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Name brand vs. store brand
Topic Started: Apr 10 2018, 10:19 AM (1,718 Views)
LapisLazuli
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I intentionally buy store brand for things like flour, sugar, milk, butter and cream, and cleaning products and sometimes do for other items if the price is competitive and the label tells me it's made or grown locally. (Or in Italy, if it's canned tomatoes.)

The store brand dairy produce comes from exactly the same milk treatment plants as one (or more) of the name brand dairy companies and they act as loss leaders for the supermarkets so the quality is not in question.

Occasionally I buy store brand bread that's baked on site, although I assume the dough is prepared somewhere local and trucked to each store in the major chains. I'll even buy the cheap and uninteresting sliced white loaves if it's to make breadcrumbs for stuffing, say.

I use store brand dishwashing powder and bulk white vinegar for cleaning, but also buy specific vinegars for cooking and dressings and tried and true cleaning products that do the best job, even if they cost far too much.

I use an environmentally friendly and also economical laundry liquid and store brand oxygen soaker but must always have a Saard Wonderstick for pre-treating stains. If I ever live in another country again I will have to have care packages sent to me containing Saard wondersticks!

There are some things that I am firmly loyal to, such as Vegemite, comfort food like Heinz condensed tomato soup and Heinz tomato sauce, Baxter's mango chutney, a specific extremely long-grained rice from Thailand and the Pakistani basmati rice that comes in the white cloth bag.

Then there are others where I have two or three preferred brands in each category that I buy when discounted to keep the costs down. Toilet paper and paper towels fall into that category. I like the good stuff but I buy them when they are cheapest.
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helent70
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Stirrer of pots.
I actually like the Safeway/Albertson's brand of toilet paper (the kind in the green package with the bunny on it). It's exactly the blend of softness and strength I like. Their paper towels are pretty good too. I pretty much will try almost any product in a store brand. Costco's Kirkland Signature is consistently good. I especially like their laundry pods.

I do stick with name brand for cola. Pepsi, please. But I'll buy the store brand for fruit-flavored soda, like grape or orange. I do prefer name brand for boxed mac & cheese. There's something in that bright orange Kraft dinner that the store brand can't duplicate.

Safeway/Albertson's Signature Select puts out some really good fruit cups. The diced peaches in light syrup are addictive.
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Karaokemama
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15 years is big metal chickens!
soxgirl
Apr 10 2018, 05:50 PM
Karaokemama
Apr 10 2018, 12:26 PM
There are very few name brands I insist on and often it's more of a case of just not a random generic. We have Kroger, Food Lion and Walmart for grocery stores. Kroger's Private Selection house brand is very good and comparable to name brands in just about everything. Walmart's Great Value is fine for staples like flour, sugar, salt, etc but some things I won't buy.

Ketchup must be Heinz

Mayo must be Hellmans (though the Kroger brand with the similar label is actually quite good)

Coffee creamer is international delights sugar free italian sweet cream - but that's mostly because I haven't found that flavor sugar free elsewhere. I like the flavors for my coffee but don't need the sugar in "regular" flavors. If I can find sugar free seasonal flavors that works, and if not plain heavy cream with splenda works too.

Roommate prefers Charmin TP but I buy the Kroger version. It's not as soft or as plush, but last year I spent $7500 to roto-root and replace my sewer output pipe from the house to the street. I'm told Charmin is terrible for septic and sewer systems alike.

We make a lot of seasonings and sauces from scratch because roommate cannot have MSG so that's not really an issue.

Laundry detergent - either powder, or a name brand concentrated liquid. I'm not paying for water in a detergent bottle which is mostly what liquid is. For years I mixed my own powder detergent for about $25 for a year's worth.

ETA: Tampons are Tampax Radiant. Shampoo/Conditioner - I switch off between a few but currently am using a L'Oreal sulfate free. I try to find sulfate free item and avoid Pantene at all costs.
I 'm curious about your dislike for Pantene. We love it. Is it awful, and I just don't know it?
Every hairdresser I know says to avoid it like the plague. That it has chemicals that can be harsh and strip your hair and isn't all that good at cleaning it. For me I found it left my oily hair fairly greasy. The two-in-one wasn't bad but it wasn't enough to combat damage from hair color.
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helent70
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Stirrer of pots.
OK, yeah, I definitely was name brand only for feminine supplies. OB tampons, Stayfree thin pads with wings. I'm glad I don't need such things anymore.
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Cassady
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Tide all the way.

