I’m surprised as well. I have been hoping for a retailer to open up that provides alternatives to Chinese goods, specifically, European, Canadian and American made goods.
Considering the American made toaster will last 10 times longer I would pay $35 for it. Chinese made goods are great for certain things, like throw away items. But let’s be frank. The Chinese make cheap plastic shite.
That’s just me. And as you said it seems like, sadly, too many rather buy that crap so there is no market for well made Western products.
So the consumer does not get the benefit of "free trade". The manufacturer does, and defrauds you by selling a cheaply made product with an American brand name at the same or almost the same price as former, well-made American product.
When you do find a well made product from the US or Germany you can feel the difference. You actually take pride in owning it and you know it is going to last you a long time. I seldom find such things anymore but do have a few of them.
One example is a Surefire Flashlight. Designed and built right here. Every single day my son carries one I bought for him 10 years ago. No other flashlight will stand up to the high G loads of the work he does. Streamlights don’t last more than a couple of months. Another example used to be the original Gerber multi tool or Leatherman before they started making them in China. We have the old ones and I’ve carried mine ever day for almost 15 years and used it hard.
Our Solaire grill is bullet proof.
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
There are a few marketers online that sell nothing but Made in America stuf. The Canadians also make some pretty good stuff.
I'd pay a premium for a quality product made in the USA, too. But only if it's my choice, not a forced choice due to tariffs.