what are your thought's on out-sourcing America

Kel Varnsen

I was thinking about this last night, and I think another advantage to other countries building up their manufacturing sector is how it helps them develop their economy. As more people get jobs that will eventually pay better and better, they will start to have more disposable income. Disposable income which they will use to buy goods including goods from other countries like the United States and Canada. My understanding is the reason that GM didn't kill the Buick line when they killed Pontiac is that Buick's are very popular in China.

dunkman

unsung wrote:

I just informed Carhartt that I placed my last order for their clothing. For years they made everything in the USA, then slowly that sucking sound from Mexico stole their manufacturing. It does seem however that they still ran some line made in the USA and shipped those lines to small stores and denim shops where the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet got the Made in Mexico clothing lines.

Well recently they decided to stop supplying these small shops with the Made in USA lines and these shops would get what they were sent. In turn many of these shops dropped Carhartt. I just placed a $281 order for the last Carhartt branded items I will purchase, all made in the USA, a dying breed. I politely informed Carhartt of my decision and how I would spread the word and encourage others to do the same. American workers built this brand and were proud to be seen wearing it, that is no longer going to be the case. Carhartt is just another company that has no loyalty to the people who built it.

perhaps their loyalty is to the name of the brand and not to where the product is made... what if the company was financially struggling due to high labour costs in the US, providing health cover, taxes and other costs meant it was in serious danger of going out of business... so it made it more cost effective by moving their manufacturing to Mexico where costs are obviously much lower?

I don't know this company but it's business at the end of the day... and America embraces capitalism.. when it suits.

unsung

Of course they made their decision, and I made mine. I'm no longer a customer.

Godfather.

dunkman wrote:

unsung wrote:

I just informed Carhartt that I placed my last order for their clothing. For years they made everything in the USA, then slowly that sucking sound from Mexico stole their manufacturing. It does seem however that they still ran some line made in the USA and shipped those lines to small stores and denim shops where the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet got the Made in Mexico clothing lines.

Well recently they decided to stop supplying these small shops with the Made in USA lines and these shops would get what they were sent. In turn many of these shops dropped Carhartt. I just placed a $281 order for the last Carhartt branded items I will purchase, all made in the USA, a dying breed. I politely informed Carhartt of my decision and how I would spread the word and encourage others to do the same. American workers built this brand and were proud to be seen wearing it, that is no longer going to be the case. Carhartt is just another company that has no loyalty to the people who built it.

perhaps their loyalty is to the name of the brand and not to where the product is made... what if the company was financially struggling due to high labour costs in the US, providing health cover, taxes and other costs meant it was in serious danger of going out of business... so it made it more cost effective by moving their manufacturing to Mexico where costs are obviously much lower?

I don't know this company but it's business at the end of the day... and America embraces capitalism.. when it suits.

that crap makes me sick, one more company screwing the American working family.
word of this autta piss off a bunch of people in the construction trade's.

Godfather.

know1

OutOfBreath wrote:

Before going Luddite, you must consider that the US probably produce more goods today than you ever did. The point is that technological development has made production much more efficient and in need of fewer hands. A lot fewer factory workers today can make a lot more than workers could previously. The consequence is the emergence of the service sector.

The question, as always, is what we're gonna do with that extra capacity we're getting. We could keep working hard at other things than production (which is what has happened) or we can cash it in in the form of better working conditions, more free time and so on.

The US is losing when it comes to manual labour. It is cheaper and just as good elsewhere. With transportation being as next to free as it is, it will be impossible to maintain the US as a big manual labour economy.

I just think it's kinda funny that free capitalism right wingers just totally switch sides when it come to the unavoidable consequence of movement of work across borders. Don't get me wrong, I think that less than full free trade between nations may be desirable for a number of reasons, but I think the thinks-they-are-right wingers should own up to their position being rather centre-left and at home in the "controlling capitalism's worst flaws" group.

Peace
Dan

I agree here. A lot of the fiscally conservative right wingers do change their tunes when it comes to keeping jobs and that's a conflict of ideology for them.

stuckinline

unsung wrote:

Eh, count me in as a Chicago burb resident who was opposed to a Chicago Olympics.



Back on topic:::

I just informed Carhartt that I placed my last order for their clothing. For years they made everything in the USA, then slowly that sucking sound from Mexico stole their manufacturing. It does seem however that they still ran some line made in the USA and shipped those lines to small stores and denim shops where the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet got the Made in Mexico clothing lines.

Well recently they decided to stop supplying these small shops with the Made in USA lines and these shops would get what they were sent. In turn many of these shops dropped Carhartt. I just placed a $281 order for the last Carhartt branded items I will purchase, all made in the USA, a dying breed. I politely informed Carhartt of my decision and how I would spread the word and encourage others to do the same. American workers built this brand and were proud to be seen wearing it, that is no longer going to be the case. Carhartt is just another company that has no loyalty to the people who built it.

unsung, that is awesome. may i ask 'how' did you inform carhatt? by phone, an email or an actual letter?

i have recently started doing the same by email and i get some pretty crappy generic responses.

Cosmo

Godfather. wrote:

unsung wrote:

I just informed Carhartt that I placed my last order for their clothing. For years they made everything in the USA, then slowly that sucking sound from Mexico stole their manufacturing. It does seem however that they still ran some line made in the USA and shipped those lines to small stores and denim shops where the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet got the Made in Mexico clothing lines.

Well recently they decided to stop supplying these small shops with the Made in USA lines and these shops would get what they were sent. In turn many of these shops dropped Carhartt. I just placed a $281 order for the last Carhartt branded items I will purchase, all made in the USA, a dying breed. I politely informed Carhartt of my decision and how I would spread the word and encourage others to do the same. American workers built this brand and were proud to be seen wearing it, that is no longer going to be the case. Carhartt is just another company that has no loyalty to the people who built it.

that crap makes me sick, one more company screwing the American working family.
word of this autta piss off a bunch of people in the construction trade's.

Godfather.

...
So... both of you are opposed to the market setting the pricing?
What do you think of the bailouts of G.M. and Chrysler?

unsung

stuckinline wrote:

unsung, that is awesome. may i ask 'how' did you inform carhatt? by phone, an email or an actual letter?

i have recently started doing the same by email and i get some pretty crappy generic responses.

I usually just go the email route then if their reply is very generic I'll explore other routes.