Are Your Parts Un-American?

[CPG Marketing]

As a performance enthusiast, racer or street rodder, do you really care where your performance parts are being made? My experience has been that different market segments within the overall performance aftermarket seem to answer this question very differently. Many only care that you give them the very best products possible at the best price (especially in the current economic conditions), while others are staunchly opposed to putting foreign made products in their good old American muscle cars – even to the point that they will pay more or give up some product benefits within reason. I find it interesting that many of the companies that wave the “Made In The USA” banner so vehemently are the very same ones that are doing significant manufacturing outside of this country. After all, “Made In The USA” doesn’t mean their parts are not manufactured in China, Mexico, India, etc before being partially assembled inside our borders.

If “Made In The USA” is something that is really important to you – I would urge you to not just accept a logo or statement at face value. Do some real research before laying out your hard earned cash. Dig deep enough and you might be very surprised at what you find.

So let’s hear your opinion; does “Made In The USA” impact your performance parts purchase decisions more than price, value, etc? If you want to read more about this topic check out a recent article on Searchautoparts.com: Made in USA still has cache, but country takes a back seat to globalization

Chris Douglas
Director of Marketing
COMP Performance Group™




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[bloose2]

It is hugely important to me where my parts are made. Buying parts made in the USA not only insures quality but also insures I am helping keep people here employed. Those very people will in turn be able to buy products from the company I work for.

It is very rare that the quality of an imported part is better than a domestic part and in most cases they are inferior. I am willing to pay a premium for USA made parts so long as it is not extreme. But I also understand that many times the extra cost of buying USA produced products is really in the quality. It may be material quality it may be quality control it may be product development or a combination. For this reason I cannot say that I will pay x% more for domestic products because it really depends.

Buying American products will always be my first choice. This doesn't mean I never buy imported products. In some cases there is just no choice. In others the extra price isn't justified. In most cases though the quality is worth going the extra mile to make sure it is made here.

[Impala65SS]

OK, bloose2. I agree that USA parts are normally better quality, and I try hard to do that, but go by any (still existing) American factory today (that is most likely owned by some over seas conglomerate) and look at the parking lot. What do you see? Mostly forgien brands like Toyota, Honda, and the execs drive Beemers and Accords so if we're gona buy American, lets BUY AMERICAN. I drive GM products. All American made? Not!!

[trmnatr]

It is hugely important to me where my parts are made. Buying parts made in the USA not only insures quality but also insures I am helping keep people here employed. Those very people will in turn be able to buy products from the company I work for.

It is very rare that the quality of an imported part is better than a domestic part and in most cases they are inferior. I am willing to pay a premium for USA made parts so long as it is not extreme. But I also understand that many times the extra cost of buying USA produced products is really in the quality. It may be material quality it may be quality control it may be product development or a combination. For this reason I cannot say that I will pay x% more for domestic products because it really depends.

Buying American products will always be my first choice. This doesn't mean I never buy imported products. In some cases there is just no choice. In others the extra price isn't justified. In most cases though the quality is worth going the extra mile to make sure it is made here.

Even when you buy a good crank the forging is not US , They WERE coming from a place in Kentucky owned by Japan