Hard to find "Made in America".

[Desnik]

I am a small business owner and I sell Made in the USA only. My items are for infants/toddlers and are also eco friendly/organic. I cannot tell you how difficult it was and how long it took to find companies that were 100% made in the USA. It was really sad. So, you may think you are getting a Made in the USA item, but you may not be. You need to research each company and find out where the cotton was grown, manufactured, etc..

FYI, Walmart is the largest buyer of American grown organic cotton, they basically buy up like 85-90% of it and then ship it to other countries to have it manufactured. This leaves other companies who want to do the whole process here with very little organic cotton to use. That is one reason why there are so little 100% American companies in the organic/eco friendly industry.

Like someone mentioned you will hardley ever find a big company or things that are mass produced, 100% American. It is simply not cost effective for the company. Also, as American's we always want the best deal. If I was to have 2 identical baby onesies, but one was organic and made in the USA and cost $25, the other cotton/rayon made in Cambodia and it is $7 which one do you think most Americans will buy? Unfortunately and I really hate to sound like this but most Americans will not put their money where their mouth is. And believe me I understand with a bad economy it's not always possible to go for the more exspensive item, but it seems like a visious cycle. We want more jobs here, but we don't or can't pay the higher prices for the things made here.

 

[DWGal210]

Well said! I agree.

Well...I doubt that anybody posting here really just wants to ignore the rest of the world or thinks people in other countries don't deserve jobs. I think the point (one of the points being made) is that if you export too many jobs you wind up with too few jobs here at home. My husband is a highly qualified technician and has been out of work for nearly a year. The work just isn't out there. His resume is also interesting, since three of the last four companies he has worked for are now out of business (this has nothing to do with him, btw...in case ya wondered ). When he talks with HR people about this, he is told that it is not at all uncommon these days. Half of people's "references" are useless right now because the companies no longer exist.

As for the companies sending those jobs overseas, how many do you suppose are doing that out of a deep desire to put deserving people in other countries to work, and how many do you suppose are doing it out of a deep desire to reap greater profits?

I'm not trying to be rude or pick a fight, but I feel that sometimes people who want to see Americans able to work for a decent living are portrayed as bigoted, racist, backward, etc., when that is really not the issue or the point. I do care about people in other countries. I also care about my own family, and the families of my fellow Americans who are losing their jobs, their homes, etc. right and left in this economy. If we don't support our own economy, who will do it for us?

 

[moburg]

but with unemployment so high, I'd prefer to buy made in the USA. It's important.

But with artificially high wages in the US, you'll pay a premium for items made here. And since so many items are no longer manufactured here, the start up costs to bring the manufacturing back here would further raise prices.

 

[SaraJayne]

People may say they want "made in the USA", but their tune usually changes when they find out the cost of that "made in the USA" item.

Americans want low prices. Most don't care where it was made, as long as it's cheap.

 

[luvmy3]

People may say they want "made in the USA", but their tune usually changes when they find out the cost of that "made in the USA" item.

Americans want low prices. Most don't care where it was made, as long as it's cheap.

Americans also need low prices

 

[OceanAnnie]

People may say they want "made in the USA", but their tune usually changes when they find out the cost of that "made in the USA" item.

Americans want low prices. Most don't care where it was made, as long as it's cheap.

And Americans want jobs. Many will take a job over no job.

 

[eliza61]

Americans also need low prices

I don't think that's absolutely true Luv, I remember a day when Americans were not a "walmart" mentality. Now we have a "throw things away" and get a new one every 10 minutes.

Case in point. clothing. when I was a little girl, lets say you brought a summer polo shirt. You paid the most you could for it and expected it to last two or three summers. You definitely did not expect it to shrink and fade after 2 washings.

Now we go to kohls and we think "hey it's only $7.99" but in reality it's not, because that 7.99 made in china t shirt is going to fade and definitely shrink after 1 wash. so we say "that's ok I got it cheap" when before we would have be hopping mad.

