Beware of Chinese made dog treats

It is so sad that this topic is back in the news. The FDA is warning people that Chinese made jerky treats are killing American pets (probably pets all over the world). To quote the article I found today "At least 3,600 dogs have been sickened since 2007 and 580 of those pets died."

For some strange reasons the FDA has not taken all these products off the shelf and have only issued warnings. Take the matter into your own hands and check the label before you feed anything to your pets.

Here is the article about the issue http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/10/22/fda-alerts-pet-owners-vets-to-possible-link-between-jerky-treats-dogs-getting-sick/

And here is a link to our page featuring dog treats Made in the USA

Thanks and remember American Made, Americans Paid!

Footmate System earns 5 out of 5 American Made Stars

Let me preface this review with the fact that I'm not a manicure pedicure kind of guy. I'm a middle age dork that often makes my daughter and wife cringe when they notice what I'm wearing or saying! So to use a product that claims to soothe and massage is a little out of my comfort level!

Having said that I thought I would have to rely on my wife for a good appraisal of the FootMate System from Gordon Brush, boy was I wrong about that. So what is the FootMate System? Here is the description from the manufacture

"The FootMate® System is a complete foot care system for cleaning, soothing, stimulating, and massaging your feet every time you shower."

The FootMate is a product that you use in the shower. It features brushes on the bottom and sides that you move your foot through with a special gel that is included with the product. It reminded me at first glance like a boot cleaner you would find outside on the porch.

The first thing I noticed about the FootMate when I opened the box was that it felt substantial when I picked it up. It feels and looks well made. It has some weight to it and you can tell it is constructed well.

I attached the retrieval lead (more on that later) on it and gave it a try. Still a little skeptical at this point, I applied the revitalizing gel to the bushes and went to work scrubbing one foot at a time. It only took a few seconds to become a believer. It did in fact make my feet feel good. So now I thought the test would be for how long would they feel different.

I was surprised that even when I was pulling on my socks and shoes my feet still felt refreshed and great. I really came away very happy with the product. I'm very healthy and in shape and it made my feet feel great and I did not even know they could or should feel better. I imagine that someone with sore or tired feet would benefit even more then I do from the Footmate System. I recommend this product to anyone. I think most people would benefit from this product!

Couple take aways worth noting. The Footmate features wing like sides that allow you to stand on one while scrubbing your other foot. I found these wings very helpful and big enough even for my size 12 foot. The retrieval lead I could do without, however that is just me. I think for some people it will come in very handy. If you don't like the retrieval lead you can always remove it so try it for your self.

I give the Footmate System 5 American Made Stars!

Made in America can drive the ecomomy and lift people from poverty

My ninth grader daughter and my wife and I were discussing the school lunch the other day. Our daughter remarked she thought they should eliminate the snack line, where kids can buy nachos, pretzels, fries and other junk food like that. Her reasons were kind of sweet but sparked a vigorous defense of the system by her mother and me. She believes because the children on free or reduced lunches can not go in the snack line because with the free and reduced program children can't buy snacks unless they have brought there own cash.

So her mother and I explained to her that first of all we all agree that children should not go hungry and society has decided to make sure children are fed at school regardless of the parents ability to pay. Then we went on to explain to her however with someone else footing the bill there are normally rules and controls put in place. we explained to her that rather then removing the snack bar so the other kids did not feel bad we should focus on lifting everyone up through a robust economy where everyone could afford the snack bar. with education and a robust economy more and more of her classmate's families would be able to afford the snacks!

I believe at my children's school 2 out of three are on free or reduced lunch and we need more jobs for these families and these children as they approach adulthood! Remember when it is American Made, Americans Paid! Keep you money at home and our jobs will stay home too. Always look for the Made in the USA label!

Site upgrades

The last week or so we have been removing lots of bad links from the site. Many of the companies we linked to over the years have gone out of business. Very sad that these great companies that were Made in the USA are gone as well as the jobs they provided.

Are you ready for chicken improted from China?

Just recently read several articles stating that the USDA have approved certain Chinese companies to begin exporting chicken products to the USA. The articles claim that the USDA stated the Chinese factories we just as safe as American factories.

Not be a food factory expert myself I have been reading and watching the news for some time now. Over the last decade Chinese products have killed or made sick thousands of people in China and around the world. Chinese factories introduced us to tainted toothpaste, mercury filled children's jewelry and other tainted and dangerous food products.

Also don't we at least pay our food workers minimum wage or better? What are the Chinese food factory workers being paid? I'll stick to feeding my children Chicken grown and made in the USA

I think we are just setting ourselves up for more unemployed Americans and unsafe food products.

What do you think. Remember American Made, Americans Paid.

Why are products Made in the USA important to you?

Just curios to hear why Made in the USA is important to you? I assume it is or you would not be at this blog in the first place.

