Having been born and raised in a foreign country –in Latin America– I recall looking at the United States from afar. I recall as a kid, in the seventies, that whenever someone traveled abroad and brought back merchandise, whether it was clothes or other, if it the label said, “Made in USA”, people in Latin America would pay well to own it. For the label Made in USA meant it was of high quality, it was long lasting, and in many cases, prestigious to own. Whenever someone would bring back something from Japan or other countries, it did not get the high level of consideration that American things got. Things that were made in China were available locally, and we all knew we could get them cheap at the town outdoor markets or other stores down the streets. We all knew that buying something made in China implied cheap, low quality and due to break shortly so it would have to be bought again soon after. That is the reputation that things made in China had when I was growing up in Latin America in the seventies.
Fast forward three decades later, and I find myself here in the USA, having conversations with other friends who can recall similar experiences, whether they grew up here or abroad. We all openly discuss how products made in China remain low quality, low prestige and of course, very cheap. Gone are the days of buying a good blender with a high speed powerful motor. Of course you can buy a blender at the local cheap goods store in the neighborhood for under $30. Sure you can take it home, use it for the immediate needs, but we all know that such a blender won’t be still sitting in the kitchen counter a few years later.
A few years ago, I found in an antiques shop an old blender, still in its box. Apparently it had been gifted and never opened. It had the seals, the booklet, everything. It was like a time capsule. It was beige, with all the multi-buttons in the front. It had a 60’s/70’s look about it. The jar was made of sturdy glass. Very sturdy. When I saw the speed of the motor and compared it to my current made in China blender, it was almost double the strenght! I bought it for $30 and took it home to open it with the curiosity of a scientist. I read everything in the booklet. It looked sturdy, solid, well made, the way old products made in the USA used to be. In comparison, my flimsy made in China blender that I had bought at Bed Bad and Beyond felt weaker and lighter. I looked at the bottom of the blender and it said, Made in the USA, Stamford, CT. I am sure that factory is no longer there.
Believe it or not, I put it to use. It was brand new, in the box. This blender was used on a daily basis. We used to put ice cubes and it would smash them to smithereens and keep going.
This blender is an example of the days gone. This is an example of what we have lost. In the eighties, the new administration began to open the door for companies to start making things cheaply elsewhere and bring them back to sell them for less.
Today we have all taken the bait, and put our country’s manufacturing industry out of business.
What has it done for us?
1. Sure! We are buying things cheaper. But if we think about it, are we really saving money in the long run by buying cheap things?
2. These cheap things we buy, usually made in China, don’t last the way other things do. It’s as if they are made so they break within a year or two, and then back to the market to buy again. Not built to last.
3. When disposing of these cheap things, we are hurting our environment, because we are disposing of these plastics and metals more often.
4. Not only are millions of workers jobless here in the USA, but those who are working those jobs overseas are being paid slave wages. Massive size factories paying people insulting wages. The workers out there are not exactly living a middle class lifestyle.
OK. So, we end up buying cheaper things. But are we really? What price are we paying for having this invasion of things made in China.
If we think about it, everyone is getting hurt, except those on top who are making money on this. We think we’re saving money, but in reality we are not, when we have to buy the same product a year or two later because it broke down.
I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to spend a few dollars more on something of quality, made in the USA, than buy something on the cheap that is enslaving masses overseas and keeping people jobless here at home. No doubt, I’ll have to replace the item quite soon, and by throwing out the first item, I’m polluting more!
It’s time we start looking at the labels and start demanding things made in the USA. The Made in USA label always meant built for durability, good quality and prestige.
Not sure how this can be done from the top, but I believe this movement needs to start with each of us. Let’s start asking for things made in the USA the next time we are at a store. We need to be willing to pay a little more. But we do get what we pay for. It is going to be difficult, no doubt, but we have to start somewhere.
It’s time to revive what Made in USA means and has meant. It is time to stop buying what they want us to buy.
If you agree with this, make sure to share this sentiment with at least two other friends. The next time you’re in a store, look at the labels, and ask for the manager. Ask her/him if there are items made in the USA. Hey, look, things made in Europe are pretty good too! Point is, avoid feeding the demand for products made in China.
