Crackdown urged over kilt cheats

[Prester John]

GO SCOTLAND!

Amen, baby. Truth in advertising.

Who'da thunk!

[GlassMan]

That's a very good step. I'm all for strengthening consumer protection laws. There is just no reason to ever deceive a customer.

[cormacmacguardhe]

As stated by others before me, the truth about where products are made is essential for the buying public. Staying off my soapbox about offshore companies.

[Bob C]

I agree that truth in labeling is essential. People have a right to know what they're buying.

Now, let me take a stand that will be less popular: If Scottish manufacturers did not charge such outrageously high prices, imports would not be a problem.

[switchblade5984]

I agree that truth in labeling is essential. People have a right to know what they're buying.

Now, let me take a stand that will be less popular: If Scottish manufacturers did not charge such outrageously high prices, imports would not be a problem.

aye less cheep kilts........

[Jimmy Carbomb]

How could ANYONE have an objection to that?!!

"Made in Scotland" means exactly that. Of course, it there's a Scotland, Ohio we're in for some REAL confusion. There is a Dublin, Ohio which would make a lovely place to create Celtic gifts.

Being that the majority of "tartan" is not manufactured in Scotland, they have one heck of a battle on their hands. What's the difference if the product is sewn-up in Edinburgh when the entire garment is milled elsewhere? Taiwan, China, Pakistan or wherever has 90% of the product made in their country. Sure that's a poor excuse... but do they have any rights to the manufacturing claim?

How many Fords, Chryslers and Chevys are made in Mexico, Canada or the Far East? Are they still American cars since they carry the faceplates of American companies?

It's a bit touchy of a subject with many, but one that has arguments beyond anything you could imagine!

I must say in closing that ANYTHING as important as kilts or celtic accessories that claim to be made in Ireland or Scotland NEED to be authentic. Much like Stetson cowboy hats... I would HATE to find that mine was made in Syria!!! There is a certain respect that needs to be recognized when you're dealing with items of culture and heritage.

Let's face it, I wouldn't really care if the banjo strings I use were made in China but said "Made in Scotland". It just doesn't hold the same threshold.;-)

[Angus MacSpey]

Now, let me take a stand that will be less popular: If Scottish manufacturers did not charge such outrageously high prices, imports would not be a problem.

Hopefully this won't ignite a flame war, but this touches on one of my pet peeves.

The Scottish manufacturers are NOT charging outrageously high prices. They are charging prices that are:

1) reflective of the cost of materials
2) reflective of the cost of labor
3) in line with the life-value of the product
4) taking into account the inflated (thus lower in value) currency many First World countries are suffering from (particularly the U.S.)

So you pay $500 for a kilt. For the average American, what percentage of a week's wages is that? For some, it may be 10%, for some maybe 100%. Even if that kilt costs you a week's wages, think about how long it lasts - its value to YOU.

And put yourself in the place of the kilt-maker hand-stitching your fine new kilt. Do you object to him or her making a decent enough living to feed their kids, pay their mortgage and taxes, health insurance, car payments, etc, etc, etc? If they make (profit) $300 from a two-day project, are they getting rich? How much money do YOU make?

No, the cheap-*** imports from Pakistan are outrageously UNDERPRICED. People in Third World countries, because of their costs of living, and exchange rates, can actually live on a couple dollars a day. At 10 dollars per day, they live like kings. But they don't get that much. They get barely enough to rise to the level of middle-class squalor.

So Ali Q. Hindu makes $5 to sew a kilt. Tell me if a Scot can do it for that.

This is the hidden evil of "free trade." They tell us that "free trade" makes things cheaper. Yeah, that's true. But an unemployed former factory worker can't buy jack.

***************

And on Wal-Mart - I vaguely remember when their truck fleet had "Made in America" on their trailers. Now, they say, "Low Prices. Always." I defy anyone to find an American-made product in a Wal-Mart today.

See the film, "American Jobs," directed by Greg Spotts. Real people lose real jobs so you can buy crap that lasts 1/4 as long for 3/4 the price.

People think I'm kidding about this. I'm still using American-made power tools my grandfather used. 50 years ago. My grandchildren will be able to use the same tools. My Porter-Cable circular saw, circa 1955. My Miller's Falls belt sander. No one under 60 has even heard of one. I promise nothing you can buy at Home Despot today will last that long.

[pulling hair out] I'd best get off my soap box for now. Sorry.

I have no quarrel with you if you buy cheap imports. Times are tough for a lot of us.

[cormacmacguardhe]

And on Wal-Mart - I vaguely remember when their truck fleet had "Made in America" on their trailers. Now, they say, "Low Prices. Always." I defy anyone to find an American-made product in a Wal-Mart today.

See the film, "American Jobs," directed by Greg Spotts. Real people lose real jobs so you can buy crap that lasts 1/4 as long for 3/4 the price.

People think I'm kidding about this. I'm still using American-made power tools my grandfather used. 50 years ago. My grandchildren will be able to use the same tools. My Porter-Cable circular saw, circa 1955. My Miller's Falls belt sander. No one under 60 has even heard of one. I promise nothing you can buy at Home Despot today will last that long.

[pulling hair out] I'd best get off my soap box for now. Sorry.

I have no quarrel with you if you buy cheap imports. Times are tough for a lot of us.

This is the soap box I was not going to get on, but I agree whole heartedly. If these jobs keep going overseas pretty soon there will be no one on this side of the ocean who can afford even the cheap (not just in price) items. I also have tools that my grandfather and father both used, and I will pass them on to my children. Not something I could do with the "made in china" crap we have available today.

[Cawdorian]

Angus,

You are not alone, this 65 year old still has working Porter Cable power tools purchased back in the early 60's. They were really great tools, my dad wouldn't purchase any other brand for his employees to use. You could take a Porter Cable saw, hold it down at your side and turn it on, they did not prroduce the torque roll action many of the other brands exhibited.

I am enjoying my Scottish tank, it was well worth every penny I paid for it. I get to wear the full kit again tomorrow night to the SAS Christmas Party. I am looking forward to it.

[Bob C]

Hopefully this won't ignite a flame war, but this touches on one of my pet peeves.

No flames from me. I say you're wrong, but you have every right to hold those opinions.

Scottish manufacturers DO charge for more than reasonable markup, because the market supports it. I do not blame them for getting what they can. I have a "tank" that I paid well over $500 for. I sure won't be buying many at prices like that. Most people won't buy any. It's not just the kilts, either - all the accessories are priced far over their actual value, too. Again, if the market allows them to get away with that, I don't begrudge them getting what they can.

The market only supports that because of snobbery, and the expectation that one must pay through the nose for kilts and accessories. If foreign manufacturers change that, making kilting more accessible to the masses, then I think that's great.


ADDENDUM: It occurs to me that I may seem to be picking on Scottish manufacturers, which was not my intent. The same principle applies to MANY marketed items. The example that comes quickest to my mind is I-Pods. They're no better than any other mp3 player, but they're WAY overpriced. People are paying for the name, rather than the function. It's their right to do so, but it's not very smart.