I try to buy locally and support small business but it’s a world
economy and it would be irresponsible for any business to pay
considerably more for the same thing just to buy it locally. If we
want to compete with anyone, other countries or our local
competitors, we have to do it better and give our customers a reason
to buy from us. For a long time we all preferred Italian made chain
and still admire German engineering and tools. How is Asian made
product any different? Even things that are made in America aren’t
really all American, what with parts and tools from all over the
world. That’s true even if you make it yourself. The world is one
big organism with somewhat artificial borders.
The question is not the quality of some of the "made in China",
some is superb! The real question for me is "Is it made by my
neighbors" they have to have work if they are to have money to
spend with me!
Nobody who lives in China comes to East Tennessee (where I live) to
sell me merchandise.
Every item I buy in TN was sold to me by Tennesseans, was trucked to
the merchant by Americans on American roads driving American trucks.
To help you overcome your frustrations, I offer this video.
You can’t compare products made somewhere else with similar American
made as there is little left that is made here in the good old USA.
Have done a little road tripping to various areas and very saddening
the big factories allover shuttered up. We are however still the
largest arms manufacturing country in the world.
Think of all the automation in just the jewelry business alone that
has taken place with all this ‘great technology’ in the last 10
years alone, all I think of is the vast loss of jobs! Pretty soon
robots will be making jewelry entirely and drones ‘overseeing’ them.
Bye bye humans.
I remember viewing the jewels at the King Tut’s exhibit and what they
were able to do with a few hand tools. I bet they didn’t have an
unemployment problem.
It isn’t about quality do whatever you feel best. I chose to support
local businesses and I chose to support USA businesses I would
rather Feed my neighbors and know they are well than supply money to
a company buying overseas. Perhaps if you were aware of the job
impact this outsourcing has had on everyday Americans you wouldn’t
feel so good about buying from China or Walmart to save 50 cents.
I make my own settings, but I understand the need for pre-made at
times. Being snotty about that part is just typical of a forum where
some people are missing the entire point. I want Americans to profit
possible. I know what is is like to go hungry I never want that for
my neighbor. Reality check ten dollars is a lot of money on my pay
scale at the moment living on govt ssi of 700 dollars a month. Can
you live on that and still produce your jewelry? It took me two
years of skipping meals to spend 20-50 dollars a month to get my
tools I lost in the house fire. I am determined to do this
profession. I will replace my studio and I will succeed. I will
never go hungry again and neither will anyone in my community.
Mark, I agree with you on the “buy local” mindset… I would prefer
to pay a little more for products which I know are supporting my
neighbors jobs, because their ability to earn a living directly
affects whether or not they can spend money on my own work.
Paf, my better half will have nothing to do with products made in
China (even books or greeting cards that are published there),
mainly because of the way in which factory workers there are
reputedly treated, but also because he chooses to not support a
communist country at the expense of manufacturing jobs here at home.
Economics rather than xenophobia is what matters for us, but perhaps
for others their rationale is less practical.
Big companies have their profit margins to worry about, and
"pennies" are hardly what some of them are saving by outsourcing. If
where a product is made means a lot to you, let your suppliers know.
At the very least, they should provide that in their
catalogues/on their websites (bravo, Rio Grande for doing just that)
so that we can make informed purchases.
The issue is that the Chinese look at quality, selling, and
business, in a VERY different way from Americans, and from most of
the Western world. I’m serious - this is a cultural difference. My
husband used to do major business with China (textiles), and when he
decided he might want to have his inexpensive line manufactured
there he actually went to China to see the factory and talk to the
people in person. What he found over the years is that the Chinese
genuinely seemed to think that selling you one thing “five feet of
blue cotton top quality” for an example, and shipping you another
“five feet of light blue cotton medium quality” is a perfectly
acceptable thing - and that when you got the item that was close,
but NOT what you ordered, they would offer a price discount, you
would accept, and life goes on. When my husband sent several
container loads back (the BIG shipping containers that go on the
ships!) they realized he was not willing to do business that way,
and HE realized he needed to go to China himself, and find a factory
that understood that he wanted EXACTLY what he ordered.
