Made In China Boycott
 

Challenging myself to not only not consume goods Made in China anymore:
this thread was straw that clicked my wallet closed:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/ani...ic-beware.html
Here's why:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/3678283-post51.html

So I'm going to keep a lil journal (okay YT thread) of when (and where) I go to buy something & note when it is Made in China & how I avoided the purchase or the substitution I found.

Ideally, I'm really aiming to go all Made IN THE USA, but I'm also going for super convenience, availability, & low cost. New baby now makes skin kid #3, that I'm unemployed to stay home & care for, so convenience, availability & low cost are the key of all things in my life atm.

Please join in & share your successes, thoughts experiences, substitutions, suggestions etc.
Wondering how many of you whom are consuming Chinese goods will join in here.
Otherwise this will just be an annoying thread that keeps popping up under the most recent of this category :D

I DO, I try to buy Made in America, MOSTLY but I have to admit sometimes I have NO choice that to buy a made in china item, we drive Chevrolet and Ford, and my hubby is a union member, we firmly believe in AMERICA.. that video is horrible,I might have to go without things if I can't find a made in America sub,:)

I think it's a good idea. I've been wanting to, and somewhat trying, to avoid items manufactured outside the country. Why not support our own, right?
I don't shop much, but I'll be interested to see where you go (to shop) and what you find. I'll definitely try to join you!

Just wanted to give a tip... I think it's great to buy local stuff and try to support Canadian products as much as possible... You may want to look into the "made in USA" legislation. There was a huge scam revealing documentary a few years back on Made in Canada, which brought up a huge uprising of new labels for products because I think at one point only 25% or something needed to come from Canada to be labeled that.

I don't want to make your goal harder, but thought you may want to know it may not all be as truthful as you think. For example in this documentary, a local fish processing plant near my home stopped processing local fish, they import vietnamese fish and label it as a Canadian product. :( despite that fact that perfectly good Canadian fish come into port next to the factory.

Good luck, glad someone is committed to supporting their local economy, if more people were like you, there wouldn't be recessions and crap.

It's so hard to find things made in the USA now...which is just odd. I'd rather buy from here for so many reasons and wonder if it'll ever get easier to buy products made here.

Some may not like this, but an easy way to avoid many things made in China is to not shop at Walmart.:rolleyes:

I remember my dd having a homework assignment in elementary school to find five things in our house made in the USA. This was during part of my 9 year boycott of Walmart & wow, that was still a difficult thing! It's hard to find anything American made, I guess Walmart just puts what isn't into one space.;)

I'd love to shop at mom & pop places & Green stores that offer a lot of product made here, but there just aren't many. Pretty sad.

I'm with ya Delvish!
Seriously I'm so anti consumption right now to be honest.
Less is more!

My most recent purchases have actually have been "green" and about supporting my local economy, but I lucked out on them being either North American made of European.

Marek has began early teething I've been all about safe baby toys so we're really into the Vulli brand from France (buying them at locally owned children's shops) they're awesome we now have Chan, Pie & Gnan, Sophie teethers in vanilla and Milo just got an Ecokids water bottle made in Canada, and Maisy's Jessica McClintock dress just came in the mail (made in the USA!).

Of course we are using Broody Chic Diapers made in USA so today we're good thus far! Although I had no planned spending today so yeah I ran around reading labels on my recent purchases just to get an idea of accessing what I have been buying.

I dont ever shop at Walmart for that reason and others

IDK if it will ever get any easier to find products made in the USA but seriously doubt it. First off, products would have to be competitive in price, the labor costs and corporate greed will always make our products more expensive.

I buy USA products when I can and have become much more conscience of where products are made. I also try to buy fair trade items when possible.

To be fair I may actually have an easier time of this than most due my location & back ground.

I live in Humboldt County California:we're a bunch of greenie fair trade eco-friendly socially concerned tree hugging medical marijuana supporting locals only trend co-op grocery shopping hippies :D (joking-well kinda really true to a degree) but I still shop at the local mall, am a lil name brand wh@re, despise patchouli oil, wear deodorant, shave my legs, and love Target.

