Posted by Charlie on Wednesday, November 15, 2000 at 02:05:01:
In Reply to: Re: Braden (probably knockoff) winches from Northern Tool posted by casebro on Wednesday, November 15, 2000 at 00:55:17:
I apologize in advance for politics and if I insult any one.
Technical issues like metallurgy, bearing quality, design and assembly quality are all critical objective issues re deciding to buy a much cheaper imported knockoff product. 30 years ago when I was "starting out" I too purchased the cheapest products, but now, at age 51, being a high income MD, I've made some decisions about purchasing philosophy. I do think "buy US made" is important and truly if EVERYONE (or a high percentage of the population, or even a significant percentage like 25%) followed that it would retain jobs in the US. My personal politics is that a few other countries are truly our friends through thick and thin - Canada, Britain, Australia. France? I do like Michelins, and though the French are obnoxious, when the bullets fly they always seem on our side. It's hard to ignore that the Japanese and Germans make some great products; it's hard to forget history from the 30s and 40s; but they do seem pointed the right direction, more or less, lately.
I guess I'm really rabid about China (PRC, commie China; NOT Taiwan). Trying to buy politicians, stealing nuke designs, executing prisoners to sell organs, etc. etc. I made a personal decision several years ago: I don't knowingly buy anything made in the PRC. Actually, that decision has led me to buy MORE stuff built in Taiwan, since they seem to stand up to the PRCese. Yeah yeah, they own bits of each other etc., I know that. And I know "it's easy for Charlie to say that, he's a rich doctor". I do remember deciding between a $1400 item and a $500 import knockoff. No contest back then! But please remeber your buying decisions DO MATTER as far as US/Canadian jobs (as far as I'm concerned what's good for Canada is good for the US and vice versa), just like a vote. And when you do buy an imported product, purchasing the product of a country that is a gross violator of human rights and that has a 50% probability of being our adversary in a shooting war in the next two decades may not be the best thing to do. Especially if there's an affordable alternative from a country that's not so obnoxious.
Yes, for the record, these (Rhino?) winches are built in Taiwan, not the PRC. I apologize again for the diatribe and I bow my head to those that live on tighter budgets than me.
Charlie