Based on his rather extensive experience that is what we found. We
have also dealt in a small way via eBay with Chinese made goods, and
find that what they SAY it is, and what it ACTUALLY is, can vary
from accurate to wildly imaginative.
THIS is the reason that many people react radically differently to
something made in China, as opposed to something made in Italy or
Germany, where one almost always gets what one ordered, and the
description and the reality match.
This is NOT xenophobic - it is the necessity to understand who you
are doing business with, and how THEY do business, so that YOU know
what you are buying!
Most of our gemstones come from overseas, i don’t see anyone saying,
support local cutters. we have them (and you know the prices).
More to the point, Stuller has a large work force, those people need
jobs.
My recent experience is having to go out of business after 24 years.
No one in my area has money for jewelry. Our prices start at $15 for
sterling silver.
If Stuller is doing what it needs to to stay in business and support
their employees, anyone who has an issue, has an issue, not with
Stuller.
Is this about Nationalism? Is Gerry getting all his diamonds from
Canadian mines? Have I ever had a diamond from the U.S. Always have
someone to blame, hold that righteous indignation.
I know two people same age as me let go. Laid off. Younger peeps who
will work for less. Both high end here in the Denver area.
THIS is the reason that many people react radically differently to
something made in China, as opposed to something made in Italy or
Germany, where one almost always gets what one ordered, and the
description and the reality match.
This is NOT xenophobic - it is the necessity to understand who you
are doing business with, and how THEY do business, so that YOU
know
Beth Wicker, I agree with everything said.
I doing business with Stuller. I trust them. I do not think that Matt
Stuller has worked the many decades he has to risk his reputation.
Stuller might be prudent doing what they are doing.
If others follow Stullers lead, whatcha gonna do? I had an experience
buying “zircon” and I received cubic zirconia. I knew I was taking a
chance. So I understand.
People cannot make it all black or all white. I do not think all
Chinese companies are automatically unethical. I do know that the
Chinese have a culture where if what they send you is something
substituted for what you had picked out, my understanding is that
they do not have the same values.
For some reason, what I think happens is if the seller replaces what
you pick, is your fault.
I knew a woman who went to Hong Hong to buy rubies. She did not even
see that they had substituted every parcel for lower quality gems.
This was the father of a friend of the womans while she attended
G.I.A.
They are probably one of the best companies I’ve ever had the
pleasure of doing business. I will also continue to patronize
businesses who trade with China.
I recognize and understand that borders are abstractions and don’t
really exist.
The economic pie isn’t finite. Humans create wealth. One person
having more wealth doesn’t prevent another gaining equal (or more)
wealth.
Refusing to do business with companies who employ labor at the best
possible rates not only punishes the company for reacting properly
to price signals, it punishes the potential workers who manufacture
and transport the products.
This whole “buy 'mercan” campaign is nothing but xenophobia and
that’s a poor economic model.
If people want to help the poor teeming masses, the best way is to
allow them to trade freely in the marketplace and to earn their
sustenance.
How do stand up to help bring back and economy that has been
rocked to it's core? You start by taking a stand against the
products that cost you your job. Small thing to most, but it
becomes personal. You encourage the manufacturing of goods back
where they use to be, so you can get the jobs back. You make your
statements with your dollars (for us in the USA). In the end it is
a choice we want to be able to make. Do we support made in the USA
or do we support those who took our jobs? I for one do make my
choice if I'm informed of it.
Let’s start with Walmart, probably the largest importer of Chinese
goods?
I guess the American entrepreneur who we all hold in such high
esteem, who risk everything to move to China or Thailand or India
with their families, to open a factory to manufacture some item for
export to America, and who still are required to pay US income taxes
on their earnings abroad, are no longer “real” Americans and don’t
deserve a chance to earn a living because they’re doing it on soil
far removed from their home towns.
How do stand up to help bring back an economy that has been rocked
to it's core? You start by taking a stand against the products
that cost you your job.
This is logical only if your perception of the causes of our falling
economy are correct.
