Would you pay 25 % more for made in America goods

Shawnmack · 02-24-07, 08:54 PM

Would you pay an extra 25% on products that the US has lost to overseas to keep the jobs here in the US. For instance you get a pair of Nikes for $100 now but you pay $125 but the whole shoe is made in American the same with electronics, clothes etc....

CK6Speed · 02-24-07, 09:00 PM

No. If the quality were the same I would not pay more for it just because it was made in the US. On the same note, I would not automatically pay for for something made in Japan if the quality were the same as the US made product. All I care about is getting the best price possible price for the best quality. I would; however, pay a premium for the same/similar product that had better quality than the domestic or foreign made one if available.

JLSC4 · 02-24-07, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CK6Speed

No. If the quality were the same I would not pay more for it just because it was made in the US. On the same note, I would not automatically pay for for something made in Japan if the quality were the same as the US made product. All I care about is getting the best price possible price for the best quality. I would; however, pay a premium for the same/similar product that had better quality than the domestic or foreign made one if available.

I agree and think most consumers feel the same way.

BTW, is that 25% figure generally an accurate price increase? Or is it hypothetical? America still makes a lot of things that compete at equal prices though so this 25% figure doesn't seem accurate at least all the time.

We can look at the auto industry as an example. Many people avoid American brand cars even though they generally sell for LESS than their Japenese and German rivals. These days, people just want the best product at the right price no matter where it's built.

Jewcano · 02-24-07, 09:35 PM

I agree with those two, i dont care where the product is made, guess that doesnt make me to patriotic. Most people want to settle on a median. They dont want to buy the most expensive yet best quality piece, and they dont want to buy the cheapest crappiest quality piece. People will find the median, the item that is reasonable quality for an economical/ affordable price.

JLSC4 · 02-24-07, 09:41 PM

I think a good way to put it is that people are more concerned with there own personal economic situation rather than how America's economy is effected by their purchase decision. People are only looking out for themselves financially and they can't be blamed for that.

Lexmex · 02-24-07, 10:28 PM

NO.

I hear the same thing down here in Mexico. Buy a Mexican product because it will help our economy. When you mention quality, they turn away or don't want to talk about it.

Now, I must say I probably pay more than most of you to get certain high-quality fluids for my little RX300. However, that is a reflection of Customs and Importation rather than quality.

CK6Speed · 02-24-07, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLSC4

I think a good way to put it is that people are more concerned with there own personal economic situation rather than how America's economy is effected by their purchase decision. People are only looking out for themselves financially and they can't be blamed for that.

That describes me perfectly. My job doesn't really depend on the national or local economy too much. For me, the worse the economy is doing the better since I will still have a job and I can take advantage of all the lower interest rates and other good deals out there that usually come out when the government wants to stimulate a failing economy. That doesn't sound good to say, but that is my reality. I would be better off to a point in bad economic times.

Big Andy · 02-25-07, 06:39 AM

I think the question should be; "Would you pay 25% more for US goods, produced in a US factory, paying a living wage, offering the workers pension and health care benefits, produced in a safe environment, meeting all environmental regulations OR less for the same goods produced in an factory employing child labour in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, even if the quality of the finished goods was equal?"

Sometimes it's not all about getting the best possible quality for the lowest price.

mmarshall · 02-25-07, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnmack

Would you pay an extra 25% on products that the US has lost to overseas to keep the jobs here in the US. For instance you get a pair of Nikes for $100 now but you pay $125 but the whole shoe is made in American the same with electronics, clothes etc....

This is really almost an irrevelant question, because many, if not most, of the store-bought goods we buy are on sale anyway....paying full list is more the exception than the rule, unless you need something specific or immediately and can't wait or find it on sale. In almost any store, any time of year, SOMETHING inside will be on sale.

