The $14 Decision: A True Story About Supporting American Jobs
I was standing in line at a local auto parts store—a place that had been in the neighborhood for years. It’s gone now. Empty building. Dark windows. But that day, it was still open. Still doing business. Still part of the local rhythm.
TL;DR:
A true story about a mechanic who chose a cheaper, imported car part—despite complaining about the loss of good jobs in America. The $14 he saved may seem small, but it symbolized something bigger: how our everyday choices either support or erode the very values we claim to stand for. This story isn’t about blame—it’s about awareness. When we choose American-made, we’re choosing to keep skills, jobs, and community alive.
In front of me was a guy you’d probably recognize. Blue-collar, older, graying beard, grease-stained hands. He looked like someone who had spent a lifetime working on engines—probably more with muscle memory than manuals. He was talking with the clerk like a regular. Comfortable. Sharp. Experienced.
He was obviously a regular. He was chatting familiarly with the cashier as if they were well acquainted. He was kind, but he was frustrated.
He started venting about how no one wants to pay for quality work anymore. About how hard it is to make a decent living. About the kinds of people who expect everything to be cheap. All of it rang familiar—stuff you hear often. As someone who has been in the masonry business for 19 years, it all rang too familiar. I know you have heard it. Maybe you’ve even said it.
But then noticed me waiting behind him. So he refocused to the task at hand. He asked for a part to fix a woman’s car- the whole reason he was there.
The clerk looked it up and said, “I’ve got two options. Same part. One’s labeled “Good” and costs $18.99—made overseas. The other is labeled “Best” and is $32.99, made in the USA.”
Without missing a beat, the man said, “Give me the cheap one. This lady doesn’t have a ton of money”
And just like that, something cracked for me.
Here was a guy—someone who wants to be paid fairly for skilled work—passing up a chance to do the same for someone else. He was JUSt COMPLAINING ABOUT IT! He was obviously passionate about the subject. But it wasn’t his fault- it was everyone else’s. The irony hit hard. He wasn’t being malicious. He probably didn’t even think about it. He simply chose the cheapest part without hesitation. But that’s the problem. He charged this woman for his time, his knowledge, and his labor. Her bill for his service was likely at least a few hundred bucks. And in that moment, for a difference of $14—a rounding error on a total invoice—he chose to buy the cheaper import instead of supporting another American worker like himself. Not just the worker- the entire business is making American parts with American labor and paying American taxes while buying American goods in American neighborhoods.
He didn’t even see it. The sad irony never registered to the man. I didn’t say anything. Maybe I should have. But I’ve thought about it ever since.
Not a Political Statement—Just a Practical One
Supporting American-made products isn’t about left or right. It’s not about tax policy, tariffs, or who’s to blame. It’s about something simpler and more universal: choosing to help our neighbors, our communities, and our country thrive—one purchase at a time.
No matter your views, buying local and American-made products is a habit that helps everyone. It keeps dollars circulating close to home, supports fairness, quality, and independence, and is something we can all do without needing to agree on anything else.
American Worker at Summerset Factory in California
The Real Cost Isn’t Just the Price Tag
This story isn’t really about that man. It’s about all of us. It is about how easy it is to say we care about jobs, community, and fair pay—and how easy it is to contradict ourselves with the smallest choices.
That $14? It wasn’t just a price difference. It was a chance to keep a factory running. To pay a machinist. To help someone’s kid stay on the soccer team because their parent still has a job. Those connections are invisible, but they’re real.
Every time we choose local—every time we choose American-made—we reinforce a system that values work, quality, and long-term thinking. Every time we don’t, we chip away at it. And after 50 years and millions of small but meaningful decisions, all that chipping has eroded many good jobs away. I’m not advocating for tons of menial jobs droning away in a factory line. But I am advocating for awareness and keeping the money pool in the hands and control of the many.
“We can’t complain about losing good jobs while choosing not to support the people doing them.”
It’s Not About Perfection. It’s About Intention.
Nobody’s perfect. We all make trade-offs. Sometimes the cheaper option is all someone can afford, and that’s real too. But when we can choose better—and we don’t—it’s worth asking: what are we really saving?
Sometimes, it’s not just a few bucks. Sometimes, we’re saving a job. Sometimes, we’re saving a way of life.
That’s why, at Cornerstone, we manufacture our products in the USA and source American materials when we can. We care—really care—about the stories behind the parts, not just the parts themselves. The materials for those products are locally sourced. We try to offer as many USA-made products as possible. We aren’t perfect, but we are intentional, and we try our best.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for being aware and intentional. And thanks for being part of the solution.
