Buy less buy American. Must read!!!

[integrityman]

First, a preemptive note to the Lawnsite moderators. I placed this thread in the employment forum because I want Americans to be employed. Positive employment will solve so many of our social ills, and I want to do all I can to help out the American worker AND do everything possible to strengthen our own economy.

All- this is an issue that MUST be considered not only this holiday season, but also every time you make a purchase. So, instead of buying a bunch of cheap crap, buy only a few American made products.

The below is a posting from the owner of Gary Parsons, the owner of Better Outdoor Products.


"Little Story:

I just got back a few weeks ago from GIE/EXPO at Louisville. Went out for some meetings and to walk the show. While I was there, I got propositioned (isn't that what prostitutes do?) by a Chinese company selling a near-perfect COPY of an Exmark Quest. Admittedly, not a very popular machine to emulate, but they did do a very nice job. Looked well-built and had all the right stuff- 48" deck (exactly like Exmark in every way), 22HP engine, identical drive system (HydroGear), adjustable seat, hourmeter, etc., right down to the cup-holder.

They offered to private-label it (painted, stickered, etc.) as a Better Outdoor mower in container quantities and allow us a nice mark-up if we would retail it for $1995.

I KNOW intimately what this stuff costs: $1995 won't even cover the RAW MATERIAL COSTS. Ponder that for a moment...

Everyone's focused on the difference in labor costs- this is a red-herring. While it's true that Chinese labor is cheaper than American, if a manufacturer eliminated ALL of the labor, they still couldn't profitably sell at this price. There's a MUCH larger game happening here. These products are being subsidized by the Chinese government- there's no other way. It's piranha-"capitalism".

We're smack-dab in the middle of an all-out ECONOMIC WAR with China. The Chinese have decided that rather than invest in armies and missles (of which they also have plenty), they're investing in simply buying our markets. Why blow the place up, when you can just subsidize a loss for 5-10 years, destroy all of your competitors and then OWN THE ENTIRE MARKET? We're witnessing the "Armageddon moment" that everyone worried about during the Cold War. But instead of nukes, the battle between a free-society and Communism is being waged with predatory pricing. Everytime someone buys a cheap Chinese ZTR or a $300 flat-screen it is the EXACT SAME RESULT as hurling a firebomb or planting an IED in the parking lot of an American manufacturer. People buying that crap are COMPLICIT in the destruction of our Free Republic- they might as well sign-on as soldiers in the "People's Army" and burn their neighbor's house to the ground- the outcome is the same.

So... for all the empty-headed idiots out there, sucking-up all those "good deals" and thinking about nothing but the next fifteen minutes and how it effects ME; just KNOW that you're playing a vital role in destroying your country. YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. So, when all of YOUR customers are soon out of a job and can no longer afford YOUR services, maybe you'll be able to compete with the illegals for five bucks a yard... or a loaf of bread.

WAKE UP AND SUPPORT YOUR OWN COUNTRY DAMMIT!" - (Written by Gary Parsons reference a chinese mower company. )

EACH TIME YOU MAKE A PURCHASE LOOK AT THE "MADE IN" STAMP OR LABEL.

Our economy will only truly turn the corner when we demand American made goods and revive our own industrial base instead of dumping our $$$ into China.

Make a point to complain to your local retailer about the vast majority of chinese garbage on their shelves.

Our situation ain't gonna change until we the People demand American products and decide to spend $$$ on American goods.

[PROCUT1]

I think there is more to it.

A lot of asian products are just plain a better value. Yes, some is junk.

But America needs to catch up on some of the technology.

When you buy a new dumptruck. You can get a ford for $50k and get barely 100k miles out of it before you start having problems.

Buy a Mitsubishi Fuso and at 200k its just getting broken in.

And the mitsu will cost less. Get better mileage. And run forever.

Same with a car. Buy American and run it for 100k. Or buy a honda and run it for 300k.

Yes, I know everyone can pop on here with exceptions and examples of an american truck with a bajillion miles. But the overall fact is, we cant build a vehicle like they can.

The question is "why?"

As to the raw materials.

With labor low and technology high, every level of production is less expensive for the chinese.

So maybe you cant buy the raw materials at that price, because youre buying american steel.

Theyre not stupid people. They are very smart when it comes to business and Im willing to bet they are making a nice profit themselves on the machines.

Its no different than American competition in the service business.

There are guys sealcoating parking lots for less than it cost me in material.

But somehow, they have been in business for 25 years......And I dont think its by working at a loss.

They just figured something out that I didnt yet.

[Hoy landscaping]

i dont care if the foreign cars are better, im a patriot and will pay the extra $$ to ride American

[Springmeadows]

I agree with IntegrityMan 100%. People compare this recession with The Great Depression. The best way to get out this bad economy is put Americans back to work making "superior American products." If Americans don't make superior products, then we need to change our attitudes and make superior products. We're so concerned about saving a buck, that we sell each other out. In our industry, we like loyalty from customers because we give superior service instead of "lowballers". Take that loyalty to the next level and by superior American made products. Our country is "under seige" FIGHT BACK.

[jeffslawnservice]

Originally Posted by Hoy landscaping

i dont care if the foreign cars are better, im a patriot and will pay the extra $$ to ride American

Agree, I drive American and will always drive American.

[Mike's LawnCare Landscape]

I drive Chevy . Let me tell you cant get no closer to American LOL THEY OWN it now .

[AI Inc]

this can help in your purchase decisions


http://www.madeinusa.org/

[punt66]

i have been telling people that for years.

[AI Inc]

The American shopper can do more to save America then the gvmt will ever do.

[silverado212]

For the last ten years I have been a Union Electrician by trade and have had it beaten into me about buy American. Hell I beat it into myself. I will remain that way til I die. We may not always make a better product, but by buying American we are fueling the economy. Remember this the products we Import are taxed way less than the ones we Export. I understand that it is a struggle to find American Made products, but if you put in a little effort it can be done. I have an American Made, Union Made TV, so you just have to look. My wifes Uncle has been out of job since Dec. 08 because the GM plant he delivered cars from shut down. Thanks in very large part to the Japense car buying idiots. All of the foriegn buying people in this country don't believe they have done anything wrong. Think about that when you loose your job and can't pay for that new Honda or Toyota in your garage.