Big Box Stores and Jobs

[halfdome, Danny]

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man can't make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." John Ruskin, 1819-1900

Seems like that's damn near everybody these days...

Joseph

One of my favorite quotes. It use to be displayed in all the Baskin & Robbins 31 Flavors stores. Danny

[sdtripper2]

If I want to get my blood in a roar about this subject of buy America, I watch
Lou Dobbs on CNN every day.

War on the Middle Class is real and for a few people to say they won't buy
from places that have cheap prices and instead will buy American are
dreaming of the 50's again.

You know the Republicans want the 50's back so they can live there cause of
the perceived social life style. The Democrats want the 50's back for the
working class life style when unions were well paid with benefits for all.

It is time to face reality as some have fessed uP to here: The 50's are
gone and you that want those good old days missed the boat when the first
NAFTA went down and the political will to stop cheap labor that has crushed
the unions is now the norm. We have been seeing the crazed right try to
get back in a political wave of morality with a tight fist on trickle down
eco-slavery. We see the elite families at the top live better and better
and uP until this last election the chance of any oversight was a joke.

We have been sold out
Face it the weight of our economy has shifted away from the citizenry
having any chance of making a difference by buying American. You as an
individual may spend more if you want on products A-Z with the hope of
buying American but you dreaming if you think you are making a
difference now.

All you have now is an individual effort to feel good but no chance of making a real difference
So spend your time and money hunting for a buy American, but watch your
back as the hoards crush you as they get to a Harbor Freight or Walmart for a sale.

I will even make your hunt easier by showing you the list of American
companies that have outsourced jobs and make products off shore. This
way you can narrow your search for your goal of one of the last remaining
companies that might make American here in the good old USA.
Click here for the long, long list of your American Companies that have sold your pipe dream out.
You will find it hard to find products you want that are made in the USA anymore

All one has to do is go to Long Beach CA or any number of ports and see
the homes that are hidden in the canyons of shipping containers that are
stacked so high as to have the view of sunset and sea blotted out, to a
point that darkness comes sooner to the insignificant occupants than it did in
the 50's when the world was right for American dreams.

[Micro469]

Funny that... I used to buy at Walwort when it first opened ,but found their products inferior.....socks got holes in them after one wearing... shirts fell apart after a few washings..... clothes shrank when washed... where's the savings when you have to replace items you just bought? The same goes for Home Despot... the quality of lumber leaves a lot to be desired.
I try whenever possible to buy Canadian, or if that fails ...U.S.. We have a few Stores here that have still suvived the BIG BOX store Phenomenome (spelled THAT wrong!!) which I shop at regularly. Remember the Owner Operated Diners and restaurants? Trying to find Lunch without going to MD's. BK, Wendys or any other fast food garbage Outlet??? Not too many left. Travelling major highways, hospitals and malls, that's all you find.....

[lanego]

Hi, Heikki, That is a beautiful canoe! I wish I were so talented! I am a small project person; I make jewelry and small statues. My baby tear will be my biggest project ever, so I better conserve my large scale creativity for that.
Steve, you are so dark. Can't sustain that for long. These struggles have been going on forever. You gotta fight the good fight without letting the bast*rds get you down (for long).

[Ira]

John, I can't give you the whole story, but on many items, Wal-Mart actually does sell inferior products of the same model and brand. Like the same package of Hanes underwear...looks exactly the same as you would buy at Sears...is a cheaper grade, because Wal-Mart dictates their wholesale prices to the suppliers.

This actually IS against the law, and before anyone wants to debate this point, I'll start looking for the relevant links about this when I get to the office.

But if the government is unwilling to enforce the law on this, and the American will isn't there to support that (why would they?), it continues.

[Sonetpro]

I have a freind that works at Igloo. He said never buy a Igloo ice dhest from Wal-Mart. The factory makes 2 versions of the same cooler, A retail one and a Wal-Mart one. The Walmart one is made as cheaply as possible.

It amazes me that corporate America will sell you products based on their reputation and quality. Then sell you crap in order to make a better bottom line. I guess they don't realize their reputation goes with it.

Napa Auto is one example. They tout themselves on their reputation of being a premier auto parts dealer only selling quality auto parts. But they now sell shoddy parts cheaper in quality than than most of the competition. I guess they want to be another Pep Boy's - Auto Zone but selling at premier prices.

The bottom line will be great for now. But when your reputation is gone your bottom line will follow.

[Tear Fan]

You tell it, Lanego. And Steve, lighten up! We all can make a difference. "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Marvin

[Ira]

He said never buy a Igloo ice chest from Wal-Mart. T

Now you tell me.

But I get 10% off, so if it's 10% crappier, I don't care. Though chances are it's 50% crappier.

Hey, has anyone seen the South Park episode about Wal-Mart? It is HYSTERICAL and a fantastic commentary on the situation, so relevant to this thread.

