Are Blackstone Griddles Made in the USA? That is a question on the minds of many people as of late. The answer to that question is not so clear-cut, but there are certainly some factors that suggest they may not be.
Some people feel this is an important issue because they want to support American businesses, while others simply prefer products made in the USA.
Here are some things to consider when trying to answer the question of where Blackstone griddles are made.
Table of Contents
- Investigating the Origins of the Blackstone Griddles
- What Does Made in the USA Mean?
- The Different Opinions on Where the Blackstone Griddles Are Made
- Why People Should Care Whether a Product is Made in the USA?
- Why Are Products Not Made in the USA?
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
Investigating the Origins of the Blackstone Griddles
First and foremost, it is important to note that Blackstone does not explicitly state where its products are made on its website. Their “About us” page simply states that “our products are designed and engineered in the USA with the latest technology and innovation”.
Well, this could mean anything. But the wording sure does not sound like the griddles are truly made in the USA. For example, Apple products like iPhones or iPads are designed in the USA as well but are made in China.
This lack of transparency has led some people to believe that the company may be hiding something.
However, it is also possible that Blackstone simply does not want to make any claims that could later be proven false.
What Does Made in the USA Mean?
You cannot just slap the American flag and Made in USA stickers on any product and call it a day. There are certain regulations in place that dictate what can and cannot be considered “Made in USA”.
The term “Made in USA” is actually quite complicated. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a set of guidelines that companies must follow in order to use this label on their products.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Made in USA” means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. Products should not contain any — or only negligible — foreign content.
The Different Opinions on Where the Blackstone Griddles Are Made
So, where are the Blackstone griddles actually made?
There are different opinions on this matter. Some people believe that the griddles are made in China and then simply assembled in the USA. Others believe that they are made entirely in the USA.
A quick search on Amazon shows that some people have received griddles with “Made in China” stamped on them, while others have received griddles with no country of origin listed.
As of late, many of the Amazon listings for Blackstone griddles include the following wording: “Country of origin: China”. Also if you google around, you will find no mention of the “Made in USA” label anywhere.
Moreover, Mike over at GriddleKing.com also mentioned that he contacted the support and they clearly stated that their products are manufactured in China.
So we can guess that Blackstone griddles are designed and engineered in the USA and manufactured in factories in China, and then sent back to Utah for distribution.
Why People Should Care Whether a Product is Made in the USA?
As mentioned before, some people feel very strongly about supporting businesses that are based in the USA. There are a few reasons why this might be the case.
First and foremost, it creates jobs for Americans. When a product is made in America, it employs American workers at every level of production.
From the engineers and designers to the assembly line workers and those who package and ship the product, every person involved in the process is getting a paycheck that they can use to support themselves and their families.
Products made outside of the USA are sometimes considered to be of lesser quality.
Of course, this is not always the case. There are many products made outside of the USA that are just as safe and well-made as those made here. But it is something to consider.
This of course doesn’t mean I am claiming that Blackstone griddles are unsafe or of poor quality. On the contrary, I don’t have any complaints about their products in this regard. Sure, there are some problems that may affect Blackstone griddles, but almost all products can encounter some issues.
And keep in mind that the Made in the USA moniker doesn’t immediately mean the product is top-notch. Tons of really poor stuff is made in the US too.
Why Are Products Not Made in the USA?
There are a number of reasons why companies choose to manufacture their products in other countries.
First and foremost, it is often cheaper to manufacture goods in countries where labor is less expensive. This saved money can be passed on to the customer in the form of lower prices.
China used to be the go-to country for companies looking to save money on production costs. However, wages in China have been rising in recent years, making it less of a bargain than it once was. Also if you haven’t noticed there is an economical war going on between USA and China right now and many people prefer not to buy Chinese products for that reason.
As a result, many companies are starting to look to other countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, where labor costs are still relatively low.
Also, given the COVID-19 pandemic and logistic chain disruptions, the companies from the USA and Europe are looking to move their production facilities out of China to be less dependent on that country.
Another reason why companies choose to manufacture their products outside of the USA is because of the availability of raw materials such as steel.
For example, if a company wants to make a product that contains bamboo, it is probably going to be cheaper and easier to source the bamboo from China or a Southeast Asian country than it would be to source it from the United States.
Final Thoughts
So, where are Blackstone griddles actually made? It’s difficult to say for sure.
However, based on the evidence, it seems likely that they are designed in the USA and manufactured in China. If you have a strong preference for products that are made in the USA, then you may want to look into other options.
But if you’re not opposed to products made in China, then Blackstone griddles could be a good option for you. They offer pretty good products. It’s a shame the griddles are officially sold only in the USA and Canada.
FAQ
Are Blackstone griddles covered by any warranty?
Yes, there is a one-year warranty for Blackstone griddles.