You brought up the subject of shoes and Nikes. Just yesterday, for instance, I had to replace a couple pairs of old shoes that were wearing out and had holes in them. I wear big size 15 clown-shoes ( you guys, of course, know that from my auto reviews when I mention the gas and brake pedal placements ). First shoe store I came across in the mall (Foot Locker) had Nikes, Reboks, and Brookstones.......all good shoes.....on sale. I got two $64.95 shoes on sale ( yes, in my hard-to-fit size ) for $44.95 apiece...a $20.00 savings on each pair over list. So I got $130 worth of shoes for $90. And if you luck out and fine a store with a real clearance sale or one that is going out of buisness, you can find even better deals that that. I can't remember the last time I ever paid retail for shoes, and I almost never do for clothes either.

So why should we be concerned about where they were made? First of all, I can't do anything about that. Neither can the store, its manager, or any of the employees. They simply unload the truck when it delivers a shipment, check off the invoices, look at a company list to see if it qualifies for a special price or sale ( my shoes, of course, did ), mark them accordingly, and place them on the shelves or in storage.

And is it "selfish" to look for the best deals and not be concerned with country of origin? Not in my opinion. If you lead an honest life, pay your taxes honestly, and regularly give to ministries and charities, as I do, I don't consider it selfishness if the Lord lets me run across a good deal when I'm shopping for something...as He often does. I look at it as part of my own generosity being returned to me.

Big Andy · 02-25-07, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmarshall

I don't consider it selfishness if the Lord lets me run across a good deal when I'm shopping for something...as He often does. I look at it as part of my own generosity being returned to me.

I do like the idea of God as some sort of personal shopper, pointing people in the direction of good deals. Probably does it in breaks between sorting out the Arab-Israeli situation.

Och · 02-25-07, 10:49 AM

I wouldn't even pay $100 for Nikies, in my opinion they aren't worth that much no matter where they are made. They should be selling for $40-50, no more than that. But the sad part is, they are probably made somewhere in China and cost less than $1 to make.

Shawnmack · 02-25-07, 10:52 AM

I don't know where you guys are from but here in NC, SC, and GA tens of thousand of people have lost their jobs to overseas now these people have been on these textile, furniture and other jobs for 10, 20 , 30 yrs to lose losing their retirement pensions and other 401ks. These people at most part don't have an college education only kind of work experience is with these mills. IMO I'm willing to pay an extra 25% to help my fellow American keep their jobs than to give it to somebody in Pakistan, China or Vietnam I have read in some states that the biggest employer is Wal-Mart at $7.

mmarshall · 02-25-07, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Andy

I do like the idea of God as some sort of personal shopper, pointing people in the direction of good deals.

Don't misunderstand what I said. I merely thank God for the good deals I DO find...not because He necessarily lifts me up and actually TAKES me there, but because I happen to be there at the right time and place. HOW God allows this to happen is His buisness, not mine....or yours.

Och · 02-25-07, 11:26 AM

I believe right now most producs can be made in the USA and sold for the same amount of money as Chinese produced producs and still make a profit. But the problem is, companies are greedy, and want to make an enormous profit from using cheap overseas labor. Lets say if a pair of Nikes costs $1 to produce in China, in USA it might cost $20, so you're still making a nice profit if they are selling for $100. Paying $125 for them to offset the profit difference for greedy companies is ridiculous.

I think whats going to happen in the next 30-40 years, if this world economy will expand and grow, eventually labor costs will equalize around the world. Yeah, today people in China and other developing countries might be willing to work for $1 a day, but eventually as the economy grows they will demand better wages and labor laws similar to USA. And then we'll be able to compete again.

HarrierAWD · 02-25-07, 12:26 PM

We live in a world economy. Yes, we import sneakers from China and plasma TVs from Japan and pay them good money. We also export passenger jets and computer chips around the world and make tons of money. It goes both ways.

I would not pay a penny more for the very same merchandise just because it's U.S. made. We should not complain about imports. Go to another country, we'd see American goods and services everywhere as well.

Chinese factory workers typically make about US$20-$30 per day (not $1 per day) working 10 to 12-hour shift plus medical benefit. American factory workers do 8-hour shift and make about US$15-$25 per hour plus full benefit, vacation, and pension. So there's still a big difference in labor cost.