Saturday, June 20, 2009

How About A Trip To The Bar...?


No...not THAT bar! I'm talking about the bar code that is on everything we purchase now days.

Do you know what all of these numbers mean? Do you know how to determine just what country the goods you are buying are manufactured in?

If this information is important to you, then you might just find this interesting and educational.

The whole world is afraid of China-made "black hearted goods", with good reason. This is particularly true in food purchases, considering all that is going on in the world.

Can you differentiate which products are made in Taiwan and which ones in China ? Maybe this will help a bit!

If the first 3 digits of the bar code are 690, 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA. If the first 3 numbers are 471 is Made in Taiwan .

This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public. They feel that it's in our best interest NOT to know these things, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves. It's up to us to educate and inform ourselves!

After all, power comes from the gathering of knowledge, the understanding of that knowledge, and the ability to use that knowledge to our benefit.

Now days, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made.

However, you may now refer to the bar code, as long as you remember that if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 …CHINA
00 - 09 …USA & CANADA
30 - 37 …FRANCE
40 - 44 …GERMANY
47 ...TAIWAN
49 …JAPAN
50 …UK

BUY USA by watching for "0" at the beginning of the number. We need every bit of helpful information we can get, and we all know that we aren't going to get it from any government involved in selling us goods, right?

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit around the patio table for a while. The label on my coffee can says it MADE IN AMERICA...
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28 comments:

  1. KenJune 20, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    ...great info Jim,i had known this at some point in the past,although not that in depth,knew the code for U.S products but not all the others...
    ...buy American,it really does matter now more than ever...

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  2. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 2:29 AM

    Hey Ken...
    I think that sometimes folks get the idea that we just don't care about these things...but I know that most of us do!

    hanks for stopping by, my friend!

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  3. SueJune 20, 2009 at 4:26 AM

    Jim-what great info!
    I avoid Made In China products whenever possible, especially if its cookware, etc. How often do these items get recalled because of toxic finishes, etc?? May I steal some of your post(with proper acknowledgement) for my blog? This is good and important info and since we have different followers, I think as many people as possible should be alerted.

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  4. EllenJune 20, 2009 at 4:46 AM

    This is great to know. Thanks, Jim!

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  5. AnonymousJune 20, 2009 at 4:51 AM

    Morning HJ,
    Great info!! I'm certainly going to use this.
    YeOldFurt

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  6. Pat/TexasJune 20, 2009 at 5:51 AM

    Thanks Jim...I notice more and more in the little grocery store in this little town have the fruit labeled. If it's not on the fruit sticker, it's marked on a hand-written label in front of the fruit bin. I always buy USA products. Have a good day! It's going to be another hot one. Pat

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  7. TEAM HALLJune 20, 2009 at 6:02 AM

    Morning to yah Jim!! I'm not sure about your country, but here in Canada if product made in any other country comes in and someone assembles here - it can then be called a product of Canada. That same rule applies to purchasing in bulk and if a 3rd party repackages it - it can also be called a product of our country. That's a little underhanded, don't yah think? I'm also wondering if they can change a bar code at that point?! Hmmmm
    Have a good one, Jim!!
    Just wondering...is the coffee can made in America or the coffee in it? lol

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  8. AnonymousJune 20, 2009 at 6:10 AM

    Good morning Jim,
    Thanks for the info. It is getting harder to buy USA b/c so much stuff in imported. But maybe I don't need anymore "stuff". I'm especially concerned with food being imported. I've started buying produce from a local coop which gets much of their food from local growers. Tastes much better too. It even looks different. The food isn't perfect, glossy and may have a hole or two left from a bug. I love it.

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  9. RaeJune 20, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    I am so glad to know this. I never had a clue that info was part of a bar code. You've educated me. Thanks!

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  10. vladJune 20, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    morn'n y'all

    Glad I aint too late for coffee.

    Thanks for the key to bar codes.

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  11. KyddrynJune 20, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    Good morning, Mister Hermit, Sir.

    I did not know about the bar code...code. It's useful information, for certain - I like to know what I'm buying/consuming, and from whence it came, if only to help me be aware of the movement of goods in the world and how trade between nations affects us (and our dependence on other nations for our comfort/needs).

    Bar codes are used to help track consumer spending habits, too - many of those special discount/club cards that stores offer are used to record purchases and trends, and sometimes even sold to marketing companies along with other consumer information. Ugh.

    What ever happened to taking pride in producing for ourselves? And privacy? Indpendence? And, while I'm at it...freedom in general??

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

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  12. JoJoJune 20, 2009 at 8:02 AM

    Good morning Mr. Jim,
    Great info, I wrote this down and will keep it in my wallet in the compartment that usual doesn't contain any cash. :) Looks like the weather has cleared great day for the patio.
    JoJO

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  13. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    Hey Sue...
    Take whatever you want...It would be nice o help share this kind of information with our readers for sure.

    Thanks for the visit...


    Hey Mom...
    My pleasure, OW...just figured it would be useful to some of us, ya know?

