American made - bugger me

[chrisandsharon]

Bought a rowing machine today and I couldn't believe my eyes. Now that's something you don't see everyday. I stopped what I was doing and I just stared. Then I took a photo!!

[commodorenutt]

I work for the Oz arm of a US company, so I see this all the time.
It's amazing how patriotic the yanks have become, and how important their local manufacturing now is to them. We could learn a lesson ourselves.

That being said, unionists have caused up north (like Detroit) to be far more expensive than the south (not to be confused with Mexico!) so the successful Global companies that manufacture profitably, and competitively, in the US tend to locate below the Mason-Dixon Line.

A couple of examples would be Toyota in Kentucky, and BMW in South Carolina.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Looks like you bought quality.

Most things that I have bought that are made in USA, are superior to local products and often cheaper even after paying postage.

[chrisandsharon]

Well **** me. Had to stop the assembly because a footboard is missing a bolt. Found out why, the threaded insert is way out of alignment, hence the bolt not being there I suppose. The threaded insert is out of my hands, there's 3 other ones that are perfectly centred that take the securing bolt perfectly......the off centre one is stuffed - great quality control. ****ed right off!
3.5hr round trip to pick it up and I can't use it. I've sent the pic off to Uncle Sams office and will chase up a new footboard tomorrow.
Next time I'll make sure it's made in China!!!

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

Well **** me. Had to stop the assembly because a footboard is missing a bolt. Found out why, the threaded insert is way out of alignment, hence the bolt not being there I suppose. The threaded insert is out of my hands, there's 3 other ones that are perfectly centred that take the securing bolt perfectly......the off centre one is stuffed - great quality control. ****ed right off!
3.5hr round trip to pick it up and I can't use it. I've sent the pic off to Uncle Sams office and will chase up a new footboard tomorrow.
Next time I'll make sure it's made in China!!!

Funny you should mention that. I talk to a few Americans on another forum, when I mentioned that something I bought was made in Seppoland they asked if it worked.

Seems they don't have a lot of faith in home grown products

[steamin63]

we import quite a lot of yank products and seriously it is total crap. the chinese stuff is a lot better quality . and before you knock the aussie stuff some of our best products are locally sourced.

[chrisandsharon]

It happens I suppose. Some of the Yankee made stuff is great - as is ours.
I'd rather American and Aussie made even if there's a bolt missing at times

[Ratmick]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

It happens I suppose. Some of the Yankee made stuff is great - as is ours.
I'd rather American and Aussie made even if there's a bolt missing at times

That's an interesting statement.

If I'm going to pay premium for a locally-made product, and I will, I expect it to be spot-on...and it normally is. I can't think of anything I have purchased that was made here that has failed on delivery, or soon after.

I don't buy into the 'buy Australian and keep the jobs in Australia' if the only reason we're doing it is to prop up industries that would have failed as the quality isn't there. I buy Australian and pay a premium because it's good stuff AND I don't mind the extra cost for quality AND it keeps employment in Australia.

I don't generally buy American because it's 'Made In The USA' as that's normally an excuse for large or heavy or out-dated and nearly always expensive. I am not a Yank so the patriotic 'God Bless America' thing doesn't work on me.

It's an interesting thing though, quite a few US companies rely on the patriotic angle to stay in business. Harley Davidson is an example, Whirlpool is another and so is Fender and Gibson.

The arguments between guitar people around Fender guitars made in Mexico by Mexicans against Fender guitars made in California (just inside the US from Mexico) by Mexicans is pretty amusing...

[5wheelguy]

There's not 1 place on Earth, where you can get anything of quality - made, NOT by a human.
I'm kidding... But overall... Human error is human error, no matter where you are.

[Joel.]

Back in about 2009 Cannondale, a bicycle manufacturer that was proudly "handmade in America" moved their operation to Thailand I believe it was. I was on an American mountain bike forum at the time and naturally the Americans were in uproar about it, saying the quality will be crap etc etc. Well the next year when the new models of bikes came out and the people that bought them reported back that the quality and finish was actually a lot better.

[Ratmick]

Originally Posted by Joel.

Back in about 2009 Cannondale, a bicycle manufacturer that was proudly "handmade in America" moved their operation to Thailand I believe it was. I was on an American mountain bike forum at the time and naturally the Americans were in uproar about it, saying the quality will be crap etc etc. Well the next year when the new models of bikes came out and the people that bought them reported back that the quality and finish was actually a lot better.

I've just put a 2016 Trek MTB on lay-by, pretty sure it's made in Taiwan.

Do I care? Nope

[chrisandsharon]

......won't go there

[Sox]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Funny you should mention that. I talk to a few Americans on another forum, when I mentioned that something I bought was made in Seppoland they asked if it worked.

