05-02-2006, 10:29 AM
|
#1 |
Name: Jeremy City: Charlotte State: NC County: Mecklenburg Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 30 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
Without a leading bias to this thread, I'd like to know your opinions on buying American-made tools and equipment.
Do you prefer to buy American-made tools?
Do you make an effort to buy American-made tools?
Do you believe American-made tools are better quality?
What other reasons make you want to buy American-made tools?
What do you consider an American-made tool? One that is 100% designed and produced in the USA, or one in which a majority of the product is done in America (for example, Designed and Tested in America, Produced in China).
Looking forward to hearing your feedback. |  
| | |
05-02-2006, 11:11 AM
|
#2 |
Name: Joe City: Holly Springs State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 66 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.04 over 180 days |
I try to analyze price/performance to my need without regard to geopolitical bias, but it's more difficult after reading articles such as this.
Skip the commercial | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 11:16 AM
|
#3 |
Name: Jeremy City: Charlotte State: NC County: Mecklenburg Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 30 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by bladeburner I try to analyze price/performance to my need without regard to geopolitical bias, but it's more difficult after reading articles such as this. Interesting. This is the classical story of the forthcoming truth that the Lexus and the Olive Tree ( link) book holds. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer ... and the gap between them ever-so bigger. Not to change the topic of this thread ... but history shows us that when this gap gets to big society forces a reorganization ... which in history has shown to be an overthrown government & years of termoil.  | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 11:26 AM
|
#4 |
Name: Travis City: Wake Forest State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 5.76 over 180 days |
When realistic, I prefer to buy American made just to keep the money and the manufacturing in the US. I have been sadly disappointed that equipment I have bought that has been advertised as American made has many imported components installed on it. | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 11:33 AM
|
#5 |
Name: John Richards City: Hickory State: NC County: Burke Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 33 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 4.67 over 180 days |
I buy the best I can afford reguardless of where it is made. My big thing is motor quality. Most import motors are made very poorly so having a US frame motor is a big plus to me when looking at machinery, or at least an easy retrofit to a US motor if/when the original motor gives out.
It is more common to see US made machinery on the industrial/production level for equipment.
Thanks,
John
__________________ Keeping the Hokie Spirit Alive!! Remember 4/16/2007
First known case of the dreaded "Woodguy Disease" and is highly contagious. Stay away.... stay away! Warning! Not liable for excessive tool buying, drooling, or the sudden urge to spend large amounts of money.  www.jsrwoodworking.com | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 12:19 PM
|
#6 | | Vice-President
Libraries Administrator
Name: Rob City: Hendersonville State: NC County: Henderson Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 66 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
I moved the thread out of General Woodworking because IMHO, this is a better location. Where possible, I buy American hand tools and look at price/performance on power tool selections. Some of the very best tools available are made in other countries and, except for the very good point that John makes about American motors, most of what all of us buy are foreign built tools. Buying American is not my first criterion, quality is.
Rob
__________________
Rob  Truths: There is no such thing as a 25 hour day, so why do I keep trying to cram so much into every day so it seems that way!   | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 12:42 PM
|
#7 |
Name: Brandon Johnson City: Huntersville State: NC County: Mecklenburg Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 27 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 4.51 over 180 days |
I agree with John, buy the best you can afford for the performance. There are some things that I will only buy American made, and other things that I won't. It would be nice to buy all American made tools, but as hobbiest most of us can't afford that, and still pursue our hobbies.
As for talking about the economic cyle of importing items and such. Things will eventually switch back to American made, but bad things will happen first. As wages increase in China and India eventually it will be as cheap to produce things back in the US as it is to produce them over seas. In some industries this trend is already being seen. Its really just basic economics. It will take a long time before it will happen, but eventually it will.
__________________
I thought woodworking was going to be cheaper than playing golf. Boy was I ever wrong!
Brandon Johnson
| |
| | |
05-02-2006, 02:06 PM
|
#8 | | Site Programmer
Name: Jim Campbell City: Hillsborough State: NC County: Orange Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 38 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 4.82 over 180 days |
Do you prefer to buy American-made tools?
YES!
Do you make an effort to buy American-made tools?
YES!
Do you believe American-made tools are better quality?
As a rule, yes. I look for the best American-made tool I can afford/find.
What other reasons make you want to buy American-made tools?
I strongly believe in supporting people in my country. I feel if someone is willing to go up against the "least qualtiy for the most money", they've earned my business.
What do you consider an American-made tool? One that is 100% designed and produced in the USA, or one in which a majority of the product is done in America (for example, Designed and Tested in America, Produced in China).
A company that has employed people in this country to do more than just sell something gets my attention.
