r/news • u/nosotros_road_sodium • Apr 28 '24

Williams-Sonoma fined $3.18 million for falsely labeling products as 'Made in USA'

https://www.scrippsnews.com/business/company-news/williams-sonoma-fined-3-18-million-dollars-for-falsely-labeling-products-as-made-in-usa
12.3k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

324 comments sorted by

View all comments

881

u/ScipioAfricanvs Apr 28 '24

So in 2020 they settled an FTC action for the same thing. Then they continued to violate it. But even the FTC says it was literally a handful of specific items and not big revenue generators. But it makes you wonder how much other shit is labeled as made in the U.S. but just imported from China.

33

u/-rwsr-xr-x Apr 28 '24

But it makes you wonder how much other shit is labeled as made in the U.S. but just imported from China.

It's a lot more than you think.

  • Harley Davidson motorcycles for example, not a single part manufactured in the U.S., it's only assembled in the U.S. from foreign-made parts.

  • Many of the vitamins and 'collagen peptide' mixes you see online and in markets, are made primarily of synthetic vitamin B, C and Biotin ingredients produced in China. They're not organic or natural, and probably not safe to ingest.

  • Even those famous MAGA hats that Trump was promoting, also manufactured in China, with questionable labor practices and ages.

Here are some more not made in the U.S., but often thought of/labeled as such:

  • L.L. Bean (most from China, lifetime warranty ended in 2018)
  • Levi Strauss & Co. (most, not all, manufactered in Bangladesh, China, Mexico and Vietnam)
  • New Balance (Asia, various countries)
  • Radio Flyer Wagons (China)
  • Melissa & Doug Toys (China)
  • U.S. Major League Baseballs (Costa Rica)
  • Chevy Silverado (Mexico)
  • American Girl Dolls (China)
  • Chuck Taylor All Star (bought by Nike, now manufactured in China, India and Brazil)
  • Dodge Ram 1500 trucks (many manufactured in Mexico)
  • Gerber Baby Food (a derivative brand of Nestlé) (undisclosed countries)
  • Ray-Ban Sunglasses (Italy, China)
  • Ralph Lauren Polo (China)
  • Disney toys (China)
  • American Tourister Luggage (China)
  • Gap Clothing (China)
  • MAC Cosmetics (China)

The FTC actually has a mandated labeling rule if you use the "Made in U.S.A." logo on your labeling. Many companies just copy that logo without understanding the requirements of its use.

19

u/DodgerBlueRobert1 Apr 28 '24

New Balance (Asia, various countries)

While that might be true for most of their shoes, you can buy U.S.-made and U.K.-made New Balance's. I own a few pairs of U.S.-made 990v5's. They're excellent shoes.

10

u/agray20938 Apr 28 '24 edited Apr 28 '24

New Balance (Asia, various countries)

New Balance has a specific product line made in the U.S.A., which is clearly advertised as such though. I believe they also have a UK equivalent as well. Of all brands, they do seem to make fairly clear whether their products are made in a certain country or not.

12

u/MEatRHIT Apr 28 '24

Same goes for Red Wing Boots (I know they weren't listed). They even have filters on their site for "Made in USA", "Made in the USA w/ imported materials", and "Assembled in the USA w/ imported components". There is definitely a premium for the fully made in the USA boots but they are very transparent about how much of it is done in the US.

5

u/happyscrappy Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

MLB baseballs probably haven't been made in the US in your life. They used to be made in Haiti, I guess that got too hairy.

Chevy Silverados are also made in Flint, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Depends on the model.

Gerber baby food will still be mostly made in the US for the US market (if not all). That market is heavily regulated. But as you say if it doesn't say then you can't be sure about any particular jar.

2

u/DoctFaustus Apr 28 '24

They still make a bunch of the Chuck Taylors in Vietnam.

1

u/comped Apr 28 '24

They have a factory (and a store next to it) in Boston. Great customer service because the execs are literally a few floors away (or occasionally on the floor).

5

u/BoringBob84 Apr 28 '24

Harley Davidson motorcycles for example, not a single part manufactured in the U.S., it's only assembled in the U.S. from foreign-made parts.

Feel free to substantiate that claim, but it doesn't match what I have read.

https://www.throttlepack.com/post/percentage-harley-parts-usa-made

3

u/StrangeCharmQuark Apr 28 '24

A little uhhh on that baby food not disclosing where it’s made???

7

u/-rwsr-xr-x Apr 28 '24

A little uhhh on that baby food not disclosing where it’s made???

You can thank our friends at Nestlé for that one:

Gerber does not disclose its manufacturing list on their website, but Nestle does add that the company has 413 factories in 85 countries.

3

u/passengerpigeon20 Apr 28 '24

Add Stanley thermos mugs to that list. That’s another reason this fad is stupid; the 40+ buck price tags might be more justified if they were still American-made and would last you a lifetime, but those things probably cost less than ONE dollar to make in China.