Tangentially related, but if anyone is interested in some manufacturing background on some products for dollar stores, check out Poorly Made in China. [1] The a

Tangentially related, but if anyone is interested in some manufacturing background on some products for dollar stores, check out Poorly Made in China. [1] The author goes through the process of an American business owner attempting to manufacture soap in China, for distribution in US general stores. The owner was trying to stay compliant with all the laws, and trying to fulfill the contract, but faced immense challenges. Ingredient swaps without notice, labeling issues, bottle consistency issues, etc. It really opened my eyes to the quality side of some commodity-type products. We, as a society, need to become more aware of the supply chain of products we buy. When I mention Amazon comingles inventory, most people are shocked. They think Amazon Prime means Amazon has oversight and a motivation to control the supply chain from the manufacturer to the end user, which is simply not the case. It's certainly challenging to figure out where stuff comes from, and suppliers are constantly changing, so you'll probably only be able to trace back 1 layer of manufacturing. Doing so helps give confidence in what you're buying. [1] https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Poorly+Made+in+China%3A+An+Insider%27s+Account+of+the+China+Production+Game%2C+Revised+and+Updated+Edition-p-9780470928073 https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Poorly+Made+in+China%3A+An+Insid...