Basically, no one in town can resist shopping there, and Stan's father stops working as a geologist and takes a low-paying job at WM because of the 10% discount. You HAVE to see it.

Also...

Here in Florida, WM is talking over closed Wynn-Dixie supermarkets, and converting them to high-end gourmet/fresh market stores. The first hasn't opened yet, but it should be soon. They're putting TWO in Coral Springs, to compete with The Fresh Market and that other chain whose name I can't remember because I'm old and very easily forget things.

[Sonetpro]

You buy cheap. You get cheap.
I bought a angle grinder once from Northern tool. I thought it was a bargain for $30 I should have rented one because the bargain cost me $1 a minute to use. It lasted 30 minutes before the bearings burnt up. I now have a Makita.
I don't see the bargain in a tool that lasts 30 minutes compared to Milwaukee's I bought 30 years ago and they are still going.

[Arne]

I've given up worrying about all this.. I used to avoid Japanese products because they were still involved in whaling, while the world whale population was being depleted. Then I found out I was doing without while the majority didn't care. In short, I was pi$$ing into the wind, all by myself.

Now, I've finally realized my vote does not count (unlles there is a tie). So, my main focus is getting the most bang for my diminishing retiree buck. Many items made in China are very good quality made by underpaid workers who work in dismal conditions.. but those conditions used to be worse.

Of a greater concern to me is that now China is competing with us for oil as their std. of living slowly rises....

So, I'm happy to share opinions, since we all have them. And we all make decisions based on how we feel and how we view things.

[lanego]

This is really getting me to think and re-think. I think I re-thought my HF trailer and am going to talk to some local welders and see if I can afford a welded trailer frame. Oh, no, what about the axle?!!? Well, I think I'll figure it out.

[halfdome, Danny]

Face it the weight of our economy has shifted away from the citizenry
having any chance of making a difference by buying American. You as an
individual may spend more if you want on products A-Z with the hope of
buying American but you dreaming if you think you are making a
difference now.

All you have now is an individual effort to feel good but no chance of making a real difference. So spend your time and money hunting for a buy American, but watch your back as the hoards crush you as they get to a Harbor Freight or Walmart for a sale.

Steve, I'm sorry but I don't buy into this negative idea. Besides a couple VW's back in the 60's and a Toyota all of my vehicles have been American brands, I can't find anything in Harbor Freight that fits my high standards for quality in a product and I deliberately buy American when ever possible since I find it is the best value even if its twice the price of an inferior foreign product. I will continue to have high hopes that buying American is for the better for our economy and my best value. Besides it makes me feel good to employ an American and it has a trickle down effect on us all. Danny

[halfdome, Danny]

This is really getting me to think and re-think. I think I re-thought my HF trailer and am going to talk to some local welders and see if I can afford a welded trailer frame. Oh, no, what about the axle?!!? Well, I think I'll figure it out.

That's just what I did and used a Dexter axle. I have no regrets at all and it will last for generations. Danny

[Sonetpro]

Face it the weight of our economy has shifted away from the citizenry
having any chance of making a difference by buying American. You as an
individual may spend more if you want on products A-Z with the hope of
buying American but you dreaming if you think you are making a
difference now.

All you have now is an individual effort to feel good but no chance of making a real difference. So spend your time and money hunting for a buy American, but watch your back as the hoards crush you as they get to a Harbor Freight or Walmart for a sale.

Steve, I'm sorry but I don't buy into this negative idea. Besides a couple VW's back in the 60's and a Toyota all of my vehicles have been American brands, I can't find anything in Harbor Freight that fits my high standards for quality in a product and I deliberately buy American when ever possible since I find it is the best value even if its twice the price of an inferior foreign product. I will continue to have high hopes that buying American is for the better for our economy and my best value. Besides it makes me feel good to employ an American and it has a trickle down effect on us all. Danny

Danny I couldn't agree with you more. I have a Silverado and a Jeep. My wife drives a Ranger Edge. I have never bought a import and probally never will.
The only way to not get cheap junk for your money is not to buy it. If there is not a market for it they wouldn't sell it.
The price might be a bargain. But in the long run a quality product for more money will be the best value for your money.

[dwgriff1]

I don't shop wally and I don't buy chinese, if I can help it.

Partly that is because of my beliefs. Partly because I don't buy junk of I can help it.

Friend bought a recip saw from harbor. We did a job together. He cut one (1) 2 by 4 and it went up in smoke. My trusty old sears (don't own a lot of sears tools -- most are junk too) goes on and on.

Why do we make tear trailers rather than buy factory? Partly because we get better quality.

I raise a garden, built my own house, can and freze my garden excess (but don't fix my car or my computer). I get a better product, that's why.

Can't do much about the policies of the gov, or the man, but I make my own durned independent decisions as much as I can -- and I am way too poor to buy junk.

dave