“All the BIG BOX stores around here use Chinese made goods.”
Correct... And Walmart blazed the trail. When the Clintons opened the door, everyone went for cheap goods.
The other big box store had no choice, it was either match the China price (which no USA manufacturer could do, since labor/regulations costs are much higher in the USA) or go out of business. I don't blame walmart, I blame Bush1/Clinton/92 Congress for giving China permanent MFN status. Once China got permanent MFN status there was no stopping US manufactures from moving there in mass.