Remember when that used to mean something? When you seen the words MADE IN USA stamped, embossed or etched in something you knew the chances are it's made to USA standards!
The USA standards back in the 1920-1970's used to be that if something was rated for 10,000 lbs, if it was USA made you could almost bet your life on the fact that it could hold double that weight in a pinch. Things were also made under the idea that it should last forever, and not just a few uses before it was discarded and thrown away, only to repeat said process over and over. It is China and many other nations who took standards to their absolute bare minimum in terms of quality and longivity to make something cheaper, so cheap in fact that said product would be condiered disposable.
I have run into a lot of this working on this old 1950's house, and while it's something that the 70 year old stuff is mostly made in the USA, there have been some upgrades done thru the years that have seen some non-American items to make it's way into the home! Today was an example of such a day, as I had an old USA valve that just wasn't shutting off anymore. It didn't leak, however I could not cut off the supply and thus had to close the main at the meter. Thankfully that valve worked good and I was able to cut the water off to change out the worn out valve.
I went to Lowes to buy a new valve and what do you know... The name of the valve is "American Valve", but look closer and it's made in CHINA!
Now I know this isn't a shock to many, since most everything is made in China anymore... but my concern is that I have doubts these valves will last very long, and given their close proximity to my electric panel I really don't feel all warm and fuzzy using them for the time being... but this is just what we have to deal with.
I'm not saying that anything made in the USA is automatically good, but it used to be that if it was, you could feel good that it wasn't made to the standard of being the absolute cheapest POS to barely pass or meet specs.
Sometimes I wonder if the people who are preaching to bring back "Made in the USA" really know what they are talking about... is it enough just to make something here if it isn't the BEST? Some people might argue that inexpensive throw away items save us money, but is that really true when this China made stuff is so prolific that it's now the only game in town?
People putting these kind of home-improvement parts in their home want something that is quality and will last! It would be one thing if there were options, but that is just not the case! At least in terms of your local Lowes.
The truth is that "greed" moved manufacturing over-seas, & into China. This meant maximum-returns for stock-holders & investors, so it's the stock-market that's in part the cause here...
Job protection laws via Unions, & EPA laws among other matters too, meant that manufacturer owners moved overseas to maximize profit...So US-of-A missed-the-boat here in people-policy, jobs, making cleaner-air-solutions possible, all for the sake of share-holders via the Banks...
Greed is the issue here...Just ask any Mexican.
You still get what you pay for, but if you paid top-dollar for something that's clearly false-advertising, who's fault is that ???...
If your taps were still working fine, you only needed to grab new handles btw...
It was Mr.Nixon & Henry Kissinger that opened the doors to China in 1972...So this was "Deep State" Elephant decision making at its best.
-- Edited by Rastus on Sunday 16th of October 2022 06:19:34 PM
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
Yo Rastus, I understand the economic side of this argument... in fact, I thought everyone would consider your points as a given... but these lesser quality items that are getting manufactured won't be carrying the MADE IN USA name... I understand why they did what they did, and in my case at least there are some required certifications for such plumbing componets that see's China or the corporate bean counters (who are not ALL Republican by the way) are at least held to some account in terms of manufacturing.
With regards to actual cost, it cost me $31.72 cents for them two valves and a fesh roll of teflon tape. Pretty expensive for a China made item!
But the truth is, I'd have paid $32 EACH for a nice beefy looking USA made item! IMO these China valves should have been on the order of $5 each... they probably were pre-pandemic. Also I should mention it wasn't just the broken handles, as that didn't bother me... it was the hot side of the pipes that just would not seal closed... it wasn't leaking thankfully, but it would not cut off the water pressure on that branch. Just changing the handles would not have fixed this issue. The cold side of the branch still worked fine, and I have it set asside just in case one of these China parts fails... I did both sides because that is just how I roll! If I'm going to get out my pipe wrenches, I'm going to do some work to ensure I'm not getting them out again in short order, if I can help it! LOL
I'm sure you can still get USA made valves and I'll have to look around... this was more or less an emergency that required whatever I could get on a Sunday afternoon to be able to turn the water back on... the water is back on! But I will be keeping an eye on them China valves! We will see...
-- Edited by Stellar007 on Sunday 16th of October 2022 06:39:25 PM
I'd go & check-out what the military bases are using in your locality, & where their valves etc are made...
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
Probably made in the USA... along with them $10,000 toilet seats... meanwhile, F-35 parts from China still manage to find their way on-board.
ROTFLMAO !!!
Oh, don't forget about dear Nancy's bar-tab...
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
I think it would be fun to have a few drinks with Nancy Pelosi and listen to her locker room talk when the camera is off... I bet some of the shit she says is downright hallarious!
