Via ProToolsReviews and an Irwin marketing page, we’ve learned that Irwin has proposed a National Tradesmen Day to celebrate America’s working men.
In a message to tradesmen, Irwin says they’re doing this “to celebrate all that you do to keep our country running strong. It’s our hope that the entire nation will celebrate with us.”
Yes, America’s tradesmen should definitely be celebrated, but is that really Irwin’s motive? Or are they trying to appease to tradesmen to sell more tools?
I still haven’t forgotten how Irwin closed their Vise-Grip factory in DeWitt Nebraska over two years ago. If they really cared about celebrating American tradesmen, they would have kept manufacturing facilities in the USA instead of shifting them overseas to China.
The proposed logo for such a National Tradesmen Day features a hand grasping Irwin Vise-Grip pliers, which are currently being produced overseas.
So what do you, America’s tradesmen, think about this?
I think it’s disgusting.
Irwin recently disabled the ability to comment on their self-serving ads posted on youtube due to the overwhelming response of viewers taking them to task over the sheer hypocrisy of their invoking the “hard-working American hands” of the very same workers they sold down the river when they moved production of an iconic American brand like Vise-Grip to China.
I will NEVER buy an Irwin tool.
I’ll let them know with my wallet. Irwin will continue to get nothing from me. They used to get quite a bit of my business. They will again, when they move production back to the states.
Perhaps the problem lies within the USA and not Irwin and every other company that is fleeing the country. Too many rules and regulations. Why does the land of the free and home of the brave require so much government? This is no longer a country that lets you enjoy the fruits of your own labor. Once you achieve the American dream the government steps in and takes it away.
I don’t recall hearing about any brand shifting manufacturing overseas because of government rules and regulations; the most common excuse is “to lower costs to be able to maintain competitive pricing.”
I would think that the main reason to outsource is for the much cheaper labor costs, but I could see how government/EPA restrictions could affect profit margins as well. In the USA, regulations meant to protect workers, the environment, and community drinking water supplies, means that certain chemicals or processes aren’t allowed to be used anymore. It’s fair to say that not all contracted overseas factories in developing nations adhere to such regulations.
Aside from this example, I can’t think of any reason how “too many rules and regulations” could drive US manufacturers to close up shop in favor of outsourced manufacturing.
In the US, we have had rules that protect the environment, rules that protect workers, rules that protect consumers, and a middle-class that resulted largely from fair dealing between management and unions, fair wages, good benefits, and retirement programs. But multinational corporations have only one goal: profit. They’ll shift production to anywhere they can find with the lowest labor costs, because in the short-term balance-sheet CEO-bonus world, they make more money if they can externalize many of the costs of production (that means they don’t bear any of the costs of air and water pollution, worker safety, and consumer safety). But mutlinational corporate propaganda makes many Americans blame American workers (themselves) and our government. Ironically, all the government has done for the past 30 years is to do what their corporate campaign contributors tell them to do, which is to shaft citizens of this country.
And we let the companies continue with this hollowing-out of the nation. Calling them out on their hypocrisy, and not buying their products, are two of the only things we can do to try and change things.
I don’t agree with what they do, or any company when they send their things over seas. But WE the comsumer are to blame mostly. Sure everyone says they will pay a couple bucks more for American made goods, but when it comes to putting money where the mouth is, people are always looking for deals. If they can get a set of drill bits for 10 bucks or 15 bucks, 9 times out of 10 they will go for the cheaper one. Same with TVs, Car, Clothing, Refridgerators, you name it.
If a company like IRWIN, or DeWalt or whom ever, lowered their prices to meet the consumers shopping habits, they would have to lay off people to keep the wages high and competitive. And if they started doing that, everyone would be up in arms about that.
Sure the fat cats make a boat load of money but guess what, so does everyone else.
But at the end of the day, as long as we shop the way we shop, we force companies to do what they do. Don’t complain when the price of something goes up a couple of bucks, just accept it. Don’t buy something then use it and take it back to the store when you’re done.