    Thanks for coming by this morning!


    Hey YOF...
    Glad to be of service, my friend. I sure am glad to see you could drop by today!


    Hey Pat...
    You certainly are correct about that! Gonna be hot here as well! Getting to the mid to high everyday pretty early each and every day now...

    August is going to be a lot of fun!


    Hey Cath...
    You have to watch the marketers on some of this stuff, for sure. I figure that they don't even think twice about being underhanded about the tatics they use, only being concerned with the sales!

    Good question about the "made in the USA" on the label. I figure the coffee is imported and maybe ground here, the label is probably made in Mexico, along with the can...and all put together here and called "made in America". Just my opinion!

    Thanks for the visit!


    Hey HM...
    I know what you man about garden fresh just tasting better! You know it's got to be better when, like you say, it's not as pretty as others grown just for appearance.

    I appreciate your visit today!


    Hey Rae...
    Certainly glad I could help a little bit. Sure am glad you could drop by this morning, Rae!

    I appreciate the visit...


    Hey Vlad...
    Never too late for coffee at the Hermit's, my friend! Even saved ya a chair...!


    Hey K...
    That's the biggest part of the problem. As we become more and more a nation of consumerism junkies, we start to lose track of just how much we rely on junk from other nations and countries.

    Some are willing to trade their freedom for "stuff"...sad!


    Hey JoJo...
    Good morning to ya, dear friend! The compartment with no cash just about covers my whole wallet!

    Hope this info can do ya a bit of good! I thank you for coming by today!

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  14. AnonymousJune 20, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    Morning Jim;

    As usual good info. Hopefully it will contribute to people's knowledge of how to buy American.

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  15. AnonymousJune 20, 2009 at 11:18 AM

    You still have to be careful. In my "collecting crap" days of yore, one famous American company, Longaberger Baskets (out of Ohio) sold pottery. It said Made In America, but it was made in China.

    If you collect it, real collectors know the matte finish is American and the glossy finish is Chinese.

    So even then, you can't be sure its made in America unless you see it being made.

    Just FYI that Made In America labels are being put on foreign products.

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  16. Cygnus MacLlyrJune 20, 2009 at 11:33 AM

    good info there, uncle...
    Now, on to the COFFEE BAR! ha!

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  17. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 11:46 AM

    Hey Tony...
    I'm just a warehouse of almost useless information...but sometimes you can pick up on something good! I never knew this info until yesyerday...just never looked too hard, I guess!

    Thanks for coming by, Tony!

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  18. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 11:49 AM

    Hey Anon 11:18...
    A lot of sneaky tricks are still being used in marketing a product, which is the reason that we should learn all about the codig and such.

    It's to our bebefit to do so...

    Hey, thanks for the visit today!


    Hey Cyg...
    Can't have too much knowledge to use, I'm thinking.

    Thanks for coming by...

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  19. JoJoJune 20, 2009 at 1:13 PM

    When Anon mentioned that pottery from China it reminded me of all that pretty mexican pottery everyone was buy to use for eating and cooking and then found out it was loaded with lead.
    And my dear do you think if we each had a nickel and we rubbed them together we might end up with a new dime?

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  20. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM

    Hey JoJo...
    Yeah...gotta watch that pottery for cooking and eating! Some of those people using it every day only lived to be 90 or 100 years old, I hear!

    In todays market, rubbing 2 nickles together would get about 7 cents...hasn't been much silver in dimes since the 60's!

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  21. MayberryJune 20, 2009 at 6:28 PM

    Awwwwwwwww MAN! Ya had me goin' fer a minute..... Oh well, here's tippin' an ice cold 12 ounces at ya! Good info Hermit!

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  22. CatmanJune 20, 2009 at 6:47 PM

    Thanks, Jim

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  23. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 6:51 PM

    Hey Mayberry...
    Thought that would get your attention! That cold one sounds pretty good to me...may have to try it myself!

    Thanks for coming by, buddy!


    Hey Catman...
    you are quite welcome, my friend.

    Have a good one, and thanks for coming over...

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  24. AnonymousJune 20, 2009 at 8:42 PM

    Very useful info Hermit...thanks!

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  25. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 8:48 PM

    Hey Molly...
    I sure am glad you liked the information...and I'm glad you could drop in for a visit today!

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  26. APNJune 20, 2009 at 9:57 PM

    Thanks Hermit Jim, that will help make shopping a little easier

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  27. HermitJimJune 20, 2009 at 10:05 PM

    Hey AP...
    Glad to be of a little use. I know that when I first found out about the first 3 digits...I was surprised at how many products I actually was being smart about using, just by luck!

    Now I am a bit more armed and that's good for me!

    Thanks so much for coming by!

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  28. DoriJune 22, 2009 at 6:39 AM

    The first 3 digits on the barcode actually tell you where the BANK that funds the products and produces the barcode is located...it may point to South Africa when in fact the product themselves are all produced in England.

    The little people of the world need to eat as well--they all have families to feed just like workers in the US. I buy smart, but global.

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