When you buy from Absolute Exhibits all of our products are made in the USA – we even extrude our metal from Mero here in the USA. When you buy from our sister company, Displays & Exhibits, we feel it is very important to buy quality products manufactured in the USA as well. That is not to say that some of our offerings are from offshore. However, we aim to represent items made in the USA in every category we offer. With so many trade show display companies vying for your business, how do you decide which one to go with? They all seem to offer similar products, so choosing the company with the most affordable trade show displays seems the logical choice, right? Not necessarily.
In the world of trade show displays, you get what you pay for. While well-designed websites give the illusion that every company is selling quality trade show booths, once you look closer you’ll find a wide range of quality from company-to-company. Unfortunately, the uninitiated may not to be able to assess their options without professional advice. The difference in quality is now established in the trade show exhibit industry by how the manufacturing and fulfillment is managed, with focus on ensuring high levels of quality and customer support after purchase.
A patriotic theme can be written into a website in Nebraska or Beijing. We all shop and whether we are shopping in Idaho, Mississippi, or New York the major percentage of what we buy is from offshore. So let’s go beyond that and talk about buying good quality, with full service support, and a satisfaction guarantee. That is buying in the USA. Buying from someone that can take your phone call, understand your needs or your problems, and work with you as your intermediary between you and the manufacturer is paramount in your decision to buy. In the end it comes down to Customer Service – and that customer service definitely must be made in the USA. Let’s review a few questions you might ask:
What does Made in the USA REALLY mean?
The Made in USA heading can be a major selling point for many products because of the negative stigma associated with products manufactured overseas. Made in USA demonstrates quality and engineering that most overseas manufactures do not equal. When you note that a product has the Made in USA caption, it can very well be deciding factor on choosing one product over another.
What to ask for when buying a product that is labeled as Made in the USA?
Be simple and straightforward in your questions about the product you are buying to insure you are getting the product you are expecting.
• Who is the manufacturer of the product?
• What percentage of the overall product is Made in the USA?
• Who manufactures and assembles the components of the product?
• Who engineers the product and develops the quality control assessment?
• Are replacement parts available in the USA?
• Are warranty claims handled in the US or overseas?
Does Made in USA mean a product is 100% made in the United States?
As both a vendor and a manufacturer we understand this problem. All that is required to claim a product is Made in the USA is 51% of the total engineering, raw materials, labor, and quality control to be considered a US made product. This makes it very hard for a shopper to determine what they are getting when they purchase a Made in USA product. Are you getting a truly 100% American product or a product that is only 51% US Made. This is why we spend so much time and go to such a degree to visit manufacturer’s facilities throughout the USA.
What feature and facets of the product should be made in the USA?
It is very important that the product engineering and quality control aspect of the product is all done in the USA. It is usually beneficial for the manufacturer and the end consumer to have small components manufactured overseas. This allows for low cost components that will reduce the overall cost of a product without compromising the overall quality of the product.
