What to Buy American ?

[Michael G.]

Here's 100 ways to shop for American Products.

Here Are 100+ Brands That Are Made in the USA (https://clark.com/shopping-retail/american-made-in-the-usa/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=ClarkDailyNewsletter)

[Arctic Fox]

Here's 100 ways to shop for American Products.

Looking for durable luggage and found that, despite the high prices, neither Samsonite nor American Tourister are now made in the USA.

[Caymus]

Looking for durable luggage and found that, despite the high prices, neither Samsonite nor American Tourister are now made in the USA.

I think Travelpro is American made.

[cjrjck]

Buying American can be a very slippery slope nowadays. Not as simple as it once was. For instance, how is "American made" defined? Some things are made in America by foreign companies. Take Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products. They are owned by the Stellantis NV conglomerate, a Netherlands company. You might say that is okay as long as many of the jobs are here in the United States. Then you have Toyota who makes many of its vehicles in the United States. Same thing. But what about profits staying here? You might then argue we should buy a Ford instead. Then some will say do you know how many vehicles sold by Ford (and GM) that are made in Mexico or Canada? The profits stay here but the jobs are elsewhere. Is that better? I don't know. Then you have so many products made here in America by foreign and domestic companies that are actually just assembled here of mostly imported parts. Conversely, there are many products made or assembled elsewhere with American parts in factories owned by American companies. How does that factor in? Some jobs exist here to make the parts and of course the profits are shared by investors and pension funds in the United States even though the products are foreign made. It's a convoluted, complex mess trying to figure out how to best support this nation with our spending habits.

[simplesimonsaid]

What to Buy American ?

debt never made the list then.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If you want things made in America, start with your local growers/farmers. Although - most of their equipment is made outside America, and a lot of their feed is grown outside America.

We live in a global economy. Your computer might have been assembled in the states, but it was made from parts manufactured in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China, Germany, Spain, and so on. The soap you use to wash your dishes might be made in America, but the ink they used to print the label was probably not.

There are very few things that were made in America, that would satisfy people who insist on buying only things Made in America - unless they're just trying to show some false sense of patriotism that they expect everyone else to take at face value.

[bmcgowan13]

Looking for durable luggage and found that, despite the high prices, neither Samsonite nor American Tourister are now made in the USA.

LOL. I grew up in Nashua, N.H. Batesville caskets were manufactured in Nashua. Batesville was then owned by Samonsite. We saw trucks laden with the caskets leaving the Batesville factory on West Hollis Street (now condominiums) with Samonsite advertising on the tractor trailers.

I always appreciated the supreme irony there..aren't caskets really suitcases for humans? (Obviously not a productive idea to advertise caskets on the truck)

In the 1908's they sold large bags of "leftover" hardwood wood scraps for $5 per bag for local residents to use as kindling for firewood. I remember my curiosity when I purchased these kindling bags for years. I could not quite place my finger on where I had seem that trim before.

They were gorgeous 6" to 12" strips of gorgeous hardwood--for the fireplace. Until I realized the wood scraps were the beautiful trim from the top of caskets.

They were great for kindling! They used every bit of their wood though!

[Topspinmo]

Buying American can be a very slippery slope nowadays. Not as simple as it once was. For instance, how is "American made" defined? Some things are made in America by foreign companies. Take Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products. They are owned by the Stellantis NV conglomerate, a Netherlands company. You might say that is okay as long as many of the jobs are here in the United States. Then you have Toyota who makes many of its vehicles in the United States. Same thing. But what about profits staying here? You might then argue we should buy a Ford instead. Then some will say do you know how many vehicles sold by Ford (and GM) that are made in Mexico or Canada? The profits stay here but the jobs are elsewhere. Is that better? I don't know. Then you have so many products made here in America by foreign and domestic companies that are actually just assembled here of mostly imported parts I. Conversely, there are many products made or assembled elsewhere with American parts in factories owned by American companies. How does that factor in? Some jobs exist here to make the parts and of course the profits are shared by investors and pension funds in the United States even though the products are foreign made. It's a convoluted, complex mess trying to figure out how to best support this nation with our spending habits.


