As a Manufacture I have to ask everyones opinion.

Over the years we have stuck to our guns of having most the items in our controll machined and Assembled in the USA. By doing this we are able to have better control over the quality of our products and support American jobs..

Some of our competition has stuff machined over seas and since they take and add a couple of fittings to it they call it made in the USA. They Laser mark Made in the USA on the products, print it in adds and tell everyone it is Made In The USA.

How do you feel about spending your hard earned money on a product mis represented for what it really is, because our law states as long as the item is assembled in the USA it can be called Made In The USA?

Do you feel it is unfair to the companies that have a raised expense in production by honestly making there products in the USA?

Do you feel it is dishonest to the customer to claim something is Made In The USA that is partially or mostly machined over seas?

Please do not mention any companies in this thread. I just want to know what other peoples thoughts and feelings are on this matter.

Dave

 

Completely agree.

As an engineer who's worked in manufacturing, it kills me to see not just manufacturing go overseas, but engineering get outsourced to those places as well.

"Buying locally", a long-held mantra of green, tree-hugger hippie types, really does have far reaching implications.

 

Yeah, I want to know what product I am buying. I prefer the USA made components whenever possible. With specialty products 90% of the time the USA parts are much better. That is why I the last solenoids I bought were from Nitrous Outlet. Besides I know a guy who has the 'Made in the USA' laser-etched, 'really cool looking' solenoids and the N2O one won't open at the 1050 psi I want to run on the bottle pressure. Anything over a 1000psi and the thing may or may not open.

 

I wrench for a living and I bet 95% of my tools are made in USA and dont care that I pay more because of it. If there was for instance a N20 company kit make with china parts and Another was really USA made and More expensive. No doubt I buy the USA made and customer service is there. But Yeah I would like to be Informed if it was built in china and assembly here.

 

Personally, I think that part of the US economy recovery will depend on moving products over-seas back in the US. The US really doesn't make much of anything any more. We have lost our skills as creators and producers of creative products.

To answer your question. Scribing MADE IN USA on a foreign made product is about as American as Rick Perry giving preferential treatment to Mexican students at Univ of Texas and forcing other AMERICANS to pay out of state tuition.

Now, on the other hand, if my LS3 was made in Mexico, then it should be called an El Es Tres giving the makers credit.

 

Great question, Dave

And this isn't just a problem in the automotive aftermarket, this is a major problem for the whole of our nation and its economy. You see this type of thing every evening you turn on the news, or on the way to work on talk radio, the newspaper, or on your computers home page, wherever you get your news..
Companies shuttering their factories and moving its production overseas to cut the cost of a domestic labor force, overhead on facilities, insurance, material costs, etc. Basically, they realize that paying the tariffs on importing foreign machined product, utilizing foreign labor and their infamously less stringent regulations, is a very lucrative option. But how can you stand behind something that you don't even make? Are we supposed to just take your word for it?

But then there is the issue that you bring up, that is an even more damning proposition. Having your product made overseas, only to be assembled in the states, and marketed as "Made in USA"...

In my opinion, having the components of your products, whether it be the nitrous plates, the main bodies of the solenoids (Steel or AL), wiring harness', switch panels, bottle brackets, filters, etc.. machined overseas, only to be assembled in the US, using generic fittings and hardware, then slapping a "Made In USA" label in their branding and advertising is dishonest, its manipulative, and exploiting bureaucratic loop holes to purposely deceive your customers only to benefit your bottom line. And doing so, is a betrayal to not only their customers, but also your community. Even more so when you don't pass this savings on to your customers, and just pocketing the extra margins.

I understand the cost savings and economic strategy behind it, but its shady, and as a vendor, its irresponsible and reprehensible. By claiming "Made in USA", you are marketing your product with the premise of a top tier operation with the prestige of some truly excellent peers. But, you are also preying on the trust of your customers, who believe the products are manufactured to exacting, strict standards, when in reality, the vendor themselves may not even know what they are getting.. How can you TRULY stand behind a product that you ordered through a sales rep from a machine shop on the other side of the world? A factory that may be making lamps one day, and solenoids for a direct port nitrous system the next?

So if you are having your components made overseas, only to be partially assembled here, then boxed up with an instruction manual that may or may not have been produced "In-House", in packaging that was almost certainly made elsewhere...

WHAT IS THE PRODUCT THAT YOU ACTUALLY MAKE?

I guess that would be marketing.

At least be honest about it, I'm not against overseas production, especially when your company has very strict quality control standards and are ethical enough to turn away a product that you couldn't trust.

I would like to point at a company that I truly believe has done an excellent job in this area, and have built a solid reputation for consistent quality and excellent customer service. Callie's and their "Compstar" line of products.

At the very least, how about a "Designed in America, Made in xxxxx" label instead?

 

I can't let that statement stand as is about Callies.