I formerly had a small local business and was in two locals business alliances in which we learned about why it is so important to the local economy to support local goods and businesses.

I'm going to look into my Canadian goods purchases a lil more though too thanks!

EDit: Oh but I totally buy Pumas and Adidas-Italy labor laws and animal rights aren't much better but they are better as well the craft's manship... but refuse Nike-they endorse Michael Vick and besides Nike pulle dout of Flint MI at a critical point and moved to China...

Hey now made in Canada is pretty legit too!

Boy isn't that the truth. I buy a lot of stuff from CV's. Mainly because it helps support the community where I teach at. You know it is tax payers that contribute to me having a job. So I think it is great to try to keep it local if possible. Sadly to say, I do still have to purchase some things at Wal Mart. I would love to see how this goes for you and would love to hear what all you find.

You're joking! Is that how they keep their prices so low. ;) (I'm being sarcastic)
But really, what store doesn't have items that are made in China?

Small Challenge
 

Taking on what Concretegurl suggested is a big undertaking. For starters, how about we do this as a small challenge, for those that have the time, go to a store website (Target, Walmart, Macy's, anything really) and see if you can find where any item is made. I'm looking at Target.com for the heck of it. I love Target, and wanted to see if they have anything that is not made in China, but I can't even see where any item is made. It's simply not listed. I'll continue to browse in hopes of just finding a "Made in ____" information on any one item.

You'll need to read the labels when shopping in person unless you use a site like this a directory:
Made in the USA Products Directory

or if you buy direct from local to you manufacture stores online like this:
Green Toys Inc. - Environmentally Friendly Eco Toys, Safe, No BPA or Phthalates - Made in USA
(hint hint-instead of Petsomething store buy an item from a Yorkie talker who manufactures it themselves!)


For fun here's some all American web stores:I think most of these are pretty over priced...
Welcome to Proud American Trading Post - Where Proud Americans Shop...
Made in USA, Made in America, US, American-Made
Still Made in USA.com - American-Made Products for Home and Family

Unfun fact:Coach the "American" designer brand...Made in China!

The cost of complying with government regulations is also a major factor, and discourages small business. They simply can't afford to keep up.

Probably would have to shop in-store to inspect the packaging. Besides, almost all of our computers were made in China. :p

This is a very nice thought---
 

We should all hesitate before buying from places like China. It's usually well worth the sacrifices to pay more for something top quality, or to substitute something you can buy at a yard sale and fix up yourself.

HP components from Africa, Ireland, Japan and then shipped to and assembled in either China or Texas.

Tell me about it my lil American whole sale manufacturing company had to fight against a 32% tax rate on my busdsineass' AGI! Concrete statuary hence the name "concretegurl"

Magic you are totally feeding into my "greenness' I love recycling but your secondary marketing is awesome! You buy cheap, personalize and reuse all while saving from the aspect of the most import in manufacturing-the production end.

Many items are produced (especially over seas) and designed with planned obsolescence-no not just electronics either-almost everything: why create so much natural destruction for something designed to be landfill fetter?

Great video I had to watch for one of my business classes-I think it should be a training course for consumers actually.
The Story of Stuff

Double post sorry

http://www.youtube.com/storyofstuffp...22/9GorqroigqM

I just find it curious they don't add that in the product description. The most it will say is "Imported."

The story of stuff is a great video... I remember watching it in my Consumer Behavior class last year.

This thread reminded me of a pic I recently saw on FB but couldn't find it. It wasn't hard to find another example.:rolleyes:

That's hilarious! Yet sad at the same time.

I found something! Tights, but it's something.
Made in USA:
Hanes Silk Reflections Control-Top Ribbed Tights

"Imported"
Apt. 9 Argyle Control-Top Tights

At least they're willing to say when it is actually made in the USA.

Today's expendatures seem promising:
 

OOPs!
Hit paste accidentally!
Today's shopping actually the boy did it but even though he forgot my boycott he did really well considering, but he bought things we already consume regularly:

1. Pamper's Kandoo's Made in USA

2. Pamper's Sensative Wipes Made in USA says from domestic & imported materials: hmmmmmm-questionable (harsh choice on this one because my oldest son has sever allergies and pretty sure baby has the same issues I'd prefer a more environmentally friendly brand not to mention I have no love for P&G distributors but these are the only one's we've used thus far that have not caused a skin reaction...and suggestions here are seriously welcomed).

