HH - Country of Manufacture

[daibutsu]

No, sorry, I just meant it rhetorically...

I've grown too used to defending the "Buy American" concept; maybe that is impossible now. However, avoiding "Made in China," still is possible.


Rick

[Bugzee Malone]

I just checked my HH and it says "made in China" on the stuff sack but not on the Hammock.

I understand what people are saying about the quality of goods made in China but they are improving rapidly.
Need I remind you all that we used to say the same thing about Japanese "Jap crap" made goods in the 60's.
Look at us now!
America's number one rated car for quality and customer satisfaction is a Toyota Lexus.
Most of the best electronics and cameras too are made in Japan.
China is copying Japan as an example to imitate and emulate. As such, their learning curve will be much shorter.
Korea did the same.
Once China gets it's quality control measures in place and US importers stop shopping around for the cheapest Chinese goods to import, China will be a manufacturing force to be reckoned with.
It already is!

As Neo says "The Matrix has you". Get used to buying Chinese goods, just demand better quality from the importers.

[daibutsu]

For me my avoidance of things Chinese has little to do with their dubious quality of goods. And, really little to do with Darfur, Nepal, Taiwan, Falun Gong, military build up, veiled threats, computer hacking/espionage, child labor, or inscrutable demeanor. It is about blowing up satellites effectively tainting an arena (orbital space) they'd rather not compete in, poisoning their environment and in turn our environment, exporting tainted and dangerous goods, back handed dealing in regard to currency inflation, and totalitarian communism.

When distributors of Chinese goods here, or Canada, remotely associate themselves as manufacturers (by not admitting Chinese manufacture) they are unfairly competing against American manufacturers. Within this small community, we can be aware of what is made by whom and factor that into our purchasing decisions.

What is so ironic about all this is, as necessary (to our hobby) appreciators of the outdoors and pristene nature, aiding China in any way is completely contrary to our cause. Especially vexing are people immediately involved in the sport/industry wanting it both ways, i.e., profiteering at the environmental expense of others: Others today, us tomorow.

As an aside to Bugzee; I notice you live in Kobe, I lived in Japan for two years. Can you imagine places like Kita Kamakura (where the real daibutsu is) ever in China open to the regular people? Japan was never Communist. And Japan is a manufacturing force to be reckoned with; what can we ever "reckon" with China?

Rick

[Narwhalin]

This is not a political or ideological issue, it is a disclosure issue. There are many excellent hammock manufacturers out there competing on many levels; all factors should be disclosed and allowed to be taken into account.

Are you sure this isn't a political issue for you?

For me my avoidance of things Chinese has little to do with their dubious quality of goods. And, really little to do with Darfur, Nepal, Taiwan, Falun Gong, military build up, veiled threats, computer hacking/espionage, child labor, or inscrutable demeanor. It is about blowing up satellites effectively tainting an arena (orbital space) they'd rather not compete in, poisoning their environment and in turn our environment, exporting tainted and dangerous goods, back handed dealing in regard to currency inflation, and totalitarian communism.

I don't disagree with you at all! I just think that this is most definately a political issue for you! These issues would affect your desire to purchase, though, and I think most manufacturers are aware that "Made in China" (for various reasons) is a blackmark on their product. Thus, they don't want to display that.

What is so ironic about all this is, as necessary (to our hobby) appreciators of the outdoors and pristene nature, aiding China in any way is completely contrary to our cause. Especially vexing are people immediately involved in the sport/industry wanting it both ways, i.e., profiteering at the environmental expense of others: Others today, us tomorow.
Rick

Hey! Stop pointing this out! How can I wear all my cool gear around now without feeling all guilty and stuff? I bought this to be cool, and so I would look like those dudes in Backpacker?!

[Narwhalin]

Truely, the issue of buying gear that is slave manufactured is abhorent, and we should all pledge to stop supporting this crap! How about we try to compile a list of major hammock companies, and where their goods are manufacutured? Obviously we already have the Hennessey, and can include The Travel Hammock. Can anyone with other hammocks chime in to the country of manufacture?

