Yamamoto Made in Mexico????

[Flippinjigs]

Yesterday I drop my boat off at Capital City Marine. So while I'm in town I head over to Sportsmans Warehouse to do some tackle shopping. Man these 4.5 inch Yamamoto flippin tubes look good so I buy them along with some other stuff. I get get home turn the package over MADE IN MEXICO? OMG not another busness putting americans out of work. Whats going on?

A customer come into my wife business today that works at Jelly Belly. I ask how are you? What have you been up to? Reply: Oh I have been over to China on company business. We are going to open up a factory in China? WHAT? More americans will not have a job! It's the company idea.

This is not good. I have been laid off twice from the airlines because they sent my aircraft maintenance mechanic job (and others) overseas to China. So some un-licensed mechanic without a background check can fix the aircraft that your family flies on. Oh ya!

I put 21 plus years active duty in the military along with many others americans. We Protected our countrys way of life and all these company want to do is put more americans out of work.

Whats wrong with american made that saves american jobs?

[whatabunchofidiots]

GREED my friend GREED its all about money no one cares about AMERICANS anymore not even Americans . We are minority now. We just keep getting weaker and weaker as they get stronger and stronger. Its time for the gov. to fine the crap out of these companies that move to other countries, l mean millions not pennies. I love this country and always will but DAMN IT its getting to be too much.

[N.A.R]

I could of sworn it was in Page Arizona on the Az Ut border.

[Rod Martin]

*NM*

[drew]

First off Mexico is part of America and Mexicans are just as American as those of us that live in the USA. Second its better to give Mexico the work then China.

If we do more business with Mexico maybe they would want to stay in their own country because they could afford a better quality of life.

I'm not saying we should take away jobs from the US workers. I'm saying that if we are going to outsource some our manufacturing we should keep it on this continent.

FWIW The US will have to stop outsourcing eventually. If we don't we will dry up and blow away. We can't keep spending more then we earn. Its simple economics.

[Johnny C]

Think of this when you save a few cents to buy a jig made in the Philippines.

[Terry Battisti]

Yamamoto has always outsourced their tubes to another company. In the past it s Big Boy's Baits (in AZ I believe) and now it's another company. All their other baits are made right there in Page, AZ.

Tubes make up maybe 5% of their sales so it's not that much that's actually being made in Mexico.

[Oldschool]

Boats and a few terminal tackle items, soft plastics and low production custom lures, etc., are still being manufactured in the USA.
Trying to buy USA made rods, reels, line and electronics; the list getting shorter.
The question if the USA has sovereinty or secure borders is a separate issue and the majority of citizens don't seem to care. Supporting the companies who manufacture their products in the USA is easier said then done.
Tom

[Flippinjigs]

The tubes could be made right here in the USA . I believe that there are many american high school students that would like to have a part time summer job. And others that would like to jump at the chance to get work experience, work history, And at the same time put a little cash into our economy and their pockets. I know I would have when I was in high school. So why don't these companies help american students? Recruit them for part time employment instead of going out side the country to pour tubes?

Ok I've said enough for now .

GOOD FISHIN!!!!

[fish_food]

I believe that there are many american high school students that would like to have a part time summer job. And others that would like to jump at the chance to get work experience, work history, And at the same time put a little cash into our economy and their pockets. I know I would have when I was in high school. So why don't these companies help american students? Recruit them for part time employment instead of going out side the country to pour tubes?

Why? Because Yamamoto aint a cottage industry or a small time manufacturer.

Smaller, regional bait makers can hire part-timers/bored housewives to pour in someone's garage but that's not the same thing as an actual labor force you can depend on to work long, regular shifts to meet the production scales of national or international markets. High school students would scoff at someone breathing down their necks to keep up the quota, especially at a low paying, repetitive, monotonous bait making job. Then they'd quit on you after investing training time.

Are there any Americans who are actually willing to accept the low wages bait companies want to pay out for monotonous production work?

[11InchBeard]

I won't even pretend that I know squat about economics and I'm sure I'll leave myself open to plenty of rebuttals But I do know that we, as a nation, are falling way behind in the economic competition. The owners of our major companies are selling out overseas for the sake of profit. They don't pay decent wages at home because that would cut into their profit margin.