3. Broody Chick Compostible biodegradable Diapers Made in USA

4. Seventh Generation Diapers Made in USA (spare pack)

5. Rock In Green laundry soap Made in USA

6. Mossimo tennis shorts Made in Vietnam

7. Calvin Klein jeans Made in Mauritius

8. Duct Tape Brand bracelet for Pacific Union (school fundraiser item) Made in USA

9. Gas in vehicles: bought at Costco not sure but it's most likely from Saudi Arabia they supply the majority of petrol here.

10. Grocery store shopping trip-both the boy and I are super picky food snobs so no worries there LOL I'm pretty sure food isn't coming over from China-at least not what we eat. Besides, most of the grocery stores here are packed with local items as in the farms are only a few miles away-Derik actually works at the local bread company on the side right now, our milk comes from a dairy down the road and our meat from a farm a couple miles away our produce the farthest it has come from is 14 miles away...well hmmmm there were those Doritos though...

[QUOTE=DvlshAngel985;3679713]I found something! Tights, but it's something.
Made in USA:
Hanes Silk Reflections Control-Top Ribbed Tights

"Imported"
Apt. 9 Argyle Control-Top Tights

:thumbup:Awesome looking up!:thumbup:

LOL OT...
My mother is addicted to Kohl...seriously she needs an intervention.

She has her Kohl's card they send her coupons to use on special days of the month, then there's the you spent so much money here coupons she can not only use but he can use with her Kohl;s card and the Kohl's card coupons....she's amazing she thinks me using coupons at the grocery store (I aw the Oprah special like 8 years ago...) was ridiculous but Kohl's sends her some coupons and she's on a mission to use them...

Nice to see they even stock American.

I forgot about my own Kohl's online order {some items are online only}I'll have to check them when they arrive now!

Princess10:
PeRfect example!
So sad!

[quote=concretegurl;3679717]I went to Kohls for the first time a week ago. I didn't know what Kohl's was before then. Yes, I know. I live in a bubble. :rolleyes:

This challenge would prove impossible for me by day one.

I own a small business. People tell us all the time they want to support the little guys. I like to support mom and pop shops myself. However, there are some industries that you just CANNOT boycott items manufactured in China. We own a bike shop. Nearly every item in my shop is made in China, I'd say about 80%. 15% from Thailand, Indonesia, or other SE asian countries (bc it's too expensive to produce those items in China!), and the remaining 5% the "higher end" stuff made in Taiwan, Japan and England. Even bikes in the $1000+ range, their metals are still produced in China. You'd be hard pressed to find a bike that was made in the US, England or Italy without spending upwards of $2000. So you're saying you guys would boycott me as well?

Then there are the items that are "Made in the US with imported materials". Where are the imported materials made? I see a LOT of designer denim that says just that. Sure they are sewn in the US but who made the fabric? Another way to look at it. All the handmade things sold on Etsy, where are the materials they use coming from?

This experiment is not as straight forward as just looking at the label to see where it was made. I won't/can't be in this experiment, but am interested to see what others find.

On another note, anyone looking for an iphone case that is made in the US (Los Angeles to be exact) and is made of recycled materials, check out TrtlBot

I wouldn't boycott you...
ironically though I went to buy a super cute retro 50's bike almost 2 years ago it was $650 and made in China, I was like really-the quality of it was pretty ick-I know there are higher and lower end but I couldn't believe the junk for the price on what I found.

I have the original I got off craig's list for $40 which is made in England. I still needs to get sandblasted, repainted, new brakes, tubes and chain & basket for dogs and I'm so mad I gave away my tailor before i knew I was having another baby!

...I was looking at your link for a basket, have a link for your store. I have a feeling when I go to finish this project I'm going to have a hard time sticking to my boycott, might as well support a small business to counter balance it all.