Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

[TOHATSU GURU]

Most people are more concerned with price, warranty etc., however, I suspect that virtually everyone looks at country of origin to some degree and resigns themselves to buying something that is not made "here". This poll is more about how much influence that manufacturing point makes in your decision to purchase an outboard. For the sake of argument and to focus on the point of the poll, please make believe in your mind that all outboards are equal in every respect. IE They all have equal warranties, equal initial and maintenance costs, equal dealer networks and that all dealers are dealers for every brand. No brand is superior in this poll for any reason other than where it is made. Personal loathing for individual countries is allowed, but only in the context of economic or political position of the offending country.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Hard to tell, these days. My '92 Johnson was made in Belgium. That Mercury in the showroom could have been made in China or Japan or part of it made in either place.

Where was that Yamaha made? Japan? Maybe not.

The reputation of an outboard is far more important to me than the country of origin.

What outboards under 25 hp are made in the USA today, anyhow?

 

[JB]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Times change. I remember when Japanese products were all considered inferior. Now they make the best optics and automobiles in the world. Some would argue that they make the best outboards, too.

I want confidence in the quality of the product and customer service, whereever it is made.

Chinese made products may be pretty good in most areas, but they have made too many piles of junk to gain my confidence.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I'm a Regional Sales Manager for a German manufacturing company supplying analytical equipment to heavy industry. Need I say more?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

In the world we live in, it is essentially impossible to find a complicated mechanical device that is 100% made in the USA.

For most comsumer goods, if I have a choice between a US made item and a Chinese made item for a similar price I will always choose the US made item. This doesn't happen often though. I have a lot of Chinese made tools in my barn.

I have a thing for Mazdas. So, I have 2 Japenese built cars and one Chevy truck.

For outboards, I haven't ever bought a new one. I prefer OMC now BRP products. I have owned and maintained quite a few of them. So, I guess if presented with the opportunity to buy new, I would go with an E-Tec. That is simply becuase I have gained a feeling of trust and respect for the brand. I find the products are in general easy to maintain and parts availability is great.

I don't have anything against Mercury, although, I have never owned one of my own.

Beyond that I can only comment on what I have reccomended for others. I have recently told people to look at Tohatsus if they are considering a smaller Mercury. Simply from a cost standpoint that makes sense. I have also told people that Hondas and Yamahas are deffinitely worth consideration.

I guess in general county or origin isn't all that important to me. A good quality item that gets the job done is most important. I prefer to buy items made in the US, but fully accept that that isn't always feasible.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I believe that all outboards now sold in the U.S. below 40 hp are now made elsewhere.

Keep in mind that the purpose of this poll is about whether or not the country of manufacture is a major, minor or benched player in the mind of the buyer. There is no right or wrong answer on this poll...Just how you feel

 

[JimS123]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

When I go to buy anything, the country bof origin makes one hell of a difference tro me. After due-diligence I see what is available in the marketplace.

If I can buy USA, I DO, regardless of price.
If USA is not available, I look secondly for a US company that may build overseas.
If no products US made or imported, I look for European first, then Japan.
If all there is available is Chinese, I try to decide whether I really need it in the first place.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I buy the best quality I can afford, period. If the USA can't make #1 in that area, they won't be #1 on my buying list. In developing web sites, I compete with people from around the world (it's the inet, nobody even knows where a web site comes from anyway) and still I get work, and it has zero to do with "Made in USA". It has everything to do with value for the dollar.

Value to me means company stability (can I find parts 2 months or years from now, warranties don't work with bankrupt companies), product history (is getting a decent one a crapshoot), product quality (will it last), product image (I don't wear Walmart jeans) and support (can I talk to someone helpful, I don't care what country they are in so long as they answer my question).

If the country I live in falls behind any other country for a product I am looking to buy, it loses me as a customer. I don't buy into the mindless "be a patriot" mentality. If the company cared about me, it would produce a decent product and not force me to look elsewhere. We're all gung-ho on capitalism until someone else makes something better, then it's all "wha wha for us" from there..