In my case it is about the strength and well being of the country where my children will become working adults. It is about opportunity for them not only to have good jobs, but great medical care, education opportunities, safe communities and all that should go with a good robust economy.

What do you say? What does made in the USA mean to you?

Dave

American made Moto X cellphone

This story is a great breakthrough in many regards while still having room to improve. I always try to be a glass half full type of person and that is the filter I see this story in.

Lets look at the great news about the Moto X smart cell phone. The news is this phone is made in a factory in Forth Worth TX. and provides jobs to 2000 Americans. That is terrific news and lets hope it is a trend in the right direction!

Ok the bad news or the "glass half empty" aspect of the story is most of the parts are not made in the USA. But enough half full I count this as great news! I plan to get one of these phones for myself soon!

Dave

Labor Day Sales

Well I spent most of Sunday driving all over the great State of Washington getting stuff done! One of those items to check off the Honey-Do list was a new outside storage box for the kids sporting good items, chair cushions and other items in the back yard. I stopped at Lowes and was very pleased to find a very large plastic storage box in a wicker pattern made by Suncast in the USA. It was also very nice to see the fact that Made in the USA was plastered all over it very proudly.

After bringing it home my son and I put it together in about 15 minutes (after a few false starts and re-do's which were my fault). This thing even has hydraulics assisted opening and everything and was only $118.00 and again it is huge. Good job Suncast and we will add you to the site soon.

Dave

PS

Also picked up a Seahawks 5 gallon bucket for working outside also made in the USA. GO HAWKS!

Are you ready for an Made in the USA back to school shopping trip

If you are like my family when we head out for back to school shopping we always look for items made in the USA. There are quite a few retailers that have been doing a great job at advertising products that are made in the USA.

My family was able to purchase quite a few things made in American when we were out and about at the malls. Paper, pencils, and some other accessories were clearly marked. We were able to find socks made in the USA at a mall.

Of course our site includes Back Packs made in the USA  and lost of clothing. So if we want our kids to have jobs when they graduate lets lay the ground work now when you buy American.

American Made, Americans Paid!

Shoes made in the USA and great customer service

I have been wearing New Balance running shoes for at least 7 years I think. I love the shoes as they are American Made and very high quality. Several years ago I started buying them at retail stores instead of online. I figured New Balance is still getting the business and the store would sell an American Made product.

Each pair last me about a year or so. According to my wife I should replace them sooner however I'm an old tightwad so that is hard for me to do! I pay a good amount for the shoes and I expect a long life for them.

So this last June I was over due for a new pair of New Balance running shoes. I went to Dick's Sporting goods and selected a nice pair of 993 in Grey. The retail price was $149.95 plus our local sales tax of course.  Loved my new shoes as I always do. Love they say Made in the USA on the back of the shoe. I was shocked two weeks ago to notice that one of the shoes had come apart. I was disappointed however being that they are from a fine American company and from a well known sporting good store where I spend a lot of money I was not concerned other then the hassle of taking time to do the return.

So first the bad part of the experience that just shocked me! I did not have a receipt as I had it emailed to me as part of the customer loyalty program at Dick's. Went into the store prepared to experience great customer service and leave with a pair of new shoes. The cashier was very nice and tried to help however this was above her pay grade. She asked the manager to help me since I did not have the box nor the receipt however we were talking about $150.00 shoes that were 6 weeks old. I asked the manager to please look at my customer number which he did. It clearly showed a large purchase on the day I told him I bought them. To my amazement he refused to help said the shoes were well worn and could have come from any store at any time. Now shocked and asking him to look at my account he would not! WOW poor and rude service as he was not even polite.

I went home and researched my customer account with Dick's and called their customer service and they helped me retrieve a report showing my spending there for the last 8 months. In the last 8 months I had spent $1047.00 in that store. I know my spending there since they opened several years ago was even more however they only keep one year. I appealed to the customer service again for help and all they did was offer platitudes and would never actually address the problem.

OK now the good part of the entire ordeal. I contacted the New Balance company customer service and explained what happened. They asked me to send them the shoes and if found to be defective they would replace them no questions asked!

I sent them and they immediately responded to me that they would take care of it and asked me to select a new pair of shoes and they would ship them out! Now that was great customer service from a great American company.

So yes even an American made company can make a mistake but they stood by the product, work quickly to resolve it and provided excellent customer service!

The retailer on the other hand has now lost any of my future business. I will be going to their competitor across the street! The manger showed he did not care and had no tact at all. He all but accused me of being a criminal!

Cheers to New Balance for keeping a customer and acting like a responsible company! I'll be buying many more shoes from them in the future!

Clothes made in the USA for back to school

our made in the USA clothing selection has been growing very well over the last few years. While most of the choices are geared towards adults we have added some lines aimed at teens. We have seen several companies pop up that offer American Made shirts popular with teens like T-Shirts and the like.

