Chinese products
With all of the recent recalls regarding Chinese products, I'm finding myself reluctant use any of the stuff I already have.
I used to go to the dollar store and stock up cheaper named brand items of unknown origin to save money, never once thinking they may be unsafe. Those days are over.
When I finally woke up and started paying attention, it seems that everything comes from China. All plastic goods, toys, furniture, clothing, electronics etc...
My wife brought home some trail mix from Target. Out of curiosity, I looked at the label and saw that most of it was of Chinese manufacture. Now I can't help thinking that I'm eating little pieces of soilent green. Besides, how is it cheaper to make dried peas and little pretzels 10,000 miles away and ship it to the US? It just doesn't make sense.
Lead paint in toys, poisoned dog food, fake Chinese medicine killing kids, antifreeze in the mouthwash and toothpaste... formaldehyde in the clothing at 900 times safe levels....the list goes on and on.
It seems our expectations regarding Chinese imports were so low, that the manufacturers felt they could send us poison and we would lap it up with barely a whimper.
It's about time that the consumer spoke up.
I'm going to to quit buying Chinese products for my household. I'll recycle what I can and do without if I have to. I can't in good conscience keep feeding that evil machine.
With friends like these who needs enemies?
posted by Bill Rowland @ September 05, 2007
48 Comments
48 Comments:
If this is what they are exporting, you have to wonder what they are using at home.
When I was little, I think everything came from Taiwan or 'made in Japan.' I think this is just the next wave. I wonder which country will be next?
Cheers
You know, it is despicable how much this country has allowed itself to get into bed with China. To the point where if everyone stopped buying Chinese products, the consumer market would completely collapse. Big box stores would go under. The entire Wal-Mart business model has been built on Chinese soil...
Not that I have a problem with Wal-Mart going under, mind you.
I'm with you on this.
What's that saying? There ain't no such thing as a free lunch?
Same goes for cheap lunches.
You know, when this stuff first started coming out, the first thought I had was "Khrushchev was right. The communists are going to bury us, and never fire a shot. The Chinese are sending this crap over here to kill us, and they're going to take over."
Still comes to mind, now and then. I still refuse to believe all of the quality control "accidents" were accidents.
Those pentagon computers were probably made in China...
I think that China is trying to slowly kill us and take over the world. Or something less sinister.
I'll be very interested, Hammer, in your updating us as to how this goes, especially regarding the clothes and toys for your children.
As for the computers...i just wonder why hackers don't seem to hack into China's computers...unles the hackers are Chinese...just a guess.
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
When my son was little he implored me to move to China. Why, I asked.
`Because so many toys are made there,' was his reply.
I was intrigued by your comment about your Dad and his interest in vedanta. Do you still have all his books?
Keep smiling
David
check with Google/Blogger to see if any part of your blog/info is hosted in China...
Um, wow. I am so very grossed out right now.
*I will be removing all china made products from my home at once*
We are hacking into Chinese computers and all other countries as well. It is the new spy vs spy system.
AMEN Brother Hammer.....the millions of The Ivan army will Ho Chi Min like ants over a weakened poisened America. With 1/4 of Americans on drugs and 1/2 Poisened by Lead and the other 1/2 (That covers everyone right?) playing with toys and all products American--NOT!!
China will take over the world.
The picture of the fortune cookie over the empty plate that said-- THAT WASN'T CHICKEN! Oh so true my friend--Oh so True!
Thanks for taking a stand and for the great info!!!
John
Everything made in China has been my lament too. Of course, I wouldn't throw out that Ming vase if I was you.
bobg: unless it's someone of status I don't think human like has much value there.
mcewen: Who knows, probably lichetenstein ;)
allieD: I don't think we can go cold turkey but there will always be someone to fill the void.
queen: absolutely, someone is going to pay one way or the other.
walrilla: I don't think there was a single accident, just corruption and greed at our expense.
murphy: That's probably why it was so easy for em.