If they are not, you are tilting at windmills at best.
Beth is 100% true about the chinese outlook towards business and
quality control. Its also why many cutting houses have closed in
China and also due to rising labor costs. They are looking to move
into Africa now.
Just a brief comment or two on this subject, as I could likely write
for an hour. I spent the first fifteen years working for General
Motors, and saw first-hand the impact of foreign labor on a huge
Company like GM. Those of you who drive those Japanese vehicles need
to ask yourself where the profits go after you make the purchase, and
whose retirements are being funded. A lot of your American neighbors
depend on someone here in the states to keep buying American.
My Uncle taught me the jewelry business many years ago, and told me
in 1979 that he would be closing his manufacturing business soon. I
offered to buy it, and he tried very hard to talk me out of doing so,
telling me that in a few short years all the manufacturing would be
going to overseas companies.
Of course he was right, but in 1980 I was on the road selling my
products all over the U. S. I grossed nearly a half million dollars
that first year, but I believe last year Fayrick Mfg. sold about $900
total.
In the 1970’s, the Whitney Building in downtown Detroit had twenty
floors all involved with jewelry manufacturing. Today they are all
gone, completely! Old names like Orange Blossom and Keepsake spent
huge dollars keeping these companies in business, their employees
earning a living. Go into any mall jeweler today, ask to look at
their jewelry, and see how the Chinese will nick-set (their term, not
mine) a row of diamonds into a low area, imitating the look of a
channel without the tiniest shred of security.
Clean these rings in your ultrasonic, and count how many diamonds
are shaken out into the tank.
Anyway, you get the idea hopefully. About a year ago I had the same
experience as others of opening a Stuller shipping box, and seeing a
"Made In China" tag. I do believe that I mentioned the fact on this
forum at that time, however it seem to go mostly unnoticed by you
all. There are times when it is more cost-effective to buy a mounting
rather than designing a new one myself. I do still, on occasion,
order a mounting, but Stuller is sadly not first on my go-to list
when I do look.
Those of you who drive those Japanese vehicles need to ask yourself
where the profits go after you make the purchase, and whose
retirements are being funded. A lot of your American neighbors
depend on someone here in the states to keep buying American.
I bought my Subaru from Americans in America. It was brought to
America on a ship. Chances are the ship wasn’t made in America, but
it’s highly likely the ones that brought my Subaru to Americans was
crewed by some Americans. I know that when it got to these shores
hundreds if not thousands of working Americans were involved in
getting my Subaru to Tennessee, so that I could buy it. from
Americans.
I’m guessing you missed the video I posted on the subject. It’s a
very short film called “I, Pencil”. You should watch it on YouTube.
I do know that the Chinese have a culture where if what they send
you is something substituted for what you had picked out, my
understanding is that they do not have the same values.
Don’t you think it’s a little unfair to judge an entire people on
the actions of a few? Next we’ll read that the Chinese don’t respect
life as much as we do.
Just a note on the comment about buying American brand cars to keep
Americans working. two cars back I shopped partly on the basis of
how much of the car was actually made here in America for that very
reason. and bought Hyundai. Actually had a MUCH higher percentage
(don’t remember the numbers now) made in America than the equivalent
Ford I was looking at it. plus was cheaper and with a better
warranty. So unexpectedly by purchasing a foreign brand car I was
actually buying something that kept more Americans in jobs. it was
quite a surprise! No idea what today’s percentages are, but looking
at the tags for that is educational.
China makes many high quality products. However they also sell a
lot of fake or low quality goods. These are what most people judge
China by.
And yet, when I was a kid, “Made in Japan” goods were pretty much
crap, and you never heard anyone blaming the Japanese for “stealing
our jobs”.
The reason we’re losing our jobs to foreigners is our (USA)
government makes it easier for companies to set up bases of
operations in countries without huge tax burdens unfairly placed on
businesses, plus monetary inflation (QE), in spite of
lackey-“economists” proclamations that we’re in a recovery, is
killing our jobs, not some foreign yellow devils.
