One quick lesson learned in my year-long experiment in buying more American-made products... spur of the moment shopping probably can't happen very often. Buying American takes time and planning and research, it seems.
My weekend, for example.
I traveled to the east side, Bishop, to do a photo booth for the Bishop High School all-80s reunion. No problem, I had everything I needed for the photo booth (remember the last post when I talked about the printer ink and the paper?) - I thought. Turns out my webcam was wonky and I had to rush out after setting up the booth in search of a new webcam. In Bishop. There's KMart and the local guys, SchatNet. I went to the local guys. There were two webcams available and both made in China. I bought one. I also bought a USB headset and microphone to use for recording my screencasts for class. Made in China.
Then, because it was an all-80s reunion and because I love, love, love to dress up I went looking for an 80s outfit. First I hit the thrift stores and was moderately successful - shorty jean jacket, socks with crocheted tops, a scarf to tie around my hair - but stumped when it came to the leggings, the tulle or lace skirt, the fingerless gloves. KMart. In the girls section. All of it cheap and all of it made in China.
Finally, driving home I wanted to stop at the Banana Republic outlet in Tulare. And they were having a fabulous sale. But guess what? Everything in BR is made in China. Did I buy? Yes, I bought two turtlenecks and two camisoles for a very good price. I think guilt made me stop there... here I am blogging about buying American and everything I bought came from one country. China.
So why did I buy?
1. Immediate need - the webcam. I can almost justify that one. Almost.
2. Because it was there - the headset / microphone. Could have waited and searched to see if I could find something made here. #Fail
3. Limited selection and poor planning - the 80s outfit. I've known about this reunion for months and could have easily found everything either at a thrift store or made what I needed. #Fail
4. Spur-of-the-moment shopping and a sale. Again, did I need anything I bought? Did I go looking for turtlenecks and camisoles? No. #Fail
This isn't going to be easy. And it is going to be uncomfortable at times (like this) when I have to show up here and tell you that all the money I spent over the weekend supported workers in China. Maybe a little bit here if you consider the importers, the cashiers and other workers at the stores I shopped at. But not in terms of real living wages, careers, and satisfying work. Not craftsmen.
And so I move on... I flipped through a Sierra Trading Post catalog when I got home. Favorite outdoor clothing brands. China. China. China.
REALLY?
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