Our nation is being flooded with immigrants, both legal and illegal, who will work for far less than the average person would. I realize that America was founded on the principle that all are welcome, just bring your talents and contribute to this vast and glorious nation. But that was true 150-200 years ago. Then 3/4 of our country was unsettled and open. There was a niche for anyone who had the drive and gumption to fill it; anyone who believed in the tenets that this nation was founded on. Today those niches are few and far between. Put simply, we are just about out of room. We can no longer be the Promised Land. Other countries are going to have to clean up their act so that their citizens want to stay there.

Our exports are crippled by excessive tariffs and yet we allow other countries to flood our markets with cheaper goods. Companies here at home, many of which are no longer American owned, send their production overseas for pennies on the dollar. The finished product is then sold here at 100's plus percent profit.

Why can't we protect our economic borders like others do? Why can't our leading companies keep their labor home, take a small hit on their profits, and in so doing allow their employees a decent wage. It appears to me, however simplistic this may seem, that in so doing our country would be far better served in the long run.

[Andi]

Most companies who make plastic baits don't manufacture their own products, with the exception of Zoom. Because of the expense associated with the equipment necessary to mass produce plastic baits they contract with larger manufacturing companies with facilities and labor to handle the jobs. There are several of these large manufacturing facilities that are owned and operated right here in the U.S.A. - one of which is probably the most reputable in terms of custom work in the industry, so it's not like there's not a quality domestic option out there. It comes down to the dollar bill. It's cheaper to manufacture and purchase goods manufactured offshore, so companies of all sizes do - even the little cookie cutter "cottage" one's, in fact they can be the worst offenders of all. We personally don't think it's right, so we've built our business on Made In U.S.A. principles.

Producing a premium quality American Made bait is not at all difficult, however it is costly. We American manufacturers simply cannot be cost competetive with overseas cheap labor and crappy materials. In terms of labor, bored housewives and high school students don't cut it. You get what you pay for and experienced line workers are the only way to achieve consistent quality.

[lowerider]

"First off Mexico is part of America and Mexicans are just as American as those of us that live in the USA."

This is ajoke right Drew? Mexicans are as American as Americans? Your kidding right?

[lowerider]

Try telling our veterans that Mexicans are as American as they are. I'm sure they would appreciate that comment.

[drew]

I guess you did poorly in geography. Did you go to school? North America is comprised of Canada, the USA and Mexico.

I don't appreciate the economic drain on our economy from illegal aliens anymore then any other US citizen. My original point was we need to stop outsourcing to Asia. IMO USA based companies should choose Mexico over China. Keep the wealth on our continent. I believe that if there were more work in Mexico there would be less illegal aliens in the US. Mexico has major issues with their government and the people of Mexico need to fix the problems instead of running to the US.

Yes they are just as American as any US Citizen, there country is part of this continent.

"First off Mexico is part of America and Mexicans are just as American as those of us that live in the USA."

This is ajoke right Drew? Mexicans are as American as Americans? Your kidding right?

[lowerider]

Being on our continent in no way makes them American in my book. I guess Canadians are American too right? Did you go to school?
What does it matter if our money goes to Mexico or China its still leaving our country. If you think a few jobs pouring baits is gonna eliminate the illegal immigration problem your dumber than I thought.

[lowerider]

Oh yeah Russians,Indians,Chinese,Swedish,Etc.,Etc. are all Asian because they are on the continent Asia. Makes sense now.

[drew]

Canada is in the first sentence of my previous post. Maybe you need to keep up with the current affairs and the issues we have with so many illegal aliens from Mexico. When we buy Asian made products it does nothing for economic issues on this continent.

Being on our continent in no way makes them American in my book. I guess Canadians are American too right? Did you go to school?
What does it matter if our money goes to Mexico or China its still leaving our country. If you think a few jobs pouring baits is gonna eliminate the illegal immigration problem your dumber than I thought.

[lowerider]

I dont see how money going to Mexico helps American jobs at all. It makes no difference what continent the jobs and money go to as long as they are not here. Just my opinion and I respect your opinion as well.