I have yet to find American made jeans that the kids like but we will keep searching! If you come across some please let us know and we would get them posted ASAP.

American Made Americans Paid!

A great Made in the USA story

Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc, a 62 year old ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturer of over 15,000 American made brooms and brushes for industrial and commercial applications is under constant competitive threat from Chinese made products.  Patriotism is tantamount at Gordon Brush.  For example, Gordon Brush has made brushes for the United States Army to clean the main gun on the Abram's tanks, saving the Department of Defense over $1.5 billion.  The Company also has made brushes that were used on the space shuttle, the lunar module, and brushes to clean the guidance system and guns on the Apache helicopter.

 

Gordon's Milwaukee Dustless brush line of janitorial cleaning tools and its health and wellness product, the FootMate® System, face the most intense pressure from lower priced Chinese made products, in many distribution channels.  Many end users are willing to sacrifice cost over quality, even though in the long run it ends up costing them more because they have to replace sub-standard product more frequently.  Moreover, these lower quality products do not do the job for which they were intended, thus leaving a substandard work-product.

 

Even under these competitive threats, "the Company has been steadfast in its philosophy and commitment to manufacturing in the United States", said Ken Rakusin, president and CEO.  "Manufacturing in California and Wisconsin is still a viable model, even if it brings with it some tough challenges.  Gordon Brush prides itself on its American heritage dating back to 1897, when the first dustless brush was invented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by the Milwaukee Dustless Brush Company, which was acquired in 2005", further added Rakusin. 

 

"Companies that have nothing to differentiate themselves on besides price are the most vulnerable to the threat of lower priced Chinese made products; that's a no-win game.  Gordon Brush chooses to compete on value-added, said Rakusin.  Offering premier products with superior customer service have enabled the Company to grow and prosper in spite of the Chinese threat.  "The Milwaukee Dustless motto: Innovative Products that Clean Better and Last Longer is a testament to this philosophy, said Rakusin. 

 

In addition to the Gordon and Milwaukee Dustless line of brushes, the Company's recently introduced the FootMate® System.  The Podiatrist recommended FootMate® System makes optimal foot health easy.  It is a complete foot care system for cleaning, soothing, stimulating, and massaging your feet every time you shower.

 

The FootMate® System is a brush and specially formulated gel that goes in the bath or shower to clean and massage your feet without having to bend over.  The FootMate® System stands head-and-shoulders (or perhaps foot-and-heels) above the Chinese competitor.  The FootMate® brush has over 11,000 bristles and weighs over three pounds compared to the 1,000 bristle, few ounces weighing Chinese competitor.  "The FootMate System is a high quality American made product that will last and not crumble, exclaimed, Rakusin.

 

Gordon Brush never considered off-shore manufacturing to become more price competitive.  Our American made products give us the ability to display our patriotism and pride and to create feelings of goodwill when our customers receive American-made items. 

 

When considering off-shore manufacturing, the allure of international low-cost labor has to be balanced with loss of control, local customs challenges and costs.  "Product reliability, and safety and compliance measures, less inventory/stock issues, and difficulties bringing a distinct company culture across the world, was all contributing factors against going off-shore", according to Rakusin.  In addition, the cost of shipping and the ability to offer same day shipping on most standard brushes was also a major factor in keeping business here in the United States", said Rakusin.

 

"In spite of all of these issues, I was determined to build and grow my business in the United States by re-investing profits into the purchase of millions of dollars in manufacturing equipment and machinery; pride in contributing to the American economy is near-and-dear to my heart", further proclaimed Rakusin.  "Moreover and perhaps most importantly, added Rakusin, are my valued, long-tenured, skilled employees.     I have well over 100 employees, plus their families, for who I am responsible.  I tell them that Gordon Brush is a great place to work and we are committed to enhancing their lives.   Brush-making is an art; I would not have a business without these skilled artisans.  I would be a hypocrite if I ignored that commitment for the purpose of improving my bottom line."

 

"There are tremendous problems all over the world, said Rakusin and the United States leads the world in providing support for the destitute.  There are people in America who are hungry or out of work or can't afford health insurance.  My priority is to want to help them first by supporting the local community.  That means keeping my business here." 

 

In 2003, nearly 15 million Americans were employed in manufacturing jobs, but that number had dipped below 12 million by 2013.  A 2011 study by the Boston Consulting Group that predicts that by 2015, the United States will "experience a manufacturing renaissance as the wage gap with China shrinks.  If the Chinese wage trend continues, 1 million manufacturing jobs could return to the United States by 2015, the study said.  Over the next five or 10 years, international trade will swing from continent to continent.  As labor costs in China rise, manufacturing will move to Thailand, Vietnam or India.  This will present a new set of problems.