- they have issues w/reluctor wheels not welded in place. when my engine was new assembled I believe we had to tack weld it in place.

- my own crank spewed oil out the rear seal all over my RPS clutch. I had to yank the engine and have a local machine shop fix it. Cost me mega $.

- Customer service? The shop that yanked my engine could not get them to send a new plug for the crank.

Nothing personal, but those are the facts regarding my Callies Crank. The rods on the other hand looked great.

 

I'm going to assume you're talking specifically, perhaps even ONLY about nitrous and nitrous related products because if we start talking about some of other performance parts, I'd rather they not be made in the U.S.

As for mislabeling where something's been made... I don't care as long as it works as I expect and don't end up feeling like I wasted my money.

 

If two companies are equal in quality and customer service but one is made in china and is cheaper and one is made in the US but a little be more I will buy the usa product. If the china product is better and cheaper then I will go for that.

Im a believer in quality products. If a US company cant make one then why would I buy the product. I also try giving business to local companies as much as I can.

 

as mentioned they should be labeled "Assembled in America" if that is the case. I too would rather pay a little more for something that i know was built here.

it may be a stretch but if enough people bought something that was made here, the price of it could go down some. Better product, made in America and competitively priced? sold everytime.

 

How do you feel about spending your hard earned money on a product mis represented for what it really is, because our law states as long as the item is assembled in the USA it can be called Made In The USA? I think that is the biggest load of crap i have ever seen. I'm sure some lawyer that has stock overseas that works for an overseas company got paid to write that law.

Do you feel it is unfair to the companies that have a raised expense in production by honestly making there products in the USA? No

Do you feel it is dishonest to the customer to claim something is Made In The USA that is partially or mostly machined over seas? Yes, dishonest, sketchy, underhanded, liars, cheaters, false advertisement, do I need to keep going?

 

Thank you guys for the feed back. It is interesting hearing everyones point of view.

Brad Hutchcraft,
To answer your question to what we do and do not have made in the USA.

We try very hard to only use US made products. However some items you simply can not find made in the USA.

Our main components such as Solenoids, Nozzles, Plates, Jets, etc are made here in the USA.

Our bottle valve is European, Our windowswitch and progressive controllers are Canadian.

We try very hard to stay away from any China made products. Some times its impossible. For example, electrical connectors, toggle switches etc come from China and supply houses in the US distribute them.

Dave

 

Hey Dave we stick to our "Made in the USA" way of thinking here at BMR. I consider our company mentalities to be practically the same which is why we enjoy working with you guys so much. I personally have absolutely no problem spensing a little bit more money to be 100% positive that I am buying something that was actually "Made in the USA".

 

I always try to buy USA products

 

I think it is dishonest and I think it is mis-advertisement. Can't believe the law states that this is okay and that because it is assembeled in this country it is "made in the usa". Its bs.

I took apart my ac delco window motor to mod it to start working again. In fbody window motors the most common thing that makes them stop working is the heat resistor wears out and goes bad, resluting on the window not going up without help or at all. So i take my motor out and take it apart, pull/soder out the heat resistor, and guess what is stamped on it?.. A mother f'in "made in mexico" stamp. All i could think at the time is WTF, theres the problem right there

 

american made should mean materials and labor i pay the extra money why support workers in a different country

 

I agree I always try to buy American made products but when im at walmart just about everything I pick up is China made.

 

Thats the point. You try to make sure you are purchasing Made In The USA parts so you know you are getting a quality machined and built product that will last and work properly. So you look at labeling claiming "Made In The USA" and spend your hard earned money on a part that is not really made in the USA. Turns out its made in China. Later own down the road the part is not as described. Now how do you feel?

 

I'm Saudi and I prefer the USA made performance parts, the best quality ever for me !

USA products for me are ( Performance parts that used in racing application by the people who made & designed them unlike china products which made to be shipped to USA and labeled " MADE IN THE USA " !! )

 

Dave, my statement was not an attack in particular with your wiring connectors and pin outs, this is commonly outsourced, and an example of a very high quality product with excellent history.

03EBZ06, I didn't have a single flaw with any of my Compstar products, and every company will have flaws every sneak out every so often. I had a few questions with their rotating assemblies, and I was given excellent customer service. But I find it unfortunate, and feel for your experiences.. I really hope your particular episode was remedied.

On the other side of the coin, I have had nothing but top notch service from Nitro Daves and Greg @ MWCP, and Tony Mamo @ AFR... these companies are what I benchmark quality and customer service.

Again, Dave, I was not calling out ANY of the products you guys distribute, and I am VERY PROUD to own the kit that I have on my car. Im sorry if the long winded response confused any one, its just outside of the Automotive aftermarket, (BMX) I have a lot of experience and bitterness in this area... hence the impassioned response. I have nothing but the utmost respect for your products, and impressed that you do the majority of your products development in-house. Respect.