The cost of buying from Scotland: new Argyle outfit arrives

[Monkey@Arms]

I'm obviously biased James, but I can't agree that buying locally is always best. And if I can be perfectly frank (sorry, this isn't meant to sound offensive, so please don't read it that way) the voices that regularly express similar sentiments on this board can sound to European ears either a bit protectionist, or dare I say a tad parochial. I of course know that the US imports lots of stuff. But I think in Europe as consumers we're perhaps somehow more used to centuries of international trade with authentic goods coming from the best source to supply them (not least due to our colonial history) whereas Americans are maybe more used to (rightly or wrongly) assuming American is best, and looking first within their own borders.

I suspect your only partially correct here, Nick. The fact is most people in the U.S. never order anything directly from another country, even if the product is manufactured elsewhere, thus the amount of personal import duties come as a shock. (E.g. I may think Swiss watches are the best, but it would never occur to me to import one directly.) So part of the issue is one of consumer education.

Best regards,

Jake