Autogeek Microfiber idea.

[Ted S.]

This may be one of those "out there" ideas, but is there anyway Autogeek could get a line of MF to be made in the U.S.A.? Like some DP or Pinnacle branded MFs that can carry the name, and status of American made. (Not just Assembled, but Made/Manufactured!)

I've been looking for some MFs made in the U.S. but they are all made in S. Korea (the better ones) or China (sub-standard or Wal*Mart types), or both (many in the Cobra line).

Just a crazy idea… I would be willing to pay an extra buck for a quality MF made in the country. Anyone else think this is a great idea?
Feed back please From both AG Employees, and forum members.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I don't think this is going to be possible, even those Blonde towels from another boutique have an asterisk after "made in the USA".

 

[Rsurfer]

Great idea, but not cost effective..wish it was. We all need to support things "Made in America" and get our people working.

 

[Ted S.]

I think as long as there is enough of a customer base that demands a certain product, an manufacturer must conform and supply, because they know they can profit from catering to said customer base. But hey, maybe all those Economics classes I took in college lied to me.

I know the chance is slim, but I think if there is a demand, there will be a supply.

 

[DLB]

Let me preface this by saying that I design machinery and equipment largely for the textile industry.

Having said that; I dare say that if every member of the AutogeekOnline forum posted that they would buy made in the USA microfibers, there still wouldn't be the demand needed for this to happen.

You figure that we (Hyper-Detail Detailers) represent a VAST minority of microfiber users. Therefore, the MF manufacturers go for their largest markets.

IF there is anyone in America that has 100% in country produced MF, we are all just missing it, probably because they aren't the quality we are used too.

IF there isn't anyone in America that produces MF 100% from within our borders (which is likely the case), they aren't going to start for 100,000 people that promise to buy their product. The cost of manufacture would be so high we couldn't afford to buy them. There isn't enough volume for them to try and steal their share from the overseas makers.

HOWEVER, I am not an economics nor production expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Seriously - the reason I prefaced this the way I did is to say, from what I have seen in the textile industry - everything is going overseas.

One of the largest producers of towels in the US is no longer in the US, they moved their production to Pakistan.

DLB

 

[Setec Astronomy]

One of the largest producers of towels in the US is no longer in the US, they moved their production to Pakistan.

And they're not coming back, either. I was just reading an article about the new Bay Bridge, and the Chinese plant where they are building bridge sections. They talked to a typical steel worker, who works a 16-hour day, frequently 7 days a week...and gets paid $12. That's $12 a DAY, not an hour. But he's happy, they used to get paid $9.

 

[maximus20895]

Some (most) things are better made when they are out of this country. Microfibers is one of them.

 

[aerogt01]

Why? Korea is stellar at producing microfibers. They produce what they know how and can do well cheaply. Then, they buy something of ours that we can produce at less cost than they can. Both countries buy each other's product and both benefit from it. An endeavor into the MF industry here in the US would simply be a failure and hurt our economy worse, because there is no way we can do it as well or as cheaply as the Koreans.

In a world economy where every country is competitive, every country benefits.

 

[kronos]

Some (most) things are better made when they are out of this country. Microfibers is one of them.

I disagree.

 

[rolop6]

This is a great idea but is has one flaw, money! If it cost a company 50cents to produce a MF towel that they sell for $2 overseas and it would cost them $10 to produce a MF towel here in the states that's not very cost effective. Not to mention that does not include the mark up from retailers. So if you and I pay $15-$20 for just one MF I doubt many of us would buy Too many. And that's probably just for the lesser quality ones imagine paying $30-40 for a high quality MF instead of the $10 we do now at AG. Companies go overseas because the can pay a little boy or girl in china 10 cents an hour not $10. I'm all about supporting our country but business is business and loosing money is not smart business.

 

[Cat ji]

And they're not coming back, either. I was just reading an article about the new Bay Bridge, and the Chinese plant where they are building bridge sections. They talked to a typical steel worker, who works a 16-hour day, frequently 7 days a week...and gets paid $12. That's $12 a DAY, not an hour. But he's happy, they used to get paid $9.

The Koreans have to be smart and even South Asian countries can't easily compete with the Chinese. Bear in mind, unlike India and Thailand and Malaysia, Chinese workers probably cannot go on strike for better pay and working conditions.

 

[Ted S.]

Labor rates really has a lot less to do with it than people think. A lot of it is fixed overhead other than labor (not that I assume labor is fixed overhead) and taxes for having their business in the U.S.A. I will not get in to the politics business tax issues any further.