[whatabunchofidiots]

Hey drew I bet you voted for obama too huh, they are so much Americans they have to get permission to come here or do it illegally, dude you are so out of line

[drew]

No, I voted for your mother.

Hey drew I bet you voted for obama too huh, they are so much Americans they have to get permission to come here or do it illegally, dude you are so out of line

[whatabunchofidiots]

Then you did good, good job, phew glad you went that route a much better choice ty

[davet.]

People outsource their products because American companys want a stupid amount of money for the same work.
Many companys would not exist if not for foreign outsourcing.
When I started my company, I only had a couple of grand to work with.
I could'nt even get a look or serious estimate here. The only estimate I got here was $50K just to setup the tooling. This is greed. My product is one of simplest products ever produced.
So in order to even be in business, I looked to China. For tooling that produced a product that far exceeded my expectations: $250.
I found a company that took my idea from drawings, to a packaged product, shipped to my door from China. They covered everything, were extremely attentive to my every need and stayed within my budget.
I'd rather have kept the business here and I tried like hell to do so, but these American manufacturers are rediculous.

[NoCAL]

I won't get into the debate about overseas production of anything but I will step into the who are Americans issue. Many of you it appears have not left this country and have a distorted view of the term American. If you have traveled like I have, and people ask you where you are from it is really better not to say America. People in South America can even be offended when you say you are from America. Those of us from the USA feel we are the only ones with the right to say we are Americans. To us, the USA and America are synonyms but not to the rest of the Western world. Did you also know that technically it is not correct to say you are from the United States. Because which one do you mean? The true name for Mexico is the United States of Mexico. So which United States are you from? The only correct name for our country is the United States of America. When I have traveled abroad, I have been reminded of this many times by people who feel very strongly about it. Right or wrong, whether you accept it or care about it or not, it is the reality.
So yes, I would have to agree with Drew that we are all Americans, including Mexicans and Canadians. I don't however agree that our jobs are better off in Mexico than China. Outsourced is still outsourced and I don't think we could send enough jobs to Mexico to stop the flood of illegals. Companies in Mexico cannot pay wages as attractive as the companies here. Even illegal workers here make more than factory workers in Chihauhau.

NoCAL

[Oldschool]

Without entering a cat fight about who is American, you don't need to look any further than the state of California, USA, why a manufacturer may choose to have products made off shore.
Regulation, law suites, taxes, cost of living, unions, local fees, workmans compensation, state withholding taxes, local taxes, ferderal taxes, and entitlements to name just a few.
The company I work for is a California manufacturer and there a very few today and fewer tomorrow.
Tom

[fish_food]

Many of you it appears have not left this country and have a distorted view of the term American. If you have traveled like I have, and people ask you where you are from it is really better not to say America. People in South America can even be offended when you say you are from America. Those of us from the USA feel we are the only ones with the right to say we are Americans. To us, the USA and America are synonyms but not to the rest of the Western world. Did you also know that technically it is not correct to say you are from the United States. Because which one do you mean? The true name for Mexico is the United States of Mexico. So which United States are you from? The only correct name for our country is the United States of America. When I have traveled abroad, I have been reminded of this many times by people who feel very strongly about it. Right or wrong, whether you accept it or care about it or not, it is the reality.
So yes, I would have to agree with Drew that we are all Americans, including Mexicans and Canadians.

Do people even realize that the giant land mass stretching from N. America to S. America was named after the Eye-talian cartographer Amerigo Vespucci? The "Americas" is derived from his Latinized pen name, Americus Vespucias...

Just a little bit of 7th grade geography for thems what forgot.

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

[quote="drew"]No, I voted for your mother.

That is so weak and out of line...

Kap

[FinesseKid]

Yes, manufacturing jobs are moving overseas, but thinking of those as bieng overly valuable is antiquated. In the USA, the current rise in job availability is in the service industry, not manufacturing.

It is simply an evolution in the type of jobs Americans will do. The future American workplace will be about products manufactured overseas but installed, supported and maintained by U.S. workers.

We already see this happen in the computer industry. It is textbook for this type of economical framework. The auto industry is also falling in line with this concept.

Of course, this will not apply to ALL industries in America, it is simply the current trend and I think most will agree.

