You Can Buy American

[kevin_standlee]

My thanks to gridlore for pointing at this article:

Can the 'All American Store' Reverse Our Nation's Walmartization

There are a couple of big-box stores here in Fernley: Wal-Mart and Lowe's. I don't shop at Wal-Mart. I'm stuck with Lowe's, because the nearest alternatives are 25-30 miles away, and it doesn't always make sense to make those drives.

Note that what Lisa and I really want is for the USA to require that imported goods meet the same environmental standards (or better) than US-made equivalents. If making it would be illegal in the USA, it should be illegal to sell it here, too. Thus most Canadian and European-made stuff would be fine, since they're apt to have the same or higher standards.

I hope this store gets some success and that they decide to try and franchise it. If there was one here in Fernley, we'd shop there, even if it cost more. What's the point of buying cheap junk if it just breaks on you. The article itself says:

Selling low-quality goods at low prices, a big-box retailer can assume products it sells will break with some regularity. Perversely, this creates repeat business, as consumers file back into the store to buy replacements. Lather, rinse, and repeat!

Comments

[theresamather.livejournal.com]

For art supplies particularly frames, I try to find American made or at least American assembled. The Chinese stuff is utter and total junk and I have to spend so much time cleaning, repairing or cutting down glazing to fit too-small openings in standard size framing, etc. and I have to pitch so much of it because factory flaws are purposefully hidden behind protective shipping corners, etc. that I would rather pay more for American made and get it right the first time. I HATE Chinese made crapola frame moulding with a passion.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I would rather pay more for American made and get it right the first time.

Exactly! That's one of the reasons (the lack of funds is the other) we're thinking very carefully before springing for the next tranche of house repairs. I don't want to have to redo shoddy work done with shoddy parts, even if it costs more up front. (And at least on the bright side, this sort of major repair probably can be capitalized toward the basis of the house, which has long-term benefits, although we really don't want to have to move anytime soon.)