grogie
Like to Camp
On occasion at work I source stuff out… Most recently a bid came back that two of the product's important features could not be manufactured in the USA, but yes in China. Plus the USA made product without those two features would cost the same as in China with the two features.
Secondly, I have another vendor that owns a modern, high tech factory in China. They actually have to provide housing for most of their younger workforce, as these people come from poor farming communities. This vendor does still have several USA factories, however as said above, the USA factories have less capabilities and cost more to use. We of course prefer USA made products and request them as much as possible, however it's getting tougher.
To me, JetBoil took a design with this stove and improved it, and of course it has to have it made in China as there are just less options here in the USA. Not to mention if you think $299 is expensive, even if someone could build it in the USA, how many people would be willing to spend $499 for the same thing? Probably not as many. Fact is, consumers (myself included) want more for less money. I know this isn't easy...
Secondly, I have another vendor that owns a modern, high tech factory in China. They actually have to provide housing for most of their younger workforce, as these people come from poor farming communities. This vendor does still have several USA factories, however as said above, the USA factories have less capabilities and cost more to use. We of course prefer USA made products and request them as much as possible, however it's getting tougher.
To me, JetBoil took a design with this stove and improved it, and of course it has to have it made in China as there are just less options here in the USA. Not to mention if you think $299 is expensive, even if someone could build it in the USA, how many people would be willing to spend $499 for the same thing? Probably not as many. Fact is, consumers (myself included) want more for less money. I know this isn't easy...
