Who is wondering what is in store for the Tractor Supply type retailers?

[CalG]

I would say that many people around the world, and maybe even in the US of A as well as our Canadian friends, have a bit of a sour taste over this Wuhan flu thing. Some of it directed at China.

Add to that some of the proceeding tariffs etc, I'm thinking it may seriously alter price and availability of goods that many of us would source from outfits like TS, or in our area "Runnings" (another similar "outdoorsy/ farm home and garden retailer) Include Northern Tool, HF and even the local auto parts store.

Without politics, What can you see going forward?

Me, I'm willing to pay a bit more for stuff. I can make just about anything I really need. But even getting steel stock is difficult locally.

I dislike crap goods, but when the cost of raw materials is about equal to buying finished goods, my nationalism breaks down.

There are a lot of other countries making good ag stuff. Will the production shift? And at what cost to you and I?

 

[BrokenTrack]

In a world where everyone else seems they want YOU concerned about everything and anything to knock you off your game, I would not worry about it too much.

The world does not exist in a vacuum, and so with 85% of American's broke, and after the Black Swan outbreak, now even more American's broke, there will be a need for that kind of product. The consumer is the best to know what they want, and what they can afford, and someone, somewhere, will supply that for them.

 

[wcampbell47]

In 1973 OPEC embargoed the flow of oil to the US in an attempt to influence our support for Israel during the Yom-Kippur war. The result was long lines at the gas pumps, higher gas prices and limits on purchases of gas. However, we geared up and drilled our way past that crisis until OPEC discovered the embargo was not working.

The Wuhan virus is biological warfare to influence the tariffs on trade with China. I for one want the US to be independent enough to be self sustaining. Just think a country that put on man on the moon in less than a decade has been reduced to depending on a foreign country for toilet paper. If Chinese produced items are not purchased stores will not restock them. I for one want the US to be independent to produce our own daily needs enough that I will buy American over Chinese every chance I get.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I wish it was that simple, but we owe more money to China for our DEBT then any other country.

Thinking they have no influence over us is like thinking you can tell the bank that holds the mortgage onto your house, what they will and will not do. They call it debt for a reason; the person owing money is indebted to the person they owe money too until they pay it back.

But with 85% of American's having less than $1000 in the bank, and living paycheck to paycheck, why would expect our government to act any different? Spend, spend, spend, and live off credit...

We need to do two things:

1. Pay off our debt
2. Realize some things are just not for sale

 

[aczlan]

Just think a country that put on man on the moon in less than a decade has been reduced to depending on a foreign country for toilet paper.

Note that most if not all of the toilet paper consumed in the US is made in the US or Canada. It's not overly cost-effective to ship toilet paper across the ocean.


Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

Note that most if not all of the toilet paper consumed in the US is made in the US or Canada. It's not overly cost-effective to ship toilet paper across the ocean.


Aaron Z

Yep. Only 5% of the TP used in the U.S. is made in the ROC.

(that's a lot of acronyms)

The National Toilet Paper Scare: Why Our Supplies Are Safe

 

[MossRoad]

In 1973 OPEC embargoed the flow of oil to the US in an attempt to influence our support for Israel during the Yom-Kippur war. The result was long lines at the gas pumps, higher gas prices and limits on purchases of gas. However, we geared up and drilled our way past that crisis until OPEC discovered the embargo was not working.

The Wuhan virus is biological warfare to influence the tariffs on trade with China. I for one want the US to be independent enough to be self sustaining. Just think a country that put on man on the moon in less than a decade has been reduced to depending on a foreign country for toilet paper. If Chinese produced items are not purchased stores will not restock them. I for one want the US to be independent to produce our own daily needs enough that I will buy American over Chinese every chance I get.

Well, that would require U.S. government owned industry and no free markets. I think that's 100% opposite of capitalism and 100% in the direction of communism. Glad you're coming around to the correct way of thinking, komrad. :laughing:

Seriously, though... everything in the U.S. is for sale to the top bidder. Much of our natural resources are made into products that are sold outside of our borders. The way of thinking above, it sounds like it's OK for us to sell to other people but not OK for others to sell to us.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Well, that would require U.S. government owned industry and no free markets. I think that's 100% opposite of capitalism and 100% in the direction of communism. Glad you're coming around to the correct way of thinking, komrad. :laughing:

Seriously, though... everything in the U.S. is for sale to the top bidder. Much of our natural resources are made into products that are sold outside of our borders. The way of thinking above, it sounds like it's OK for us to sell to other people but not OK for others to sell too us.

Methinks you have overstated your case just a little bit. I too will buy American made over foreign made when I can, even if there is some price differential...and, there is nothing wrong in keeping our self sufficiency in critical areas...energy production for one; pharmaceuticals for another, food, transportation and communication also. I suppose in a true free enterprise/world market, we could buy all of our military armaments from Brazil or some such, and maybe even contract our personnel out to the mercenary Hessians...but probably not a good idea. I am very uncomfortable with my pharmaceuticals being made in China or India...China doesn't seem to be too concerned with the carcinogenic contaminants in Zantac.

 

[fried1765]

I wish it was that simple, but we owe more money to China for our DEBT then any other country.

Thinking they have no influence over us is like thinking you can tell the bank that holds the mortgage onto your house, what they will and will not do. They call it debt for a reason; the person owing money is indebted to the person they owe money too until they pay it back.

But with 85% of American's having less than $1000 in the bank, and living paycheck to paycheck, why would expect our government to act any different? Spend, spend, spend, and live off credit...

We need to do two things:

1. Pay off our debt
2. Realize some things are just not for sale

Sadly....... the "pay off our debt"....... ain't NEVER gonna happen!.

 

[MossRoad]

Methinks you have overstated your case just a little bit. I too will buy American made over foreign made when I can, even if there is some price differential...and, there is nothing wrong in keeping our self sufficiency in critical areas...energy production for one; pharmaceuticals for another, food, transportation and communication also. I suppose in a true free enterprise/world market, we could buy all of our military armaments from Brazil or some such, and maybe even contract our personnel out to the mercenary Hessians...but probably not a good idea. I am very uncomfortable with my pharmaceuticals being made in China or India...China doesn't seem to be too concerned with the carcinogenic contaminants in Zantac.

We (the U.S.) are not energy self sufficient. The oil is owned by the companies and their stockholders, not the U.S. general public. They (the oil and gas companies) are selling it for profit on the open market all over the world, as other companies are with everything else; grain, lumber, cars, etc... If the government owned the oil companies, then, yes, we, the U.S., might be energy self sufficient. We'd also be a socialist country. It's about means of production.

Capitalism is defined as private ownership and control over the means of production, where the surplus product becomes a source of unearned income for its owners. By contrast, socialism is defined as social ownership of the means of production so that the surplus product accrues to society at large.

From here:
Means of production - Wikipedia