I want quality and sorry I just think the stuff coming out of China is cheap crap. I have a disney sweatshirt that I got 15 years ago. It was made in America (at least that's what the label says. LOL). I got it from the American pavillion and I remember at the time i was really torn about buying it because it was $40 bucks. 40 bucks is a lot for me to cough up now for a sweatshirt so you know 15 years ago I really had reservations about it. LOL. It is absolutely still gorgeous. elastic around the cuffs is still sharp, colors are sharp. embroidary (sp) with thread. I love it. compare it to the stuff in the parks now.

 

[golfgal]

I don't think that's absolutely true Luv, I remember a day when Americans were not a "walmart" mentality. Now we have a "throw things away" and get a new one every 10 minutes.

Case in point. clothing. when I was a little girl, lets say you brought a summer polo shirt. You paid the most you could for it and expected it to last two or three summers. You definitely did not expect it to shrink and fade after 2 washings.

Now we go to kohls and we think "hey it's only $7.99" but in reality it's not, because that 7.99 made in china t shirt is going to fade and definitely shrink after 1 wash. so we say "that's ok I got it cheap" when before we would have be hopping mad.

I want quality and sorry I just think the stuff coming out of China is cheap crap. I have a disney sweatshirt that I got 15 years ago. It was made in America (at least that's what the label says. LOL). I got it from the American pavillion and I remember at the time i was really torn about buying it because it was $40 bucks. 40 bucks is a lot for me to cough up now for a sweatshirt so you know 15 years ago I really had reservations about it. LOL. It is absolutely still gorgeous. elastic around the cuffs is still sharp, colors are sharp. embroidary (sp) with thread. I love it. compare it to the stuff in the parks now.

While I agree that we have a pretty disposable society, your example is just backwards. Do you really buy clothing that is 4 sizes too big so a child can wear them for 3-4 years??? When our kids were little I bought clothing that was the best value-not the cheapest, the best value. Usually their clothing came from Target or Kohl's because it was good enough to last a season because by the next season they outgrew it--heck, sometimes they outgrew it by the end of a season.

There is no way I would spend $25 on a onesie a kid would wear for 3 months, maybe.

People also forget that having a healthy WORLD economy boosts the US economy. It wasn't too long ago that people in China and Japan could barely feed themselves, now the lower classes there have jobs, that for their society, are well paying jobs and they can buy things like Levi jeans from US companies.

So, all of you "Made in the USA" people, do you drive a Ford or a Toyota??? Fords are often assembled in Mexico while Toyota's are assembled in the US. So, which one is "made" in the US???

 

[marmalade]

While I agree that we have a pretty disposable society, your example is just backwards. Do you really buy clothing that is 4 sizes too big so a child can wear them for 3-4 years??? When our kids were little I bought clothing that was the best value-not the cheapest, the best value. Usually their clothing came from Target or Kohl's because it was good enough to last a season because by the next season they outgrew it--heck, sometimes they outgrew it by the end of a season.

There is no way I would spend $25 on a onesie a kid would wear for 3 months, maybe.

People also forget that having a healthy WORLD economy boosts the US economy. It wasn't too long ago that people in China and Japan could barely feed themselves, now the lower classes there have jobs, that for their society, are well paying jobs and they can buy things like Levi jeans from US companies. So, all of you "Made in the USA" people, do you drive a Ford or a Toyota??? Fords are often assembled in Mexico while Toyota's are assembled in the US. So, which one is "made" in the US???

Levi's jeans are no longer made in the USA.

 

[SaraJayne]

Americans also need low prices

No, they don't. Walmart just wants you to think that way.

 

[eliza61]

While I agree that we have a pretty disposable society, your example is just backwards. Do you really buy clothing that is 4 sizes too big so a child can wear them for 3-4 years??? When our kids were little I bought clothing that was the best value-not the cheapest, the best value. Usually their clothing came from Target or Kohl's because it was good enough to last a season because by the next season they outgrew it--heck, sometimes they outgrew it by the end of a season.

There is no way I would spend $25 on a onesie a kid would wear for 3 months, maybe.

