My experience too. Wal-Mart has put more American Made suppliers out of business than we could guess. They destroy product quality and value by driving down prices until companies can no longer afford to make a quality product and then get replaced with Chinese crap.
The entire experience trying to sell to Wal-Mart changed my perspective on life. I buy quality - American Made if possible - and pay 2 to 3 times the Wal-Mart price and get a product that will last for years. Merrell shoes being one example.
I mfg. tubular steel bar stools and restaurant seating and have no interest in having Walmart sell my product. I didn’t get into business to have a larger company dictate my every move,if you hire good marketing people there is no need for Walmart...........my goal is to enrich my bottom line not Walmarts!
“Merrell shoes being one example.”
I own a pair myself and can’t wear them out. I must have one of the original ones Made in USA. Purchased them at a church thrift store for $2.00 about 6 years ago and wear them nearly every day.
Unfortunately, they have outsourced, according to Wikipedia:
“In 1987 Merrell was purchased by Karhu. The new owners moved production of Merrell products to Asia, reducing retail prices and expanding sales.”