Grocery shopping: Do you buy brand names or generic?

[GagHalfrunt]

For most items I'm perfectly happy buying store brand. And for most items, the store brand is indeed as good as the name brand. With the profit margins on store brand products it makes sense for the stores to assure that they're top quality. They want people to buy that instead of the name brand.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Depends: always brand name. Never generic.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The only time I ever buy generic is if brand name is not available.

I generally am not afraid to try any of the store brand/generic stuff. If it isn't good, I won't get it again but if it is good, I'll save lots of money.

 

[squarecut1]

I have no problem buying store brand for most things.

 

[roguerower]

Some stuff generic, but most of it's name brand.

I never go generic on TP.

 

[Perknose]

I let my wife pick up TP after work one day and she got the generic stuff and it was terrible. I lectured her on the importance of getting the good stuff.

Did you wash your hands before wagging your finger at her?

 

[spidey07]

Generally generic, but there are some brands that I'm loyal to and think taste better:
Pickles
Frenches yellow mustard
Hellman's mayonaise

 

[squarecut1]

Most of the store brand chips are quite bad

 

[ElFenix]

local grocer has 3 levels of private label. the middle one is usually as good as premium brands, the top one is specialty items and is very good. the bottom one usually blows.

 

[Perknose]

Generally generic, but there are some brands that I'm loyal to and thing taste better:
Pickles
Frenches yellow mustard
Hellman's mayonaise
Glock

Good fix!

Also, Pickles is not a brand. I assume you meant Claussen, but you know what?

I buy the GARGANTUAN jars of uncut pickles at Costco, for almost the same price as a tiny little jar at retail, and quarter a number of them into a smaller container together with enough of the pickling liquid as needed, and the results are stellar.

Why so? Because, like Claussen, these whole pickles aren't boiled into submission and, since they aren't sliced open at the factory, they retain their crispness.

Don't believe me? Chance a few of your pennies on a jar at Costco next time and see for yourself.

 

[feralkid]

The quality is poor. But it really depends on what your needs are. People buy generic PCs all the time.

For food, i go name brand, everything else is usually generic. It really doesn't matter what kind of table salt or aluminum foil I buy, but Sargento is so much better than the competition.

Consumer Reports studies show that many "Store Brand" products are superior to "Name Brand". Others, not as good.

 

[kn51]

I'm a sucker for those selecta-size paper towel rolls. Some stores offer the generic versions.

Aluminum foil: Always get the heavy duty if going generic.

TP: Yeah, not something you can scrimp on. Your brain may say one thing in regards to cost, but you anus will win that argument.

 

[natto fire]

Depends. For some products, generic or store brand is fine. For others, not so much. Things I won't buy generic/store brand for:

1. TP
2. Aluminum foil
3. Trash bags

If you have access to Costco, try Kirkland TP, it is really good. Totally agree on the trash bags, but haven't had any problems with Kroger brand heavy-duty foil.

 

[MongGrel]

I need a both.

We have certain ones we've come to like over the years, usually named brand I'll go there.

But even some of those aren't you're regular Name brands and are local, and still buy some generic things.

Not enough options here for me.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Safeway "Nut and Grain " bread is better than any name brand.

 

[boomhower]

As many have said it's a case by case basis but we buy a lot of generic items. Some stuff has to be name brand, Cheez-Its and Heinz catsup are two big ones.

 

[spidey07]

Never buy cheap TP. Ever. Gimme super premium TP

Every time. My bum is worth it.

 

[Anubis]

both

 

[darkxshade]

I'm a lifer on ATOT, the cheap generic crap is below me! YOLO!

 

[Miramonti]

easy, newbie.

 

[Daishiki]

I used to be all about name brands. As I got older, I've started to give generics a go. Kirkland, Kroger, Target brand. Hard to beat when Target's pasta sauce was going for $1 and the Classico next to it was $2.59. I can't taste the difference.

There are things that others have mentioned that I stick with name brands: TP, batteries, Philly cream cheese, first aid stuff.

 

[MrColin]

The local chain I hit the most has a generous satisfaction guarantee, if I think it sucks I can return the unused portion for two of the name brand things. Generally, I think its the same product with a different label.

The only exception is pet food. I go for name brand (Hill's) 'cause I know its not from China.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I buy whatever the store I'm at has. I don't always go to the same place.

Lately I look more at the ingredients more than anything though. It's incredible how so much of our food today is full of crap, and if you don't actually read the ingredients you may not be getting what you think you are.

 

[Engineer]

I buy the cheapest...to a point. I do buy some of the lowest 'value store brands' (not regular store brands but the serious cheap stuff) but only to try or if I've had them before. Those are usually hit or miss 50% of the time or so on quality.

In general, I simply buy whatever is the cheapest unless there is a good reason (like the value brand sucking).

I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[Slew Foot]

99% of my food comes from Costco, Trader Joes, or a farmers market. I get generics whenever I can, they taste the same usually.