Domestic vs. Imported Artificial Grass / Synthetic Lawn

Should you purchase a domestically produced artificial grass product or an imported artificial grass product?  Is there really a difference?  Does "buying American" make you more patriotic?  Propogandists would like you to think so.  Is there really such a thing in a globally connected economy made up of multinational corporations of "buying American"?  When you purchase gas from Exxon/Mobile are you buying American?  Obviosly our focus is on artifiial grass and synthetic turf manufacturing - but we need to look at the broader economy to come to a reasonable conclusion.

So I will take a momentary side bar - I personally and we here at Purchase Green collectively - consider ourselves patriotic.  It is our patriotism that led to our decision to create a business that centers around preserving our environment - and artificial grass does that.  I served for 10 years in the United States Navy as an officer on Naval submarines - because I believe in the value of serving and because I am patriotic.  I talk annually at my children's school about the value of serving our country.  I don't think patriotism has anything to do with where your artificial grass comes from!  "Buying American" is a marketing tool and nothing more - advocated by people who care about nothing more than their own personal gain.  This is not to say that they are not patriotic - but rather to suggest that buying from them doesn't make you or them patriotic. 

So have you every really considered what it means to "buy American"?  What exactly is the objective value of doing that?  Does it create jobs?  Does it result in a better quality product?  Does it save you money?  Does it result in better service?  What exactly constitutes "buying American"?  When you buy a Toyota is that buying American?  Usually the answer you would recieve is "no" - because Toyota is Japanese company - but would you feel the same way knowing that Toyota has an assembly plant in California and the majority of its parts come from the local region?  Is it not buying American even though it is a Japanese parent?  After all - it creates California jobs and provides for local California businesses.  If that's not buying American then why are legislators in Sacramento scared about that plant shutting down?  The reality is that in today's globally connected economy - "buying American" is nothing more than an advertising gimmick!  We would love the objective goal that "buying American" made artificial grass is synonomous with quality - but we learned from the automotive industry that where a product is made and its objective value are not correlated.  The quality of your  product - and in this case your artificial grass and synthetic turf product - is not dictated by where it is made but rather by whom it is made and the organizational values of the entity they are collectively a part of. 

A popular artificial grass and synthetic turf discussion topic today is whether or not it makes sense to pay the premium for using a domestically manufactured product - as opposed to an imported artificial lawn or synthetic turf product.  There are certainly legitimate reasons to go either way - a domestic artificial grass lawn or an imported synthetic turf.  There is value is "buying American" - if the American product is of equal value and price.  There is also value in buying an import - if that imported product is of the same or superior quality for the same or a lesser price.  It is very cliche right now for artificial grass dealers to shout out their products as "American made" - as if being imported implies an inferior product.  A simple review of many artificial grass sites and you will see what I am saying.  But the reality is - they are not all "American made" - they are "American assembled". 

As already alluded to above - the automobile industry is a demonstration of American values - we are willing to purchase a domestically made product and even potentially willing to pay a modest premium but in the end we as consumers are not willing to accept less for more!  We want more for less - which is why Chrysler and GM are in bankruptcy.  For too long they made inferior products and charged more for them.

The artificial grass industry is filled with dozens of manufacturers - that all buy the raw materials from the same domestic AND international suppliers.  Lets take one manufacturer as an example - an Australian company that purchased a Canadian yarn extrusion company, and recently opened a facility in Texas - that now advertises "American made".  The same artificial grass yarn - from that same artificial grass extrusion company - now owned by that same artificial grass manufacturing company - is used in products assembled in China!  Don't get me wrong - its a great yarn.  My point is - this isn't really "buying American" anymore that buying the grass from China is!  It doesn't create any more jobs!  It doesn't keep any more money domestically!  Buying the Chinese product - still puts money (and jobs) in the pockets of that Canadian yarn company, and in the hands of that Australian grass manufacturer that owns the Canadian yarn company, that funds that Texas assembly plant.  It also puts money (and jobs) in the hands of that domestic importing/shipping company, and the domestic distribution company, and the hands of that local artificial grass installer/contractor that installs your job.  How about where all the labor, raw materials, and R&D for the machines that are built and used in the extrusion, tufting, and coating processes - domestic and international! Did I tell you that the backings used by the majority of the manufacturers - come from a US company? 

Now I am not advocating purchasing an imported artificial grass or synthetic turf product (or for that matter an Australian, Canadian, Chinese or European) over a domestic product.  I am simply saying purchase the artificial grass and/or synthetic turf product that you think is the best value for you, all things considered - taking into account your own personal values.  Its sexy to be on the "Walmart is Evil" bandwagon - until the economy suffers. While Nordstroms suffers Walmart remains busy!  So don't purchase an artificial grass or synthetic turf simply because it is made domestically and don't not purchase an artificial grass and/or synthetic turf because it is imported.  Pick the best grass. 

Challenge manufacturers - domestic and foreign - to produce the best artificial grass lawn products for the best possible pricing.  In that scenario we all win. 

It is for this reason that Purchase Green is an artificial grass dealer that offers both domestically produced and imported products.  It is our goal to offer you the best product for the best price - with a variety of design options to choose from!

Thanks for going green with Purchase Green!