Hennessey Hammocks (HH)--China

The Travel Hammock--China

Claytor--

Speer--USA quote from the website

All of our Hammocks and Accessories are
Proudly Hand Made in the Southern Appalachians
(We make them in our house!)

Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO)--Bali

TrekLight--Bali

Ticket to the Moon--Bali

Jacks R' Better (JRB)--USA

Clark--USA Quote from website:

Every Jungle Hammock is still produced in our Salt Lake City facility where we ensure perfection in each shipment. This is why we can absolutely guarantee your satisfaction.

Byer--

Crazy Creek--

Lawson-- China

Warbonnet-- USA

Any other companies I have forgotten?

Thanks, Angrysparrow! I have looked up all the companies above, and have added what they have listed on the website. I will call the different companies that I cannot find info for on Monday to fill in the gaps unless someone who knows will chime in...

[angrysparrow]

All of the HAAB hammocks seem to be made by the same manufacturer in Bali -

EaglesNestOutfitters - Bali
TrekLight - Bali
Ticket To The Moon - Bali
Perhaps others..

Not on your list -
Clark
Byer
Crazy Creek

[Fiddleback]

The concern for inferior Chinese manufacturing can be over blown, depending upon what item you're talking about and the quality you paid for. If you look for cheap goods, you'll most likely get cheap production values.

On the other hand, there are high quality products coming out of China. iPods and semi-conductor chips are two examples.

The politics of the issue is, for me, a more difficult issue. Still, even there China is not as bad as others, IMO. Consider, for example, certain Middle East countries and our favorite imported product, oil.

In the end, we each apply our individual judgements to individual countries. But from an economic viewpoint, imports exist because the producing country can provide them cheaper than we can domestically (comparative advantage). It's through trade that a nation obtains more goods than if it were to produce all goods at home. Of course, that's what I was taught in my International Trade and Investment course...a less capitalistic viewpoint might share different opinions.

FB

[daibutsu]

Bali, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Brasil, Mexico, anywhere but China is ok by me... Hell, Thailand practically invented the fist sized $1.00 portable hammock and Brasil revolutionized conjugal hammocking!!!

I asked HH, a few days ago, why they don't readily disclose country of manufacture, no response yet. Someone pointed out that HH does print "Made in China" on the stuff sack, I discarded mine upon getting my hammock. It looked more like an advertisement vs. a stealthy stuff sack.

There also is Lawson Hammock, rumor has it that they are a big BSA supplier. After two requests originally citing 'overseas,' they admitted to Chinese manufacture.

[Narwhalin]

The concern for inferior Chinese manufacturing can be over blown, depending upon what item you're talking about and the quality you paid for. If you look for cheap goods, you'll most likely get cheap production values.

That is true, but we are talking about things here that we hang from, so manufacturing quality becomes very important. I would sure hate to have equipment failure that results in my injury in the middle of nowhere.

In the end, we each apply our individual judgements to individual countries. But from an economic viewpoint, imports exist because the producing country can provide them cheaper than we can domestically (comparative advantage). It's through trade that a nation obtains more goods than if it were to produce all goods at home. Of course, that's what I was taught in my International Trade and Investment course...a less capitalistic viewpoint might share different opinions.

FB

Gee, what a surprise! Your International Trade and Investment course justified globalism for you. Knock me over with a feather!

Two issues have come up in this thread regarding country of manufacturer. One involves craftsmanship, and the other is morality. I can see these issues being important to uninformed consumers, and I think it is nice that we will have a thread that asseses this.

[Fiddleback]

That is true, but we are talking about things here that we hang from, so manufacturing quality becomes very important. I would sure hate to have equipment failure that results in my injury in the middle of nowhere.



Gee, what a surprise! Your International Trade and Investment course justified globalism for you. Knock me over with a feather!

Two issues have come up in this thread regarding country of manufacturer. One involves craftsmanship, and the other is morality. I can see these issues being important to uninformed consumers, and I think it is nice that we will have a thread that asseses this.

It's a selective morality. As I pointed out, "we" don't see much concern about the goodness of those who provide our oil.

FB