[Ringer]

China is cheap because the government there subsidizes every business and is basically the owner. Labor was at 25 cents an hour and is now approacing 50 cents. Mexico is a dollar an hour or so. Free trade is only free for the third world countries we do business with. The end result of free trade is a lower standard of living for the developed country and higher for the less fortunate. Mexicans are in no way Americans. We are Americans regardless of the geographic literal translation.

[Wolfeman]

Well put, Kid.
I definitely buy fishing products (and many others) that are made by U.S.A. companies but are produced overseas.
I bought some stuff on Saturday from the Hook. Gene and his employees will take that money and spend it at locals businesses. Those folks from those local business will spend the money they got from Gene at other local businesses, maybe even at the Hook.

But if those lures I bought for 10 bucks would have cost 25 then I would have fished with worms on a cane poll because I wouldn't have been able to buy them. And Gene wouldn't have gotten any money to spend locally.

Sure, some of the money for those lures went overseas but some of it was spent on the economy of the U.S. of A.
- Wolfeman

[Bill K]

As Obama(and he can not blame Bush) and the federal gov continue to get us deeper and deeper in debt, you are going to see more companys and jobs going offshore/overseas,mexico and canada.
If and when the people of this country stop sending money to the fed's it will continue.
We need to support our own states and let the fed's fall. Bill K

[Cooch]

Yamamoto has always outsourced their tubes to another company. In the past it s Big Boy's Baits (in AZ I believe) and now it's another company. All their other baits are made right there in Page, AZ.

Tubes make up maybe 5% of their sales so it's not that much that's actually being made in Mexico.

Having been on tha Yamamoto staff for 12 years, I can atest to Terri's statement. Yamamoto uses a number of OEMs for their Private labeled products, of which most are here in the US, a few not. Of these OEM Private label products, many are complimentary products to the original line of Yamamoto Plastics.


With that being said, it's simpley amazing how a simple little question turns into a squawking match about politics, ethnic bickering and the state of our economy. Let's go fishing guys, it's a lot more productuve and the bite is getting REALLY good!!

[CATCHEMCARO]

If it's not made in the US, then do your best not to buy it and ask your friends not to buy them too. I have been doing my best to buy US products if I have a choice. It's that simple. Just my 2 cents. I'm with Cooch, lets hit the water.
Rich

[SPIKE]

I think we forgot that guy who singed the bill to let American companies out source. Wasn’t he the one who’s said I never had sex with that girl?

[eric n]

Without entering a cat fight about who is American, you don't need to look any further than the state of California, USA, why a manufacturer may choose to have products made off shore.
Regulation, law suites, taxes, cost of living, unions, local fees, workmans compensation, state withholding taxes, local taxes, ferderal taxes, and entitlements to name just a few.
The company I work for is a California manufacturer and there a very few today and fewer tomorrow.
Tom

Hit the nail right on the head Tom.Why anyone would do business in Ca unless it was absolutely neccessary is beyond me.

[fish_food]

I think we forgot that guy who singed the bill to let American companies out source.

What do you mean by "let?" Companies are free to outsource as they please--no special permission is required from the Gummint.

[Ringer]

Not really. Before Clinton signed NAFTA and opened trade with China there were many restrictions on corporations. They could not just move offshore at will. That is a development in the last 20 years.

[fish_food]

Not really. Before Clinton signed NAFTA and opened trade with China there were many restrictions on corporations. They could not just move offshore at will. That is a development in the last 20 years.

Back around the '91 timeframe I was working at Levi Strauss & Co. and remember they were already outsourcing labor to various Asian and Central American nations. This occurred before the Clinton administration.

[Ringer]

True that textiles were being offshored prior to Clinton and true that Bush Sr. was a globalist who started the NAFTA ball rolling but when Clinton opened up free trade with China and signed NAFTA the doors were blown open. Now Americans are wondering where the high tech jobs that Clinton promised and the green jobs that Obama promised are. Oh, they are in India and China. We have been duped by a long line of globalist politicians on both sides of the aisle.