Debroah: It's going to be tough. I'll keep a log of what goes on.
David: I have a crate full of the books, some are quite old and I'm working my way through them.
minijohnb: last I checked it wasn't but I'm sure it will be banned soon :)
meleah: to me its a safety as well as a moral issue.
nickel: We've been at it with China since 49, going back and forth my dad even shot some in Vietnam, Clinton sold military secrets to them and we've had the spy thing going for a while. It's funny we are such friendly trading partners despite all the cloak and dagger.
John: Yep all of us will be addled with lead from chewing on our matchbox cars :)
Besides, how is it cheaper to make dried peas and little pretzels 10,000 miles away and ship it to the US? It just doesn't make sense.
Who asks for sense. It is money which mattters, isn't it? And there is a lot of money in low environmental standards and low salaries for a heavy work load (regular work in factories: usually about 320 working days a year, with 10 to 16 working hours a day; could not find a link for factories, but here is one for a barber shop in Shanghai).
There is even more money, for the producer to make and for us to save by the help of child labour and slave work. And of course, fuel prices still do not reflect the environmental impact of transportation.
We insist on cheap products. But everything has its price. For cheap products, it is the worker who pays the bigger portion, and for the carriage, it will be our children. So let us enjoy the crap.
beamish says wal-mart could put china out of business...
we are also looking at labels - there is an amish store in our town for groceries and wal-mart is putting an amish store in a town closeby.
if anybody has their receipts from these products, keep them and the products for future class action stock in mattel, no?
That Buddha there has lead in the glaze - you can tell by the shine. - When that stuff is on mugs you get your dose of lead with every sip and while they say they try not to let them into the country, they do.
I think the old adage "let the buyer beware" is still a good one - we must become careful consumers.
I've always been a little squeamish about food in dollar stores..
China uses slaves in its factories - political prisoners forced to work for nothing.... I shall join you in boycotting as far as I can all Chinese made shit..
Good post hammer..I can tell some stories about Chinese imports and why business does it..did it myself at one time..not out of choice but out of economic necessity...it was necessary that I stay in business a while longer!
I started boycotting Chinese products 2 years ago, over their human rights practices. Now I'm ecstatic that I made this step!
It isn't too hard to find adult sized clothing that isn't made in China. Infant clothing is another matter. I was shopping for a shower gift last weekend and couldn't find a baby outfit that wasn't made in China!
I didn't realize that they were infiltrating our food supply until the dog food incident. NOW, it takes me twice as long to grocery shop because I'm reading EVERY label! RAT BASTARDS!!
e: thanks for the links, just adds fuel to the fire. I'm tired of giving my money to that third world totalitarian shithole.
nanc: Hell I need to go through my kids toys, although they are old enouth to not chew on them, I don't count on Walmart putting China out of business unless we boycotted them too. Still a nice thought.
jeannie: absolutely: I had started taking product safety for granted. Also lots of ceramics from mexico are loaded with lead. some labled some not.
mutley: The Chinese military industrial complex and use of slave labor is quite disturbing. Thanks for your solidarity.
guyk: Yeah lots of businesses are dependent on china. It would be great if that could be lessened or maybe just to improve the safety and quality.
tshsmom: that's great, I may be coming to you for advice :)
Well, I'll tell you what, sir. I'm with you on the Chinese products. It sure pisses me off to see that not just a few things are made in China...friggin' everything comes from there. It's a damn shame and I am happy to say that my sunglasses are made in Italy. Of course, they cost $70 versus $15, but they are really that much better in quality. Problem is...where can I find non-China shoes?
I buy and use water bottles, and only buy Nalgene ones. Every- EVERY other brand is made in China. I've gotten odd looks about this over the years, but hey- they are very well made and I don't lose sleep about hazardous chemicals transferring into the water I drink.
Come to think of it, I've been a racist consumer for a long time- where I'll discriminate against Chinese stuff. Most times there are no choices, but I don't think most people check. It came as a surprise to Schmoopie when I told her that her New Balance tennis shoes were made in USA(!).