UAW are going to be demise of ford and GM. Even wonder why foreign automakers can make cars USA not have UAW workers? Seems unlawful don’t it? Slap in face to unions? Ford will probably in future move most USA assembly to Mexico and GM move to China

Relative to the United States, along with most other developed countries, direct labor in Mexico is approximately 70% less expensive. This cost-effective, competitive labor is the driving force behind the success of Mexico manufacturing

The United Auto Workers union has informed workers at the Avon Lake Ford plant that it plans to move a major project slated for 2023 from Northeast Ohio to its plant in Mexico.Mar

Why are auto manufacturers moving to Mexico?
Industrial Talent and Free Trade Incentives

Meanwhile, Mexico continues to invest in technical education and training and graduates over 110,000 engineers every year. Furthermore, incentives through the USMCA regarding automotive content makes it favorable for U.S. manufacturers to operate in Mexico.Mar 15, 2023

[MandoMan]

Buying American can be a very slippery slope nowadays. Not as simple as it once was. For instance, how is "American made" defined? Some things are made in America by foreign companies. Take Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products. They are owned by the Stellantis NV conglomerate, a Netherlands company. You might say that is okay as long as many of the jobs are here in the United States. Then you have Toyota who makes many of its vehicles in the United States. Same thing. But what about profits staying here? You might then argue we should buy a Ford instead. Then some will say do you know how many vehicles sold by Ford (and GM) that are made in Mexico or Canada? The profits stay here but the jobs are elsewhere. Is that better? I don't know. Then you have so many products made here in America by foreign and domestic companies that are actually just assembled here of mostly imported parts. Conversely, there are many products made or assembled elsewhere with American parts in factories owned by American companies. How does that factor in? Some jobs exist here to make the parts and of course the profits are shared by investors and pension funds in the United States even though the products are foreign made. It's a convoluted, complex mess trying to figure out how to best support this nation with our spending habits.

I think the main thing is providing jobs for American workers. Those American workers pay taxes and buy things. Their salaries help many others keep working. The big exception is things like computer chips where companies can control the supply or use the chips to spy on us for nefarious purposes, as with China. We also need to be concerned about having to buy crucial minerals and such from countries like China. Buying American, however, is often more expensive. Also, buying overseas products like fruit and flowers does keep people working in those countries. That’s for the good of humanity. They might even buy an American product on occasion.

[Sandy and Ed]

Wonder how many “Made in USA” brands that are actually made here are thru companies controlled by labor unions. Probably not many. Labor unions killed our competitiveness.

[huge-pigeons]

I agree that the uaw will crush the American car companies. Dollar for dollar, American cars can’t compete with the foreign car companies for durability, longevity, etc.. Look at jeep, the worst reliability of any car company forever. Most foreign car companies have manufacturing plants in the states and they produce reliable cars, so what can’t ford, Chevy, and Chrysler do the same?
Most of the items you buy come from around the world. Try to buy an American tv, stereo system, kitchen appliance, computers, and the list goes on and on

[bobandbea]

Really good response that addresses the complexity of the issue that many of us never consider.

[retiredguy123]

Here's 100 ways to shop for American Products.

Here Are 100+ Brands That Are Made in the USA (https://clark.com/shopping-retail/american-made-in-the-usa/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=ClarkDailyNewsletter)
A lot of the companies listed in the link sell products that are mostly fabric, like clothing. According to the FTC, if the fabric is imported, the product should be labeled "Made in USA of Imported Fabric", not "Made in USA". Some companies do not comply with this FTC requirement, even though the vast majority of fabric is imported from China and other countries.

[BlackHarley]

I looked at a new Lincoln. On the window sticker it clearly stated, Origin of final assembly, China and Mexico'. That was a deal breaker!

[opinionist]

Better start supporting people who manufacture in the US now before the world's reserve currency is no longer the US dollar. It will be a shock when other countries say "No" to trading tangible goods for printed money. A long list of countries is joining BRICS.

[coleprice]

Thanks for providing a great list with a link to companies that manufacture in America.

[JGibson]

Wonder how many “Made in USA” brands that are actually made here are thru companies controlled by labor unions. Probably not many. Labor unions killed our competitiveness.

If it wasn't for labor unions you would be working for peanuts with no pensions or annuities like the non union work force does.

