This may sound silly, but I never noticed Hanes underwear is made in Vietnam. I checked another brand, Jockey and it was made in Hondorus. A third brand was made in Cambodia. I had to purchase a couple packages, the time to recycle has arrived. But seriously, even underwear? I'm wearing communist underwear. I once refused to buy a ball cap that was made in Vietnam. What is made here in America that is essential to wear for everyday living? Sometimes my old age wakes up and doesn't understand the selling of America. Sad...

WHAT? You mean I can't even buy made in America underwear? Time to start goin commando!

I have the same problem.
It is almost impossible to buy made in the USA. I try to buy everything I need that is made in this country. Heck, a lot of the canned goods are from China.
That is why China is so upset with our credit rating, we owe them a fortune.
I bought some really nice pants at a very large sports retailer. When I got them home they were made in Vietnam. You had to really look at the tag to notice.
We are supporting the economy of these communist countries.
I am like the Indian in the commercial where he has a tear in his eye because of the pollution. The same thing happens to me when I think of what has happened to this country.

Several companies make mens underwear in the US.

Try American Made Clothing, New Balance Shoes, Made in USA, Union Made

This unfortunately demonstrates in a microcosm the fallacy of the "buy American" entreaties we hear from those who react without thinking it through.

Our substance is eroded by our expenses and our culture is geared toward obtaining an existence and lifestyle as well as most of us can manage. Therefore, we do not willingly pay more than we have to for what we purchase. And for any who might consider disputing that, I have yet to have someone here offer me more than I asked for a S&W I've sold because "it's American made and worth more than you're asking". Just the opposite - you get lowballed to entice you to sell it as cheaply as possible ( barring panic sales during political uncertainties which is another entire topic).

By allowing imports that can be made more cheaply than can be made at home due to conditions here a fair wage, benefits, taxes, etc., there are cheaper foreign made alternatives in the marketplace and folks will always buy the cheaper if the product is similar. Once domestic manufacturers cannot compete they invest their money (you know, those evil, rich capitalists who only care about profit ? ) in other things or places where they can prosper. Because anyone who doesn't isn't an investor or a capitalist for long - they lose that ability and have to look to earn a living like I do, at the mercy of someone else's penchant for risking their substance to provide a job for another and make money at the same time.

Buy American - sounds good. But that ship sailed decades ago and the population couldn't be persuaded to see it, obscured by the promise of a better lifestyle with more choices at a cheaper price. Like water, income levels and lifestyles seek a balance and the rest of the world is catching up after an industrial revolution, an electronic awakening and two major world wide conflicts that set much of the planet decades behind and propelled the US into a false prosperity that could not continue to grow indefinitely. Unless perhaps a good portion of the world gets bombed back to the stone age again and we escape such as we did in WWII.

The new reality.

Commie undies... the world is truly crashing down upon us.

.......for the price of that American made underwear, I'll continue to freeball it.

Thanks for the link. I always try to buy American (even if it is union made). I'd love to see a store open that sold ONLY American made products.

This is what minimum wage has gotten us.

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- Change it back -

I hate to tell you this but the Indian (Iron Eyes Cody) was a second generation Italian. You can't even get an "Honest Injun" Indian any more.

Manufacture of "soft goods" like clothing is probably lost forever to third world manufacture. Labor costs and the lack of need for skilled labor to put it together insures that. The world wide demand for "durable goods" may see a slight return to manufacture in the U.S.. The demand for durable goods has caused the semi-skilled employees that assemble them overseas to demand higher wages. The larger deal is shipping costs of much heavier durable goods. 200 mens cotton shirts can be stuffed in a 3' x 3' box and weigh next to nothing. At $17 ea. they'll clear $3400. An air conditioner that weighs 10 times as much as the box of shirts and takes up same space will retail for $300.

