Far and Away: The Pros and Cons of Buying American-Made vs. Overseas Products
Whether you’re a buyer, salesperson, or decision maker, you’ve asked yourself this question at least once: Should I buy American-made products or look overseas to source? Let’s break down the pros and cons of both options so that you can make an informed decision.
American-Made Products – Pros & Cons
Pros: Buying American is a great way to stimulate the economy. It also provides jobs for citizens, keeps money within our own country, and you can usually count on higher quality control standards for domestically produced goods. Many companies are even making a conscious effort to provide sustainable, ecologically friendly materials from locally sourced suppliers.
Cons: One potential downside of buying American-made products is cost. Because labor costs in the United States are generally higher than in other countries—and because there are fewer economies of scale here—domestically produced items may be more expensive than their foreign counterparts. Additionally, if you need specialized things that simply aren’t available in the U.S., typically, buying domestic isn’t an option!
Overseas Products – Pros & Cons
Pros: Overseas production often means lower costs due to cheaper labor, fewer regulations, and larger economies of scale. If you’re looking for something unique or specialized that can’t be found domestically, sourcing overseas might be your only option. Additionally, many overseas manufacturers have adopted sustainability practices, including using renewable energy sources during production and recycling materials whenever possible.
Cons: One potential downside of buying overseas products is the difficulty of reaching contacts from the manufacturer, more importantly, contacting a person with a complete understanding of international trade laws and regulations. Additionally, the challenge of locating vendors in the United States willing to stand behind a manufacturer and its products in case anything goes wrong with your order!
Conclusion: Ultimately, when it comes to choosing between American-made products vs. overseas products, it all comes down to a few key factors, such as cost savings versus quality assurance and sustainability efforts made by each respective supplier/manufacturer/vendor. While each situation will require unique consideration based on individual needs and wants, we hope this blog post provided some helpful guidance when deciding which route is best for your business!
The choice may be simpler than you think. We at Kendall Howard are proud to be part of an American-made success story. We’re a family-owned business dedicated to providing the best products and customer service experience possible. If you need proof that we know what we’re doing, look at our catalog products – or better yet, give us a call. We have real people ready to answer your questions about our products. And if you have an idea for a product that doesn’t exist yet, no problem! Our Customs Solutions Group can make it happen. So don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website to see what Kendall Howard can do for you and why our motto is, “The Answer is YES! What’s the Question?”.