Kerrygold butter for life.

I used to be a Heinz girl but I started making my own and it's way better.

TP is a specific brand but I don't remember which brand it is. I just know what the label looks like. I guess if they ever change the packaging I'm screwed.

Pretty much everything else I'm flexible on. I don't use a bunch of prepackaged food though. I do buy a lot of canned beans and tomatoes. Beans can be store brand. although I'll buy named brands when they're on sale. Tomatoes must be one of a couple different brands (which is actually a preference I developed based on recommendations of posters here -and they were right).

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coco
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I buy store brands for things like milk, eggs, butter, white vinegar. Growing up poor we used a lot of store brands and they just usually aren't the same. I do try and by items on sale and use coupons. For example, I like Bounty paper towels, but I only buy then if they are on sale. Cheap paper towels are lousy quality, and it takes twice as many to do the same job!
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Westtexasgirl
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Name brand pickles.
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MrsCowboy
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I prefer name brand for many things, but I do buy some store brands.

But only Target or my grocery store brands.

Name brand only:
Mayo - Best Foods
Ketchup - Heinz
Peanut butter- Skippy
Saran wrap press n seal
Angel soft TP
Crest toothpaste (NEVER Colgate)
International delight coffee creamer
Olive oil
Margerine - sheds spread
Butter - Danish reameries or kerry gold
Tide
cereal
cleaning supplies (other than glass cleaner - I use target brand)

Store brand ok:
freezer/sandwich zip bags
paper plates
garbage bags
plastic 'solo' cups
cheddar/mozz/monterey jack block cheese
string cheese
cream cheese/sour cream
heavy cream/milk/eggs
baking supplies (sugar/flour/baking soda)
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Strawberry Blondie
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I don’t really buy processed food except for condiments, which are pretty much all name brand because I have my favorites. Let’s see...

Croutons - name brand
Peanut butter - name brand
Jelly - from the farmers market
Taco shells - store brand
Cereal - it depends
Granola bars - name brand
Almonds - bulk
Milk - store brand
Yogurt - name brand only if it’s on sale
Creamer - whatever is on sale
Butter - whatever is on sale
Cheese - store brand (shredded and sliced cheeses for recipes and sandwiches. Good cheese comes from the cheese shop)
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Strawberry Blondie
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Toilet paper - Scott 1000 roll (septic system, can only use 1 ply)
Paper towels and baggies - whatever is on sale
Tin foil and plastic wrap - name brand
Napkins and paper plates - store brand

All toiletries and beauty products are name brand
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Millicat
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Worcestershire sauce must be Lea & Perrin.

French's and store brands just don't cut it.
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sfm

westTx whatare gthename brands of pickles? not snark, thatis one thig nto Ionlyqwould NOTbuyname brand,M Iwqouldnot evennotice the brand I knwo by tyoe sour dilletc butnotbrand.
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Sugaree
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I'm pretty flexible. Like apparently everyone else, I prefer Heinz ketchup. I'll also only buy Duke's mayo. I like the Aldi's store brand stuff, but Aldi's is a long way to go for me. Especially when I'm going to have to go to a second store anyway to get everything on my list. I discovered last night that the Great Value organic tomato basil soup SUCKS. How do you screw up tomato soup?
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Nikki
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Name brand:
Paper towels (Bounty)
Toilet paper (Northern)
Laundry detergent (Tide)
Bacon
Tampons
Hair Care
Ketchup (Heinz)
Mayo (Hellmans)

Store Brand:
Milk
Eggs
Anything else!
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Ilumine
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More than a Monkey's Mommy
When in the NorthEast, I will buy almost anything that is WEGMANS store brand. But ONLY Wegmans.

