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Changing to Buy British and European

(105 Posts)
Casdon Tue 18-Feb-25 17:42:29

I’ve been thinking in the last few days about how, in my small way, I can do something positive help out the UK and Europe in these difficult times. I don’t want to buy anything from further afield unless there is no option. It’s so hard to find out where things are made though!
I need a new Airfryer, and it took me half an hour online yesterday to discover that the only brand made in Europe that’s easily found in the UK seems to be Tefal, which is made in France, so that’s what I’ll get. .
Is anybody else on the same wavelength? If you are, perhaps we could share what we’ve found.

Mollygo Wed 19-Feb-25 21:16:47

I’ve just received a package which contained something I ordered from a German firm based in Düsseldorf.
Inside it says Made in China
I agree with not giving up, but I think it’s going to be quite a challenge.

RSALLAN2002 Wed 19-Feb-25 20:45:54

Drink more Scotch.

Deedaa Wed 19-Feb-25 20:21:43

I bought a British made Hoover dishwasher when mine needed replacing. It washes perfectly well, but it seems very poorly put together. The trays don't slide in and out as smoothly as my old one and the door never feels as if it really fits. However it was comparatively cheap.

rocketship Wed 19-Feb-25 19:54:09

We in Canada are under threat from the usa. trump is threatening to make Canada their 51st state and threatening us with rising tariffs to force us into submission. angry angry

We are not buying anything made in the usa when at all possible, and as well as not travelling to the usa.

trump and his brown shirt... musk, have turned the usa into a dictatorship/oligarchy like russia. sad

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 19:44:25

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind

Tunnels hugely do to me.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 19:43:36

It is not the individual nations I have a problem with.
It is the EU.
If I had been old enough to vote in 1973 or whenever it was, I would have voted No.
Not sure I have ever thought anything differently to that.
There may have been a brief 6 months somewhere. Cant quite remember.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 19:42:23

But the EU is an institution, the US is a nation.

What has that got to do with anything?
Makes it all much worse in my opinion.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 19:41:20

. I don’t do much shopping but try to buy British , European or commonwealth products.

Since when?

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 19:40:37

Casdon

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind. We need to become more self reliant, less at the whim of worldwide markets and politics, and to keep Europe strong. I just think if we can’t support ourselves and our neighbours more, we will have nothing. I don’t buy into the ‘it’s all so hopeless so why bother’ mantra, and I really hope most others don’t either.

But why havent we all being doing that all along?

And 2nd question - if not you, then others laugh at Maga.

Dickens Wed 19-Feb-25 19:01:12

fancythat

Casdon

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.
It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.
So does the US of course. But [shrug].

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.

But the EU is an institution, the US is a nation.

It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.

Any specific country within the EU? Or all they all condemned because they're part of it?

Milest0ne Wed 19-Feb-25 18:55:24

On holiday in both New Zealand and Alaska, I found it was very difficult to buy souvenirs made locally. Most items might have been designed in the country but made in China. In Anchorage I found a shop called The Tiny Shop, next to a supermarket filled with often tacky Chinese goods. The gifts in the Tiny Shop. were all made in Alaska . That shop is where I bought all my gifts and souvenirs. I don’t do much shopping but try to buy British , European or commonwealth products.

Mollygo Wed 19-Feb-25 18:49:55

Kenwood-another brand designed in Britain, but made in China.
The first Moulinex product I bought was made in thanks. Now most of their stuff is made in China.
And Philips products were designed and made in the Netherlands when we first bought them, but not all are any more.
It’s well worth checking, and if you have time can be quite rewarding.

Casdon Wed 19-Feb-25 18:19:35

Bat tunnels have nothing to do with it in my mind. We need to become more self reliant, less at the whim of worldwide markets and politics, and to keep Europe strong. I just think if we can’t support ourselves and our neighbours more, we will have nothing. I don’t buy into the ‘it’s all so hopeless so why bother’ mantra, and I really hope most others don’t either.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 18:12:52

Even being British made, seems so 1970s.
If it had worked, then great.

But British workers always demanded so much.
And they still do.
And now so many people favour net zero.
Which is so costly.
I go back to bat tunnel.
If the Uk favour bat tunnels over so much else, then all the buy British, makes it all feel a bit pointless.

I can hardly believe I am writing this.
I would certainly not have done in the 70s.

Allira Wed 19-Feb-25 18:11:41

I have new kitchen appliances (as yet untested!) made in Germany.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 18:08:59

Casdon

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

I mean I have never been a big fan of the EU.
It has it;s plusses for me, but a lot of minuses.
So does the US of course. But [shrug].

valdali Wed 19-Feb-25 18:04:34

"I'm backing Britain" in the 60's - there was a jingle, my mum used to sing it ad nauseam in the car.
It didn't work. That was in response to "made in Hong Kong" "made in Taiwan" suddenly appearing on labels (specially plastics) in the early 60's.
Given the size of Hong Kong & the ubiquiety of the label, I suspect those things were actually even then made in China, via Hong Kong.

Casdon Wed 19-Feb-25 18:01:57

Do you mean that if you can’t get what you want made in Britain you would prefer to buy it from China or wherever rather than buy it from Europe fancythat? I think we need Europe to be strong myself, and it’s often good quality too, so I’d always prefer to buy European rather than from further afield.

fancythat Wed 19-Feb-25 17:57:16

petra

fancythat

Not sure I agree with the principle, but I had reason to look at the labels of most of my clothes in my wardrobe recently.
I only found one item that was British made. I nearly jumped back in surprise when I read the label.
Cant remember which item it was now.

Why would you not support the principle 🤷‍♀️
Why not support British manufacturing?

The principle of changing to "Buy British ^and European^"
You left out the 2nd bit.

Skydancer Wed 19-Feb-25 17:53:39

Henry Hoovers are made in Somerset.

petra Wed 19-Feb-25 17:44:47

fancythat

Not sure I agree with the principle, but I had reason to look at the labels of most of my clothes in my wardrobe recently.
I only found one item that was British made. I nearly jumped back in surprise when I read the label.
Cant remember which item it was now.

Why would you not support the principle 🤷‍♀️
Why not support British manufacturing?

4allweknow Wed 19-Feb-25 17:40:19

A lot of items may show "made in EU, UK" but a lot of the components in the items will likely have been produced elsewhere eg China, India especially so in electrical/electronics goods.

Allira Wed 19-Feb-25 17:37:17

Casdon

Try the Denby sale for mugs Allira, they usually have lots half price then and the bonus is they last forever, I’ve still got some that I had when I was first married, they have been through the dishwasher hundreds of times and still look great.

Yes, I have got about four Denby mugs but I do like a fine china mug for tea

It's my aristocratic background wink

petra Wed 19-Feb-25 17:36:32

RosieandherMaw

petra

We have bought a British made washing machine. An Ebac.

I thought that was an academic qualification! 🤣🤣

It does sound a bit like that, doesn’t it 😂

theworriedwell Wed 19-Feb-25 17:33:24

Simon Dee did it back in the 60s. I'm backing Britain was the slogan. Not sure if it achieved what he wanted as I can't remember how I ended.