Posted on 02/28/2005 5:21:05 AM PST by DH
Today, I made a major decision not to sell our manufactured products into Canada.
We are a small Corporation that invents, manufactures, and sells unique electronic controls to the welding industry. Our market is narrow since our products apply to specifically American made welding machinery and few applications exist external to the US. I am the majority stockholder and President of the company.
It is uncommon to sell outside the bounds of the US but we do get inquires and orders from external countries. This morning I received an email requesting one of our catalogs along with a request for technical assistance pertaining to an American made machine located in Quebec.
As I read the email something swept over me. It kept gnawing at me for about an hour before I knew what it was. The answer came to me…it was a request from an individual in a country that hated Americans and all that it stood for, asking for technical assistance and requesting information on our uniquely American products that are not available nor manufactured in Canada. The products and assistance would greatly enhance this Canadian’s ability to save on the cost of repairs to his equipment and provide technical assistance he was apparently unable to receive in his own country.
Over the past few years I have rejected sales from French Canadians and now I expand this to the whole of Canada. As of today, no technical information will be given to Canadians and no sales will be made to Canadians until their hate for Americans and our way of life changes. I expect Hell will freeze over before this happens. They are in a headlong race for total Socialism, if not downright communism.
Now, this may not be earth-shaking news and what I do will certainly not even raise an eyebrow on a national basis, but what I do is the only way that I can fight them since our politicians and large American Corporations are “financial prostitutes” and will sell away the American way of life and the freedoms (those that still exist) to anyone (or any country) that will pay them for their pandering, regardless as to how small the amount.
My company website has the phrase “Made in Texas by Texans” on the home page and it has been there for years. Now I will be placing a notice that we do not sell to Canada and the reasons thereof.
Some may think this as a stupid idea since I will lose some sales. Like I said, they don’t amount to much anyway and the idea that I can irritate and inconvenience individual Canadians by refusing to sell to them along with providing them the reasons for doing so lets them know that at least one American is standing up and doing the only patriotic thing they can do to stave off the impending damage that Canada will do to our society, our freedoms and our security. Yes, I am aware that is not the textbook way of doing business.
I realize that this is a tiny, teeny, itty-bitty, miniscule, microscopic action that no one will notice except the recipient of my direct action but if many small corporations and small sole proprietorships (Ma and Pa businesses) who sell a very small percentage of their gross services or wares into Canada and can afford a small reduction in gross sales, will unite and refuse to sell to Canada, a major statement can be made. As each Canadian who is refused service or sales from America is affected, they will become annoyed enough to tell their associates and friends. In turn, over a period of time, they all will get the message.
Don’t expect the prostitutes to help, only little people can!
bump
I might havemissed it, ut this would only be effective if you told them why, first.
I hope it doesn't hurt your business too much, but I think you made the best choice.
You're right, FRiend. Nothing can stop the train wreck a-comin' but you have the right idea.
Be alert and keep your powder dry. Hopefully, a better America is coming.
Good for you for putting your principles into practice. I hope your additional domestic business will more than cover the lost sales from Canada.
I don't buy anything French either....and I choose my vacations to only countries that support the US
Good @#$% canadians
thank you for this sacrifice
my father who is originally from Canada said he wants absolutely nothing to do with it up there anymore and refuses to visit
As an added bonus, you eliminate all possibility that the SMs* will order American products to attack Americans, through Canandian means.
* SMs© = Sweet Muslims
I hate to be a wet blanket but did you get that feeling from the specific individual who sent you the email? If that's the case I can understand your decision. But I wouldn't necessarily paint all Canadians with that broad brush. I don't expect ALL Canadians think that way.
Good for you! And you are SO right - if not you, then who? If you do not take a stand, why should anyone else? It may seem that 'shooting yourself in the foot' in losing sales and potentially pissing off Canadian supporting Americans is silly or petty, but in the big picture of the world, I'd equate your actions right up there with a Rosa Parks.
For what it's worth, you have my absolute support and I applaud you for taking the lead!
I have worked as an independent contractor for two Canadian based companies. NO MORE. I will follow your lead. There are at least 120 US based companies doing similar work - they shall have my skills and expertise. Let the Canadian firms find someone else in the US to do their work. Why should I support their companies and why should I support their clients in the US? NO MORE!
Thank you for the enlightenment.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Proud of you DH, and that is only half the solution. The other half is to stop buying things that say Made in Canada. They sell over 85% of their exports to the US and still insult us. Let them find out what it means to insult Americans. If we can't get it here, we'll do without or get it from some country that isn't constantly bashing us.
I don't know that I can agree, given that you have no idea of their position. You could, for all you know, be screwing with one of the few conservative companies up north. Now, it's probably a generally safe bet as far as dealing with French Canadians, but by my understanding most of Western Canada is as traditionally conservative as the Southern U.S. in a great number of ways.
How you can determine that company's ideological tendencies is a tough call. What I might suggest is asking them if their company donates to political causes, and if so, which parties. If they respond that they donate to the more socialist of the Canadian parties, then go ahead, screw 'em, but if they say they donate more to the conservative parties in Canada, all you'll be doing is empowering the socialists.
Qwinn
Thanks for standing up for America, it is still strong and you are not alone in this fight.
"..it was a request from an individual in a country that hated Americans and all that it stood for.."
Yeah, you'll find that in every country, even in America.
Over the past few years I have rejected sales from French Canadians and now I expand this to the whole of Canada.
What do you expect from Quebec? You're lumping the English with the French. Don't you think that's wrong?
As a canadian freeper, I find your decision irrational. How about try visiting Canada (not Toronto or Monteal)and get to know the people and not listen to what the Media tells you. And I hope you view will change.
Please keep in mind that not all to our north hate us, only the leftist elite. There are many consrevitives in Canada.
You're right, just as ALL Americans have not gone over to the tree-hugging, granola munching way of life. Yet the MSM gives so much play to the liberal Canadians, I think it is worthwhile to take a stand to say we the American people who still firmly believe in our Constitution (as it is written - WITHOUT the nonexistent "Separation of church and state" mantra of the left), those who still believe in our Freedom, those who want our children to have a future in this great country that reflects the lives we had growing up - we have the right to take what little stand we can against a country who promotes the Anti-American rhetoric.
I do not think the stand is against the individual Canadians who possess common sense, but rather against those who support and perpetuate their mainstream liberal agenda. Given the laws and societal 'norms' of Canada, I think it's fair to say American supporters are fewer and further between than we'd like to hope.
Is boycotting Michael Moore any different?
You have every right to conduct your business as you see fit. It seems to me however, that you are holding an entire country's population accountable for the actions and statements of a few. This is akin to blacklisting me because of the actions of a govenor I voted against.
Broad brush strokes never paint a quality picture . . .
I happen to be a Canadian and a Conservative. I'm an America-phile, love nearly everything about America and its guiding principles. I've loudly defended America, President Bush and condemned my fellow Canadians who are anti-American (Check my postings on Free Republic since I joined back in 2001).
I have mixed feelings about what you're doing since if *I* needed your help, I wouldn't receive it just because of the actions of others whose sole relationship to me is their citizenship.
Do you think it's fair if I had a company that provided a unique and valuable product but refuse to sell to all Americans just because I loathe Michael Moore and his ilk?
We in Western Canada are a lot more conservative than those in the east, especially those in Quebec. Many of us are praying for Quebec to seceed so we can join the US.
What about the millions of Canadians who detest the Federal Liberals who run Canada and shape its foreign policy (they only received a minority of the vote)? Why should we be painted with the same brush?
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