Have you ever heard of these suppliers?
Bicycles Products and/or Services Made in USA

It really is ridiculous what some stuff goes for doesn't it? 99% of the time you are just paying for the name.

There is nothing like the old stuff. They just don't make anything like they used to in the "old days".

Yes. Chrome bags, I own several of them. They are military grade nylon, so I believe their supplies are also made in the US.

Betty Basket liners, there is NO way their materials are made in the US. The liners are sewn here, but the fabrics are most likely imported.

As far as actual bikes, the only one I have heard of is Seven. Goes to show how small these companies are that hand make their stuff in the US.

There is another company here in OC called Livery that they hand braze their frames. Prices are not that bad considering. About $700-1000 for a frame.

Capt Noonie made some excellent points. Boycotting Chinese products could hurt American small business owners and their employees. Nothing is ever simple.

I am more than happy to buy American-made products, but I have had some bad experiences with them. One was a simple light fixture for my laundry room. I wanted to replace the cracked plastic "globe" that is more cake shaped. None of the stores carried anything like it so I had to order one online.

The fixture was proudly advertised as Made in America and it arrived covered in American flags. Sadly, the whole thing was a mess. The special bulbs could not even be installed because the sockets were welded on incorrectly, and the globe section was pathetic. It looked like 2 pieces of rough plastic glued together. I threw the whole thing in the garbage and ordered the one from China. It was perfect.

Don't laugh :rolleyes:and probably not an option everywhere:confused:-ever though of getting a custom blown globe?

We have an abundance of glass blowers here, go figure.
We have Made in China ceiling fans and the new energy effective (compact florescent CFL's) don't fit so we leave the globe off-getting a sun design bright orange/yellow one for my oldest son's outer space themed room.

hmmm I'll need to restock light bulbs pretty soon wonder where those are made and how I'm going to substitute if they are made in China.

^^Sounds nice, but this is a basic light fixture requiring a plastic, flat cover (globe). It is in the tight utilities room, so it cannot be glass.

China can make some nice quality products as long as you are willing to pay them. If you want cheap labor, they will give you a cheap product. If you pay them for quality, they will deliver quality. They are not evil, souless people out to poison Americans. We as americans have demanded cheaper and cheaper goods, they have to cut corners somewhere. The amount of quality and effort depends on how much they are compensated. I found this to be very true also when I was in the fashion industry. Many of the companies my former employer would use to finish our denim also finished for high end designer denim labels as well. We just didn't pay them as much, so we got back crappier stuff. :p

Also in line with your post, I did happen to find Made in USA picture frames from WalMart. I bought a few of them as I needed them to display our business license etc and wanted something that looked kind of nice. $3 bucks and made in the US, heck yeah! So all of them have since broken, and they just sit there, not doing anything. Air broke them. Or just being broke them IDK LOL.

I didn't see this till now. I knew Coach was made in China, but not always. They used to be made in the US and also Turkey, which they have many quality leathergoods makers there. Did you notice that they started raising their prices when the C signature stuff started coming out, and that was when they started producing them in China. Doesn't make sense, you get cheaper labor, but you raise prices? And they have a very loyal following!:confused:

I got over Coach quickly when I got my Coach scribble bikini (yeah that long ago) and not only was I shocked it came (pre-order to boutique for me) shipped directly from China. Then after a single use and wash (yes in a garment bag) the seems all came un-stiched and the ends of my string were all un-sewn and unravels and frayed.

I have no loyalty to any company that lack loyalty to their consumers, works etc.

I have no love for China as an entity anyways to be totally honest this was just the final straw for me: human rights, political oppression, bankrupting the little guys all over the globe, animal cruelty, lack of application and appearance to global threats, and furthermore the total lack of concern for the environment.

I feel bad for the people for China, because their governing power is evil IMHO.

I agree. We easily forget they are a communist country and the people for the most part have no say whatsoever. It is their govt that is corrupt, and we easily blame the people. Of course, no one can control where they are born. If you are born into poverty in a third world country you do whatever you can to survive, including taking jobs that we see as absolutely horrendous. Sometimes you just don't really have a choice.

So today I finally did a lil questionable shopping for the house.

I thought I'd really push the limits of my the boy is between pay periods and Made in China boycott, so I did the unthinkable dirty lil shopping trip to of all place...dun dun dun...The Dollar Tree corporation store!

I was surprised!

Personal disclaimer: I'm so not trying to promote that store I actually boycott this particular store under previous management for not letting my three year old at the time nephew use the restroom as we were checking out and he was caught holding his crotch, besides they're a big icky corporation/franchise.

Anywho here's how it went and for all practical matters proves Made in China can be avoided, anywhere.

I had to look and make some substitutions. I usually only use Bon Ami & white vinegar but it's the bi-annual cleaning time in the house here-the only time I buy a lot of these items.

I bought:
1. The Works brand toilet cleaner USA which substituted for the Lysol which is from China.
2. A birthday bag made from 70% post consumer-USA
3. Two GIANT plain paper coloring pads-USA!
4. Marrick brand tubular hangers USA
5. Breck kids 2 in 1 shampoo-USA
6. LA's Awesome lemon scented bleach -USA
7. LA's awesome fabric softener-USA
8. Ty-D-Bol cleaners-USA
9. teaching Tree words boarders Made in India
10. A giant addition and subtraction tables poster-USA

Not bad-but I did go without buying the D batteries I need for baby's swing, only Made in China's were available there. I've heard Costco has rechargeable made in England so that's going on the Costco list.

Seriously thus far I've notice I rarely do buy items Made in China.

Really having issues with light bulbs & batteries though.

Found this advertised this way on eBay loving the Made In USA specification and so cute!
Doormat FiddlersElbow Yorkshire Terrier NEW Made in USA | eBay

Well I've been sick for hm 4 or has it been 5 days now?

Anyways the boy had to do all the shopping (wow being technical support while he was walking around the grocery store with me directing him was well let's just say I had no idea how well I have the grocery stores memorized!) and he blew it!

He went and bought some (of all things right-?) kebab skewers for little cheapo wood ones for chicken on a stick and he failed to notice they were labeled Made in China! Ironically later that night I didn't feel like cooking at all I told him he was going to have to clean up after himself so we went out to Chinese Buffet for dinner...

He redeemed himself today though we have the F=bomb going on here...fleas!

In our yard of all places really bad so tired of it Princess is picking out her fur which she just grew back already. So he went and bought 10 pounds of Diatomaceous Earth and a hand pump duster

Hudson model #67203 by H D Hudson Manufacturing Company-it's a polyethylene duster and get this it has a 2 year manufacturer warranty-it was $13.99 both made here! I love it the box for the duster even has a little gold seal on it stating "WE EMPLOY AMERICA"

both Made in the USA

Still no batteries in baby swing or vibrating chair, and only 3 spare bulb in the laundry room...

Feel better! I've been sick since Thursday myself. I think I have a bit of a fever as I type. Kaji won't let me sitback and get better. :rolleyes:

Light bulds solved but huh not locally, or inexpensively!
Lights of America
CFL's have mercury which is harmful for the environment.

There are NO CFL light buld manufacturers in the USA because they are so hazardous to the environment in production we BAN them (by default due to EPA regulations) being produced here!
How freaking scarey is that! The EPA-doesn't even budge or take a bribe on this one, even with BIG money corporation it is illegal here!