Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

stever

I didn't know they put Pyrex in cars. (Thanks Roadburner).

iwant12

It's not easy buying American, and most folks don't think twice when they open their wallets. I was recently in the market for a good pocket knife. I did my research and found a brand, Buck, that still makes knives here in the US. And it's a great pocket knife! I had one as a kid and I remember that knife was indestructible! Wish I still had it. Also get my jeans from Diamond Gusset in Tenn. Another great product. My NB shoes are also made here. And my new Jeep GC has been a winner. 20K on the clock and no problems, knock on wood. But if folks would do a bit of research and be willing to shell out a few more bucks, they could support our manufacturing base.

stever

Jeep, the iconic Fiat brand?

fintail

Oh yeah I forgot, it's one big happy globalized world now, doesn't matter where anything comes from. Thanks.

gagrice

Can't we all just COEXIST? We can sell China our Coal and they can make US iPhones, iPads and Big screen TVs with the electricity they generate from our coal. Don't they call that a symbiotic relationship????

PS
And soon they will be making the whole GM Volt not just part of it.

stever

Don't look at me. My Quest was made in Ohio and my Outback was made in Indiana.

Last I looked Fin had two German cars and was shopping for a two-wheeler that isn't a Harley.

And what's in your driveway? A Lexus and a Kubota and I forget the other. Was the Sprinter a "Dodge" or a Mercedes? And seems like you had an R Class MB too eh?

(I am wearing NB sneaks at the moment but they weren't made domestically. Got two Buck knives too, but I found both of them.)

fintail

Coexist...funny, gagrice!

I've never bought a new vehicle and don't plan to, so my purchases are only worth so much. I'd rather put a Prius engine in the fintail than buy a Chindian car though.

stever

Well, to read some of the posts here, if you don't drive American iron period, you're unpatriotic.

bpizzuti

It constantly surprises me how many people feed the troll. And yeah, even I'm guilty of it. Cannon never defends his position, just air-drops a bunch of "buy USA" garbage and flies away. I bet he's got a Honda and a BMW sitting in his parking lot too. :shades:

stever

That's okay. They make 'em in Alabama and South Carolina.

fintail

Well, sometimes others seem to imply that if you don't embrace the race to the bottom, don't ignore where items are made, etc, that you are some kind of cross between Hitler and Stalin, and a recluse who has been in a cave for 60 years.

Linking consumerism to patriotism is indeed dangerous, just as dangerous as engaging in consumerism that aids enemies of both your home and your life.

iwant12

I hear what you're saying, Steve. The main reason for purchasing the GC was that it drives way better than the 07 4Runner I traded in. I looked at a lot of SUV/CUVs and most were FWD. I can't stand any sort of torque steer in my vehicles. I know it's a global economy, and I guess that's a good thing.

stever

The main reason for buying anything is because it's the best product for your needs and budget. I mostly buy local. Local eggs, local meat, local produce in season. Most of my wardrobe and household items come from the thrift store so I'm keeping that money in local circulation.

But if I'm low on gas, I'll buy Citgo as soon as I'll buy Exxon. Sooner actually. :shades:

berri

We can sell China our Coal and they can make US iPhones, iPads and Big screen TVs with the electricity they generate from our coal. Don't they call that a symbiotic relationship????

I'm taking that as tongue in cheek since many third world countries exist primarily on exporting raw materials.

gagrice

My 2007 Sequoia was made in Indiana. My 2008 Nissan Frontier was made mostly here. I am still waffling on whether I need a diesel SUV. It will likely be at least assembled here. John Deere does not make a tractor in the size and class of my Kubota BX22.

Speaking of Buck knives. I had a couple one got stolen out of my VW at the Alascom Parking lot in Anchorage 1970. My Buck General was made by Al Buck in 1962 when our phone office shared the same alley with their old shop. There is a good example of a company that is trying to keep going under adverse government conditions. They left CA due to regulations and high taxes. Guess they are doing well in Idaho. Much more business friendly than CA.

stever

My 2007 Sequoia was made in Indiana. My 2008 Nissan Frontier was made mostly here.

Yep, couple more good ol' American companies. :-)

I found one of my Bucks on the AT in the Smokies; can't remember where the other one turned up. Some campsite somewhere most likely. Both are the same model (Cadet). Buck started making knives in China in 2000 per Wikipedia and still makes 13% of them there. Mine live in drawers around here somewhere - I prefer my Victorinox Swiss Army Executive with the orange peeler blade.