 

Remember Made in the USA keeps Americans Paid in the USA

Back to school shopping

Were will you do your back to school shopping? The mall? Online? Whichever you do make sure and look for products Made in the USA while you browse.

There are backpacks made in the USA, for the back to school kids that want to carry their books in American Made Style.

Check out the directory you may be surprised at what you find.

Furniture Made in the USA

Today we listed an American icon in the furniture business.

Bassett Furniture provides a wide variety of Living Room, Bedroom, and Dining Room furniture in all styles including contemporary, leather, modern, traditional, and more.

 The HGTV HOME experience has been added throughout the store to create a fresh, creative design studio expression that highlights Bassett's unmatched custom manufacturing capabilities. The custom upholstered sofas, sectionals, beds, ottomans, and benches are available in more than 1000 fabrics, are delivered within 30 days, and are made in the USA.

 

This is a large well known American company and I love that they wanted to reach out to the American Made fan! Please remember them the next time you need furniture. Our country needs work buy products made in the USA!

 

 

Cash Register Made in the USA?

A long time ago cash registers used to be Made in the USA however all that changed back in the 1980's along with so many other things! The technology has improved, the functions and features have improved but the manufacturing has all been moved overseas. at first most were made in Japan however over the years I have seen most if not all to South Korea, although for a short while I think the Samsung register were assembled in Mexico.

American Made Clothes

The American Made directory has been growing very well. Today I added a clothing company called Three Dots that make high end Men's and Women's clothing made in the USA.

Our traffic indicates that American Made clothing is on of the most popular items people are looking for. The second item seems to be shoes followed by tools.

Remember American Made American's Paid!

American Made Washer and Dryer

Last night I was able to buy an American Made Washer and Dryer at Home Depot. The brand was Maytag and they had the set well labeled with a flag and American Made Pride. We need to reward these companies when they reach out to us in this way. The set was maybe $200.00 more then the cheaper LG or Samsung set but I think better.

Please check it out when you next need a washer and/or dryer!

Sleep on American Made comfort and really rest easy!

Last night I was able to add a mattress company to Americansworking.com so now when you go to sleep you can dream about all the jobs you kept in America when you bought your bed! American Made Americans Paid.

It was the first time I had visited the Mattresses Made in the USA page in awhile and I was surprised that there are quite a few choices. I was excited to add the new one yesterday because it was sent to me by a very happy customer of theirs which is always nice to see!

Buy American!

Dave

Windshield Wipers Made in the USA

Many people are looking for wiper blades made in the USA. For a long time I could not fin any. Many visitors emailed and told me about Goodyear and I finally had time to check them out.

Goodyear does make their wiper blades in America and are very proud of it. Love that and plane to give them my business next time I install new blades. I have many people tell me they are available at Costco, might be worth checking out!

American Made clothes

I added a few companies to the American Made clothing page today. One in particular makes women's intimate articles. Also added a siphon hose company to the Tools Made in the USA page.

Watering my yard right now with my American Made hose, although could not find a sprinkler made here!

American Made BBQ Grills

I know we are right in the middle of Summer and maybe this post is a bit tardy! If your old BBQ grill is giving you fits then it may be time to upgrade to a new BBQ grill made in the USA.

I did a couple years a go and could not be happier with my grill. I had to search to find one locally and I still had to drive two hours to get it. Although a couple years later it is still a great grill and holding up very well! Yes it was a few bucks more but those few bucks stayed in America and employed more Americans then buy an import model does.

Have a great summer!

Pet supplies made in America

We added some companies to the American Made Pets supplies page yesterday. That category has been growing well and includes everything from dog beds, collars, leashes and more.

Don't forget all the pets the Chinese made pet foods killed about 5 years ago all across America! If it is not made in the US don't feed it to your pet!

Made in the USA Summer

Don't forget while we are enjoying the Sun or maybe surviving the Sun in some areas that Americans need jobs and we can all help solve that one purchase at a time. I just recently bought a new pair of New Balance Shoes at Dick's Sporting Goods that were 100%  Shoes Made in the USA and the other day at Costco I looked at two different Ice Chest Made in America.

We are on the road to recovery but we can't afford to rest now! Remember American Made American's Paid!

We need to all buy American or it could be bye America soon

The participation in the workforce is at a historical low and our unemployment is sky high. More and more Americans are on Government assistance because of the lack of work.

If we don't start spending our money at home more and more of our dollars will be supplying jobs in other countries rather then here at home. Buy American or say bye to your job!

There are many small American companies struggling to stay in business and employ your fellow Americans, your sons and daughters! Help them out when you shop! When it is American Made Americans get paid!

Made in the USA

American Made, Americans Paid

Simple as that. When you buy American Made your dollars stay in the US and go to pay your fellow Americans who in turn pay taxes, buy goods, take care of themselves! It is a win win for all Americans. American Made = Americans Paid