People also forget that having a healthy WORLD economy boosts the US economy. It wasn't too long ago that people in China and Japan could barely feed themselves, now the lower classes there have jobs, that for their society, are well paying jobs and they can buy things like Levi jeans from US companies.

So, all of you "Made in the USA" people, do you drive a Ford or a Toyota??? Fords are often assembled in Mexico while Toyota's are assembled in the US. So, which one is "made" in the US???

I would definitely buy things 1 size larger. Yep, and not only that a lot of things could or use to be able to be "handed down" from sibling to sibling (hence the term "hand me downs") I went to catholic schools, and I definitely remember getting good ole white long sleeve made in america shirts handed down from my cousins. All in perfect condition. Try that with the junk from Walmart. I brought my sons white shirts from there, once again 1 washing with some bleach, that was the end of his crisp white shirt. and yes, I am very good at laundry.

A healthy world economy only help us if the playing fields are level. they are not. China is notorious for inflating the value of their dollar and severe trade restrictions on the amount of America goods that are allowed into the country. So while we let them flood our markets with their imports we don't have the same access to their markets.

 

[SaraJayne]

And Americans want jobs. Many will take a job over no job.

Right now, low prices are winning. That's one of the reasons the economy is in the toilet.

 

[DWGal210]

It's the same discussion with food.

Until people are able to or want to purchase higher priced food, the processed stuff will be made.

Same with clothes, cars, etc...

Could change be made? Sure. But it would be gradual, over a long period of time. A night/day about face wouldn't work.

 

[golfgal]

Levi's jeans are no longer made in the USA.

No, but they are still a USA company and even if their manufacturing plants are elsewhere, their corporate headquarters are still here and they employ US citizens. If they did not send their manufacturing to other countries they would have gone out of business. There is a price point people are willing to pay and companies know this. Are you willing to pay $100 for a pair of Levi's if they were 100% USA? Probably not. Again a healthy WORLD economy helps the US more than shipping out low skill/low paying job elsewhere.

For those with spouses or themselves looking for jobs, would YOU take a factory job and KEEP IT if the opportunity arose???

 

[OceanAnnie]

Right now, low prices are winning. That's one of the reasons the economy is in the toilet.

There are many reasons why our economy is in the toilet. Low prices are just one of them, as you stated. I wouldn't call low prices, "winning".

 

[SaraJayne]

There are many reasons why our economy is in the toilet. Low prices are just one of them, as you stated. I wouldn't call low prices, "winning".

What I meant by "winning" was companies are willing to ship goods/services/labor overseas to avoid having to pay American workers higher wages.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I bought a shirt for DH that had "USA" on it. I checked the label. It was made in Mexico, I think it was Haynes brand. No, it was another brand, Delta Pro Weight. Another USA shirt, Sonoma, was made in El Salvador. Incredibly sad that a shirt with USA on it is made in another country.

Then I looked at other articles of clothing. I found some of the places the kids clothes were made were in Bangladesh -OP, The Children's Place- Cambodia, Izod- China, Abercrombie- Vietnam. What companies make clothes here in the US? I couldn't find any in the clothing I have at home.

Have you looked at the labels to see where your clothes come from? Share what you find here.

I just don't find a lot of those name brands "cheap". And I find it weird that we were celebrating job growth at McDonalds over the last quarter but textiles are beneath us.

 

[eliza61]

ABCnews just did a story about which cars produce them ost american cars. The results will be revealed tomorrow.

the Smithsonian which had come under fire for having souveniers produced in china, is reopening tomorrow with all American made merchandise.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/made-america-car-company-creates-american-jobs/story?id=13757612

 

[herdtoDisney]

Recently, I wanted some American flag-style bunting for the house-you know, those half-circle things that you put under the windows or on porchrails- and dh brought some home from CVS. I was horrified to see that they were made in China!

I made him return them and went to Walmart. For the same price, I got MADE IN AMERICA bunting, and they had regular American flags and other accessories, all made in the USA. It was even the same price as the CVS bunting.

I read labels, and try to buy American when I can. You'd be suprised at Walmart, they often have USA made items in the mix.