Radio Flyer to move production of wagons to China

Associated Press ^ | 3-30-04

[Oldeconomybuyer]

CHICAGO (AP) -- Radio Flyer Inc., maker of the little red wagon loved by generations of children, plans to move its manufacturing operation to China.

The 87-year-old company said it would keep its headquarters and distribution business in Chicago but decided the Chicago plant where the metal wagons are built is too expensive to maintain. With the plant closing, Radio Flyer will lay off nearly half its 90 employees.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Bikers4Bush]

"We're still a Chicago company. We're still a Chicago brand," he said.

No, sadly you are not.

[Buffalo Bob]

Another "this is great for the American economy" bump.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

We simply cannot continue to buy products we do not make. That economic model will NOT work indefinitely. It just won't work. However, who is listening (or reading)? Only those of us here who already agree? What a joke.

[humblegunner]

What's your CB handle?

[IYAS9YAS]

Funny, they just had a segment on Radio Flyer on that John Ratzenberger show "Made in America" that I just watched within the last two to three weeks.

[End Times Sentinel]

I can hardly wait to purchase a new Radio Flyer Wagon for my son.  Something about the "lovingly hand hammered by slaves" construction strikes deep within me.  And the new shade of Red is brighter than ever!

 

Owl_Eagle

”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores

I can hardly wait to purchase a new Radio Flyer Wagon for my son.  Something about the "lovingly hand hammered by slaves" construction strikes deep within me.  And the new shade of Red is brighter than ever!

[Fitzcarraldo]

Just what China needs - amphibious vehicles for its invasion of Taiwan.

[TXBSAFH]

You are right they are not an American corp anymore.

[azhenfud]

They're changing the name to "Ladio Flyler".

All your little led wagons are belong to us....

[7.62 x 51mm]

I've had 25 of those little wagons at my garden center, since '91, for customers to pull plant purchases and kids around. They were made in the USA back then.

Sadly, all have rusted-out and were sold off to customers at $10ea, for their use. I've replaced them with heavy-duty, USA-made green steel nursery wagons, and don't regret not re-ordering Radio Flyer replacements, after reading this bad news.

No, they are not a Chicago or American company, any longer.

[international american]

"We're still a Chicago company. We're still a Chicago brand," he said."

Yeah, Bejing, Chicago:)

[Flyer]

What's your CB handle?

DUH!

Radio Flyer

[Bringbackthedraft]

Hold on to your American made Radio Flyers they'll be worth bucks soon! Get to those yard sales, buy and hold on to them.

[Moleman]

So now instead of playing with wagons, little kids will be assembling wagons. SAD

[non-anonymous]

Classy.

[GraniteStateConservative]

ping.

[brownsfan]

Chief executive Robert Pasin, whose grandfather started the company, said he did not believe the move would hurt customer loyalty.

I think this is someone who's out of touch. At least I hope he is out of touch. May Radio Flyer file Chapter 11 next year on this day to commemorate their 1 year anniversary of moving to China and becoming a CHINESE company.

[Calpernia]

[GreenLanternCorps]

Not everybody in China is a slave laborer. The cables I sell are mostly made in China. From what I have seen the western factories are usually decently run, and give the workers a lot better deal than the Red Chinese Gov't ones.

More to the point, if we didn't make the cables we sell in China, my company would have gone under years ago. And the 70 Americans it employs would be out on the street.