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I wouldn't consider my purchase from Cleaveland Tools local, unless by local you mean benefiting a company in the United States. I also didn't consider price as my number 1 determining factor when buying said tools. For me customer service was #1. Mike and Anette taking the time to work with me and customize my order was important. Also quality was a main concern so I wanted to use tools that people who have build airplanes have used. Also their website looked better than the other suggested Vendor... That might be a silly reason but it was a reason. Now I will admit there's some things that I still pick up from discount vendors that source their tools from overseas... but that's mainly because I'm not overly concerned with the quality and just need some basic level of functionality.. ie buckets, nitrate gloves, clamps, ect. |
A lot of times people fail to see both sides of the story. If I spend an extra 30% on something SOLELY because it was made in the USA, that's less $ that I have in my very own American pocket, to spend on other things, maybe even right here in my community. I have as much respect for the hard working American small business owner as the next person, but as a blue-collar worker myself, I don't feel the need to donate my hard earned money to them simply for a warm fuzzy feeling.
Where American companies can provide the value-add is in support and service, and that is why I am a customer of Cleaveland, and many other VAF advertisers. I have had nothing but good experiences, and am sure I will make many more purchases from these companies. But there are also times when I need a simple tool for one job only, and won't think twice about buying a harbor freight cheapie. And the local, American employees of my local harbor freight have a job because others think the same way. There is room for competition, and room for American companies to distinguish themselves. Chris |
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My last three jobs were all for technology companies that used a mix of local and offshore manufacturing. One builds high-volume electronics for the consumer market. Another builds specialized, low volume digital cameras for medical and scientific research. Through it all, I've heard arguments for and against offshore manufacturing, and i've seen first hand how a transition from North American to offshore manufacturing can work. All I can say is that I've seen the same mix of good and bad products come from both North American *and* offshore suppliers. It's not fair, or realistic, to just make a blanket statement that you should *always* buy local. If that were true, i'd be flying a Murphy Rebel, designed and built less than 20 miles from me. I don't know what kind of car i'd be driving... |
IMHO the American people are digging their own graves. They do not want to work unless they get big bucks. The folks they are competing with overseas will work for very little because they have to do whatever they can to put money in their pockets.
I always go back to the theory that the cheap price does not mean much if the product is cheap. I do not want to buy a tool that will work until my project is done. I want a tool that will work until my great grand son's project is done. Maybe longer. |
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When I was young and struggling I bought the cheapest I could because that was all I could do. About age 50 I started pulling out ahead and started buying somewhat on price, somewhat on quality, somewhat on service, and probably on some other criteria too. I also agree a lot with Yellowjackets RV9. |
In the last several years I have made a conscious effort to read the box or label to find out where the product was manufactured and opt for the USA manufactured product even though the price may even be double. Some of our grocery items are now coming from China. I can buy a bottle of apple juice for the grand kids from China for .99 cents, or Organic from USA for $2.49. I am by no means wealthy but I opt for the USA products any day.
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Quality/Price=Value. If quality is average and price is low then overall value is higher than if quality is average and price is high. The consumer decides how much value he needs then decides how much he is willing to pay. If it wasn't this way Gulfstream, Rolex, Ferrari, Bentley, etc could never stay in business even though their prices are very high.
This is the global economy where the number of competitors is much higher. And it is only going to get more competitive as time goes on. :cool: |
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Let's face it, some foreign tools are so inexpensive you can throw them away and buy 3 more before you've spent what the US manufactured version will cost you. When making the original purchase the difference in quality is hard to judge, the difference in service is not. I will try and purchase products from local venders whenever I can in hope of getting superior service, and I will place a value on that service. When my $10 dimple die breaks I'm out of luck; when my $30 Cleaveland Tool dimple die breaks I know they'll send me a new one at no charge. In my opinion the only way to justify higher price to the consumer is to provide that which the cut-rate outfit cannot, and that's GREAT customer service - but that comes with a price.
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Speaking in general terms and not specific to Cleveland tools, the ? buying US made? argument is getting harder and harder to sell since many of those companies don?t help themselves. Judging based on the some of the CEO and executives compensation, it is getting harder for me to pay the extra 30% just to support ?buying US made?
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This is a difficult topic to throw a blanket over and make generic observations. I have worked as a design engineer for 30+ years and I have watched production move out of the US over that time. I wish we made more items here and at times I have had to fight to keep the production here in the US. The reality is that companies do have competition and they have to do what it takes to be competitive. We in the US need to use our skills to keep that edge. Gone are the days when you can say products from China are poorly made. There are many high quality manufacturers in China and other Asian countries. I still believe if you make a good product people will buy it even if it is "sljghtly" more expensive. We all look for value in our purchases. If you plan to use an item infrequently a cheap product may be a value. If you use it all the time an expensive tool is a value. The mistake we make in the US is trying to sell our products based on cost and not based upon value.
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