ABOUT US > OUR MADE IN THE USA POLICY

As an independent mom and pop store we have always been able to do what the big box, franchise, and chain stores don't. We enjoy working with local artists and craftspeople who design products for the birds. While we have been making our own lines of products since our inception, over the years we have expanded our own line and have added several well-known regional artists to our inventory. We're proud to do as much local business as possible. This is true for our larger national brands as well. We much prefer to sell items that are made in the USA.

We have intentionally decreased the number of items that we sell that are manufactured in China. There's a host of good reasons not to carry Chinese-made products. They may be made using forced prison/ child labor, inferior quality materials and workmanship, a much higher carbon footprint, and/ or have toxins in their materials and supplies. Supporting American labor and products is better overall for our workers, consumers, and the American economy.

There is only one reason why we still have less than a handful of Chinese-made products in our inventory. Some reputable American companies that have outsourced some of their high quality items to the Far East, have a lock on the market. If their product is patent protected, unique, and simply not available from any other source, and, we feel it is a good product to offer, then we'll consider stocking it. We've discussed this subject with the companies we do business with that have some items made in China and they have assured me that the standard of quality is equal to their purely American made products. In fact, they emphasize that they have key American personnel in China overseeing their entire production run and the quality control of materials and labor is equal to anywhere else. A few American companies have some parts made in China, but the rest of the parts are made here and the products are assembled in this country.

Here's an example. Perky Pet Products had a long history in Denver, where they started out. However, they made low end products that all the big outlets carried at bargain basement prices. Several years ago they moved their operations to China and the quality became even lower. We stopped carrying their line of hummingbird feeders for these reasons. However, their patented "Upside Down" Nyjer feeders were unique to the market. In essence, they were the only species specific feeders for goldfinches. Now that their patent has run its 17 year lifespan, other companies have introduced their own versions with similar products. Droll Yankees, based in New England, has a long standing reputation for making great products. In January, they were poised to introduce their "Bottoms Up" Nyjer seed feeders. These are the superior species specific feeders for goldfinches and since the first of the year, we have carried their feeders instead. Droll Yankees makes two lines of Nyjer feeders - an economy line and a high end line with a lifetime guarantee. All are constructed of UV stable polycarbonate - the best material when it comes to plastics. Perky Pet had also trademarked the "Upside Down" name so Droll Yankees called their feeders "Bottoms Up" for that reason.

So, if you find one of the few made in China products we carry, you can rest assured we have investigated it thoroughly. Whenever an American made product can replace a Chinese made product, we will be quick to stock it.

Happy Birding
Jon and Shani