CHAIRS 8/23/10
the cell has a decision to make and we thought we’d ask for your vote. We are preparing to open our new open-air stage, which will require some new seating. We found fabulous chairs. Here’s the thing:
We were about to make a deal with an importer, but she ran short of the number of chairs we need. If we order now, we can get the balance of the order in 75 days, which is no big deal, but ya never know…
The chairs come from China, and we all know about the situation for workers there. But isn’t cheap labor better than starvation?
Meantime, we found another manufacturer of almost the exact chairs, with the number we need, ready to go, ‘Made in America’ …for a significant increase in price. Now, we do like buying American. But we don’t like people in other countries to starve. We are a not-for-profit, so every penny counts. But we do feel a responsibility to our audience to do the right thing. Unfortunately, we don’t know what the right thing is. Please help us out!
Send us your vote. Your contribution would be nice, too.
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Remember our video: CHOOSING CHAIRS
Buy American for a change. Why is starvation the only outcome if you don’t buy chairs in China? Will the workers in China really starve if the factory doesn’t get your order? It seems the factory will keep on making and selling chairs whether you buy them or not. Practically every consumer item being sold in the U.S. is made in China. I am not a flag-waving patriot at al–that is not the issue for me. But we depend too much on imported products and American workers have been the hardest hit by the recession. It would be nice if the American factory got a chance.
Another option would be to buy half the chairs in the U.S. and half in China. It entails waiting for the foreign chair, but at least you will have made a Solomonic decision!
Then there’s also the carbon footprint consideration — surely the Made in America chairs would cost significantly less carbon-wise?
I am so glad you decided on these aluminum cafe chairs. I had a few myself which I loved but had to part with when I moved last year. Now, whether to go American or not, I am inclined to get from China because 1) you are non-profit 2) and you may exploit China’s labor but also help their economy (to rationalize however awkwardly). One economizing possibility is to advertise for used chairs and collect them. There are two or three slightly different designs (in the number of the uprights on the back (ranging from three to five) and the arrangement of the stretchers. But they look similar enough that mismatches don’t show, and after use the aluminum surface tarnish and chairs of different ages also look alike. Anyway, these chairs are easy to handle, durable, and elegant.
– Kaori Kitao
If it’s the emeco chairs. I believe I can get them wholesale. Tell me how many?? 75. Janna
Your situation reminds me of a ‘Simpsons’ episode where they go to buy a new TV and Lisa says she wants to get it at the store that sells a TV handmade by Hopi Indians (or something like that) and Marge responds, “We can’t afford any store that has a philosophy!”
Your conscience is commendable, but so would be the savings for your nonprofit org. Don’t sweat it if you go with the China-made chairs.
Go SIMPSONS!!!! That was my FAVORITE comment!!! NM