Q I've looked all over for Christmas lights that aren't made in China. Do you know of any? Also, is there a China-free buying guide? I could have really used it this Christmas. I don't want to buy anything made in China.
A Most, if not all, Christmas lights are made in China. NOMA Lighting Inc., once the largest manufacturer of Christmas lights in the world, operated in the United States until 1965 when it declared bankruptcy.
I don't know of a "China-free" gift guide. If there is such a thing, I'd expect it would be rather short.
Lots of items in our homes and lives are made in China. Take a quick look around your house. It's likely that the small appliances in the kitchen, sheets in bedrooms, cleaning implements in the bathroom closet, electronics that entertain and lights that illuminate the long winter nights were made in China. Indeed, many of the decorations that fill our houses at this time of year, as well as of the gifts under the tree or out of Santa's bag, come from China.
I'm not sure why you want to avoid China-made products. Perhaps news reports of tainted food or toxic toys have raised an alarm for you. Or, it could be that you want to buy goods made in the United States, supporting jobs and our economy.
However, there are no "American made" versions of many items for sale. One reason is that we shop by price. That gives low-cost products an edge. Many items, including lights, are cheaper to make in China. Now China-made products own the market.
Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com.
