| Are "Amish-Built" Horse Barns Truly Offer the Best | | | | If you thought that the Amish build their barns, sheds |
| Construction and the Best Quality? | | | | and other product using hand-saws and hammers - |
| Many people associate "Amish-Built" with the quality | | | | think again. The Amish, just like any other companies |
| and automatically assume that if they purchase, or | | | | use power tools. The only difference, most of them |
| hire Amish carpenters to build their horse barn or any | | | | use air compressors to operate their power tools, |
| other structure, they will get one of the best-built | | | | such as table saws, miter saws and other machinery |
| barns for the money. Perhaps, that used to be the | | | | (diesel generator supplies power to the air |
| case - NOT ANY MORE. These days, "Amish-Built" | | | | compressor and air compressor in turn powers their |
| phrase is simply being used & often abused by | | | | converted-to-air machinery). Also, to be more |
| many builders and dealers that carry Amish product. | | | | competitive with the Non-Amish builders, more |
| This phrase is mostly used now for advertising | | | | & more Amish company owners turn to the use |
| purposes. The Reality is, Amish people no longer build | | | | of modern technology. These days, if you would to |
| better barns and do not always offer better quality. | | | | visit some of the Amish companies and walk into |
| Amish, just like any other builders are trying to | | | | their office, you'll notice telephones, fax machines, cell |
| compete with different Non-Amish companies and | | | | phones being used and yes, even computers (though, |
| quite often, with each other - for customers. | | | | in some cases, fax machines and computers are |
| It seems like the latest trend of some Amish | | | | hidden from view). The use of the modern |
| companies is to offer the better price, not necessary | | | | technology (such as phones & fax machines) is |
| the better product. Why sweat and worry about | | | | allowed by some Amish Elders, for business use only, |
| quality, when you can just say "Amish Built"? Yes, we | | | | in order to compete with the Non-Amish. Other |
| do have to give credit to Amish people for brining | | | | Elders are more conservative and may not allow the |
| different styles of sheds, barns and other nice | | | | use of this technology. It's still unknown if computers |
| looking product into the market, but to automatically | | | | and websites are allowed, but we see more & |
| assume that their product is better constructed, is a | | | | more Amish companies are using computers and |
| big mistake. There are some good quality Amish | | | | creating business websites. |
| barns & sheds, but also you will find some barns | | | | So, is there any difference between the Amish |
| built by the Amish that would not pass any | | | | owned companies and others? It appears, not that |
| construction codes. It's good to offer a better price | | | | much after all. Is Amish product built better? - It |
| for a horse barn, but to cut corners & to use | | | | depends who you ask, but in our opinion, not always. |
| cheaper materials in order to offer the better price, | | | | What we have learned for sure living among the |
| is simply unacceptable. The bottom line - No matter | | | | Amish, is that the phrase "Amish-Built" does not |
| where you buy your horse barn from (Amish, English | | | | always mean the best quality. In fact, in some cases |
| or Mennonites) - get all the details about the barn | | | | (believe it or not) it might not even mean that the |
| (construction specifications, materials used, | | | | product is actually built by the Amish, since |
| dimensions, wall heights, etc.), compare, and go for | | | | "Amish-Built" is so much abused by so many retailers |
| the Best! | | | | who think if they advertise their product as |
| Who are the Modern Amish? | | | | Amish-Built, they will sell more. |