I would assume that MF are not handmade, and that some sort of machinery is used to mass produce them. So in theory, if any worker can make at least 100 MF (I don't know if this is a realistic number) than the labor going into the cost would be insignificant. If a Chinese boy or girl is making $0.10 an hour, th cost would not even be able to be counted (1/10 cent per towel) vs. and American worker making $10 an hour, which translates into ten cent increase in labor cost per towel. Again, this is assuming that one worker can make 100 towels an hour using a machine.

Even someone skilled at sewing edges on the towels can do about 50-100 towels an hour using a machine.
Americans can make $15-20 an hour making these things and the labor cost would only rise by a miniscule amount. Under $1.00 per towel. Then the towels don't have to be shipped overseas (not sure if that would save money.

Just my two cent on the topic of labor cost.

Any Autogeek employees willing to comment on the topic?

 

[FUNX650]

This may be one of those "out there" ideas, but is there anyway Autogeek could get a line of MF to be made in the U.S.A.? Like some DP or Pinnacle branded MFs that can carry the name, and status of American made. (Not just Assembled, but Made/Manufactured!)

I've been looking for some MFs made in the U.S. but they are all made in S. Korea (the better ones) or China (sub-standard or Wal*Mart types), or both (many in the Cobra line).

Just a crazy idea… I would be willing to pay an extra buck for a quality MF made in the country. Anyone else think this is a great idea?
Feed back please From both AG Employees, and forum members.

Why not try DF Concours AlpineFiber3 Cotton Microfiber Towels.....They are made in the USA!


Sorry, OP....A little off topic, but it was brought up in an earlier post

The USA....still the greatest country in the world....where the greatest, most skilled workers live. Too bad some don't think so....Too bad those who don't, won't leave. This would allow those untold millions of out-of-work Americans whose jobs went offshore a better opportunity to find gainful employment with livable wages/benefits.

Those who don't think so can leave and join up with the millions of immigrant wannabe's; those wannabe immigrants that come from those depressed wages and benefits countries where our American jobs were shipped off to; those who pray for the liberties afforded here in the USA, those wannabe immigrants imploring to enter these hallowed grounds!!! Please join them, those who think otherwise of the USA, its workers, and the products we Americans produce!

Bob

 

[Ted S.]

Why? Korea is stellar at producing microfibers. They produce what they know how and can do well cheaply. Then, they buy something of ours that we can produce at less cost than they can. Both countries buy each other's product and both benefit from it. An endeavor into the MF industry here in the US would simply be a failure and hurt our economy worse, because there is no way we can do it as well or as cheaply as the Koreans.

In a world economy where every country is competitive, every country benefits.

This is partly true… so long as quality is maintained, if other countries can do it cheaper it is better for all economies.

Moving jobs to America is not bad for the country’s economy, especially when over 30% of people of working age do not have jobs. If people do not have jobs, odds are, they have little to no money to spend to help our, or other economies.

Every time a product has been outsourced to any other country, IME, the quality is heavily degraded. This is especially true with capital goods, such as tools. I consider MF towels a capital good, because they assist people perform jobs better, jobs that can earn them an income.

I have seen a lot of tools outsource American jobs overseas, and the quality is almost always lost with those jobs.

This is just one example of what I mean by loss of quality.

One of the more recent brands that has opted to outsource labor is Irwin tools. They have lost a loyal customer. I have destroyed almost every foreign made vise grip branded Irwin, on the first or second job the tools were used to perform. But when I use an older American made Irwin vise grip, it performs the hardest jobs as I expect them to do. Now, If I break Vise Grips, I opt for those sold by Snap-On, or MAC, or whichever company is still making them here, because I know the quality will be as I expect. Even though Irwin still offers a full warranty, if the tools won't do the hardest jobs anymore, so why continue to buy them? Because they are half, or even a third the price of the Snap-On, MAC, etc? If the foreign made produce is cheap alloy and flimsy, then it is still not going to do the job! It just won't!

I am not knocking the quality of work of other countries, I just happen to prefer American-quality products. American-quality cannot be imitated, IMO.

 

[Ted S.]

Why not try DF Concours AlpineFiber3 Cotton Microfiber Towels.....They are made in the USA!


Sorry, OP....A little off topic, but it was brought up in an earlier post

The USA....still the greatest country in the world....where the greatest, most skilled workers live. Too bad some don't think so....Too bad those who don't, won't leave. This would allow those untold millions of out-of-work Americans whose jobs went offshore a better opportunity to find gainful employment with livable wages/benefits.