Good on you for paying attention.
We had this same discussion at work... not using anything manufactured in China. We had this discussion sitting on chairs, that were placed on carpet around a large table - that were all made in China, or had parts from China.
It's going to be a tough battle for you, but I will be very curious as to how this comes down. Keep us posted.
As I walked my daughter into school this morning I mentionned what price we were ultimately paying by buying cheap Chinese products... I told my daughter we should avoid buying such items, she was concerned about whether or not there would be any toys left to buy... Then, she told me she had heard of child labour in China, and I was forced to confirm this was indeed a fact.
It seems my child's innocence as well as her health and safety is the price we're paying. And it makes me mad.
It's sickening and something should be done. Even if it starts with just a small minority. Backing off these products is a good idea.
I'm afraid to by toys for our new baby
There's one benefit I can see - it might finally get us off our collective manufacturing ass and bring it all back over here. At least, that's what I hope.
And I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart since I was 13 or 14 and told my parents I wasn't going to go there any more. Not for these reasons, but right now I'm glad my family no longer shops there. (I still worry about how I'm going to eat cheap and non-China on a college student budget. Suggestions?)
- ISU Tinkerer
I totally agree, and am going to stop buying dollar store stuff to save money too. Christ, it seems that BREATHING will kill you nowadays...
I have a problem with Chinese products: they use child and prison labor! Plus, what they've don't to the Tibet makes my blood boil! There is a lot of blood on th ehnads of The People's Republibic! Still, love reading your blog! How is your father doing! I'll pray for him!
Paul f: It's probably the little things that will be the most difficult, school supplies, kitchen items etc... It's going to be a challenge.
stucco: thanks for the tip, I always wondered what that awful smell and taste was in water bottles, and I appreciate the shoe info.
RyanL I imagine almost everything around me is like that too. We'll see how it goes.
anndi, the child labor, dissident slave labor, forced sepreration of families, etc... You're right we need to set an example for the kids as well.
Scarlet: who knows maybe it will take off. I'll see if there are any organizations commited to this.
snowmanpoop: I know what you mean. who knows what can be trusted.
ISU: Welcome back :) I don't have a problem with walmart, they are just filling a need, but they will have to lean on their suppliers that are making all this crap. luckily, I haven't seen a lot of food items other than ethnic snacks come from china, we are exporting food to them right now.
melodyann: I hear ya, next thing you know I'll be shearing sheep and sewing my own clothes :)
Yoga: We can't forget about tibet, what they did there rivals hitler and stalin. People tend to forget.
also, thanks for the well wishes regarding dad.
excellent post!
It's very scarey.....and it's all about American greed!
However I just saw on the news about Orville Reddenbacher microwave popcorn!!! They vapors produced by cooking it in the microwave are poisonous!!!! WTF!!!
I have to find out a little bit more about that..since I cook a lot of popcorn in the microwave!
Thanks for the research....
Peace
I don't know that the stuff from china is cheaper (less expensive, that is) to the consumer. Maybe to the wholesale buyer.
But, like you said, how can it be cheaper after you factor in shipping, etc. I honestly always wondered that even as a teenager why so much stuff came from overseas and just figured the whole "world economy" was just over my head and obviously we wouldn't be doing it unless it was a good thing.
Now I'm wondering if we (others who wondered the same as me all this time) aren't the smart ones.
does it bother anybody any more or less that the clintons are in bed with the chinese?
ISU Tinkerer said: I still worry about how I'm going to eat cheap and non-China on a college student budget. Suggestions?
In my student days, my budget was way beyond poverty line. Convenience food, sweets, soft drinks, etc. turned out to be too expensive, so I skipped them all and cooked from scrap with local products in their season, when you can get them at reasonable prices. (If you should not find local products at the supermarket, this one might help.) Instead of buying "cheap" rags, household products and furniture, I went to second hand stores and garage sales and looked for high quality (not: fashionable brands) at reasonable prices.
