Whoever made this might have been taking a cat nap.
What you see here is one of a pack of two catnip mice I bought for the cats at the cyber cafe where I post each week. This low-cost dual pack of mice, intended to provide brief but fun enjoyment for cats in the United States, was assembled in China. Whoever put this one together was negligent with sewing the end shut and failed to knot the plastic whiskers, which promptly pulled out. Sure catnip mice are a cheap toy, but shouldn’t be low quality.
Why do we settle for substandard junk? We are worth some care and quality in our purchases. Whoever authorized the manufacture of this item should be ashamed. Next time I’ll make my own.
I’m not against international trade, but I’m tired of everything coming from someplace else and being designated as being worth only minimal effort for the cost. Possibly I’m in a snit because I am reading a book called “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” by Elizabeth Cline. The author bought out several pairs of what she thought was a bargain in some shoes she liked on sale, and soon realized that her shopping standards (and those of most of us) had deteriorated at the hands of an industry out of control. The American garment industry has nearly tanked, and the throwaway clothing culture we have become addicted to is killing the economy and the workers in overseas sweatshops where they are made.
Fortunately I don’t go for shoe fads: I’ve worn American-made shoes for decades and stick to manufacturers I know, like SAS.
Clothes from here are harder to come by, but at least some products, like cups and cookware (like Anchor) still are made here. Lately I’ve become an unpaid spokesperson for the Tervis company, which makes drinkware here at home and has a wonderful selection of sturdy and personality-amped items. A co-worker got one as a gift after I told him about them and he mentioned them to his family. It got left on his fender by mistake and dropped to the ground, but still had barely a scratch. His hot drinks stay hot, and cold drinks don’t sweat inside the double insulation. They are not $5 versions that will crack or degrade, but real keepers that will pay for themselves forever. I’ve seen them in Hallmark and Bed, Bath & Beyond stores and they’re online.
So now I’m on a campaign to find more American-made stuff. Plenty of resources are out there, so it’s just a matter of seeking and shopping. We can bring jobs and happiness back to our part of the world by adding some domestic stuff to our shopping habits. Heck, there is still Chinese food.
Susan's Scribblings the Blog 