Current Events > Generic product just as good as name brand, and vice versa.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Name a generic product that is every bit as good as the name brand version.

And then name a name brand product that is CLEARLY better than generic versions.

Ok? Go.

I think generic aspirin works just as well as brand names like Tylenol

Name-brand Triscuits > store-brand.

Any prescription drug.

Example: Paper plates - buy the bulk cheap discount versions of paper plates. Why would you ever need to buy a branded version of a paper plate?

This will probably differ depending on what country you're in.

In Australia we have Coles, Woolworths and IGA, and I primarily shop at the former, so the generic brand is Coles. I find it tends to do the job just fine, except when it comes to pasta sauce. IGA shredded cheese is great.

The only time name brand tends to have an edge is when it's a specialty flavor or something limited time that a generic store brand won't have. Like pumpkin spice Oreos.

Name brand soda is usually better too, but that's because store brand uses more sugar to offset the fact that it's store brand. So it tastes worse and is also higher in calories

Chicken broth

Will_VIII posted...

The only time name brand tends to have an edge is when it's a specialty flavor or something limited time that a generic store brand won't have. Like pumpkin spice Oreos.

Name brand soda is usually better too, but that's because store brand uses more sugar to offset the fact that it's store brand. So it tastes worse and is also higher in calories

Fun fact, I use the Coles generic cola (roughly $1 a bottle) to mix with my gin or vodka compared to actual Coke or Pepsi (>$2 a bottle). When alcohol's involved it doesn't really matter.

Yeah I'll get the generic 2 and even 3 liter bottles from Dollar Tree to use for mixers

Anything ALDI has is better than the name brand equivalent.

The store I used to work at had their own brand of organic / natural peanut butter and I swear its like the best peanut butter

toilet paper from Costco is just as good as Charmin

Working at a grocery store, we'd get a lot of store brand and name brand stuff in the same shipment. They were literally identical except the label down to the lot number.

Vyrulisse posted...

Anything ALDI has is better than the name brand equivalent.

People keep telling me this! Not that specifically, but rather just praising Aldi in general. I need to take a proper look at their range. My friend says they've got pretty good gin.

The Signature Select hamburger dill pickle chips at Acme are better than the name brand ones they also sell.

Vyrulisse posted...

Anything ALDI has is better than the name brand equivalent.

Their own brand version of Lurpak butter is almost as good as the real thing.

Given that it's half the price, that's impressive and good enough for me.

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I can definitely agree there. It gets kinda obvious when you see the bottles and packaging are all the same shape...

Vyrulisse posted...

Anything ALDI has is better than the name brand equivalent.

This and Trader Joe's, in most instances. I actually get most of my groceries at Aldi

I feel like most store brands are just as good, and when they aren't they are still worth the couple of bucks saved.

SaikyoStyle posted...

Name-brand Triscuits > store-brand.

Name brand chips in general beat store brands, IMO.

Walmart Parmesan cheese is better than Kraft

Will_VIII posted...

This and Trader Joe's, in most instances. I actually get most of my groceries at Aldi

Love Trader Joe's. Wish they expanded their stock a bit more, but that would probably break their business model.

fyi many generic versions are the same product as the name brand made in the same manufacturing plants

SilvosForever posted...

Example: Paper plates - buy the bulk cheap discount versions of paper plates. Why would you ever need to buy a branded version of a paper plate?

This is literally the worst example you could give

SilvosForever posted...

Example: Paper plates - buy the bulk cheap discount versions of paper plates. Why would you ever need to buy a branded version of a paper plate?

This is a terrible example, because the generics are flimsy as fuck. Even the regular Dixie are flimsy as fuck. Dixie Ultra and Chinette are the only paper plates worth a damn.

Generic medications work just as good as the name brand of the same formulation.

Name-brand laundry detergent is better than generic, though. But that doesn't mean you need to buy Tide. Any name-brand detergent is better than generic.

Vyrulisse posted...

Anything ALDI has is better than the name brand equivalent.

But is Aldi better than Trader Joe's? (This is a trick question.)

Any pill based medication the generic is typically as good, and you can get like 200 of them for dirt cheap from Amazon, Costco, Sams Club, etc.

Name brand cereal is way different (and better) than generic cereal.

I've been a big fan of a lot of Sam's Choice products, especially pickles, would buy their mango habanero and maple bourbon pickles over any name brand I've tried.

I have never had a store brand or any competitor really come close at all to matching Doritos.

Off brand Ritz were some of the dustiest, weakest crackers I've ever had the displeasure of eating. Can't put anything on them without them turning into particles

Walmart used to have this small personal thick crust frozen pizza that while not great, was better than it had any business being.

All I can think of is cereal at the moment. I always thought Lucky Charms was better than Marshmallow Mateys. Those marshmallows in the off brand cereal felt so low tier. But I don't eat that kinda cereal anymore so I will say maybe they have improved (Mateys) because a lot of store brands are often as good as the name brand now.

As Wheaties are just a rip off now and any store brand bran flakes (with one possible exception) are usually three to four dollars cheaper and taste just as good. Though I did have some Aldi's Bran Flakes before and I thought they sucked as the cereal was all smashed and it didn't taste very good. In that case it may have been just a bad box.

Wal-mart brand hot chocolate is literally the best hot chocolate on earth.

Giant (Stop and Shop) seltzer and club soda is way better than any name brand. Much more fizz.

...but their store-brand ham is hit-or-miss. There's clearly at least two manufacturers and one's good and one isn't.

I also prefer Giant or CVS store-brand mouthwash.

The only two things I won't go generic on are Cheerios and Heinz ketchup.

I can taste the difference in both.

Most store brand food products are still made from the name-brand company just under the store's name, as some have mentioned. And I can confirm this as I've worked in food production, all we do is change the boxes as the machines are running.

bigblu89 posted...

The only two things I won't go generic on are Cheerios and Heinz ketchup.

I can taste the difference in both.

I get Giant brand ketchup and love it.

Multivitamins, and...hell just about everything I buy.

What I don't skimp on is like Fram oil filters,brake pads electronics ect.

Outside of pretty much cereal and home furnishings (not a big Mainstays fan, Walmart), most generics are very close to, if not exactly, the same thing.

modena posted...

Multivitamins, and...hell just about everything I buy.

I can think of no reason to buy a name-brand multivitamin or supplement. I get mine generic from a reputable place that sells them in bulk.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

This^ especially when its Pecos cantaloupe season

CVS brand vaseline

Sorozone posted...

Most store brand food products are still made from the name-brand company just under the store's name, as some have mentioned. And I can confirm this as I've worked in food production, all we do is change the boxes as the machines are running.

And on occasion this results in getting store brand products in cases sent to a different brand store (i.e. Kroger getting cases of Great Value products).

Various cables. I just go for the cheaper option unless I really need it in a specific style

Sorozone posted...

Most store brand food products are still made from the name-brand company just under the store's name, as some have mentioned. And I can confirm this as I've worked in food production, all we do is change the boxes as the machines are running.

This, used to work in a fish factory, one of my jobs on the line was to change to pause the line, change the cartons, then restart the line with no other change anywhere else on the line apart from me starting a new pallet to stack and using a different outer box, and I still had people who'd argue with me the name brand version was somehow better.