Why is it so hard!

[Kleine Hexe]

To find things not made in China? I mean even Klean Kanteen is made in China. We bought camping gear today and the majority of the stuff is made in China. What gives? Does China make everything now?

On that note why do we have so many problems with things made from China? What is up with China?

[A&A]

It's a very large country with very little oversight/regulations. And I agree that it's a PITA to buy things NOT made in China. And yes, China makes about 80% of what is in the stores now. That's obviously changed dramatically from even just a generation ago. Books are even mostly printed in China now. Scary stuff. When oil continues to go up (price per barrel), which it will, it will become too costly to ship from China, and then what will we do? (That will be a good and bad thing, of course.)

[queenjulie]

Originally Posted by Kleine Hexe

Does China make everything now? On that note why do we have so many problems with things made from China? What is up with China?

(1) Pretty much. China opens an average of one new, oil-burning factory for making American products EVERY WEEK.

(2 and 3) Not only do they have virtually no qulaity control (and no desire to have it--the Chinese government's view is that the more money coming in, the better, and healthy and safety are secondary considerations, if they are considered at all), but the treatment of their workers is appalling. 90% of China's population is illiterate peasants who live in tiny villages and have never seen a bank, a grocery store, or anything else. The government buys their homes and land, demolishes them and builds a factory, and then forces the people who lived there to work in it. They have no rights, no unions, no education, and nowhere else to go. If they object, they can be thrown in prisons or executed without trial.

[Kleine Hexe]

I cannot say the words that are swimming in my mind right now. :

So where are some places I can buy things not MIC? Like sleeping bags, stainless steel camping items, flashlights, etc.

Well, everything nut that is impossible.

[mercy589]

There's a great article on the topic here:

http://www.maplelandmark.com/imports.shtml

[miss_sonja]

It really sucks. But, going on a China boycott can be great for the budget. Find used things (like older Aladdin thermoses which are made in the US...I still use an almost 20 year old Nissan stainless steel thermos made in JAPAN--super high quality).

Shop local, shop used, but most of all, just don't shop.

That said, there are some things that we just need...and the made in China is the only option. In those cases, buy from a named company, preferably one whose business practices you know or can inquire about. Avoid the dollar store--their stuff comes from who knows where.

[sdm1024]

I agree that it can be good for the budget....

I was shopping the other day and had a few items in hand when I thought to check the label....MIC....so back they went!

that saved me $50 and now I have less crap in my house.

[UUMom]

Most frugal folks already do this, but increase the frequency of visting second hand stores...I know that's a pita..but all of my tableware is from Saver's. A number of years ago, I found a huge set of Wedgewood (England) dishware. Maybe start going to yard sales again. I stopped that for a bit, but this summer I found a tree house rope ladder that was made in Maine! I had been looking for one. It's about 20 yrs old, but it's great. I also frequently find stainless steel things in my searches. I have found lots of camping things as well. If you buy secondhand, you are not supporting the current issue w/MIC. And you save money.

As for toys, fewer things, but nicer things. Playmobil, Lego, Ravensburger etc. Nothing made in China and not hard to find.

This catlogue rocks: www.novanatural.com It's a good one to send all the grandparents. My favortie not too $$ clothing source for littles: www.basicbrilliance.com I have bought glasses from France from www.williamssonoma.com SOme things are *mega* costly. but everyday juice glasses aren't too bad, and they last a long time. They are thick glass and hold up.

I know it's not easy...it's really hard...

[talia rose]

china is not the only culprit here. the us has the loosest guidelines and laws on what is allowed in toys, food, building products ect. i have an article that talks about the high levels of formaldehyde in plywood (yes coming out of china) that cannot be sold anywhere in the world but the US. the levels of formaldehyde were 100 times the legal limit in japan, 30 times the legal limit in china, but just fine by american standards. you can go to home depot anywhere and find this plywood. we also need to look at the companies setting up these factories. certainly they could watch over, test, and treat the workers fairly if they desired. but they only care about profits. klean kanteen is but one example of a fair company that does watch and test. there are many other green, fair trade companies that manufacture in china to keep costs down. who wants to buy a $100 water bottle. i wish they would manufacture in the US, but i am also tired of having no american made option for non toxic products. teflon is US made and is not only toxic to the people who use it but the workers in the factory are giving birth to babies without faces and everyone around that community has been drinking from poisoned water wells. we are really not much better here. to find a baking sheet without a non stick coating, one has to look to china.
the almighty dollar is powerful and causes the people in charge to forget to CARE.

[mirlee]

Originally Posted by talia rose

c to find a baking sheet without a non stick coating, one has to look to china.
.

This is totally not true.

I have Chicago Metallic. I ordered them from Cooking.com ages ago. They are US made stainless steel sheets. I have cookie sheets and baking pans that have held up very well. Cooking.com still offers many selections. Look for "Commercial" if you want to avoid the non-stick issue. You can also look at Williams-Sonoma as another suggested. All of my cake pans are from there. Not a single non-stick one in my collection.

Also check out Vollrath Co. and Freiling. These are US made as well. They are excellent.

I have an amazing German cake pan as well.

The main thing with being committed to limited or no China spending is you have to be willing to use your wallet wisely. Sometimes, things will be cheaper. Sometimes, things will cost more. You have to be able to use your wallet wisely.

[Brisen]

Originally Posted by miss_sonja

Shop local, shop used, but most of all, just don't shop.

:

Trying to make this my mantra... it's surprisingly hard, considering how little disposable income it feels like we have.

I use shallow glass dishes (like for lasagne) for my baking sheets. I know they don't bake the same as metal pans, but they were pretty cheap and easy to find, and if I burn something I can scrub them as hard as I like and not worry about scratching

[MommyErin]

Originally Posted by mirlee

<SNIP>
Also check out Vollrath Co. and Freiling. These are US made as well. They are excellent.

I have an amazing German cake pan as well.

The main thing with being committed to limited or no China spending is you have to be willing to use your wallet wisely. Sometimes, things will be cheaper. Sometimes, things will cost more. You have to be able to use your wallet wisely.

Try Sur La Table too. They have lots of things not MIC. Pricey, yes but outstanding quality.

[mirlee]

I love Sur La Table! That is a good suggestion.

I was looking at my pans today, the cake pan I mentioned earlier is Kaiser.

[VeganCupcake]

I agree with thrifting, buying less, etc. (I'm compacting, after all), but I just wanted to add that the economic realities of running a business today sometimes dictate that good, responsible companies produce quality products made in China.

Chico Bags, for instance, are made in China because that was the only way the creator could get them made and on the market at a price that people who would ordinarily receive a free disposable plastic bag at a store would buy them. He says, "It's difficult to compete with free." Companies like Chico Bag work with Chinese producers to make their products safe, ethical, etc.

Also, China is coming along and improving. I used to live there, and the changes I saw from 2002 to 2005 were simply astonishing (most of them positive changes).

[baileyandmikey]

i like the thought of shopping locally or not shopping at all. there is a small store near my mom's house that sells only locally made products, mostly wooden toys and cloth type dolls. which are all really nice, yet expensive

[Kleine Hexe]

Thanks for these links.