Except:


Olive Oil from Australia or McEvoy Estates
Kotex Tampons
Truvia brand Stevia (I can taste a difference)
Cafe AM Coffees (I drink flavored coffees so I don't have to use cream and sugar and most name and store brand flavored coffees are made out of old/crap coffee)
Various Small Business Owners teas (again, most large companies, even Stash sell old/crap leaves)
Tide Free and Clear
Downy April liquid and sheets Fresh fabric softener
REGULAR Charmin (no extra large rolls or extra thick OR soft ply)
Jason Shampoo for daily cleaning
Paul Mitchel #3 for chlorine
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RealtorLady
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RealtorLady
I'm ok with store brand paper towels but not Kleenex. And Kroger store brand cheese is my pissed brand.
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UFS.2
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Mostly store brand. Certain things are national brand.
Luckily we have alot of choice on grocery stores between work
and home. yes, I hound the weekly ads.
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momof3inmn
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Lover of all things coffee!
Apparently I'm the only one who is okay with buying store brand ketchup :$ . But I don't eat/use it. My boys do...a whole lot of it. And they don't seem to care what brand I buy!!
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inkedbooklady
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You people and your quaint little categories.
momof3inmn
Apr 11 2018, 09:28 AM
Apparently I'm the only one who is okay with buying store brand ketchup :$ . But I don't eat/use it. My boys do...a whole lot of it. And they don't seem to care what brand I buy!!
I'm okay with store brand ketchup :)

I don't buy it much though. I only really like ketchup when it is mixed with mayo to dip fries.
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Potatochiplady
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I don't buy too much that is processed or premade regardless of who made it. I do make a point to try/buy items in my store that come from local manufacturers when possible. The price is usually only a few cents higher and I like to support local business as best I can.

My local Hannaford seems to do a nice job of carrying meats, dairy, and produce from local farms as well as other items made by local suppliers (like honey, local bakeries, etc).

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Starfish
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hammer5ed
Heinz ketchup is about it. I used to be brand loyal to Tampax, but I hated the most recent "new and improvement" of the leak guard braid/skirt, so I switched to the store brand cardboard applicator versions and have never gone back.
possible TMI talking about tampon absorbency failure


Since I met DH and finances became an issue (legal bills), our general rule of thumb is to buy what's on sale, or cheaper, but still good quality. Cheapest price still costs more if the product is so terrible it gets thrown away instead of consumed.
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Aardi
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Book Pimp
Starfish
Apr 11 2018, 10:39 AM
Heinz ketchup is about it. I used to be brand loyal to Tampax, but I hated the most recent "new and improvement" of the leak guard braid/skirt, so I switched to the store brand cardboard applicator versions and have never gone back.
possible TMI talking about tampon absorbency failure


Since I met DH and finances became an issue (legal bills), our general rule of thumb is to buy what's on sale, or cheaper, but still good quality. Cheapest price still costs more if the product is so terrible it gets thrown away instead of consumed.
Oh, I hate their "improvements". I swear, now those things expand sideways instead of around and they hurt. I will never buy them again.

I guess I need to add tampons to my name brand list. Playtex all the way.
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Starfish
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hammer5ed
Aardi
Apr 11 2018, 11:00 AM
Starfish
Apr 11 2018, 10:39 AM
Heinz ketchup is about it. I used to be brand loyal to Tampax, but I hated the most recent "new and improvement" of the leak guard braid/skirt, so I switched to the store brand cardboard applicator versions and have never gone back.
possible TMI talking about tampon absorbency failure


Since I met DH and finances became an issue (legal bills), our general rule of thumb is to buy what's on sale, or cheaper, but still good quality. Cheapest price still costs more if the product is so terrible it gets thrown away instead of consumed.
Oh, I hate their "improvements". I swear, now those things expand sideways instead of around and they hurt. I will never buy them again.

I guess I need to add tampons to my name brand list. Playtex all the way.
YES! They got shorter and fatter. They probably reduced the amount of cotton and saved millions on production. I had been a loyal purchaser for at least 20 years. They lost my business.
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notstillme
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Geek by proxy
inkedbooklady
Apr 11 2018, 09:50 AM
momof3inmn
Apr 11 2018, 09:28 AM
Apparently I'm the only one who is okay with buying store brand ketchup :$ . But I don't eat/use it. My boys do...a whole lot of it. And they don't seem to care what brand I buy!!
I'm okay with store brand ketchup :)

I don't buy it much though. I only really like ketchup when it is mixed with mayo to dip fries.
We get store brand organic ketchup, but only the one store we don't go to lots. Otherwise yeah it's Heinz.
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Nikki
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Aardi
Apr 11 2018, 11:00 AM
Starfish
Apr 11 2018, 10:39 AM
Heinz ketchup is about it. I used to be brand loyal to Tampax, but I hated the most recent "new and improvement" of the leak guard braid/skirt, so I switched to the store brand cardboard applicator versions and have never gone back.
possible TMI talking about tampon absorbency failure


Since I met DH and finances became an issue (legal bills), our general rule of thumb is to buy what's on sale, or cheaper, but still good quality. Cheapest price still costs more if the product is so terrible it gets thrown away instead of consumed.
Oh, I hate their "improvements". I swear, now those things expand sideways instead of around and they hurt. I will never buy them again.

