US made ACs

[rjundi]

I think its great JHRZ2 thinks about this stuff.

However at the same time does it not matter more on what vehicle buy and country of manufacture on the amount of US jobs entailed. AC is about 20-50 parts total. While a vehicle is thousands of parts which a job can trace back to if that is your thing.

It just seems one purchase of US Built vehicle will get more jobs covered than small time stuff like clothing or Consumer Items.

I happen to own two foreign branded vehicles but the domestic content is 75% (Subaru Legacy) and 85%(Acura MDX). The engineering on the MDX is stateside not Japan so even more quality jobs.

I wonder what other products are out there you can cover off the "buy" American mantra enmass.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
JHZR2,

I think you might be demanding too much if you want the brand, the components to all be made in US and for exactly the size and type you want. US export a lot of components as well as technology know how into foreign brand sold and made in foreign nations, and US import a lot of components and technology know how in our US assembled and branded items. IMO that's very fair.

The biggest market for mini-split is in Asia so they are most likely made or major component sourced there. You just cannot expect a manufacture to ship major components across the ocean rather than building it near their major market.


Not denying that ALL components being made and combined in the USA is a tough order.

But when I can, and for stuff where there is/was a domestic manufacturing base, Ill strive to buy from that base. It means jobs for folks in this country. My last Friedrich was US made. It looks like they are now Mexico-made, yet Im not seeing any real discount on price, which should be 1/2 or better. So why would I buy it? Maybe I will, maybe I wont.

Some things are unique (e.g. the minisplit systems, of which Mitsubishi seems the best), and sometimes if there is a core competency coming from somewhere else, that is where you buy from. There is a fundamental difference between the practice of buying something foreign when there is an exact domestic equivalent available, and buying something foreign because it just isnt made in the USA.

Something like a window/in wall AC unit that was made in the USA just a few years ago is one where it is just sad and disgusting that we no longer have the capability. If there is a US made minisplit, ill give it a look, it may be good, it may not be as mature as the foreign unit. But that is a different animal than a window/wall AC.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
I think its great JHRZ2 thinks about this stuff.

However at the same time does it not matter more on what vehicle buy and country of manufacture on the amount of US jobs entailed. AC is about 20-50 parts total. While a vehicle is thousands of parts which a job can trace back to if that is your thing.

It just seems one purchase of US Built vehicle will get more jobs covered than small time stuff like clothing or Consumer Items.

I happen to own two foreign branded vehicles but the domestic content is 75% (Subaru Legacy) and 85%(Acura MDX). The engineering on the MDX is stateside not Japan so even more quality jobs.

I wonder what other products are out there you can cover off the "buy" American mantra enmass.


That is true - the auto/transportation infrastructure industry accounts for what? 30% of the economy?

Too bad my purchase requirements have been abandoned by all the domestics. When there is a product where the requirement could be filled (e.g. pickup truck), that's what ive bought.

Our next car purchase will be a large vehicle. Fortunately I can get a 4-cyl, MT (my optimal configuration) in a subaru outback. That car (domestic made but not a domestic manufacturer) will be high in the list, because other options like the ford explorer 4 cyl do not have an MT option. Id love a suburban, and would consider forgoing an MT for that, but its mileage is poor. Id love a diesel wagon that is larger than the Jetta, but what is domestically available? Id forego an MT to get an E320 CDI wagon, but they arent even sold here!

Automobiles are such a keen topic, but I feel so deserted in my choices!!!

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


I bought a Freidrich window unit a few years back because it was us made. It is a good unit, quiet and cools well.


About 10 years I ago when I lived in Miami Beach [old building that had no central air] I had a 12 year old Freidrich..It was on 24/7 10 months a year..Never gave me any problems..It was around 18K BTU.

I do not like central A/C.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
and sometimes if there is a core competency coming from somewhere else, that is where you buy from. There is a fundamental difference between the practice of buying something foreign when there is an exact domestic equivalent available, and buying something foreign because it just isnt made in the USA.


Korean microfiber is one item that comes to mind to demonstrate the above.

What boils my blood is those who go out of their way to buy foreign (even when the domestic product is just as good, OR BETTER for the same or less cost) just to prove/exercise some idea(l) of 'free market principles', NO MATTER WHAT the cost to THIS country's economy!

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
and sometimes if there is a core competency coming from somewhere else, that is where you buy from. There is a fundamental difference between the practice of buying something foreign when there is an exact domestic equivalent available, and buying something foreign because it just isnt made in the USA.


Korean microfiber is one item that comes to mind to demonstrate the above.

What boils my blood is those who go out of their way to buy foreign (even when the domestic product is just as good, OR BETTER for the same or less cost) just to prove/exercise some idea(l) of 'free market principles', NO MATTER WHAT the cost to THIS country's economy!

You will not be able sell from Korea to Bermuda at low price, then sell from Bermuda to US at high price, to make the tax shelter work, if you are making and selling all in the US. Even at the same cost we end up losing to the foreign manufacturer because of the tax shelters.

 

[Tdbo]

Unfortunately, no such animal. Even if one can find one with an "American" name (such as Frigidaire) the company is no longer an American Company (Frigidaire=Electrolux)and the product in question seems to resemble the Chinese made product.

Case in point: three years ago our central A/C went out and in an effort to pacify Mrs. Tdbo, I went out to buy a window unit to put in the bedroom until I could find an A/C guy which knew which end was up. Tried my best to buy American without luck. Ended up buying a Walmart A/C (Haier) which lasted three weeks until it started smoking. Took it back and my Neighbor lent me another unit he bought for one of his rentals (another Haier) which did a good job until I could find someone with the knowledge to repair the Central unit.
After it was fixed, I was walking through Target at the end of the season and they had the exact same unit my neighbor had loaned me (an 8K BTU) marked down to $42.48. Bought it and now keep it stored in my basement for such a malady as I had previously. I'm sure that Target didn't lose much $$ on the sale but how can any American manufacturer compete with that?