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Boy Scouts of America (Made in China)

As you might have guessed by now, my son is in Cub Scouts and I am a den leader. Whenever I go to the Scout Store to get patches or awards, or bigger items like uniforms or backpacks, I encounter the same thing: Made in China.

If a person is shopping at a discount store, buying some cheap, molded plastic item, one expects to see the Made in China label. When I am buying a Boys Scouts of America official uniform at the Boy Scouts of America store, I expect to see "Made in the USA" on the label. If it has a Scout logo on it anywhere, I don't want to see Made in China. I am sure that the store sources items from China with the best of intentions. If they keep the prices low, then it makes Scouting more accessible to more kids, but the BSA is a 503(c) charity, so I would think that someone could talk American manufacturers into good prices.

Does this make me a xenophobe? I don't know. All I know is, it feels pretty pathetic that a 100 year old institution that is as American as apple pie has to have all of their things made in China. I recently read an article by someone who was advocating that we all, each one of us, make it our responsibility to read labels. When we are out in the shops, and there is a choice, we need to make a conscious effort to pick items that are made in the US. This means that our money stays here, and people in the US are employed, and they spend their money, etc. I try to do that as often as possible. I seek out local companies, locally owned restaurants, and even local wine and beer makers. With the economy in the dumps, we all need to take care of each other and this is one way to do that. I am not anti China. I am pro US.
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Comments

dan said…
We need some factories right here in the USA. But we all know that already, right?
August 12, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Unknown said…
Inevitably, the companies involved consider only the cost of the final product. What they neglect to factor in are the actual time to market, usually hindered by miscommunication, cultural differences, and transportation; quality of the product--low cost often means poorer-quality materials and/or craftsmanship; and local business effects--failing to keep up local employment means that, in the long run, there are potentially fewer consumers to purchase your goods.
August 12, 2010 at 11:57 PM
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