HBC warning. Not Made in the USA

[HawkX66]

Normally I don't say much about vendors unless they go above and beyond. HBC advertises "Made in the USA" on their premium gas tank EGP-1003. I called and they said it was the Spectra tank I was looking for. It was a pretty good sale, so I drove up to Shelbyville to pick it up. I could have gotten it from Rock Auto for a couple dollars less, but I like to shop the brick and mortar when I can. Normally they ask $152.26 for the $100 tank. It was on sale for 9% off, so $138.75. Then they have their 20% off sale right now. $111.00. When I get there, Jim tries to screw me out of the sale price and tells me it's still a great deal because it's Made in the USA. He was trying to charge me 20% off the full price saying normally it isn't a discount item. Luckily I put a bunch of things in my cart on line as a shopping list and brought the print out with me. He didn't care. Luckily someone else rang it up and I was able to argue it and got it for $111.00. I should have left it, but it was a long drive.
To top it all off, I got it home and even though all the HBC stickers on the box say "Made in the USA", it says, "Made in Canada" inside all over the tank. No disrespect to Canada here, but when I am told it is Made in the USA, it had damn well better be. No response to my email questioning this... Still advertised on the website with USA made.

[Mike S]

I see a lot of Made in the USA and often in smaller words:"...... with parts sourced globally".

[HawkX66]

I see a lot of Made in the USA and often in smaller words:"...... with parts sourced globally".

At least that's honest though.

[69Z28-RS]

I see a lot of Made in the USA and often in smaller words:"...... with parts sourced globally".

At least that's honest though.

I'm not as attracted to those words as you are...   that generally means that all the parts are MADE elsewhere, and they are 'assembled' in the US...   The $value of 'assembly' is generally a small fraction of the $value for manufacturing the parts from raw materials.   For instance, when you were paying $15,000-$20,000 for your new Honda (Toyota,etc), approximately $200 of those dollars went to America workers for putting the car together (from the foreign parts). 

** the numbers referenced go back a number of years; I'm sure it's a bit different now...

PS.  Dave, 'Made in Canada' is much better than most of the alternatives these days..  (Maybe they couldn't find their 'Made in America' stickers??

[HawkX66]

I see a lot of Made in the USA and often in smaller words:"...... with parts sourced globally".

At least that's honest though.

I'm not as attracted to those words as you are...   that generally means that all the parts are MADE elsewhere, and they are 'assembled' in the US...   The $value of 'assembly' is generally a small fraction of the $value for manufacturing the parts from raw materials.   For instance, when you were paying $15,000-$20,000 for your new Honda (Toyota,etc), approximately $200 of those dollars went to America workers for putting the car together (from the foreign parts). 

** the numbers referenced go back a number of years; I'm sure it's a bit different now...

PS.  Dave, 'Made in Canada' is much better than most of the alternatives these days..  (Maybe they couldn't find their 'Made in America' stickers??

I think you misunderstood me. I don't like it, but at least it actually is honest unlike what HBC is doing. I couldn't agree more with everything you said except for the part where you said "your Honda". Not mine and never would be

[69Z28-RS]

so HOW is he getting by with putting 'Made in USA' on parts.... that were made in Canada?   Aren't ALL Spectra gas tanks made in Canada?  (was his USA sticker on the'box'... or on the part) maybe the 'box/container' was made in the USA?? 

[Mike S]

I wonder what country the 'Made in USA' stickers are made in  these days 

[HawkX66]

The sticker in the fist pic was only on the box. I'd say maybe you're right about the box being Made in the USA, but it says, "Fuel Tank Made in the USA." To the best of my knowledge now, yes, Spectra tanks are all Made in Canada. If I'm not mistaken, what he's doing is illegal. At a minimum it's false advertising.
Mike, I'm sure the stickers are right off the container ship.

[BULLITT65]

Hopefully the tank is a quality piece. Question would be, did GM manufacturer there own tanks back then? Maybe one of the original suppliers was out of Canada?

[HawkX66]

Hopefully the tank is a quality piece. Question would be did GM manufacturer there own tanks back then? Maybe one the original suppliers was out of Canada?

Spectra is a good quality tank. No issue there.

[maroman]

From what I remember there's an official font and wording to be correct for the Made in USA, even has to have periods after each letter. Just saying American made is not it. Kind of like not having sex with that woman.

[dale_z28]

My '91 Chevy truck, being an extended cab, came from Canada. I could buy something made in "North America," but it should say so. If I want USA made, I really DO want USA made, and that should be without exception!

[ban617]

The japanese did the made in usa years ago and fooled people to buy their products they were made in usa japan and not U.S.A.

[Mike S]

 I'll buy Japanese products over Chinese any day. The Made in Japan today are like Made in Germany years ago.

Mike

[X33RS]

For the record, I bought my Spectra gas tank from Heartbeat back around Christmas time when they had a 25% off sale and they gave me the discount no problem at all.

Spectra as of right now is one of the best aftermarket tanks on the market, I've used them in a few restorations.  I really don't care if it's made in Canada or the US, in my opinion Canada is way better than the alternatives.

I have no beef with Heartbeat at all, I've spent about $8k (actually more I just hate to add up the receipts, lol)  over there in the last 6 months when they have sales.  They have treated me right so far and I haven't a complaint yet about a part.