you can and charge a little more to maintain a profit.
The other says build in flaws and make your money on the parts... Mid 80's dodge anyone? 90's Fords? Manifolds, transmissions, washer pumps...headlights... rear mains?
The fact is I was and am still afraid of the Domestic trucks... though I would love to buy North American, do I sink myself financially for the privilage? I do 60,000 miles a year. An extra 50% more fuel is a big pile of money at $4.50 a gallon (which is what we pay up here).
Extra fuel and brake jobs every 25,000 miles? YIKES.
Why can't Ford or Chev make a "Smart" Pickup? 40 mpg from a little diesel with a flat bed?
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
You would not believe how much money I've sunk into oil leaks and brakes on my Dodge Ram 99. The shop time was brutal and the bills were worse. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
No kidding, some of us run far away from domestic vehicles. Why? Because we suck at making them. Toyota and Honda have spanked us on that front.I think they (Ford and GM) are starting to wake up though, I saw a Ford commercial the other day that proclaimed that "Ford now matched Toyota in reliability" or something to that effect. Must be somewhat embarrassing to have to put that on your commercial for any old timers at Ford. At least their eyes are open now...
I saw a Ford commercial the other day that proclaimed that "Ford now matched Toyota in reliability"
I saw that too and I had to wonder about the wisdom of them telling everyone that they should have bought a Toyota.
I have a Ford and I've been happy with it, but now I'm wondering if I was an idiot for buying it. Maybe I shouldn't buy another because in 5 years they'll be saying "now, we're REALLY as good as the other guy"
Unless... that was actually a Toyota commercial... pretty sneaky.
don
...my thoughts exactly when I saw that "Ford" commercial....had to hear it again to really make it sink in!! Ford ---"we are getting better at building something that we've built for poorly years and are approaching the reliability of this great "off shore" product!!?????? WTF??
TN
ps. so far, I'm impressed with the new Tundra but hope its as reliable as advertised cause service will be big$$$$
Not about a Ford or a Toyota. But I heard a good one recently, "The Mercedes S-Class, its the Cadillac of cars!"
Things are changing in a big way at the UAW. I have a lot of friends and relatives in the system and all of them are telling the same story. Basically, at the factories, everything is getting streamlined. For instance, janitorial services are being outsourced. Previously, the "cleaner's job" was the most sought after job in the shop. My neighbor had the most seniority in the plant and laid claim to that job. He told me that they were guaranteed more overtime than anyone in the plant because no department could run without a cleaner. He also sat in a "satelite", smoked dope and played chess all day. New hires are coming in at a different rate. They don't have 25 classifications anymore either. They have reduced benefits and less days off. The old guard is getting bought out. If the unions don't agree, they simply shut the plant and move it south or to China. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
She was interfering with my eating the pork !!
;-)
Dang ! Yer fast.You replied before I could realize I was just repeating what others had said, and delete the post !=0)
Politics: the blind insulting the blind.
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