[mvanguilder]

Just to help you guys out a little Berserk Baits is all made here in the USA and in fact all made here in California. We are growing every year. So people that throw our baits and weights its greatly appreciated. We will continue to keep business here in the USA. Right now we are located at Bait Barn, C&C marine in Modesto, Escalon Bait, Snelling 76, in a few days we will be in Outdoor Sportsman in Stockton, and coming soon to King Island bait & tackle. Check them out these stores will sell to you on-line as well.

Mike Van Guilder Jr.

www.berserkbaits.com

[Flippinjigs]

Wow this went everywhere.
I am one them hard working veterans that lost my job to american corporate greed. If the bean counters can save a few pennies then there goes your job too. Their interest is not providing quality products (in many cases) which is evident by the many toxic products that come from china. They are intersted in lining their pockets and providing value for the stock holders (themselves). If you allow companies to continue to move off shore to other countries; then what is left for our children and returing vets McDonalds? Burger king? Being a world class manufacture (as it was so eloquently put) of anything, you have responisibilities and should be held accountable and do the right thing by taking care of your own first. Most of these companies got their roots here in this country on backs and sweat of the american worker. And then kick them aside for cheaper labor and profits.

Oh Well

[kopper_bass]

Thankfully,
There are some companies that try their best to keep jobs in America and still be competitive. Pure Fishing is one of them and they have several of your favorite brands under their umbrella. That's why I am proud to be a sponsored ambassador with them.

Here is a list of the lines they make in the USA.
- Trilene
- Stren
- Spiderwire
All of which include their mono, flouro, and braids.

Berkley also produces over 50% of their powerbait brand baits, (trout & bass) right in Spirit Lake, IA too. They have a huge factory there.
- heavyweights
- Chigger craws
- hand pour worms
- power worms
- powerbait

All is not lost.
Give 'em a try and support US manufacturers.

Kopper

[fish_food]

There are some companies that try their best to keep jobs in America and still be competitive. Pure Fishing is one of them and they have several of your favorite brands under their umbrella. That's why I am proud to be a sponsored ambassador with them.

Pure Fishing's Fenwick and ABU products are actually made in China and Korea. And I bet a large percentage (if not all) of their Berkley accessories are made in China as well.

[whatabunchofidiots]

I still think it's bs. Again I say fine them millions at least we can assure we get something (if started here in the U.S.A). Not to mention we are funding these countries militaries look at korea now, nuclear war heads. Things cost so much here cause the CEO's get these stupid million dollar bonus's for one and two they aren't worth a damn. Look if we didn't buy oil from sadam and obama I mean osama bin hiding like a sissy they would not have the power they had and have to do what they did to attack the U.S.A

[Brian D.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr_XL1hJ8kU

[kopper_bass]

Fishfood,
Yes, other brands under the Pure Fishing umbrella are produced in other countries, including Sweden for Abu reels. These are all well established, and well respected brands, on their own.

I was just trying to point out that there are tons and tons product that ARE made right here in the USA and none are bigger than POWERBAIT and Trilene Brands.

People tend to forget that some of their most trusted brands are still made here in the USA.

Kopper

[fish_food]

I was just trying to point out that there are tons and tons product that ARE made right here in the USA and none are bigger than POWERBAIT

It may not be long when we start detecting melamine, cadmium or lead in PowerBait!

Yes, other brands under the Pure Fishing umbrella are produced in other countries, including Sweden for Abu reels.

While ABU was once a Swedish company, they too have outsourced production to China for most of their product line. No sure if this happened before or after their acquisition by Pure Fishing. I bet Swedish labor costs more than US labor...

[DeltaBound]

America is owned by the Britiish and the Japanese for the most part that's why they could care less if the jobs stay in this country. So the next time you're eating your Mexican Dinner on your Chinese plate licking the last piece of cheese off the Pakastani flatware and running to the bathroom with your Korean tennis shoes.....say A DIOS to your way of thinking .

[fish_food]

...and running to the bathroom with your Korean tennis shoes.

And then wiping with toilet paper made from recyclables we shipped across the Pacific and then bought back in the form Charmin!

[whatabunchofidiots]

...and running to the bathroom with your Korean tennis shoes.

And then wiping with toilet paper made from recyclables we shipped across the Pacific and then bought back in the form Charmin!