A database I'd like to see

[JHZR2]

Hi,

I know this is just rambling, and wouldnt be possible, but I wish, oh I wish...

I shop at a lot of different stores, and buy a lot of different things... Just like any consumer. The only thing that differentiates me from most average consumers is that I HATE wal-mart, and try to avoid shopping there if I can avoid it. Sometimes they just have what I want, but they are as bad as anyone else (maybe worse, but I cant say) in one way... This isnt a wal-mart bashing thread, it is just the store that I was in last...

Lets look at the phrase that Wal-Mart has on its walls... Something to the tune of "bring it on home to the USA". This has nothing to do with our troops, this is regarding the goods that Wal-mart sells, I guess.

Anyway, NOT a wal-mart bashing thread... What I'd like to see is a list, a database, etc. of items that are made in the USA. I try to buy stuff made in the USA as much as I can. Once in a while there are reasons why I dont, but I make a bona-fide effort to buy made in the USA stuff. If I cant get USA made, then I try for Euro or Japanese made stuff. I try to avoid made in China stuff, Mexican stuff, etc. Sure those people need food and money too, but Id just as well assume give my countrymen the first shot.

My issue is that, say Im going out to buy some widget... say a pair of hedge clippers. I can drive to any one store that I want, but Id really prefer to not drive to more than one, for time, efficiency, etc. So I get to the store. Either the hedge clipper is made in the USA or its not... If its not, I'm disapointed and think twice about the purchase.

I was lucky tonight... I had to go to wal-mart to buy oil, and wanted to get a pair of hedge clippers at some point bfore spring gets in full bloom... Fortunately I found that there was a pair of Fiskars hedge clippers that were made in the USA! And at wal-mart no less! I was really happy. But all too often I go to buy things, and theyre made in china, and so I wait until I go to another store to see if they have an equivalent item made in a place Id rather support. Either I make a special trip, or I wait until I need to go to that other store, delaying my purchase... Sure would be nice to know in advance if something Im hoping to buy or might want to buy is made in the USA.

Of course vendors, items and manufacturing locations change all the time (I think of the werner ladder I bought at lowes... half were US made, half were mexican made), and there are a lot of stores to catalog.

But all the same it would be nice to have some sort of database for any variety of stuff, for a bunch of common stores, to know what things oat what stores are made in the usa... so I could, for example, put in a search for "hedge clippers" and find out that wal-mart sells fiskars made in USA clippers, that Home Depot sells "XXYYZZ" brand made in USA clippers, and that, for example, store 'C' might not sell any of that item made in the USA. Even if the brand isnt US made (I think fiskars is Finnish), at least the US manufaturing base gets one more purchase.

Just a babbling thought.

JMH

 

[Shannow]

JHZR2,
something that they've done down here, is market an "Australian made" logo, that can only be used after the company certifies it's sources...there were some scamsters who got very badly trashed in the media for twisting their source of origin, but on the whole, it helps.

There are "Ausbuy" guides that give you the breakdown on brandnames...e.g. Made is Oz, Made in Oz but profits go overseas, Made in Oz from imported ingredients...but these are mostly grocery items.

 

[JHZR2]

We have the made in USA logo, a couple "standard" ones that are commonly used, but it isnt that well displayed most of the time... However it seems that you guys more or less have already what I desire!

I dont think Ive ever bought anything "made in Australia", simply because of availability. North East USA is probably about as far from Australia as one can get (though we do get Pontiac GTOs here).

Thanks,

JMH

 

[Pablo]

Found stuff coming off the boat with "Made in USA" stickers placed by small female hands in the middle kingdom.

Database would be interesting. I wonder if my Honda from Alabama would count?

 

[moribundman]

Patriotic consumers unite! I buy Cauli-four-knee-ahn-grown because the governator ask so nicely -- and because there is not much Cauli-four-knee-ahn-made stuff.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Some people buy their nickel and dime items from USA only and then buy foreign cars, jewelry, etc... It beats me

 

[doctorr]

JMH -
Your buying biases seem pretty arbitrary.
Care to explain why you would prefer Euro over Mexican?...sounds almost racist.
.
.
.
doc

 

[kanling]

I agree with the "almost racist" comment. It is good to donate to "starving children" in foreign countries, but heaven forbid we buy something they manufacture so they can help themselves.

It is completely illogical. We can't have it both ways.

 

[chas3]

made in usa is fine, but i dont think its enough or even right. when i buy a product, i want to know that the profits from that product are going back into the usa. so buying a honda built in the us does not count. yes, some money goes to the us workers, but profits go back to corporate.

does it bother me that my gm car was made in canada? nope. the profits from my purchase went to gm, a lousy american company, but hey its american. gm contracted with canadian workers to produce a product. its a world market, you cant change that. would i like it built in america? yes.

 

[brianl703]

Vincente Fox's attitude towards the USA is one of total disrespect, one of "What can the USA do for Mexico now", and I think that is obvious to anyone who pays any attention to the news.

I think that by itself is a valid reason not to want to do business with Mexico or buy Mexican products.

 

[JHZR2]

Excellent case-in-point, Brianl703!

As for those who think Im "racist"... last I checked, more or less all of the time being from some country does not make you a certain race. It does not have to be the melting pot for that to be a fact... If I recall correctly, there are caucasoid Japanese, Arabs, etc... There are negroid British, and it is believed that American Indians are Mongoloid... So what's the point? Politcal correctness has gotten a hold of folks so bad they call things racial that arent even so.

I can prefer to buy from whomever I desire to... If whatever I want to buy is not readily available in a made in the USA version, but there is a Made in Germany or a Made in China version, Id prefer the Made in germany version.. Call me stupid, but Ill get a better feeling of value and quality for my money spent. Its my call and I can spend as I desire. I am free to rank quality of this or that by originating country if I choose.

If Im making a big purchase, like a car, I'm going to buy what offers me what I want, as an informed consumer... i dont just pick which one consumer reports circles, I am educated enough to make my own decisions. I dont think anyone would buy a ranch home when they desire a colonial, just because its in a certain town... same thing with a car... If Im going to lay down $20K+, it had darn well be EXACTLY what I want. Whomever offers that best is the maker that Ill buy from. Totally different scenario than when I go into wal-mart to buy a pair of hedge clippers, and there are two options: made in USA or not... or worse, when I have to go to another store to buy same, as I want to buy made in the USA and store X does not have them.

As far as profits going back into country A, B, or C... sure its an issue... But where do those profits go? How much of it goes to the federal government in taxes, compared to how much goes to some fat cat's tax-sheltered coffers? Im concerned that my countrymen who arent born rich or lucky have jobs, so they can go to K-mart abd buy what they want, or can go to the supermarket and buy more than enough food for their family.

Lest this get political, let me just end with this... If you dont like me criticizing you buying and driving a guzzling SUV with one person in it, because I dont like the oil money going to the saudis, or the increased demand upping the realized price for myself, then dont criticize me because I might want to buy a this or that that is made in the USA, even if something else (related or unrelated) that I desire to buy is not.

JMH