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SOS USA

Hardly anything is actualy made here compared to the 50s and 60s. Practicly everyone working has or wants a non productive job. No one go`s to college hopeing to work hands on in a mill or bolting stuff together. We all are raised to be a politician, doctor, lawyer, pilot, real estate broker, fireman, leo or whatever. No working in a cannery or knitting mill for us! Small farmers dont exist anymore. We have this mentality that everyone needs to go to college. The grunts in the mills and fields doing sweat labor that never got a education are taxed to send the newer generation to college.
How can we exist as time go`s on without produceing? We can only make counterfit money and borrow so long. I think most of us are just wakeing up to truth and fact in the last two weeks! As I said recently on another post, "You give everyone in the nation a million dollars, and no one is going to wash dishs or show up at the dealership to sell me that escalade!" The bottom line somewhere has got to be your money is really no good unless you sweated personaly for it! Right now we just live off others sweat and labor. That cant go on forever. When someone (goverment) plays robin hood with your earned money you are going to back off and do less. So are corporations, or more likely, just move to mexico or elsewhere. It really shouldnt be rocket science to figure that out.

I think he was lamenting the intro of whole wheat pasta.

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Sure you did

Interesting site, oldman45. But, I checked the underwear briefs that would be comparable to the Hanes (at least they look the same in a picture, not sure about quality) and the costs is $70.00 + S&H for 10 pair. The Hanes sale price was $42.00 for 12 pair. Like someone else said, the being made in America ship has sailed and will not return back to harbor.

Try Made in USA, Made in America, US, American-Made. They have underwear and tons of other stuff all made is USA. Also American Made Clothing, New Balance Shoes, Made in USA, Union Made. & Beso | Shop the Newest Styles from Your Favorite Brands & Stores. Good luck.

I don't know if this matters, but when I was in Vietnam, my underwear were made in the USA.

Ferril I can't think of anything to add-other than I agree with everything you just posted.

We have met the enemy and he is us.

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Forum consigliere

MY FELLOW AMERICANS: STOP WEARING UNDERWEAR!
IF WE CAN"T WEAR AMERICAN MANUFACTURED CLOTHES--
LETS GO NUDE!!

If you can believe what the media says, there is a great influx to the US of American jobs. ABC did a segment last week and showed where many products are returning to the US as well as service jobs.

I hate to phone some company only to end up talking to someone in India that cannot speak good English.

Hmm, underwear made in Vietnam. Assuming I get to an age that I began having trouble controlling certain bodily functions, I will at least be able to take solace in the thought that I will be soiling something made in a communist-controlled hole. See, there is an upside to almost everything!

You wore underwear while in Viet Nam ???

I have to admit to buying import almost everything ..... I draw a very deep and dark line at buying anything made in Viet Nam.

So people are gonna go commando because they can't get 'made in 'merica' underwear .... yet have no problem typing it out on a Chinese made keyboard on their Chinese made computer?

I'd think people would be throwing those computers AWAY and getting MADE IN 'MERICA computers!!!!

If your underwear isn't made in south East Asia, you have less of a chance getting a happy ending at a Thai massage.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

oh man, you tell me Iron Eyes Cody wasn't really an indian and my drawers are made in Saigon! I'm gonna fix a stiff drink! The twins deserve better.

As long as no one wants to work in a factory at a sewing machine for $1.00 per day, your skivies are going to be made in some 3rd world country.

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James Redfield
LM #497

And here I thought I was the one who used to be bad about drunk posting...

I think with the median age on this board somewhere around 75, not wearing underwear would be a huge problem....too much leakage.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

New Balance is not Union made....

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Avtually, there is a fine line now about "Made in USA" and assembled here.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Another site that says American made only products...and they show drawers for you guys:

https://www.saveourcountryfirst.com

And only 25% of the NB shoes are made in this country, unfortunately, not the ones I need for the tennis court.

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed

If you do buy Vietnamese underpants. Make sure you wash it first. You don't know who was wearing it last before they packed it up.

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SOS USA

And that's why we are we are. To quote the man of wealth and taste "we have met the enemy and it is us"

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Sure you did

What a pity, and so young too.

