Made in Our 53rd State


by Michele Winslow - Date: 2006-12-02 - Word Count: 495 Share This!

A few months ago, I was given a bar of soap from a very well know high-end chain store. The person who gave me the soap knew I worked with this type of product and wanted to give something she thought I'd like.

I looked at product, liked color and fragrance, put it on a shelf, and honestly forgot about it. The other day, needing a new bar of soap, I found the bar and decided to use it.

Reading the back, it gave the name of the company with their motto, "From the Heartland of America." The very next line read, "made in Guatemala."

So when, may I ask, did Guatemala become a "State?"

And, on top of that, once I took the clear wrap off, I was disappointed in the soap itself.

To anyone who has used M&P, you will understand. To all others M&P means Melt & Pour. You go to your local craft store, buy a base, heat it up and pour into molds of choice. Nice way to have decorative soap without the hassle and having lye around the house.

So, this soap looked like someone had used M&P, added color and fragrance. Because it came from this well know chain, I was curious about what the cost was and decided to go to my local mall to check out the price for myself. $8.00 a bar, only one word for that, RIP-Off! OK, so that's two, but who's counting.

Now, please don't get me wrong, I'm all for fair trade, but to say the product is from the heartland of America, than have the very next line read "Made in…….," sounds a little false advertising to me.

Company headquarters, yep, in the heartland of America, but Guatemala? Maybe my sense of geography is playing tricks on me. Last time I looked at my map of the world Guatemala was in Central America, or have we annexed it, so that it is a protectorate like Puerto Rico and Guam? If so, then yes, it can then say, "Made in America," or for that matter from any region of this great country.

But, maybe I've read it wrong, they were on two separate lines. Just maybe in my old age, I'm beginning to run words together. But to read From the Heartland of American, then to read Made in Guatemala, simply does not ring true.

Producing products outside of the USA, may save companies money by paying less for wages, but why not pass that savings to the consumer. If they can give retiring executives retirement packages worth millions, why not give a little back to the average buyer.

High-end products are nice, but when money is running low, guess I will not be going to the mall for my soap. The best soap I've used has been made by a friend, the old fashioned way. In fact, my son swears by her Goat's Milk Soap.

Since "made in ….." has become our 53rd state, wonder if I can save money but shopping there?

Copyrighted 2006


Related Tags: soap, america, made in america, m&p, state, heartland, guatemala, puerto rico, guam

Michele Winslow
Owner: Gaia's Breowan, Inc.
Find us at http://www.ladyoftheherbs.com
When word gets around about your command of Ethical facts, others who need to know about Ethics will start to actively seek you out.

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