How we check where things are made
“Made in USA” is easy to print on a box and hard to confirm. Here is exactly what we do, and what we don't.
What we do
- Find the maker's own statement. For each product we look for a page on the maker's website that says where it is made. We link it on the pick as “Source”.
- Use the maker's words, not ours. We write “Smithey says…”, not “this is American-made”, unless we have more than the maker's claim.
- Write down the caveats. Imported parts, imported materials, models made elsewhere, and statements that cover the company but not the item are all stated on the pick.
- Give it a level. Every pick has a level (below).
- Date it. We show when we last checked, because makers change their lines. Changes we find go in Claim Watch.
The three levels
| Level | Meaning | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Claim noted | We found a company-level or partial claim, or conflicting information, but not one for every product. Confirm the exact item. | 3 |
| Level 2 Source-checked | The maker's own page says this product or line is made in the US, and we link it. Where the maker says some parts or materials are imported, the pick also shows an Imported parts tag. | 28 |
| Level 3 Evidence on file | Documents or a visit back up the claim: bill of materials with country of origin, supplier records, production photos or video, a maker affidavit. No pick has earned it so far. | 0 |
Level describes how well we have checked a claim. It is not a quality rating and it is not a legal certification.
What we don't do
- We have not visited factories or inspected products. We are not a government agency or a lab.
- We only describe hands-on testing when we have actually done it. Most picks so far are source-checked, not tested. Makers are welcome to send us a product to try. If we review it, we will say it was a sample, and a free sample never buys a spot in our picks or changes a level.
- We do not accept payment from makers to be included, to rank higher, or to change a level. Sponsors can buy labeled placements, never a place in our picks. See the sponsor rules.
The legal standard
The FTC's Made in USA Labeling Rule says an unqualified “Made in USA” claim means the product is “all or virtually all” made in the United States. A product with imported parts should say so, as in “Made in USA with imported parts” or “Assembled in USA”. We follow that approach.
Found a mistake?
If a maker's statement has changed or we got something wrong, email us at [email protected], and we'll correct it and log the change.