I haven’t bought anything from them since they killed off the Peterson plant in Dewitt, NE. New ones from China cost the same, feel inferior and add nothing to our economy. Irwin is garbage in my opinion.
Irwin is one of the brands owned by the Newell-Rubbermaid conglomerate. If you read the story of what happened to Rubbermaid and its sale to arch rival Newell – it will provide some insight into the transformation of consumer product manufacturing from US-based facilities to overseas plants. It’s a tale that includes the influence of big box stores like Wal-Mart and relentless pressure to reduce prices to meet customer demand. If you think this only happened to US consumer product manufacturing – think again. The Irwin-Newell-Rubbermaid brands like Record and Marples – once proud English manufacturers of woodworking tools have more recently been affixed to a mixed bag of Asian-made tools. As other’s point out – the Petersen Vise Grip factory in Nebraska – was came first, then the Petersen family formed American Tool which then bought out Irwin in 2002 – with all of this being acquired by Newell-Rubbermaid in 2003 and then somewhat later moved offshore. I suspect profits are at the core of all of these moves – and some might argue that both the parent (Newell-Rubbermaid) and their Irwin (American Tool Companies), Lenox (American Saw & Manufacturing) , BernzOmatic, Shur-Line and Pelouze Subsidiaries all need to fight for profitability in an global economy. While jobs at the Atlanta based parent company support the US economy – manufacturing elsewhere does more to support Asian growth.
id never buy an irwin tool PERIOD…. besides the fact that the rubber grips suck,theyre a sell out to the u.s & i wont support that
and sam, your comment is ridiculous & if you beleive that, your probobally buying chiwan crap guilt free…..
Fred, thanks for that bit of insight! I remember reading something about Walmart forcing Rubbermaid to greatly reduce prices or risk being de-shelved.
I have seen USA-made Rubbermaid products recently, so they didn’t shift all production overseas.
Stu,
here’s the link for the downfall of Rubbermaid story, it’s chapter 2 from the PBS Frontline Series. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p71&continuous=1
The whole thing is worth a watch.
kevin, thanks for posting that.i saw that on tv & was shocked.i never shopped at walmart anyway & when i saw that,it sealed it. everyone needs to watch that & then justify shopping at wal mart
Seriously? What kind of truck do you all drive? What kind of power tools do you use? If you think you buy anything that is truly made in the great USA think again! We all purchase products that are made overseas and if you think you buy something that is made in America, I would bet half the parts in your American made truck have been manufactured in other countries. It is a fact of life. I know how you all feel, but being a mason for the last 20 plus years I can say as teachers and secretaries have their days, why cant I? I love it when people say thanks for what I have done. Seeing a smile on the face of a home owner that I build a wall for, a fire pit or a stone patio. When a company wants to say thanks, I will take it and feel damn good about it.
Sure their job is to make and sell tools, but I dont see Stanley ever recognizing my work, or Dewalt giving two hoots about the work I have done. I believe as self serving as this is it is a nice jesture. I am proude to be American and the work I do everyday, what I am not proud of is my fellow tradesmen that wine when a pair of pliers is made in another country. It all comes down to the job you are able to do and how well you do it. Man up people and accept the gratitude some people want to show us and not worry about the decision others have to make. If you buy Irwin tools its your decision, if you dont its your decision. Think of it like this, when you are finished with a job, if a customer is not happy with your work, do you just say what the hell? Do you walk away “guilt free”? I know I take pride in my work and that is the point of all this, not where the tools are made? I think think their tools are ok, do I buy them? Sometimes I do, sometimes I dont, but I do know some of the tools I need that they make here in the USA like step drill bits and other great products.
Obviously, this makes me mad, partially because of the overseas issue, but more so because my fellow tradesmen pitch a fit over something so insignificant as this and not say here is a company that might understand what I do!
Please note that it *appears* Bor submitted his comment from a computer traced to a Newell Companies Inc. facility. As you may know, Newell is Irwin’s parent company, so we’re going to investigate this before drawing any conclusions.
Update: the comment appears to be genuine, and is said to have been submitted on behalf of a family member that authored it.