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Try to stay with as much North American content as possible but sometimes you just can't do that.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I believe that all outboards now sold in the U.S. below 40 hp are now made elsewhere.

I like to buy American when I can and will pay more but my 9.8
Tohatsu was too good a deal to pass up. (Used, 1yr. old, low hours,
$1400.00).

And if I was shopping for new I couldn't have bought one that
size anyway.

But....when I find that 1960 Evinrude, the Tohatsu might be up
for sale.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

i draw the line at pluto!their stuff is junk!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I'm sorry but the mindless patriot statement just rubbed me the wrong way. My family came to the US in 1894 to find a better life. Every subsequent generation made it better. Now, I wonder if my grandchildren will even make it.

To those who bash the USA, I say I hope YOUR grandchildren have to roam the streets in search of crumbs, because if OUR generation doesn't take the country back it just may come to that.

Over and out.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

My family came to the US in 1894 to find a better life. Every subsequent generation made it better.

Newbies

 

[mciaio]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

"Mud Huts" HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I'm sorry but the mindless patriot statement just rubbed me the wrong way. My family came to the US in 1894 to find a better life. Every subsequent generation made it better. Now, I wonder if my grandchildren will even make it.

Unless your an american indian EVERYONE'S ancestors came from
somewhere else to find a "better life".

But yes, you are making a good point.

TG, your thread will be closed by morning.

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

I look for the Made In USA tag on everything I buy, I realize some things it will be impossible, but I still look.

I bought a Mercury O/B last year for that reason and before I bought it I made sure it came from Fond du lac. I also considered the Evinrude E-TEC, but I liked the Mercury dealer much better. I have a Chevy truck (Made in Canada), a Nissan van that was made in the states.

I look at it this way, if I'm putting my money out for a product I'd like to think it supports workers here. In turn that keeps the roads paved, schools operating, parents able to raise their children with a good standard of living. I'm happy with that. I'm not doing it to wave the flag, but I do think it makes us stronger by keeping our dollars here instead of exporting them to China, then China loan it back to us. I agree trying to get the most value for your dollar, however I'm willing to sacrifice some value for keeping my fellow citizens employed.

I'll give you another example; I was looking for shoes for work, I was looking for made in the USA, shoes are now dominated by Made in China. However, I was able to find a pair of Allen Edmund shoes. They were at least TWICE the price of comparable Made In China shoes, but I sucked it up, plopped down $245.00, and supported American workers. That took a big bite out of my wallet and instead of two pairs of shoes I just got one, but an American in a Wisconsin shoe factory still has a job. For my running shoes, some models of New Balance are still made state side.

Another example of how nutty I am about this is, I flew home from the middle east on a middle eastern owned airline, Qatar Air, which is a great airline by the way. However, the plane I flew home on was a brand new Boeing 777. I looked around the plane and saw people from all over the world and thought to myself, this is one of the most complex machines built and it came from Washington State (with parts from all over the world). But it was still a Boeing, and I felt good as an American that this was designed and built by Americans but hauling people from all ove the world. Geeky, I know.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Boeing is a U.S. corporation, but who owns Boeing?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

But....when I find that 1960 Evinrude, the Tohatsu might be up
for sale.

would you buy it if it was a Canadian made Evinrude?

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Unless your an american indian EVERYONE'S ancestors came from
somewhere else to find a "better life".

The American Indians came from Asia didn't they? or did I miss something?

I like harbor freight, my shed is full of there stuff and I bought a DIY Chinese boat trailer from them, but I would have rather it been a US product. The only saving grace to my shame are the nice people who work at harbor frieght, they were all Americans....

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: Does country of manufacture influence your buying decision?

Boeing is a U.S. corporation, but who owns Boeing?

No doubt that Boeing is a publicly traded company, so it could be owned by anybody from any country that has the ability to buy stock. That being said, the data plate on that big flying chunk of aluminum still says Made In USA.