reply 100 words to student higdon for replying to my 250 words post 342 wk 1:I hope you are doing well this week. I'm looking forward to a long weekend, although I still need to wrap up some assignmen

reply 100 words to student higdon for replying to my 250 words post 342 wk 1:

I hope you are doing well this week. I'm looking forward to a long weekend, although I still need to wrap up some assignments! 

I don't know of many electronics made in the U.S. if any. As consumers we have kind of grown accustomed to purchasing things like that from Japan or China. They make them well. International trade in really neat because it takes what nations do best and distributes them around the world. For example, when something says "made with German steel", people assume its high quality because they are know for making it well. 

Have a great weekend!

reply 100 words to student fred class 342 wk 1 250 words post:

The way international trade has impacted my life as well as many others, and the way we purchase products. Furthermore, international trade has impacted the types and makes of products we buy. Having been in the military for a few years, traveling to many countries around the world, I have been able to see how some things are cheaper in some countries and more expensive in others. Working within the auto industry, at an auto glass manufacturing plant, has shown me that the vast majority of cars are not “Made in America” anymore. Many car components are made in parts of the world where labor is cheap, and then parts are sent to the U.S. Some cars come from places such as Mexico and Canada, as complete cars, and some cars get assembled in America. Another thing I have noticed, when buying toys and things for my grandkids, is that occasionally we will get things from an address somewhere in china. I think in the past companies would ship items to distribution centers, but some have chosen to ship directly the consumer, eliminating the middle man, allowing companies to increase their profit margin. International trade has impacted me and my families life in everything we do, and how we shop for the various things that we need on a daily basis. The vast majority of what we use or need in our daily lives, generally does not come from America, and is imported from somewhere else. Do you buy locally when given the opportunity, and why?

Fred

reply 100 words to student Gary class 342 250 words post wk1

Class,

 First off, being stationed overseas in Germany, international trade has aided my wife and I tremendously via the Amazon online shopping.  Not having the amenities afforded to us in the states, Amazon allows us to get products that we cannot obtain overseas through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).  One thing I have notice about AAFES overseas, they offer high end products that they typically don’t offer in the US.  Items such as purses, clothing, electronics etc.  Is it a way to bilk the soldier, airman, marine, seaman from their cost of living allowance that they typically are not used to?  I believe so.  For instance, in the US, a 2-piece chicken meal from Popeye’s will cost you roughly $4, here in Germany, double that…ridiculous. But that is not the crux of this forum, just wanted to get that off my chest. 

 My most recent purchase I would say is my Volvo we have here in Germany.  Volvo touts that they provide 11 brands, employ 10K people, and have production facilities in 18 countries, making them a true international trade company (Volvo, 2018).  This car can flat out move on the Autobahn, the downfall?  It is German spec and I cannot ship it back to the US.  While the cars here in Europe appear quite expensive, I have to say that quality comes at a much higher standard than vehicles I have purchased in the US, such as my F-150 and Jeep Wrangler.  I have not had problems with these other two vehicles as of yet, but this car has to be the best purchase of my adult life to date.

Reference

Home | Volvo Group. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/home.html

reply 100 words to higdons 250 word post class 342 wk 1:

I hope you are all doing well so far this week. I'm excited to learn with you all over the course of the next 8 weeks!

International trade is a massive part of most Americans lives whether they realize it or not. Even small domestic companies would be hard pressed to not rely on certain products from over seas in this era. Many companies rely on low cost country sourcing in order to be profitable in highly competitive business environments.  Often people say, "well I only buy American" in reference to their choice in vehicle. In reality there isn't one single vehicle made %100 in America. In fact some of the "foreign brands" manufacture the same amount or more here in the US. 

As far as myself goes, I use many products that have been sourced internationally. My phone was made in China. I drive a KIA that most parts were manufactured in Korea, but assembled in Georgia. Many electronics in my home were made in Japan. I have spent several years in Germany enjoying the food and culture. Still to this day I'm a huge fan of German beer!  I think if I were to take inventory of the items in my general vicinity, I would most likely  find more products to be manufactured over seas than here in America.  I'd say that international trade has had a big impact in my life. 

I look forward to hearing from all of you and learning more about international logistics! Have a great week.