I guess I need to add tampons to my name brand list. Playtex all the way.
I am so glad I am not the only one who noticed the horrible changes! I seriously thought I was losing it!
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soxgirl

Karaokemama
Apr 10 2018, 07:53 PM
soxgirl
Apr 10 2018, 05:50 PM
Karaokemama
Apr 10 2018, 12:26 PM
There are very few name brands I insist on and often it's more of a case of just not a random generic. We have Kroger, Food Lion and Walmart for grocery stores. Kroger's Private Selection house brand is very good and comparable to name brands in just about everything. Walmart's Great Value is fine for staples like flour, sugar, salt, etc but some things I won't buy.

Ketchup must be Heinz

Mayo must be Hellmans (though the Kroger brand with the similar label is actually quite good)

Coffee creamer is international delights sugar free italian sweet cream - but that's mostly because I haven't found that flavor sugar free elsewhere. I like the flavors for my coffee but don't need the sugar in "regular" flavors. If I can find sugar free seasonal flavors that works, and if not plain heavy cream with splenda works too.

Roommate prefers Charmin TP but I buy the Kroger version. It's not as soft or as plush, but last year I spent $7500 to roto-root and replace my sewer output pipe from the house to the street. I'm told Charmin is terrible for septic and sewer systems alike.

We make a lot of seasonings and sauces from scratch because roommate cannot have MSG so that's not really an issue.

Laundry detergent - either powder, or a name brand concentrated liquid. I'm not paying for water in a detergent bottle which is mostly what liquid is. For years I mixed my own powder detergent for about $25 for a year's worth.

ETA: Tampons are Tampax Radiant. Shampoo/Conditioner - I switch off between a few but currently am using a L'Oreal sulfate free. I try to find sulfate free item and avoid Pantene at all costs.
I 'm curious about your dislike for Pantene. We love it. Is it awful, and I just don't know it?
Every hairdresser I know says to avoid it like the plague. That it has chemicals that can be harsh and strip your hair and isn't all that good at cleaning it. For me I found it left my oily hair fairly greasy. The two-in-one wasn't bad but it wasn't enough to combat damage from hair color.
Interesting. I always liked it, maybe I'll experiment. Thanks!
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Karaokemama
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15 years is big metal chickens!
Soxgirl if Pantene works for you great! It's cheap and I used it for a long time, and maybe it's part of just getting older - skin and hair needs change. I don't have sensitive skin thank goodness so I don't have to be too picky about skin care but my hair is definitely getting more fragile the older I get. Plus it's always colored and has been since I was about 16.
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Westtexasgirl
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Name brand salsa as well. I’m really not picky about brands.
Edited by Westtexasgirl, Apr 11 2018, 11:45 PM.
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Strawberry Blondie
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I switched to Suave Professionals and was pleasantly surprised to find it much improved over the junkie Suave shampoos of my youth.
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MrsPott
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I almost forgot: feminine hygiene products have to be name brand. I bought CVS tampons once and regretted it. Only time I've ever used tampons that were physically uncomfortable. Ditto for their maxipads. They're too stiff and just not proportioned right. Well worth paying the extra money for Tampax and Always!
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FarmMa
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Aardi
Apr 10 2018, 12:15 PM
Since we're all Heinz lovers around here, I thought you'd appreciate this:
Spoiler: click to toggle
We are a Heinz household, too, so I just had to tell you how much I love this picture!!
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Cecilia
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still nwihim
Apr 10 2018, 06:01 PM
I always cheaped out on laundry detergent. But one time Tide was on a really good sale price, so I thought I would get it. I washed everything in it, sheets towels, clothes and blankets. Ha, the whole family was itching and scratching.
I had to rewash everything in the cheaper stuff. That Tide was too harsh for us.
The things that have to be name brand for us are:
Heinz ketchup
Hellmans mayo
and Hefty trash bags
Cheapo trash bags were a particular nightmare. Garbage everywhere as soon as I lifted the bag from the can. Never again!
Definitely Hellman's Mayo. This is the sort of thing that is about what you grew up with.
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