Is it me or does it seem like some of the prices for JK stuff is just getting totally out of hand?

I like to buy American whenever possible, but I cannot come close to justifying some of the prices I have seen...especially for bumpers, sliders, winches, etc.

I get it when you look at a Poison spider or Hanson bumper vs Smitty and see the quality difference.

I'm not trying to start a huge thread on American vs offshore here, but does anyone else think the cost of USA built seems way too high?

I'm all for these companies to turn a profit and continue to innovate but.....my wallet hurts just from looking at some of their stuff.

 

Prices are definitely high and that is one of the reasons people choose not to buy Made in the USA. I like to know my options for stuff I am buying. If there is an American made alternative I will evaluate it and base my decision on whether the cost difference is warranted. When the price seems obsurd I will buy other stuff. If enough people agree with me then you might see the stuff decrease in price. Unfortunately, there a lot of folks running JKs with deep pockets and I just dont see prices dropping. I will say that most of the vendors understand there are market differences...which is why I hope they continue offering discounts and specials to the forum members.

 

If you don't like seeing how expensive American-made products are, then start voting against policies and politicians that discourage manufacturing. Fuel prices, EPA & CARB compliance, Obamacare, unions, and lawyers are all conspiring to end all American manufacturing.

I will always buy American-made products over their foreign alternatives. And I will always fight government meddling in the free-market economy. The higher cost of American products is the least of my concerns when it comes to deciding which parts to buy; it's better to have one or two quality American-made parts than a Jeep totally blinged out with a full load of foreign crap.

 

I buy American if I can afford it, if not I build it. If I cant build it I weigh weather I can do without it. Only then do I buy imported stuff. Its not that American stuff is expensive. All products have a margin and it costs a hell of a lot more to make stuff here. Not to mention were competing with Commie China (basically slave labor) and all the other third world countries that are making our everyday products. Its amazing any American products are left.

Rob

 

I hate to say this but our money is not worth paper its printed on. I paid $6.99 for a dam hallmark birthday card the other day.

I looked at the cashier and said "really?" She said "yes" and I paid for it and left.

I'v also noticed that McDonalds $1 burgers are getting smaller.

20 oz coke at a gas station is now $1.39 wtf it was like .89 cents a few years ago!!!

Just a few things to think about

 

Companies that exploit the essentially slave labor of Mexico, India, and China probably have a higher profit margin on goods than companies with higher quality American made products. In China if a laborer gets his arm tore off in a machine he gets fired. In America thanks to laws and regulations that require a minimum level of corporate responsibility this now arm-less man gets workmans comp/disability. Responsibility is expensive and requires higher prices for business owners to still be able to buy yachts, mansions, mistresses, European vacations, etc.

I saw a report that showed the average wage in China in US dollars to be $1.61/per hour.
Imagine how cheap jeep parts could be if we had a labor force made up of slaves that received no wage, healthcare, retirement? Wait. The prices wouldnt decrease much but profit margins could be through the roof! When a worker lost an arm we could just let them die. When a worker got sick we could just let them die. If we deregulate and push responsibility aside we could have some lower cost products with some great profit margins.

Ok. Now who wants to sign up as the slaves?

 

You need help man.....really!

 

Rays - yes, American made aftermarket Jeep parts are more expensive, and yes it does make my wallet ache at times. Someone else here says J E E P stands for Just Empty Every Pocket! But guess what, we all love our Jeeps in some special way, and they are still among the most affordable vehicles to indulge our desires to make them uniquely our own.
Thing is, most of the American made aftermarket stuff is made by guys who love Jeeps too. Take a look at some of the stuff from other countries. It's often pretty weird and not up our expectations of design and durability.

 

I was watching a show that was talking about robotics and how advanced, specialized, and cost effective they are becoming to American companies. In fact India, China, Mexico, etc. should be concerned because robotics will bring a lot of manufacturing home to the U.S. but the people are still replaced, this time by robots instead of foreign slave laborers. It really is unfortunate.

 

Yep. Saw this too. Shows the direction our society is going, which is not good...