Never realized St. Croix manufactures In Mexico

[FrnkNsteen]

4 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

If the driving force behind buying American is to support American jobs, remember that purchases of foreign built products from American companies supports shipping, trucking, sales, distribution, marketing, accounting, as well as ancillary jobs. 

Valid point! But the same can be said for american built products, plus you support the people who are building the product.

 

Now,... Truth be told,.. I'm all for supporting american made products, but the quality has to be there, and the price needs to be reasonable for what I'm getting. I will pay extra for american built quality, but not double while supporting inefficiency.

 

For instance,... Why can Honda, Toyota, and Subaru build cars here and make a profit but the big three can't?? Efficiency.

 

As for Fender,... I bought my MIM Fender Telecaster because I went looking at looking at them at the guitar shops fully intending to buy a butterscotch american made Tele. But the MIM one I bought had a better tone, the neck played better, the fret ends were finished nicely, and it was $499 compared to over $1k. Not paying double for lesser quality.

 

My Strat is American made and plays better than most I've tried so I bought it. One of the best little guitars I have is a Japan built old Hondo II that copies a Fender Lead II. I've had that thing since the 80s. It's a copy of Eddie Van Halens black Kramer with the yellow stripes. ?

 

 

 

[zell_pop1]

 

10 hours ago, QED said:

 

I have several Shimano PA rods (both USM and JDM) and they are all made in China.  Materials and workmanship seem appropriate for the relatively high price point.

Sure Shimano and Daiwa are big Asian companies and are better at ensuring quality control than a small US buisness like St Croix, I also remember Dobyns rods when they 1st came out had to move manufacturing from China to South Korea for the same reason. 

[zell_pop1]

4 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Valid point! But the same can be said for american built products, plus you support the people who are building the product.

 

Now,... Truth be told,.. I'm all for supporting american made products, but the quality has to be there, and the price needs to be reasonable for what I'm getting. I will pay extra for american built quality, but not double while supporting inefficiency.

 

For instance,... Why can Honda, Toyota, and Subaru build cars here and make a profit but the big three can't?? Efficiency.

 

As for Fender,... I bought my MIM Fender Telecaster because I went looking at looking at them at the guitar shops fully intending to buy a butterscotch american made Tele. But the MIM one I bought had a better tone, the neck played better, the fret ends were finished nicely, and it was $499 compared to over $1k. Not paying double for lesser quality.

 

My Strat is American made and plays better than most I've tried so I bought it. One of the best little guitars I have is a Japan built old Hondo II that copies a Fender Lead II. I've had that thing since the 80s. It's a copy of Eddie Van Halens black Kramer with the yellow stripes. ?

 

 

 

Actually when it comes to auto plants it is not efficiency, it is union politics I know i saw it 1st hand when I was UAW before my plant shut down in 02.

[Cgolf]

8 hours ago, Jweller said:

really frustrated with the lengths on the Victory's and new Legends.  I suppose I'm just a dinosaur wanting shorter-ish rods.

Same here. I fish out of a narrow beamed 16 foot boat. 7 foot + rods work but I could do a lot more casting angles with a 5’6” or 6’ rod when pitching to cover. Also have to watch the back seater when casting with the longer rods. 

[FrnkNsteen]

11 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

Actually when it comes to auto plants it is not efficiency, it is union politics I know i saw it 1st hand when I was UAW before my plant shut down in 02.

I understand what you're saying, but efficiency includes COGS (Cost of goods sold) which includes labor and overhead. The problem comes in when politics push the cost of making goods up to the point where UAW factories cannot compete with import manufacturers that don't have to meet union demands.

 

I have no problem supporting import manufacturers that provide employment for local people. Indiana has Honda, Toyota, and Subaru manufacturing sites and provide jobs for a lot of workers. I'd prefer if the earnings stay in the U.S., but appreciate the wages they offer people.

 

I digress though,... My main point is I am all for supporting american products and smaller Mom and Pop shops where I can,... But like all things,.. There has to be a limit.