Globalization, the economy, and Galesburg (Benton, Ohio: 2015, appliances, to buy)

[Cida]

A visit to Galesburg



Perils of Globalization When Factories Close and Towns Struggle

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/bu...ates.html?_r=0

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[linicx]

I do not know why you chose to target Galesburg? It is one of many farm towns in the middle of 13 Midwest states. It is not the only town that lost a business. Does its plight have anything to do with Maytag? Probably not. Maytag was happy and selling machines.

Whirpool Corporation purchased Maytag, Frigidare, Westinghouse, and every appliance it could including Kitchen Aid. Whirlpool promptly shipped every America made appliance it owned, and the tech support for said appliances, out of the United States.

When I learned I had to call Canada for a Kitchen Aid part -- only to find the service reps did not speak English or know the products -- was the day I ceased to buy any Whirlpool products. It was an easy decision after the experience I had with one of their $600 junk washers that tore up new clothes. And old retired appliance guy figured out the problem was the agitator. I replaced it and sold the machine. I've used the $400 Kitchen Aid mixer less than a dozen times and it is already having speed issues.

Whirlpool does not like America or Americans.

[Cida]

Ahem! It's not me who chose to target Galesburg. It's a newspaper article, in case you didn't notice - presumably they felt that this was a good example of what's going on.

[linicx]

They were wrong. There are a lot worse places in the Midwest to use as an example than Galesburg.

[reppin_the_847]

Originally Posted by linicx

I do not know why you chose to target Galesburg? It is one of many farm towns in the middle of 13 Midwest states. It is not the only town that lost a business. Does its plight have anything to do with Maytag? Probably not. Maytag was happy and selling machines.

Whirpool Corporation purchased Maytag, Frigidare, Westinghouse, and every appliance it could including Kitchen Aid. Whirlpool promptly shipped every America made appliance it owned, and the tech support for said appliances, out of the United States.

When I learned I had to call Canada for a Kitchen Aid part -- only to find the service reps did not speak English or know the products -- was the day I ceased to buy any Whirlpool products. It was an easy decision after the experience I had with one of their $600 junk washers that tore up new clothes. And old retired appliance guy figured out the problem was the agitator. I replaced it and sold the machine. I've used the $400 Kitchen Aid mixer less than a dozen times and it is already having speed issues.

Whirlpool does not like America or Americans.

If Whirlpool doesn't like Americans then why is its corporate HQ still in Benton Harbor, MI?

[linicx]

It is not unusual for a global company to have a corporate office where it trades.

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

If Whirlpool doesn't like Americans then why is its corporate HQ still in Benton Harbor, MI?

[makes no sense at all]

Originally Posted by linicx

Whirpool Corporation purchased Maytag, Frigidare, Westinghouse, and every appliance it could including Kitchen Aid. Whirlpool promptly shipped every America made appliance it owned, and the tech support for said appliances, out of the United States.

Whirlpool does not own Westinghouse or Frigidaire. Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux. Westinghouse has always just been an IP licensing and branding company and doesn't make anything themselves. They never made kitchen appliances for the US market. All of Whirlpool's large appliances are made in the United States. Kitchen Aid mixers are assembled in Ohio.