Checking Wal-Mart's Shelves for American-made goods, Part 1
As we reported yesterday, Wal-Mart has been in the news for claiming that most of the products it sells are American-made goods. Parija Kavilanz explained in a CNN Money article, the retail chain has been selling mostly groceries and household goods lately (like toilet paper), many of which are grown or made in the U.S. However, the chain's higher value items, like electronics and appliances, are still typically made overseas.
The Consumerist's Chris Morran has picked up on the story, reporting that "more people now go to Walmart to buy affordable groceries and not for foreign-made items like electronics and cheap apparel."
ManufactureThis has decided to start sampling various Wal-Mart's throughout the United States to assess whether or not the retailer is offering more American-made goods.
Our first investigation comes courtesy of Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Indiana Field Coordinator Michael Mitchell, who browsed the aisles of a Wal-Mart in Hobart, Indiana. Mitchell looked into clothing and televisions. Only a U.S. flag was made in USA (see accompanying photos):
-woman’s dress, made in Cambodia
-woman’s jeans, made in Bangladesh
-men’s shorts, made in China
-Philip’s TV, made in China
-Samsung TV, made in Mexico
-U.S. Flags, made in USA
ManufactureThis will continue to report on its inventories of various Wal-Mart stores. Stay tuned.
2 comments
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Walmart offering American made goods
For years I have been buying American made products, and if Walmart does not even give us the option of
buying American. When I look for something in our stores and cannot find the American made product of
the article I'm looking for, I usually find a clerk and ask for their help, hoping I've only overlooked it. That is
seldom the case. Especially in the kitchenware department. However, I do believe it is not all Walmarts
fault. Many of the name brands that are in Walmart are now made in other countries, so we need to let them
know also that we will look for articles manufactured here, and then quit things that are foreign made. Only
if it hurts their pocket book will we be able to get the quality we want. After all, it may be poor workmanship,
radioactive, but as long as people will buy it, they will sell it.
Judy
The Label Game
I see you are also playing the label game! My favorite part is questioning the stores, though they often don't have any information. I would love to hear Walmart's response. I think they as a corporation are responsible for a lot of the issues we have today with consumerism. I'm actually surprised that the flag was even made in the US! You really dug deep! Nice work and good luck!
-Sarah
http://madeinusachallenge.com