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SOS USA

Please back up that statement, as I believe it false.. Perhaps I will stand corrected, but I would like to see the source of your info.

NB has full manufacturing facilities in Norridgewok, Skowhegan, and Norway Maine. All three facilities are easy traveling distance from where I live. True, they have been forced by the EPA to buy parts from overseas, but that is our Gov'ts fault. The fact of the matter is that what is unacceptable here in manufacturing, is now encouraged overseas.

Reads ...China calls the shots already.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Having spent a long time working industrial accidents, I learned a lot about factory work.

We have plenty of semi skilled, intelligent people that dropped out of school for various reasons. They are more than willing to work in factories for a decent wage. However unions have caused people to feel they are worth more than what they actually are. Then industry has decided they could make more by using foreign labor. People in Japan, Mexico and China are willing to pretty much be at work an hour early and work 12 hrs a day for little wages just to be employed.

In the US, a person sweeping floors for AT&T, GM or such is making $20+ per hour. It is difficult for a company to pay such wages when overseas labor is so much cheaper.

It is also impossible to get the US workers to understand that when the union drives the cost of manufacture so high that the employer relocates to other areas. Then the workers are unemployed but the heads of the unions still get a nice paycheck from the national headquarters. The Shreveport GM plant has 4000 people looking for work due to union demands but the Union heads are still getting paid. AT&T could not fire someone for their bad attendance thanks to the union but had to overhire so they could run the production lines. AT&T went to Mexico and Singapore while GM went to smaller towns where unions were not yet as strong. Either way, it is the workers that are hurt.

It all started with those adjustable one size fit`s all baseball caps from china and japan.

Yes, we sure do. It's more honorable, in our present society, for a young person to go get a four year business degree so they can pour coffee at Starbucks than to have a dirty job like welding, machining, or turning wrenches.

I place a lot of the blame on high schools....if a kid isn't on track to go to college, they treat them like a second-class citizen.

They absolutely do try to prep every kid for college...they can't accept the fact that we need plumbers, electricians, carpenters, septic tank pumpers, garbage men, etc.

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'Merica!

Depends are made domestically I think.

Anyway, the good underwear comes from Hanro of Switzerland. It runs 85 dollars a pair for boxers. Good stuff.

Anyway, underpants aren't exactly a high tech item. If you want some made domestically, get a sewing machine and make some. Cotton fabric and elastic are easy enough to come by.

Really??? You are really concerned about where your drawers are produced? That's funny.

What is this "underwear" you speak of?

There's one in NY State....saveourcountryfirst.com

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Sure you did

I resemble that remark, although I'm actually only 78.

We could get rid of them by donating them to some third world country but they probably already have better.

Sure. I heard it on Fox Business channel this weekend by the CEO of the company: New Balance CEO on Manufacturing - Fox Business Video - FoxBusiness.com

Also, when I bought my tennis shoes last fall I mentioned to the salesman about NB being US made and he said not all of them, just a couple lines.

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed

Pogo??

Now I am showing my age.

Buck

It wasn't just cheaper imports that took market share away from American manufacturers-- Japan was importing a superior product.

My mother purchased a Toyota Corona in the 70's. It ran like a sewing machine and was trouble free. My father's Ford Granada was troublesome from the day he bought it. Of course that influenced my first new car buying decision years later. I bought a new Toyota 4X4 that was more expensive than some of the full size domestic pickups.

I purchased my first first TV in the 70's. It was the most expensive 19'' in the store-- Sony.

I got into motorcycling during the the 70's. Harley/AMF products were junk at any price, and they had little selection beyond heavy road bikes.

-- It takes a long time to get your reputation back. American manufacturers are doing a much better job now, but they lost me for nearly the past 40 years. That said, my Toyota Tundra and Sienna are built in America and have a higher percentage of American made parts than many so-called 'domestics'. My iMac was assembled in America and it's playing music through my Bose speakers... I'm heading to the range with my Ruger 22/45 with Yankee Hill suppressor, and shooting CCI. I guess someone in America must still be working for a living.