I like to look at an example of my local real Hardware Store. I try to buy things they sell labeled made in USA, but if they only have something from overseas I'd rather know I was helping support a business in my town.
Bottom line, I feel spending my dollars is the only way I can send a message to the powers that be.
Does my spending cripple a major overseas mfg operation, nah. Does my spending help keep a few folks in the country employed, you betcha.
I'll leave you with a new idea for a marketing campaign.....
Global outsourcing spawns the next big marketing campaing
Managed in America, Look for the managed label!
Jim
p.s. I am one of the Shopsmith club and view the whole company as a fine example of what made in the USA can mean to a consumer.
__________________
"Its not about the destination, its about the joinery!"
| |
| | |
05-02-2006, 02:42 PM
|
#9 |
Name: Larry Mallett City: Banner Elk State: NC County: Avery Join Date: Oct 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.00 over 180 days |
I buy the best I can afford, regardless of the company who sells it or the country where it is produced. We live in a global economy. Get used to it. Any smart business person will always strive to cut costs and maximize profits. If that means "offshoring" production they will not (and should not) hesitate to do so. As unfair as it may seem, the only obligation a company, any company, has is to its shareholders. They don't have any obligation to the American workforce to make sure we're all employed at decent wages. If we (Americans) can't compete, then we're either going to have to find something that we can do better and cheaper than anybody else or wait for the rest of the world to catch up economically.
I buy Japanese cars, because, in my opinion, they're the best automobiles, in their class, on the planet as far as fit, finish, and reliability. If products from GM, Ford, et al were of comparable quality, I would certainly feel obligated to buy them. Until then, I'll drive my Toyota.
Had to get that off my chest.  | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 03:07 PM
|
#10 | | President
Treasurer
Name: Steve City: Apex State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 64 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.96 over 180 days |
This thread has the potential to roam into political areas that we shouldn't go. As long as it doesn't and tone remains friendly, I'll let it continue, in fact latter, I'll add my opinion
__________________
Steve Coles
"If you can't say something nice, at least make it funny"  | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 04:30 PM
|
#11 |
Name: Jeremy City: Charlotte State: NC County: Mecklenburg Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 30 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.84 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by SteveColes This thread has the potential to roam into political areas that we shouldn't go. While I'm not fond of the idea of a politically-monitored forum (takes away from the beauty of the Internet's openness), I also don't want to see this take a political turn.
In all honestly, the reason I ask is that I am thinking about starting a hub where woodworkers (and other tradespeople) can find, and list, American-made tools and equipment. I often have problem finding tools that "Made in USA". And then when I do I later come to find out that only part of the tool was (or maybe just the sticker  ). I'd like to create a place that has the facts about tools ... a listing of tools available, a breakdown of what came from where, and such ...
Would you find a place like this of value in the Internet? | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 05:03 PM
|
#12 |
Name: Willie City: Southern Pines State: NC County: Moore Join Date: Mar 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 1.79 over 180 days |
I prefer to buy American when I can. Quality is important but is secondary to me if a USA made alternative is available. I won't say more than this as I'm sure it would only be considered inflammatory. | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 05:26 PM
|
#13 | | President
Treasurer
Name: Steve City: Apex State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 64 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.96 over 180 days |
Originally Posted by gotojeremy Would you find a place like this of value in the Internet? Yes! And if you want, we can find a way to put the information right here 
__________________
Steve Coles
"If you can't say something nice, at least make it funny"
Last edited by SteveColes; 05-02-2006 at 08:59 PM.
| |
| | |
05-02-2006, 10:39 PM
|
#14 |
Name: Ed City: Charlotte State: NC County: Mecklenburg Join Date: Apr 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.88 over 180 days |
I would love to buy only American. That being said, American companies need to produce the best in the world at a reasonable price. There will always be a tradeoff between cost and quality, what we have to do as consumers is determine where the best value is. The American auto industry discovered that in the 70's when there belief was "if we build it, they will come". I think they are still recovering from that mistake. Will I buy lower quality products? Yes, but I like to go into it knowing what I'm getting for the buck.
I'll get off my soapbox, but I don't think the question of will I buy American is as simple as that. in other words "it depends!"  | |
| | |
05-02-2006, 11:36 PM
|
#15 |
Name: jeff... City: Stovall State: NC County: Granville Join Date: Mar 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.81 over 180 days |
I will stay out of this thread, as it really hits a sore spot with me and out of respect for Steve Coles, I don't want to voice my opinion. | |
| |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | |
|   » Stats |
Members: 2,296
Threads: 17,201
Posts: 186,934
2nd Top Poster: jeff... (6,579)
| | Welcome to our newest member, ejmArch | |
.gif "Drogar Cry(DBG)")