John Deere has factories around the world too, btw. Main ones overseas are in Germany, India and France, and they own a subsidiary in China and have a partnership with Hitachi.

gagrice

That is the point. Buying 100% made in America anything is a challenge. We could not find our Forster toothpicks the other day at 4 different stores. ALL made in China. Maine was the Toothpick capital of the World since the late 1800s. Same with wooden matches from Diamond. All owned by Jarden, including I found, Forster Toothpicks. The Chinese toothpicks are smaller around and much sharper. Not suitable for serving snacks. Especially to children. Maybe it is back to whittling our own toothpicks like in Civil War times.

stever

They were making them in Georgia unless the theft of 400,000 of them caused the factory to go under. :-) (nydailynews.com).

Somewhere in China, some out-of-work peasant is online at the internet cafe, bemoaning the manufacture of chopsticks in Georgia on some online forum. (aspda.com)

Except the owner got into some hot and sour soup and I think they got shut down. (americustimesrecorder.com)

gagrice

Plastic toothpicks are a aberration. Only white birch made in Maine will do. Someone needs to go up and open one of the many factories that are shut down. That is if they can even get wood for them. You know how the eco nuts are about cutting down trees.

gagrice

You got to love beating the Chinese at their own game making chopsticks. The Chinese will probably switch to more civilized Knife, Fork and Spoon.

stever

Got a lot of fun press, but they went banko. After getting tax breaks and economic development money no doubt.

gagrice

Makes you wonder about all these subsidies and tax breaks. Where does the tax dollars end up??????

andre1969

Jeep, the iconic Fiat brand?

Guess I'm guilty as well, since I recently bought a Dodge Ram. And to add insult to injury, it was assembled in Mexico!

stever

Where does the tax dollars end up

The head of the chopstick factory was from China, so same place as always.

lemko

Guess what? My wife FINALLY found some bedsheets made in the U.S.A.! They even sent her a letter thanking her for her purchase and the fact that she helped 120 American employees by buying their product!

lemko

Bought my wife some All-Clad cookware made near Pittsburgh, PA. That still will easily outlive us and our decendants!

lemko

A good quality pocket knife is an heirloom! There are certain things I don't put a price point on: tools, knives, and firearms.

lemko

Ask my parents' dog if it doesn't matter where it comes from! My mother carelessly gave the dog some Chinese-manufactured rawhide treats and the dog became ferociously sick! It was heart-rending to hear the dog cry and whine all day and I'm not even a dog person. Fortunately, the dog is feeling better and Mom threw away the Chinese-tainted treats.

lemko

I'll buy Sunoco as it is based in Philadelphia.

stever

Yeah, US dog food is never tainted. (CS Monitor). Corporations by design think about the bottom line, not loyalty to country of origin. Even Patagonia sources stuff worldwide. All-Clad is part of a large French consortium, Groupe SEB. Sunoco is now a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, but you can rest easy knowing that they are based in Texas.

bpizzuti

So what do we do about all the people buying imported French wine and Swiss chocolate? :shades:

Swiss chocolate is really good, by the way, but French wine sucks compared to what they make in nearby Millbrook NY.

stever

I try to eat only Hershey chocolate. Their profits go to US homes for wayward kids and orphans.

gagrice

I have the Case pocket knife my step dad carried most of his life on my desk. It is worn but still very usable. It is the classic 3 blade folder. It will go to my son. With rare exceptions I prefer American made tools, knives and firearms.

uplanderguy

You mentioned Hershey's chocolate. I believe it's now made in Mexico. Ol' Milton's probably spinning in his grave after building the Company town that became Hershey.

That said, I love their "Air Delight" bar. I had one this morning already.

stever

They have six plants in the US and a couple in Mexico. The West Hershey PA plant just expanded. My wife inherited some stock from her mom umpteen years ago. Eat up, you're helping the local economy in my house.

My family down in Chattanooga is likely feeling the benefits from VW and Nissan (and GM):

"30 years ago, there were almost no auto jobs in the region. Today, the senator said, one-third of all Tennessee manufacturing posts are automotive jobs."

Auto recovery speeds ahead (MSNBC).

Near as I can tell, they love VW down in Chattanooga.

andre1969

When I was at the car show at Hershey the other week, I could smell chocolate in the air from time to time from the nearby factory. Unfortunately, depending on which way the wind blew, I could also smell the local sewage treatment plant!

robr2

I try to eat only Hershey chocolate. Their profits go to US homes for wayward kids and orphans.