Those who don't think so can leave and join up with the millions of immigrant wannabe's; those wannabe immigrants that come from those depressed wages and benefits countries where our American jobs were shipped off to; those who pray for the liberties afforded here in the USA, those wannabe immigrants imploring to enter these hallowed grounds!!! Please join them, those who think otherwise of the USA, its workers, and the products we Americans produce!

Bob

:goodpost:Thanks Bob!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Why not try DF Concours AlpineFiber3 Cotton Microfiber Towels.....They are made in the USA!

PLEASE, don't give this guy any publicity over here. He scammed tons of us on another forum THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF and never came around to explain or apologize. Anybody who buys from there--YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

PS When I say scammed, I think we all got our merchandise, but only after repeated emails and threats, etc. Plus the towels really aren't that good, I can get better for less at BB&B.

 

[Ted S.]

Bump?

 

[maximus20895]

Why not try DF Concours AlpineFiber3 Cotton Microfiber Towels.....They are made in the USA!


Sorry, OP....A little off topic, but it was brought up in an earlier post

The USA....still the greatest country in the world....where the greatest, most skilled workers live. Too bad some don't think so....Too bad those who don't, won't leave. This would allow those untold millions of out-of-work Americans whose jobs went offshore a better opportunity to find gainful employment with livable wages/benefits.

Those who don't think so can leave and join up with the millions of immigrant wannabe's; those wannabe immigrants that come from those depressed wages and benefits countries where our American jobs were shipped off to; those who pray for the liberties afforded here in the USA, those wannabe immigrants imploring to enter these hallowed grounds!!! Please join them, those who think otherwise of the USA, its workers, and the products we Americans produce!

Bob

This is probably one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read. Why don't you get off your high horse and think before you post. We may be the greatest country in the world, but that doesn't mean we are the best at everything and that includes skilled workers. Do you actually think that America is the best at every single task that involves skilled workers? If so, you need to do some reading and more learning.

Why do you think just because people are born in America that they have more of a right to work than someone who was born in India, Japan, China or anywhere else in the world? Who are you to even say something like that?

This is one of the most ridiculous, pig headed posts I have ever read. You are no less important than anybody else in the world, and yes, I mean the world, not just USA.

It's time to face the facts bud. There are many counties who are better than us in alot of different things. We might be the best at some stuff, but we are most certainly not the best at everything.

What a pig headed, ludicrous post. Instead of saying they stole our jobs why don't you be more accepting of people everywhere. No wonder some foreign countries don't like us, we have people like you that have a severely closed mind.

 

[93fox]

This is probably one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read. Why don't you get off your high horse and think before you post. We may be the greatest country in the world, but that doesn't mean we are the best at everything and that includes skilled workers. Do you actually think that America is the best at every single task that involves skilled workers? If so, you need to do some reading and more learning.

Why do you think just because people are born in America that they have more of a right to work than someone who was born in India, Japan, China or anywhere else in the world? Who are you to even say something like that?

This is one of the most ridiculous, pig headed posts I have ever read. You are no less important than anybody else in the world, and yes, I mean the world, not just USA.

It's time to face the facts bud. There are many counties who are better than us in alot of different things. We might be the best at some stuff, but we are most certainly not the best at everything.

What a pig headed, ludicrous post. Instead of saying they stole our jobs why don't you be more accepting of people everywhere. No wonder some foreign countries don't like us, we have people like you that have a severely closed mind.

:iagree:
Even now days in 2011... its still amazing there are so many ignorant people out there still. and i mean, A LOT.

 

[nyc]

This is probably one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read. Why don't you get off your high horse and think before you post. We may be the greatest country in the world, but that doesn't mean we are the best at everything and that includes skilled workers. Do you actually think that America is the best at every single task that involves skilled workers? If so, you need to do some reading and more learning.

Why do you think just because people are born in America that they have more of a right to work than someone who was born in India, Japan, China or anywhere else in the world? Who are you to even say something like that?

This is one of the most ridiculous, pig headed posts I have ever read. You are no less important than anybody else in the world, and yes, I mean the world, not just USA.

It's time to face the facts bud. There are many counties who are better than us in alot of different things. We might be the best at some stuff, but we are most certainly not the best at everything.

What a pig headed, ludicrous post. Instead of saying they stole our jobs why don't you be more accepting of people everywhere. No wonder some foreign countries don't like us, we have people like you that have a severely closed mind.

I'm glad to see that there are reasonable thinking ppl here.