How many here go out of their way to buy just American lights?

[alanagnostic]

For the most part I do. Most of my lights are Surefire, HDS, Maglite, or McGizmo. My only real exceptions are cheapy button-cell lights from Lighthound.

I was just curious if anyone purposely tries to buy only from US manufacturers.

 

[021411]

I'd hate to see this thread get really heated and political. But with that said it makes no difference to me with flashlights in general. Both countries make damn good flashlights.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

As long as a Flashlight is made well, supports my needs and which I can afford I will buy it. Also some of us CPFer's live outside the US and have to make altenative choices

 

[Supernam]

Respectfully, no. America's capitalistic society is based on a culture of competition. So buying only American just for the sake of buying American wouldn't be honoring the tradition of capitalistic competition that has made America what it is today. Also, one is not any more patriotic if they "buy American" than if they bought import. In fact, the current trend for corporate America is to go abroad. I know the discussion is limited to flashlights but does one really buy American if they bought for example a Springfield Armory weapon even though it's most likely made in Brazil? Is buying the best selling car in America (Toyota Camry), buying American since it's made in America by the hands of hardworking Americans?

Regards.

Oops, did I sound political?

 

[Fluffster]

Still waiting for the Icelandic flashlight industry to take off...at least we have enough aluminium smelters!

 

[021411]

Respectfully, no. America's capitalistic society is based on a culture of competition. So buying only American just for the sake of buying American wouldn't be honoring the tradition of capitalistic competition that has made America what it is today. Also, one is not any more patriotic if they "buy American" than if they bought import. In fact, the current trend for corporate America is to go abroad. I know the discussion is limited to flashlights but does one really buy American if they bought for example a Springfield Armory weapon even though it's most likely made in Brazil? Is buying the best selling car in America (Toyota Camry), buying American since it's made in America by the hands of hardworking Americans?

Regards.

Oops, did I sound political?

Excellent points.

 

[Monocrom]

I'll be honest, I tend to buy what I like..... Especially if it's a high-output, LED, with a pocket clip. Regardless of who makes it.

But if 2 companies make a similar light, I'll buy the one from the American maker.

 

[alanagnostic]

I have to say I was not trying to be antagonistic. I don't just buy American products...I have a Nissan truck (wouldn't buy most American made cars), I have guns made in Brazil (I believe). I believe in competition and that the best products should have to prove themselves to survive. Also I'm not advocating that anyone should "just buy American". Everyone should spend their own money however they wish. I was just curious. I simply believe in buying high-quality flashlights and I've found many of the highest quality lights are made in the US. YMMV.

 

[TOOCOOL]

Still waiting for the Icelandic flashlight industry to take off...at least we have enough aluminium smelters!

And if you don't you soon will by the looks of it :laughing:

 

[ScooterBug]

no. i buy what catches my eye.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I don't go out of my way to buy American, but I do try to avoid things made in places actively working to undermine other countries' economies, industry, or innovation.

 

[KROMATICS]

For the most part I do. Most of my lights are Surefire, HDS, Maglite, or McGizmo. My only real exceptions are cheapy button-cell lights from Lighthound.

I was just curious if anyone purposely tries to buy only from US manufacturers.

I'll buy US made products when they are high-quality. However, I don't necessarily think of them as being any better than those made in Germany or the UK for example. More importantly I try to avoid buying products from certain countries whether it be flashlights or wheat gluten.

 

[Casual Flashlight User]

American flashlights are the best around (I'm English BTW, so no misplaced loyalty/patriotism here).

I'll continue to buy American for as long as companies like Arc, HDS, Inova etc continue to produce first class, rock solid, highly reliable products.


CFU

 

[ringzero]

I was just curious if anyone purposely tries to buy only from US manufacturers.

I buy lights from Underwater Kinetics, Princeton Tec, Streamlight, Inova, Pelican, and Mag because I prefer their lights over those of their competitors. Those manufacturers all happen to be American, but some of their products are made abroad.

I want reliable, long-term usable lights with decent quality control and dependable warranty.

The very latest whiz-bang Chinese lights with Cree emitters, umpteen levels, SOS, questionable reliability, and doubtful warranty just don't interest me much.


.

 

[parnass]

...
I was just curious if anyone purposely tries to buy only from US manufacturers.

I try to confine light (and other) purchases to those made in USA, though I own a few lights from non-USA makers.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

I will not buy a light solely because it is American-made. And I do buy non-American lights here and there.
I think that America does produce some quality lighting products and I don't mind paying a bit more for them when that product suits my needs or catches my eye. If given the choice of two products that are very similar, one American-made and the other imported, I will go American, even if it is more expensive (within reason). Patriotism and brand loyalty do have a minor influence on me, and I strive to keep it minor.

 

[Spalding]

I'm an Armenian and were it not for America me and my family would be fertilizer in some Turk's opium poppy field. I will always prefer American things - for good reason.

 

[woodrow]

I have spent thousands of dollars on American lights. I look forward to buying them again...especially the new Pelican that the LA police are getting. I would also like a PT dive light with 3 Rebel, K2, or Cree emitters. I would also like a SL survivorLED with a bright led in it.

Unfortunately, these lights do not exhist yet. When they do, I will buy them. In the meantime I thank Cree for kicking Lumileds collective As.... and making them produce a better product if they want to still compete.

As one American car company president said when his company posted a large profit in the 90's after years of having its collective clock cleaned by Toyota and Honda. "Gentleman, I raise a toast to the Japanese auto industry. Had they not forced us to raise the bar from where we were at in the early 80's, we would not be enjoying the success we have achieved today."

America is great because compitition make us become better. Thats why I do not feel guilty for buying "currently" a superior (brightness to runtime) Asian product. If we all just simply bought MMag 3 watts because they are made in the US, our manufactures would not need to create better products, and in the end we would all loose.

 

[bridgman]

I don't have a hard rule about "only buying American" (being Canadian that means North American, of course) but I will pay extra to buy from local manufacturers if I can. That's an economic statement, not a political one -- I don't mind "some" business and jobs going to other, less expensive countries but I also think we need to try to keep more than just marketing and retail jobs in North America.

Canada did OK as a country of oil wells and data centers for a while, but the data center business is scampering off to less expensive places so it's a damn good thing oil prices are high :naughty:

 

[LightInDarkness]

For the most part I do. Most of my lights are Surefire, HDS, Maglite, or McGizmo. My only real exceptions are cheapy button-cell lights from Lighthound.

I was just curious if anyone purposely tries to buy only from US manufacturers.

Me.