Thanks Dozer.
I spend about 20 hours a week either attempting to procure, or assisting in the design and manufacture of parts we want to make available.
In the early days of retail, there was a clear distinction between China junk and “Made in USA” . Later, that line got a little blurred. As USA parts got more expensive, China parts increased in quality.
Then just a few years ago, there was another transition; it was no longer a matter of paying more for USA parts. They were simply no longer available. That’s all there was to it. If we could not contract it out to have it manufactured here, it would have to be imported. There was no other option.
99% of all shoes and boots in the US retail market are now made in China.
What we found out also, is that when you get into a position as a company to begin to import anything, especially from China, you have a great deal of control of the manufacturing process. Sometimes it gets expensive, and you need some buying power and a few good contacts over there, but you can do it.
A great example are the relays we carry for the volt meter, blackout lights, and Alt2, these were manufactured exactly according to our specifications. We wanted this to be different than what you generally find floating around on eBay. Not some small 30-40 lightweight thing that you can find anywhere, but something that was better, waterproof up to 60 psi, and rated for 80 amps.
On the other end of this spectrum, we can say the glow plug controllers are made in USA, but what about the actual circuit components? Motorola has been contracting out to Taiwan since the 1950’s and most other integrated circuit suppliers get their work done in Japan.
What you see now, that a Harbor freight tool is sometimes equivalent to a Sears tool in quality and workmanship. Do I buy these? Sure do. Lifetime warranty, Just like Sigo said.
More and more retail chains are selling the exact same quality items with their own names on them. So what makes the difference? Customer service. What is going to keep that customer coming back? Customer service. How can you be different as a retailer? Customer service.
Apple stores are make more money per square foot of retail space than any other retailer. Almost double the second place holder; Tiffany’s.
Why? Customer service. Their employees are trained never to be in a position to say “no”. They are not even allowed to use words like “unfortunately”. This results in a super positive environment that is geared to solving problems verses making sales.
To settle it with myself, and indeed as a company, if there was a US made option for a product, I would list it for sale. Even if that meant placing it alongside an imported equivalent product. If there is no US made product listed, then it is not available that I can find.
We could go into the dangers of this to the US economy, and how easy it would be to fear China as a country in the future, but I think that would be a bit beyond the OP’s intended purpose.