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In reply to the discussion: Would you buy a $22 American made shovel when an $8 China made one is available? [View all]WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)82. Yes: Durability, reduced fuel/shipping costs, and manufacturing jobs to sustain the Middle Class.
I'm using my grandmother's hand-mixer from 1970 and tools from both grandfathers dating back to the 1940s, all stamped MADE IN USA. Of course I would buy the more expensive American-made shovel. I live in a state in which the textile and furniture industries have been decimated; many of my fellow North Carolinians need good-paying jobs, not perpetual extensions of UI benefits.
There are 1 billion-plus people in China and their wages are on the rise -- certainly a large enough market to sustain the manufacture of Cheap Shit from their own country, thus keeping themselves, or their fellow citizens, employed. I'm not sure the Chinese are as evolved as we are, though; they might not know they *need* that $249.99 margarita maker.
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Would you buy a $22 American made shovel when an $8 China made one is available? [View all]
Liberal_in_LA
Jan 2012
OP
Well, yeah, ever since I bought a truck-sized snowblower winters have turned mild.
RetroLounge
Jan 2012
#106
True enough. All the kitchen tools sold in 99 cent store are made in china. The handles fall off
Liberal_in_LA
Jan 2012
#6
Oh, I don't mean review by looking at online reviews and seeing what other people think about it.
Brickbat
Jan 2012
#153
I'd go to the flea market and get the American made shovel second hand for $5..
Fumesucker
Jan 2012
#5
$22/$8 is a 170% difference, not the 50-100% of most items. I'd pay $12-$16 for the US-made shovel.
leveymg
Jan 2012
#9
I'd rather buy one $10 hammer that will last forever than 10 $1 Chinese hammers.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#13
the top of the $1 hammer will detach from the plastic handle and fly off when in use
Liberal_in_LA
Jan 2012
#17
Usually - either that or it will sacrifice itself to prevent damage to the nail.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#21
Yeah, I had a friend visit me in NH and he wanted to take back some real Boston beer.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#139
If you only need it for one or two uses, great. They don't make anything of same quality.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#80
Fortunately we have a lot of small businesses around here, including a hardware store.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#90
the 8 dollar one doesnt seem to make it thru the season. i have seen it with a LOT of other product
seabeyond
Jan 2012
#20
The OP doesn't say that the $22 one is better quality vs lower quality $8 one.
Honeycombe8
Jan 2012
#53
I would, like a shot! I have my mother's old kitchen tools from the 1950's, and they are light years
MgtPA
Jan 2012
#24
We'd benefit from a new "Look for the Union Label" ad campaign. Those were powerful ads in the 1970s
qb
Jan 2012
#25
Agreed. As a union worker's child I was trained from an early age to buy union, buy American
Gormy Cuss
Jan 2012
#50
the part I don't understand is why does my Indian made Clark Shoes and my Chinese made Doc Martins
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2012
#39
The truth is that I would not. Unless the location is more convenient, or it was an emergency...
Honeycombe8
Jan 2012
#52
Exactly, they always complain about regulation & unions increasing the price...
Historic NY
Jan 2012
#123
It depends on how long you plan to use that shovel or how long to expect it to last
SoCalDem
Jan 2012
#57
This is the BIG LIE. It is not about the price point. It's about the profit margin.
JCMach1
Jan 2012
#72
More like ten lifetimes. I have Mom's CI, and when I go, son will end up with them.
tsuki
Jan 2012
#168
Riddle me this: Why does a replacment handle for a eight dollar shovel cost twelve dollars?
Brother Buzz
Jan 2012
#77
Yes: Durability, reduced fuel/shipping costs, and manufacturing jobs to sustain the Middle Class.
WorseBeforeBetter
Jan 2012
#82
Yes, China makes perfectly good shovels, but do US importers want them?
Prometheus Bound
Jan 2012
#101
The Chinese manufacturer likely gets his wood from Canada and steel from Australia.
Prometheus Bound
Jan 2012
#93
Actually I might. My father always bought Sears tools because they were good and lasted. When it
jwirr
Jan 2012
#113
Not only that, but no matter how old a tool was, if it broke they would replace it.
HopeHoops
Jan 2012
#122
Yes, I remember him trading in a really old tool and they stood behind it. It is really too bad that
jwirr
Jan 2012
#124
Chinese bicycles are seriously flawed... Indian ones (which we don't get in America)
JCMach1
Jan 2012
#116
I do buy US made tools, and the shovel replaced a cheap one that had broken.
Burma Jones
Jan 2012
#125
Nonsense. Hyundais are primarily made in KOREA. Some are *assembled* in the cheap labor south
Romulox
Jan 2012
#158
Unfortunately, the Chinese factories ARE mostly incapable of making quality goods,.
AverageJoe90
Jan 2012
#171
Assuming they're the same quality, I'll buy the cheaper one no matter what country it's from
Ter
Jan 2012
#145
Would you buy a $1000 American made iPad when a $500 China made one is available?
GeorgeGist
Jan 2012
#148
There isn't $500 of labor in an Ipad, irrespective of where it's made. Bogus question.
Romulox
Jan 2012
#157
Parts and labour cost of Apple iWhatsises is about $20 or so on the high end
Spider Jerusalem
Jan 2012
#165
if we all bought the American shovel...the price would quickly go down to $10...
Sancho
Jan 2012
#150
Yeah, since I would but a 100% tariff on the Chinese shovel, it would have to retail
TheKentuckian
Jan 2012
#155
Yes I would if it's the multi-purpose army shovel. Have you seen that shovel?!
vaberella
Jan 2012
#166
I remember the folded spade from when my father was in the army. Looks like it's been upgraded
Liberal_in_LA
Jan 2012
#173