Seems they don't have a lot of faith in home grown products

Plenty of yank stuff is very nice, but much of it is also very poor.

We buy some engine bits from the US, but when we want the very best we actually buy quite a lot of locally made stuff.

[roKWiz]

American made isn't all its crack up to be lately.
I've had a few classic fails lately. An Estwing masons hammer started to mushroom on one face 1 week after purchase (4 months ago) which I pointed out to the supplier but kept using it (stupid me) until 3 weeks ago the one piece 5lb hammers forged steel shaft snapped off missing my head by mms as it went whistling pass.
Importer couldn't care less and told me I didn't know how to use a hammer and chisel.
I've had several "Trow and Holden" tungsten tipped chisels fail at the shafts. American made stuff has certainly gone downhill.
I have since moved back to German quality Rexid hand tools.

The sticker above reminds me of the Dawsons truck bumper I recently purchased from Gleemans in Sydney.
States on the box...... made in the USA by American workers, using American steels for Americans.

[mike_nofx]

Just wondering. Could "Made in America" or "American Made" mean it was actually made in Mexico?
You often see "Made in The USA" which would undoubtedly mean NOT Mexico, but unsure what exactly "America" can be made to refer to.

Edit:
I looked it up where the water rower is made and:

American Handcrafted


WaterRower rowing machines are proudly handcrafted in America in our New England factory located in Warren, Rhode Island.


Our wooden rowing machines feature a selection of the world’s finest Appalachian hardwoods sourced ONLY from replenishable forests

The Verified Sustainable Hardwood used in the manufacturing process is sourced from replenishable forests located in the Appalachian Mountain region of the eastern United States.

Final stages of hand finishing with Danish oil provides each wooden model with a warm tone and deep lustre.

Our popular metal M Series machines are electostatically coated with polyester powder and baked at high temperature in our custom ovens for a diamond hard finish.

The M Series is available standard in Silver, Black or White or choose from a custom palette of over 16000 colors.



WaterRower has been designing and manufacturing rowing machines of exceptional quality and design since 1988. Designed in the mid- 80s by Yale and US national Team Rower John Duke.

[OzriderXR8]

I've bought a bit of bike stuff from the states and it's often no better than the chinese imports. Bought a set of Tbars for my bike and had to hunt down an odd tap to clear out the threads before I could mount it, even then I had to make up sleeves to take up the slack.

[Express]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Funny you should mention that. I talk to a few Americans on another forum, when I mentioned that something I bought was made in Seppoland they asked if it worked.

Seems they don't have a lot of faith in home grown products

Some U.S. stuff is good quality and you will most likely pay top dollar for it but you’re right, if you ask a Yank about American manufacturing they’ll tell you the quality will most likely be crap.

No worker pride is often the reason given though being from a manufacturing background I’d say it’s probably more to do with less quality control and reduced tolerances to keep the price point down so they can compete with the Asian imports.

[2011G6E]

Always loved people on this and other forums who say sternly that they would never buy any Chinese junk, never, they'd buy Australian, they'll never buy it.

I always replied that they shouldn't look too closely at the side of the box that their dinki-di true blue Aussie parts or accessories come in...

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

I've just put a 2016 Trek MTB on lay-by, pretty sure it's made in Taiwan.

Do I care? Nope

There's more than one MTB brand out of the states that openly admit that they have their carbon fibre frames made in Asia because they simply can't match the quality.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

Bought a rowing machine today and I couldn't believe my eyes. Now that's something you don't see everyday. I stopped what I was doing and I just stared. Then I took a photo!!

image

It could be referring to the box itself.

[jpblue1000]

Taiwan makes some of the best consumer Carbon fibre products on the globe. Many western businesses sent their production there some time ago and the Taiwanese learnt quickly and well.

JP

[OzriderXR8]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

Taiwan makes some of the best consumer Carbon fibre products on the globe. Many western businesses sent their production there some time ago and the Taiwanese learnt quickly and well.

JP

Apparently the leading Carbon Fibre lab in the world is part of Deakin Univesity down Geelong way. Manufacturers from all over the world get their tech and specs from there for various applications.

[Ben73]

This thread made me think of the box when you buy an Apple product:

Designed by Apple in CALIFORNIA

Made in China

I haven't noticed any trends really. Some Chinese things are quality, some are garbage.
Some Australian things are quality, some are garbage.

I haven't had a good experience with American cars though. I do love them, but I am very hesitant to buy one again.

[LTD Ute]

I tend to buy only music made in the USA, most other products can be sourced cheaper
and better from other parts of the globe.

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by LTD Ute

I tend to buy only music made in the USA, most other products can be sourced cheaper
and better from other parts of the globe.

I assume you're buying vintage USA music, then. It's difficult to find good stuff now.