Generally speaking ... I do what I can to buy American products. It helps our economy and (in most cases) I'm happier with the overall quality of the goods I purchase. But I want to share three situations when buying American has sort of backfired on me. First of all ... the cost of American-made goods is generally (almost always) more expensive. Sometimes MUCH more expensive. Secondly, I'm beginning to wonder if American companies take things for granted. In other words ... do they think that just because their products are made here that they're automatically superior?
Situation #1:
I purchased a pair of handmade work boots from a company called "Frank's Boots" (Frank's Boots) in the upper northwest. I had to trace my foot wearing thick socks so that they could build the boot specifically to the shape of my foot. I also had them install composite toes since they are required by my company. After a couple of months, I got the boots. They beautiful to look at and super well-built. Unfortunately ... they're about 1/16th of an inch too short, so my "ring toe" (for lack of a better term) is killing me by noon. Also, the foot bed feels like I'm walking on solid concrete. So ... after spending $750.00 for them (shipping, tax, and special additions included) I'm stuck with a pair of awesome boots I can't wear. Also, they never followed up on the sale to see how I liked them.:
Situation #2:
I recently purchased another pair of hand made boots from "Origen Boots" (The American Bison Boot - Big Lug) on the East Coast. I paid more than $400.00 for these Bison leather boots. Again ... very nice looking and a lot more comfortable than the Franks but it had very poor "fit and finish" where the sole of the boot meets the heel of the boot. No way you would want to wear these where there's lots of debris or water or snow. Way too much room for stuff to get stuck between the sole and the heel. I can wear them to the store or a restaurant but certainly not at work. At least they did send me a survey to fill out but they never responded to my negative review:
Situation #3
I very recently purchased a pair of "conceal carry" pants from "CCW Breakaways" (Concealed Carry Pants, Shorts, and Holsters | CCW Breakaways). I own probably 5 different brands of pants. I wear a 34W / 34L pant. I always order 34/34, and they almost always fit just right with moderate variation. However, when I got these CCW pants ... I couldn't even button them no matter how hard I sucked in my gut. So I sent them back and requested a pair of 36W/34L instead. I had already paid the freight to get the pants, and I covered the freight to return them. When they notified me that the second shipment was on the way ... they charged me for the freight again (all around $20.00 per pop). I contacted them and expressed my concern that they were charging me a third time for freight. The dude I was dealing with got snippy and said that he would just keep the pants and credit my account. However, I never received the credit. All said and done ... I ended up paying around $150.00 and got nothing to show for it.
Moral of the story ... buying American doesn't always have a happy ending, but I'm still prone to help American companies when I can. But I won't be doing business with the three companies above ever again.
Situation #1:
I purchased a pair of handmade work boots from a company called "Frank's Boots" (Frank's Boots) in the upper northwest. I had to trace my foot wearing thick socks so that they could build the boot specifically to the shape of my foot. I also had them install composite toes since they are required by my company. After a couple of months, I got the boots. They beautiful to look at and super well-built. Unfortunately ... they're about 1/16th of an inch too short, so my "ring toe" (for lack of a better term) is killing me by noon. Also, the foot bed feels like I'm walking on solid concrete. So ... after spending $750.00 for them (shipping, tax, and special additions included) I'm stuck with a pair of awesome boots I can't wear. Also, they never followed up on the sale to see how I liked them.:
Situation #2:
I recently purchased another pair of hand made boots from "Origen Boots" (The American Bison Boot - Big Lug) on the East Coast. I paid more than $400.00 for these Bison leather boots. Again ... very nice looking and a lot more comfortable than the Franks but it had very poor "fit and finish" where the sole of the boot meets the heel of the boot. No way you would want to wear these where there's lots of debris or water or snow. Way too much room for stuff to get stuck between the sole and the heel. I can wear them to the store or a restaurant but certainly not at work. At least they did send me a survey to fill out but they never responded to my negative review:
Situation #3
I very recently purchased a pair of "conceal carry" pants from "CCW Breakaways" (Concealed Carry Pants, Shorts, and Holsters | CCW Breakaways). I own probably 5 different brands of pants. I wear a 34W / 34L pant. I always order 34/34, and they almost always fit just right with moderate variation. However, when I got these CCW pants ... I couldn't even button them no matter how hard I sucked in my gut. So I sent them back and requested a pair of 36W/34L instead. I had already paid the freight to get the pants, and I covered the freight to return them. When they notified me that the second shipment was on the way ... they charged me for the freight again (all around $20.00 per pop). I contacted them and expressed my concern that they were charging me a third time for freight. The dude I was dealing with got snippy and said that he would just keep the pants and credit my account. However, I never received the credit. All said and done ... I ended up paying around $150.00 and got nothing to show for it.
Moral of the story ... buying American doesn't always have a happy ending, but I'm still prone to help American companies when I can. But I won't be doing business with the three companies above ever again.