Nowadays, my budget would allow me to buy "cheap" crap. But I stick to the habit of my student days: Home made local food tastes way better, and most of the quality products I bought when I was poor cannot be wrestled. If something needs replacement, I buy it second-hand or order it at a local manufacturer, where I find good value for money.
how is it cheaper to make dried peas and little pretzels 10,000 miles away and ship it to the US? It just doesn't make sense.
To quote a friend of mine when asked that very question: "Simple. Chinese prisoners work cheap." He's both serious and funny at the same time. But he's probably pretty accurate.
I've had to stop chewing on my Hotwheels collection recently because of the news because I feared I might be ingesting lead paint;)
DON'T tell me the Target Monster Mix trail mix is made in China. PLEASE!!!!
Nuke them now! Glass. Fields af glass.
And let us not forget that they out number us 12 to 1.
Flyinfox_SATX
Hey you!
I came through Paper Fun Club!
My name is Max :).
Actually it is quite easy to understand how chinese products can be so cheap: labour costs are extremely low!!! They earn less than an African (who earn $20 per month...those that do)!
I used to do the same: I never stopped to read the labels, and check the origin of the products I bought; but now...now I read every little detail on the product (one can never be too careful)! It is dangerous to buy chinese stuff...for they lack respect for the westerners. Sometimes I come to think that they thought "well, over there all they want is cheap goods, so might as well send them rubbish!" *nodding*!
I totally second you: I ceased buying chinese goods as well (and to think that their peanuts are so good! But I am not sure about the type of chimicals they use to treat them)!!
Yeah, they hacked the pentagon's and British Treasury's computers....
lol lol indeed....
I have subscribed to your blog :)!
Cheers
http://maxcouti.blogspot.com
Hey you!
I came through Paper Fun Club!
My name is Max :).
Actually it is quite easy to understand how chinese products can be so cheap: labour costs are extremely low!!! They earn less than an African (who earn $20 per month...those that do)!
I used to do the same: I never stopped to read the labels, and check the origin of the products I bought; but now...now I read every little detail on the product (one can never be too careful)! It is dangerous to buy chinese stuff...for they lack respect for the westerners. Sometimes I come to think that they thought "well, over there all they want is cheap goods, so might as well send them rubbish!" *nodding*!
I totally second you: I ceased buying chinese goods as well (and to think that their peanuts are so good! But I am not sure about the type of chimicals they use to treat them)!!
Yeah, they hacked the pentagon's and British Treasury's computers....
lol lol indeed....
I have subscribed to your blog :)!
Cheers
http://maxcouti.blogspot.com
scary stuff isn't it...I agree with your comments completely.
The dollar stores are filled with plastic junk from China that is completely worthless.
A friend of mine has recently stopped buying (or at least TRIED - as they are EVERYWHERE!) stuff from China. I'm going to stop too! Or at least try. It's scary stuff!
My husband and I have TRIED not to buy anything from China whenever possible. Sometimes, there is no choice if you need the product. Lately I've noticed a disturbing trend, with them providing more of our food items, including much of our frozen fish and seafood. And last week while buying new work boots for Hubby, we were informed that Red Wing's are now all made in China. *sigh* If anybody knows of an American company that makes decent work boots, please let me know!
you know what? those dollar store items are mostly recall stuff. stuff that is a hazard to your health. they sell it off in lots to the dollar stores who sell it to poor people because they probably won't link their death illness leperosy etc to the cheap products manufactured in other countries and deemed unsafe by the gov'mt here. the policy seems to be: Oh well, it's already in the country, might as well sell it off now and not let any more in.
I only get things that can't poison me at the dollar store. last time i went, i got gift bags, once i got them home, i realized they emitted a toxic fume that gave me an instant headache. they probably cause cancer.
I think that name brands are best, but the safest way is to shop at Whole Foods (whole paycheck)
your body is an investment, might as well make sure only premium ingredients enter it.
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