Possible DEF shortages

[rScotty]

While somewhat true for some of the population, I think many American's expect reasonably priced and good quality items. I try to buy items made in the USA and would pay 25%-50% more for them, however, most products made in America are 3-6x in price so there is no reasonably priced USA made ones. Simply try to find adjustable wrenches or sockets, etc. that are made in the USA vs. overseas made.

And making minimum starting wage $15/hr isn't going to help the issue, it's only going to get worse.

That's the way I feel. I'll pay more for USA made, but I expect it to be quality. It doesn't have to be world-beater quality, but decent solid quality. I use tools in my work. They have to be reliable.

What bothers me is that we don't make that quality as often anymore. I think we could...for example our yellow John Deere 310 backhoe is pure solid quality inside and out. The 310s are US made and are popular hoes in spite of there being competing machines for less money.
So we can build them that way if we want. And the market is here.
rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

I agree with the look in the mirror part, but it's not the stockholder you need to look at. The real problem is American consumers. However, no one wants to admit it could be their own damn fault.

Corporations respond to what gets results. If the first Chinese stuff to be shipped over here sat on the shelf rotting away, they would not be bringing in more. As it is, American consumers demand CHEAP. They don't seem to care much how long it lasts. If US manufacturers did not start producing overseas, the overseas manufacturers would just start shipping the stuff here anyway. If it can be made cheaper elsewhere, SOMEONE will bring it in, and Americans will buy it.

I agree, with that, but the reason is a bit deeper. Americans want things cheap is because their wages are not keeping up with the cost of living.

 

[Hay Dude]

But yet you shop at walmart where made in china and self-checkouts reign?

What a ridiculous statement.
What if I went to WalMart, sometimes out of necessity because I need something quickly, and bought an American made product they sell?
Would you be cool with that? Would that make me patriotic?
Youd have to live in a fantasy world thinking there’s retail stores with ONLY American stuff. Go to Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, HD, Menards, whatever. Shelves filled with Chinese made goods.

How many American employees work at WalMart? American Truckers ship for them? American construction companies build their stores?
I don’t like WalMart, but they sell DEF that says “Made in USA” on it and it’s very affordable on this farmers salary.

 

[Hay Dude]

While somewhat true for some of the population, I think many American's expect reasonably priced and good quality items. I try to buy items made in the USA and would pay 25%-50% more for them, however, most products made in America are 3-6x in price so there is no reasonably priced USA made ones. Simply try to find adjustable wrenches or sockets, etc. that are made in the USA vs. overseas made.

And making minimum starting wage $15/hr isn't going to help the issue, it's only going to get worse.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

They don't seem to care much how long it lasts. If US manufacturers did not start producing overseas, the overseas manufacturers would just start shipping the stuff here anyway. If it can be made cheaper elsewhere, SOMEONE will bring it in, and Americans will buy it.

Look at the cell phone market as an example. Granted none of them are US made, but we discard perfectly good working phones to get the newer, faster, and more expensive one, not out of necessity, but for nothing more than bragging rights. We are bombarded with advertising for the "new and improved" version of just about everything we own. Just about all of it made in China or other Asian country and ov varying degrees of quality. Us older and more mature people don't do that, right. I laugh at myself over this at times, ordering something I don't really need because something else is newer, and maybe a bit faster. I've been tempted to start replacing all of my DeWalt 18v tools with new 20v brushless and I ask myself, why? The old tools work just fine, I don't use them in my line of work (retirement) they do the job I need when it needs doing. New batteries that are worth anything are becoming impossible to find at anything resembling a reasonable price so I will upgrade eventually to 20v,,, batteries and an adapter for 18v tools.
My criteria for new and upgrades will be the old one don't work, or is just too worn out, or it no longer reliably does the job. When my cell phone no longer takes a charge I'll replace it, not simply because it has the latest bells and whistles.

 

[ddbackhoe]

What a ridiculous statement.
What if I went to WalMart, sometimes out of necessity because I need something quickly, and bought an American made product they sell?
Would you be cool with that? Would that make me patriotic?
Youd have to live in a fantasy world thinking there’s retail stores with ONLY American stuff. Go to Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, HD, Menards, whatever. Shelves filled with Chinese made goods.

How many American employees work at WalMart? American Truckers ship for them? American construction companies build their stores?
I don’t like WalMart, but they sell DEF that says “Made in USA” on it and it’s very affordable on this farmers salary.

It is not a ridiculous statement, it was a question. If you weren’t so defensive, you may have noticed that. We get DEF in 55 gallon drums from my local fuel distributor for $175. Sometimes the low baller isnt really a deal.

 

[Hay Dude]

It is not a ridiculous statement, it was a question. If you weren’t so defensive, you may have noticed that. We get DEF in 55 gallon drums from my local fuel distributor for $175. Sometimes the low baller isnt really a deal.

You’re right, it was more of an attack than a ridiculous statement.
Note “55 gallon drums”. Thats called a “quantity discount”. I only have one vehicle that runs on DEF (thank the Lord). I don’t need a 55 gallon drum. Buying a 2.5G plastic jug maybe once every 3-4 weeks is all that’s needed. So trying to buy it at the most convenient place with a great price and it’s USA made (at least that’s what the label says) is my idea of being smart with my money.

Besides,
$175/55 is $3.18 per gallon
$7.98/2.5 is $3.19 per gallon

Not much savings if you ask me!
Prefer the portable small 2.5G.

 

[rScotty]

Look at the cell phone market as an example. Granted none of them are US made, but we discard perfectly good working phones to get the newer, faster, and more expensive one......

SNIP...

.....My criteria for new and upgrades will be the old one don't work, or is just too worn out, or it no longer reliably does the job. When my cell phone no longer takes a charge I'll replace it, not simply because it has the latest bells and whistles.

I agree with most of that, although I tend to favor seeing if it can be fixed before declaring it time to replace. But I sure do hear you when you say that when income doesn't match desires there are other ways to deal with that besides buying low priced things.

We can buy used, fix something broken, use what we already have, or simply do without. All that works for tractors too. And goes double for implements.

Not saying that we should do any of those things - each case is special and unique. But there are a lot of decent alternatives to buying things whose main advantages are simply that they are new and inexpensive.
rScotty

 

[Jstpssng]

When it comes to technology I prefer to buy last year's hot items. By then the new has worn off, the glitches have hopefully been fixed, and prices are more reasonable.

My second cell phone was made in USA; a Motorola bag phone which my brother had picked up from the cell phone company he worked for back in the early days.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Most of us are a long way from Oz, but it's being taken seriously there....

Australia forms DEF taskforce to avert shortage | Argus Media

Uptake in China is a factor. Go figure.

Availability of Natgas may be an Oz issue; shouldn't be Can/USA. That said, all supply-chains are a mess today...... lady from Accting @ work said they received an email from the office supplier they use.... Domtar is warning about a potential shortage of printer paper.

I asked if Canada was out of trees...... No, some chemical they need for paper production comes from..... wait for it......... PRC.

May you live in interesting times....

Rgds, D.

PRC ?? People republic of China ?