To buy generic brands or not?
When I was in the UK, I noticed that most of the supermarkets had a few categories of items - branded, luxury generic, mid-priced generic and cheap generic. As a struggling student, with there being quite a price difference between the branded and generic brands I used to buy generic but would splurge on the branded stuff once in a while.
Later, I found out that some generic items or “own-brand” items were actually manufactured by branded manufacturers but just repackaged into the generic packaging. For example, ABC brand of biscuits would retail for GBP1 but Tesco Choice would retail for 60p. However, the actual biscuits were actually manufactured by ABC so you were getting similar quality products but at a cheaper price if you buy generic.
The point of it all is that generic is not necessarily of a lower quality or worse than a branded product. In fact, you may find yourself saving money buying generic brand items.
I would buy generic brands for items where it doesn’t make much of a difference:
- Toilet rolls or tissue paper
- Sugar and salt
- Bottled water
- Stationery like files or envelopes
- Cotton pads and cotton buds
- Some better quality shower gels
I would not buy generic brands for:
- some food stuff because I’m picky
- sanitary pads
- cleaning detergent
- most shower gels and all shampoos
- cosmetics
So, would you use generic brand items and if you will, what will you use and what won’t you?
Some related posts:
- Dont buy a branded bag just because everyone has it
- Where do the warehouse sale goods come from?
- Gifts with Purchase - bonus or evil?
- Why I’m not as excited about The Gardens at Midvalley
- Jimat dan Senang Kira - Rounding Up Bills
comments
5 Responses to “To buy generic brands or not?”
Leave a Reply
-
My Women Stuff- Review: Makeup: Stila Powder Eyeshadows
- New Escada Incredible Me Perfume
- Dior Fall 2008 - My Thoughts
- Maybelline Contest Winner!
- 14 years of Stila Cosmetics - and you get the freebies!
- Does your skin look better when you are ill?
- Would you wear a colour that doesn’t quite suit you?
- Estee Lauder Chocolate Decadence Fall 2008
Same like you, I’ll buy generic brand when it doesn’t make any difference and something that is not for long term use like tissue, mineral water, cotton buds, etc. But not when it comes to food and drinks, make up appliances, etc.
PB says: Welcome and that’s good to know!
I bought a generic brand cleaner from Jusco just the other day and it was much more dilluted than the usual non-generic ones. hah, but it did the job anyway.
I won’t buy generic brand cosmetics, that’s for sure.
PB says: Don’t you find you end up using more of it and it runs out faster? That was what I felt about generic detergents which is why I don’t buy them now. And cosmetics are a no no!
I remembered buying a LOT of red, blue and whites (Tesco Value products) when I first went to the UK. At the end of the day, I ended up paying more than I would normal products because items like facial cotton, washing detergent, dish liquids, loo rolls were so sparse in quality and quantity that I actually ended up using more each time.
I would buy generic-branded bottled water, sugar and salt and rims of papers, but that’s it. As for the rest, I’d rather pay a little more. Yep, even loo rolls. Dad thinks my butt’s made of gold or something :p
PB says: I agree about the loo rolls actually and I don’t do detergents too because the concentration is not there. But even then I won’t buy premium loo rolls… yet!
Hmm… call me a snob but I tend to steer clear of generic brands because I find that their quality is severly lacking. I’d be ok with mineral water since it’s just water after all, but no to the rest. Not unless I’m desperate!
PB says: Snob! j/k!
Its true about the quality though. I suppose cheaper comes at a price
I have tried the Tesco brand for a few food items like ice-cream, yoghurt, biscuits etc. and the quality and taste was really bad. Even though it’s cheap, it’s not really worth it.
PB says: I have to agree. That’s why I steer clear of generic food stuffs