I don't believe that is the entire story. The Hershey School benefits from the MS Hershey Foundations as do another dozen or so entities around Hersey, PA including hospitals, colleges and churches. It owns a number of resorts and tourist destinations in the area as well.

The Foundation operates independently of the Hershey Corporation which is publicly traded.

keystonecarfan

The old plant in downtown Hershey is now closed, as it had become outdated. As you noted, it has been replaced by a new plant that is located outside of Hershey. This plant is visible from the main road to the big Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) fall meet. Hence, the smell of chocolate that Andre noted at the show.

The new plant employs fewer people than the old plant did, but that is at least partially because of automation and improved production processes, if I recall correctly.

Hershey Foods also has plants in Lancaster, Pa. and Hazleton, Pa.

As for Tennessee, I believe that the old Saturn plant at Spring Hill still builds GM vehicles, and the state is the location of Nissan's first North American plant.

keystonecarfan

The Foundation owns the majority of the Hershey Corporation's stock, if I recall correctly. Profits from the corporation do benefit the Foundation.

gagrice

They should love VW in Chattanooga. I have a question. TN being a RTW state, do the UAW employees have to be members to work in the GM plant?

fintail

You mean as investor visa immigrants flitting around in new 150K cars? :shades:

fintail

My Revere Ware was made before I was born. Made in USA meant something then. Socio-economic picture was different then, too. What a coincidence!

On the car subject, another forum I read has someone who has rented an ATS from National, and they are very impressed, to the point of BMW comparison. If it can be competitively (ie: a bit cheaper) priced, maybe that American car can win. As someone don't want to grasp, final assembly point means something, and first world means a lot.

stever

All I see off-hand is an eHow answer, which I wouldn't want to rely on as being all that definitive:

"According to Section 203 of the Tennessee right-to-work statutes, no business or employer can fire, discipline or exclude an employee from employment because the worker failed to pay dues or other related fees deliberately or unintentionally to a union. In Tennessee, the union must still represent and bargain on behalf of the nonunion employee even if he does not pay dues."

gagrice

So if the UAW members in TN felt they were not being represented well, they could refuse to pay the dues. I know we had a worker at Alascom do that in spite of being a closed shop. He worked that way nearly 30 years and is now collecting a Teamster pension. His complaint was over paying into the strike fund and our contract having a NO strike clause. The Union did not fight him so he got off without paying dues or the 85 cents an hour the rest of us paid in. He was grandfathered in as a lead tech as well. More of a hero than heel to most of the techs that never wanted to be Teamsters.

lemko

Way north on Roosevelt Blvd. in Philly is the Kraft (former Nabisco) plant. Depending on the day, you can smell them baking Oreo cookies.

lemko

I believe the Hazleton plant manufactures products under the Cadbury label. Did Hershey buy-out Cadbury at one time? I believe that factory has been there since the 1970s.

fintail

I think there is some link. As a kid I noticed that Hershey and Cadbury products used the same font on the smaller print labels.

stever

In '78 Hershey bought the chocolate business from Cadbury, and kept the name, but made the candy here. Kraft outbid Hershey a couple of years ago for the Cadbury company so I guess the name is off any Hershey made product now that used to have the Cadbury logo.

Kit Kats are a Nestle brand but Hershey licensed the US rights in 1970, and won't relinquish the license. :shades:

Y'all are making me hungry, but luckily there's two Hershey bars in the cupboard so I don't have to hop in one of my American made cars and go to the 7/11 for a snack.

robr2

The Foundation owns the majority of the Hershey Corporation's stock, if I recall correctly. Profits from the corporation do benefit the Foundation.

The Foundation owns 12.5 million shares as does the Milton Hershey School. Together they represent a little over 11% of the company stock. Yes the dividends from the stock support the foundation and the school. But the foundation does more than just support children's charities - that's the point I was trying to make.

stever

We're getting off on a tangent here but the Hershey Trust Company also holds 60 million shares of class B stock and thus controls 80% of the total stock, and they administer both the Foundation and the School Trust. (SEC, Wiki).

I think.

Trying to figure out ownership is an ongoing battle if you want to buy something "Made in America".

Who's to say that if you buy a Toyota from a California dealer that was made in Indiana at the Subaru facility that you aren't also helping your college roommate back in Maine who happens to own a boatload of Toyota stock?

We won't mention that your roommate got here on a student visa from Ireland LOL.