I must concede defeat here. I needed a cheap, reliable, gas friendly car for a hellacious commute to my current job. I went Civic. There wasn’t a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge I would have trusted. I’m still not sure. The Focus seems to be holding up from what I hear. The Cobalt is still pretty new. And I am just anti Dodge from too many friends having issues and my Jeep Cherokee that I loved was really a clunker that wouldn’t quit. It never died on me, but it’s entire tenure with me it acted and sounded like it was on its last leg. Now my Civic is creeping up on being ten years old and the only issue I have is a very minor oil leak that a switch to different oil seems to have fixed. Even the decade old moonroof doesn’t leak…

They can sell their stuff way cheaper than AMERICAN made stuff for a couple of reasons:
The government builds the factories and trains the workforce. Then pay said workforce subsistence wages. You work - you eat and have a dry place to sleep.
I worked in a swamp in China and the swamp was also the bathroom and kitchen. We were all getting sick. The management had the police come to the site and offered to arrest anyone not working for malingering. Those guys were knocking down 75 cents a week for 6/16 days.

THAT'S the kind of thing you're supporting to save a few bucks!

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In dog years I'm dead.

DeadAye, Dont leave me/us hanging! That has to be quite a story! That figures out to 1.28 cents a hour and board! What was your function there? What kind of work were the slaves doing? Inquireing minds want to know!

I was an EE for a company (Transact International) that built and installed air cargo handling systems.

That job was in the early '90s in Guangzhou - On the mainland near Hong Kong.
The Engineers and project manager stayed in hotels (me) and inns (them). The *workers* stayed on site --- ALWAYS. They slept on the concrete floor of the warehouse we were building on bamboo mats, while the lead men had hammocks.
By ALWAYS I mean that they could not leave the job site until the job was competed and they were reassigned to another job. We had guys from all over the country, and they were there because they were told to be there <> Period.

No power tools on site except welding machines -- at that time.
We had three (3) guys with tools.
1 guy had 2 pipe wrenches
another guy had a plusie (Phillips head screwdriver)
another had a minusie (slot head screwdriver)
Loosing the tool meant prison (for really), so you used a screwdriver and AS SOON as you finished turning the screw the guy would take the tool from you.

Rocks were used as hammers and sharpened pieces of leaf springs were chisels.

Most amazing (to me)
There was an ENDLESS stream of 3 guys on wheel barrows and another ENDLESS line of guys with water bucket yolks.
As they went down a line they would get shovels full of sand then some of Portland and then shovels of rocks and then 2 buckets (or maybe it was 4) of water. (Keep in mind that they didn't stop while this was going on) Then 2 guys would walk along on either side of the wheel barrow and *mix* the concrete with shovels.
When they got to where they were going they'd dump the concrete and head back to do it again.
They were pouring the runways for an international airport!
There was NO WAY that any 2 wheel barrows had the same mixture of concrete.

Our *workers* (Not slaves -- Cause they got paid) were assembling a multi-million dollar air cargo storage/retrieval system. Since they had no tools to speak of - If a bolt was in a place where you couldn't get at it with a pipe wrench, it got hand tightened.

I could probably write a book about jobs in China through the '90s, but no one would buy it
I got the rare opportunity to work, and live, at remote sites instead of the tourist stuff that most foreign visitors got to see --- Lucky me.

I think of those guys every time I see a *Made In China* label.
I realize that conditions have improved since then, but the workers are still treated as just a bit of dirt.

Soon we of the U.S. middle class will be *the workers* I fear.

Briefly:
For our next job I had 2 complete Craftsman roll-a-ways with complete tool sets sent with the equipment.
When I arrived I found that they'd used the tools to disassemble EVERYTHING. And that was just the beginning of that nightmare, which had it's origins in the Guangzhou job.

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In dog years I'm dead.