[bopat]

UAW are going to be demise of ford and GM. Even wonder why foreign automakers can make cars USA not have UAW workers? Seems unlawful don’t it? Slap in face to unions? Ford will probably in future move most USA assembly to Mexico and GM move to China

Relative to the United States, along with most other developed countries, direct labor in Mexico is approximately 70% less expensive. This cost-effective, competitive labor is the driving force behind the success of Mexico manufacturing

The United Auto Workers union has informed workers at the Avon Lake Ford plant that it plans to move a major project slated for 2023 from Northeast Ohio to its plant in Mexico.Mar

Why are auto manufacturers moving to Mexico?
Industrial Talent and Free Trade Incentives

Meanwhile, Mexico continues to invest in technical education and training and graduates over 110,000 engineers every year. Furthermore, incentives through the USMCA regarding automotive content makes it favorable for U.S. manufacturers to operate in Mexico.Mar 15, 2023

Tesla is made in the USA, in Fremont CA and Austin TX from components they manufacture themselves in the USA. Even their software team is USA based.

[CFrance]

I think Travelpro is American made.
I can vouch for Travelpro. We've traveled extensively with two checked-bag sized spinners for the last 15 years, and they're still going strong. And I mean overseas trips a couple/three times a year plus US vacations. The only reason we had to replace our carry-on spinners is because I stupidly stored them in the hot attic and the grippy part of the handles got sticky. But that was okay, because they were rollers, and we replaced them with Travelpro spinners.

Travelpro is made in America, I think since the '90s. Here is a 2023 article naming ten brands of luggage made in America. https://missamericanmade.com/american-made-luggage-brands/

[cjrjck]

I agree that the uaw will crush the American car companies. Dollar for dollar, American cars can’t compete with the foreign car companies for durability, longevity, etc.. Look at jeep, the worst reliability of any car company forever. Most foreign car companies have manufacturing plants in the states and they produce reliable cars, so what can’t ford, Chevy, and Chrysler do the same?
Most of the items you buy come from around the world. Try to buy an American tv, stereo system, kitchen appliance, computers, and the list goes on and on

Just a reminder, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge are not American companies. They were sold to Fiat (Italian company) in 2014 and then merged with French owned PSA in 2021 to form Netherlands owned Stellantis. Similar story with Budweiser which has been Belgium owned since 2008.

[JMintzer]

If it wasn't for labor unions you would be working for peanuts with no pensions or annuities like the non union work force does.

The non-union auto workers in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee seem to be surviving with their pay and pensions and current 401-K plans...

[Michael G.]

I never been in a union but always remembered my older brother, a union man,
saying "If all company's were honest, there wouldn't be a need for unions":shrug:

[Topspinmo]

Tesla is made in the USA, in Fremont CA and Austin TX from components they manufacture themselves in the USA. Even their software team is USA based.

Does Tesla have UAWs? :oops:

[Topspinmo]

If it wasn't for labor unions you would be working for peanuts with no pensions or annuities like the non union work force does.

Or if it wasn’t for labor unions there would still be vibrant blue collar work force in USA.

[Topspinmo]

Just a reminder, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge are not American companies. They were sold to Fiat (Italian company) in 2014 and then merged with French owned PSA in 2021 to form Netherlands owned Stellantis. Similar story with Budweiser which has been Belgium owned since 2008.

Most beer on self owned by

InBev?
After the formation of Anheuser Busch Inbev SA/NV (AB InBev), the Company owned 630 beer brands including Budweiser and Bud Light, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck's, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Quilmes, Victoria, Modelo Especial, Michelob Ultra, Sedrin, Klinskoye, Sibirskaya Korona, Chernigivske, Cass and Jupiler until some were ...

[Keefelane66]

If it weren't for the threat of union organization there would not be pensions, 401’k’s, and wages.

[bopat]

Does Tesla have UAWs? :oops:

Great news, they don't!

[badkarma318]

Wonder how many “Made in USA” brands that are actually made here are thru companies controlled by labor unions. Probably not many. Labor unions killed our competitiveness.

Unions started out with a noble purpose - to protect workers who were being horribly abused and taken advantage of.

Thanks to several factors such as widespread corruption, cronyism, etc., they have evolved into safe havens for lazy, arrogant, grossly overpaid, incompetent employees who are almost impossible to get rid of.

Source: I had the misfortune to have to work with members of various unions at different points in my career, and it was an extremely negative experience every single time.

[golfing eagles]

If it wasn't for labor unions you would be working for peanuts with no pensions or annuities like the non union work force does.

No, I wouldn't