China products VS USA made.

[rw6298]

We were talking about this lastnight and I wanted to see what you all had to say.


If you were looking at buying a product and there were two different brands of the same product. One that was made in China and another that was made in the USA. You couldn't see anything different in the product but you knew the one that cost less was made in China. Which one would you buy.


How much would the % have to be before you just brought the cheapest one.


10% Less
20% Less
30% Less
40% Less
Would never by a product that was made overseas if I could help it.


I said it would have to be around 40% cost savings before I went with the China one. It would also depend on the cost of the product. If we are talking about $5. I will always stick with USA. But if it's thousands of $. Then I better start looking the product over.

 

[redneckford]

We were talking about this lastnight and I wanted to see what you all had to say.


If you were looking at buying a product and there were two different brands of the same product. One that was made in China and another that was made in the USA. You couldn't see anything different in the product but you knew the one that cost less was made in China. Which one would you buy.


How much would the % have to be before you just brought the cheapest one.


10% Less
20% Less
30% Less
40% Less
Would never by a product that was made overseas if I could help it.


I said it would have to be around 40% cost savings before I went with the China one. It would also depend on the cost of the product. If we are talking about $5. I will always stick with USA. But if it's thousands of $. Then I better start looking the product over.

AND THE ANSWER IS------GO GET WA- M---TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A CHOICE---You will find that many products that claim to be made in the US are made in other countries and "assembled" in the US---Heck people that build stuff in the US shop at Wally World cause they are savings money----who cares about a job---the government will just bail us out!!!!

 

[jinman]

My neighbor is building a small storage shed/workshop. Last Saturday, he bought a small General Electric window unit air conditioner for it. Right on the box it said, "Made in China." My guess is that there are many things we use today with USA brand names that are really outsourced to China, Mexico, India, or other region with low labor costs. For example, is your new grapple you posted about in another thread a completely US product? Where is the steel from? Are the components of the hydraulic cylinder all from the US? How about hoses and fittings?

I recently was talking to a man who makes all the air conditioning vent components for Kubota's RTV line of utility vehicles. My FIL has worked for this man for almost 30 years. I asked him if he did his own injection molding of parts and adjustable louvers. He said that he did all of those in his local shop, but that all his dies and molds were made in China.

There is also a long thread on TBN about Dark Horse Tillers and other implements at TSC. Many people purchased those very inexpensive tillers only to find out they were vastly inferior to the King Kutter that was being copied. The truth is that lower cost is only value when the product delivers at the expected level of quality. If I sell you something for 50% less than any other product, but it breaks the first time I use it, then it is worthless. However, if that product lasts 10 years and the higher priced one lasts 20 years, isn't the value about the same? These are very hard decisions because we have a very broad spectrum of expectations and needs on this forum. I suspect you will get a wide variety of responses.

 

[rback33]

Interesting question RW. You point about the actual cost of the item weighing in is very true. I would have to say in the 30% to 40% myself. That said.. it would be REAL tough for me to buy a Chinese tractor... Others would disagree I know...

 

[texbaylea]

I usually have an idea of what a product is worth to me. If I need to meet that price level and knowing that most of the products now being sold in the US are foreign made I look at the supposed manufacturer. What is their approach, maximize profit or support the customer. I have no hesitancy buying from Grizzly, for example, since I know that they have in factory quality control. Their designs are similar or the same as HF, for example, but I have never had a problem with Grizzly products and would, by preference, buy from them.

Vernon

 

[wedge40]

I could be wrong but this sounds like market research for the new grapple. So with that in mind I'd say it would only have to be 10% less. But then again I could be joking.

Wedge

 

[john_bud]

China can produce some high quality products. But they can also slap lead paint on them, or add deadly chemicals etc etc. Look what they did to their own kid's milk and our kids toys!

The "Cheap China Cr--" is just that. Weak metal, few welds, poor quality, poor paint, inferior bearings, odd sizes, no support, dealers come and go like tu--s in a toilet. In our area three dealers of china tractors have come and gone in the past 2-3 years. I would rather pay more for a used american implement than a shiny new one that WILL break.

I recall one thing from the Olympics, the way pro china liberal reporters were shocked that 40% of the people they interviewed on the streets said that they thought of the USA as "The Enemy". Do you really think you will get top drawer products from them???

 

[thl]

I work in 'Supply Chain' for a major distributor in a US aftermarket. Much of that market is imported from China. Seeing it first hand, my choice is simple. Buy US wherever possible. Always higher quality and no sense shipping the cash off shore never to return.

Terry

 

[Ken_CT]

I could be wrong but this sounds like market research for the new grapple.
Wedge

I agree.

 

[drivadesl]

Given the scenario you described, I would buy the made in US product, and have no problem paying for it. Even when the products look identical, more often than not, the USA components, materials, and fit and finish are superior. Yes there are exceptions, and there are shoddy US products also. If I find one, I don't buy it any more. You can't avoid imported stuff, its every where, but I have no problem paying more for US made goods.