Does 'Made in China' make a difference to what you buy?

mackay78

I realise that posting on this sub-forum may generate a slightly more subjective response... but I'm still interested in what you think.

I was chatting with my mum about buying baby products and she thought that we should be trying hard to 'buy british' (as in 'made in britain' - not just a british company).

I felt she was being unrealistic. What do you think? Do you ever check where a product is made before you buy it?

I'm sure that we would all say we like the idea of UK manufactured products... but in reality I know it doesn't cross my mind when we've been out shopping for pushchairs/carriers/car seats etc. I do sometimes look out for UK produced food - but that's about it.

There are other things a company can do - aren't there? They could use organic/pay decent wages/reduce packaging/etc

And does China have a worse image than (for example) India, Turkey, Taiwan?

esthomizzy

Buying Chinese products is stimulating their economy which is bringing millions of Chinese people out of poverty. It's participating in the world economy which is good for everyone. Unfortunately sweatshop factories in China and elsewhere exist but if they didn't then the people who are desperate to work in them to put food on their families table would be scavenging rubbish dumps instead and or starving. Over the natural progression of the chinese economy more investment in these areas will increase competition for staff with the right skills and salaries and conditions will improve. By which time the local economy will be stimulated enough to require additional luxury items for the local market which will mean more jobs etc. I don't worry too much about buying British for that reason. Britain might lose out to China in certain areas but it undoubtedly has marketable skills in others. If jobs diminish in one area people who wish to can train in another. I might buy local for certain products say to avoid unnecessary food miles for instance but only if a local product was available and the choice made good sense.

Cardew

mackay78 wrote: »

I'm sure that we would all say we like the idea of UK manufactured products... but in reality I know it doesn't cross my mind when we've been out shopping

Even if you wanted to 'buy British', you will have great difficulty in finding out just what is manufactured in Britain as opposed ‘assembled in Britain’ .

Even icons of British manufacturing like Rolls Royce have had foreign engines and gearboxes for many years. Let alone what other components are imported for fitting – I suspect most of the electronics.

I doubt if there is a ‘white goods’ appliance or household electronic equipment that can genuinely claim to be ‘made in Britain.’

Once China get seriously into exporting cars, they will simply dominate the market. Who will pay £8,000 for a small family car when you will be able to buy a Chinese equivalent for £2-3,000. I read an article that said they soon will be able to produce a small basic car and ship to Europe/USA for under £1,000.

In the end if China produce anything cheaply it will sell.

ailuro2

I do try to reduce my food miles on many things I buy- I posted on the 'I wanna' thread asking about British bed manufacturers- because, like Food and Drinks in the supermarket, I feel everything else we buy needs transported here too. Sadly, I never got an answer, it seems to be hard to find out what is manufactured closer to our homes.:mad:

I work for a tyre producer here in Scotland, and a good percentage of our tyres are sold here in the UK.The way I see it is if everyone who could afford a good quality tyre demanded a tyre made here in the U.K. then it would boost MY future working in manufacturing in the UK, so I see it as my duty to try to do the same when I buy other goods.
If we all bought British then more people could work, and perhaps we might even be able to lower taxes- meaning more people could afford to buy British.:beer:

mackay78

I think with consumables like food that we go through so quickly - that buying british does make sense. We go through tons of food every week - so the closer it's produced the better (and the whole 'carbon footprint' issue does seem more relevant).

But with items that you buy once (like a pushchair in our case) that's less of an issue. These items are also often sent by boat in 20 foot containers - so not gobbling up air miles.