Purchase domestic or import – artificial grass
Thursday, July 30th, 2009So have you every really considered what it means to “buy American”? What exactly is the objective value of doing that? Does it create jobs? Does it result in a better quality product? Does it save you money? Does it result in better service? What exactly constitutes “buying American”? When you buy a Toyota is that buying American? Usually the answer is No because Toyota is Japanese company – but would you feel the same way knowing that Toyota has a assembly plant in California and the majority of its parts come from the local region? Is it not buying American even though it is a Japanese parent? After all – it creates California jobs and provides for local California businesses. If that’s not buying American then why are legislators in Sacramento scared about that plant shutting down? The reality is that in today’s globally connected economy – “buying American” is nothing more than an advertising gimmick!
Let’s shift gears and focus on the artificial turf industry. A popular artificial grass and synthetic turf discussion topic today is whether or not it makes sense to pay the premium for using a domestically manufactured product – as opposed to an imported artificial lawn or synthetic turf product. There are certainly legitimate reasons to go either way – a domestic artificial grass lawn or an imported synthetic turf. There is value is “buying American” – job creation. There is also value in buying an import – if that imported product is of the same or superior quality for the same or a lesser price.
As already alluded to above – the automobile industry is a demonstration of American values – we are willing to purchase a domestically made product and even potentially willing to pay a modest premium but in the end we as consumers are not willing to accept less for more! We want more for less – which is why Chrysler and GM are in bankruptcy. For too long they made inferior products and charged more for them.
So back to the subject of artificial grass and synthetic turf. It is very cliche right now for artificial grass dealers to shout out their products are “American made” – as if being imported implies an inferior product. But the reality is – they are not all “American made” – they are “American assembled”. The artificial grass industry is filled with dozens of manufacturers – that all buy the raw materials from the same domestic AND international suppliers. Tiger Turf artificial grass – they are an Australian company, that purchased a Canadian yarn extrusion company, and recently opened a facility in Texas – that now advertises “American made”. The same artificial grass yarn – from that same artificial grass extrusion company – now owned by that same artificial grass manufacturing company – is used in products assembled in China! Don’t get me wrong – its a great yarn. My point is – this isn’t really “buying American” anymore that buying the grass from China is! It doesn’t create any more jobs! It doesn’t keep any more money domestically! Buying the Chinese product – still puts money (and jobs) in the pockets of that Canadian yarn company, and in the hands of that Australian grass manufacturer that owns the Canadian yarn company, that funds that Texas assembly plant. It also puts money (and jobs) in the hands of that domestic importing/shipping company, and the domestic distribution company, and the hands of that local artificial grass installer/contractor that installs your job. How about where all the labor, raw materials, and R&D for the machines that are built used in the extrusion, tufting, and coating processes – domestic and international! Did I tell you that the backings used by the majority of the manufacturers – comes from a US company?
Now I am not advocating purchasing an imported artificial grass or synthetic turf product (or for that matter an Australian, Canadian, Chinese or European) over a domestic product. I am simply saying purchase the artificial grass and/or synthetic turf product that you think is the best value for you, all things considered – taking into account your own personal values. Its sexy to be on the “Walmart is Evil” bandwagon – until the economy suffers and while Nordstroms suffers Walmart remains busy! So don’t purchase an artificial grass or synthetic turf simply because it is made domestically and don’t not purchase an artificial grass and/or synthetic turf because it was imported. Pick the best grass.
Challenge manufacturers – domestic and foreign – to produce the best artificial grass lawn products for the best possible pricing. In that scenario we all win.
It is for this reason that Purchase Green is an artificial grass dealer that offers both domestically produced and imported products.