Comments on: Question of the Day – Shopping http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Fri, 25 May 2012 02:50:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Maggie http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139822 Maggie Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:51:28 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139822 I don't buy many brand name groceries at all since I tend to shop the edges of the stores and most of brand name items are processed. I shop most often at a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market grocery store, and have no quality problems with their store brand Great Value frozen veggies, raisins, baking staples, trail mixes, dishwashing detergents, ziploc baggies, nuts, cottage cheese, and fruit juices, which are pretty much all I get regularly from the center aisles. When I do buy brand name items like cereal, pasta sauces, or salad dressings, I tend to wait until they show up as loss leaders or BOGO deals in the sales flyers. I am absolutely not brand loyal. I get the cheapest comparable item with the best nutritional stats. The worst store-brand item I've had is the Winn-Dixie fat-free cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is hard to stomach under the best of circumstances, and THAT vat tasted like rancid gym socks. I don’t buy many brand name groceries at all since I tend to shop the edges of the stores and most of brand name items are processed. I shop most often at a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market grocery store, and have no quality problems with their store brand Great Value frozen veggies, raisins, baking staples, trail mixes, dishwashing detergents, ziploc baggies, nuts, cottage cheese, and fruit juices, which are pretty much all I get regularly from the center aisles.

When I do buy brand name items like cereal, pasta sauces, or salad dressings, I tend to wait until they show up as loss leaders or BOGO deals in the sales flyers.

I am absolutely not brand loyal. I get the cheapest comparable item with the best nutritional stats.

The worst store-brand item I’ve had is the Winn-Dixie fat-free cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is hard to stomach under the best of circumstances, and THAT vat tasted like rancid gym socks.

]]> By: edenz http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139788 edenz Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:18:19 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139788 hmm - we don't buy many things that are branded. Uh - usually Gold Medal or King Arthur's flour - but that's usually the cheapest (per unit) or the only one available depending on where we shop. Same thing with sugar. Hmmm. Juice - same deal. Canned beans - same thing. Basically we only buy staples and usually there isn't much choice. I guess there's not too much money in the products we buy. hmm – we don’t buy many things that are branded. Uh – usually Gold Medal or King Arthur’s flour – but that’s usually the cheapest (per unit) or the only one available depending on where we shop. Same thing with sugar. Hmmm. Juice – same deal. Canned beans – same thing. Basically we only buy staples and usually there isn’t much choice. I guess there’s not too much money in the products we buy.

]]> By: Nicole http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139733 Nicole Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:39:01 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139733 We buy what's cheapest :) Often I can get store brand for less than store brand when I combine sale + coupon other times store brand is still cheaper. I think it's important not to have brand loyalty - name brand OR store brand - if your goal is to spend the least amount of money. We buy what’s cheapest :) Often I can get store brand for less than store brand when I combine sale + coupon other times store brand is still cheaper. I think it’s important not to have brand loyalty – name brand OR store brand – if your goal is to spend the least amount of money.

]]> By: Ed http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139598 Ed Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:37:23 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139598 I buy everything Kirkland Signature that is available, I have never been disappointed in Costco's store brand. Specifically, canned chicken, lunch meat (ham), laundry and dishwasher detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, liquid fabric softener, all OTC pharmaceuticals, you name it! I buy everything Kirkland Signature that is available, I have never been disappointed in Costco’s store brand.
Specifically, canned chicken, lunch meat (ham), laundry and dishwasher detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, liquid fabric softener, all OTC pharmaceuticals, you name it!

]]> By: Cindy http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139594 Cindy Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:17:04 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139594 Interesting question! We just had a bad experience with Ralph's (Kroger) frozen lemonade. The Von's (Safeway) one was better, but neither was quite as good as Minute Maid. I actually like the Rite Aid equivalent Clearasil face wash over the name brand. It smells nicer. I'm not a big fan of generic toilet paper... seems to fall apart and be a bit abrasive. Plus, you end up using twice as much, so it doesn't save you anything... Interesting question!
We just had a bad experience with Ralph’s (Kroger) frozen lemonade. The Von’s (Safeway) one was better, but neither was quite as good as Minute Maid.

I actually like the Rite Aid equivalent Clearasil face wash over the name brand. It smells nicer.

I’m not a big fan of generic toilet paper… seems to fall apart and be a bit abrasive. Plus, you end up using twice as much, so it doesn’t save you anything…

]]> By: Single Ma http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139555 Single Ma Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:53:25 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139555 When it comes to certain things (cereal, cheese, butter, cake mix, etc.), I'm brand loyal. So it really depends on the product. Otherwise, I buy what's on sale/cheaper. So yes, I buy plenty of store brands. The worst store brand item I've ever purchased was pop tarts. Ugh! Hard as a brick and taste like glue. Don't ask me how I know the flavor of glue. LOL When it comes to certain things (cereal, cheese, butter, cake mix, etc.), I’m brand loyal. So it really depends on the product. Otherwise, I buy what’s on sale/cheaper. So yes, I buy plenty of store brands. The worst store brand item I’ve ever purchased was pop tarts. Ugh! Hard as a brick and taste like glue.

Don’t ask me how I know the flavor of glue. LOL

]]> By: paidtwice http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139516 paidtwice Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:06:09 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139516 I buy mostly store brand stuff. But Walmart (great value brand) Mac N Cheese.... ugh ugh ugh. ugh. Yes I shouldn't be eating Mac N Cheese but.... I buy mostly store brand stuff.

But Walmart (great value brand) Mac N Cheese…. ugh ugh ugh. ugh.

Yes I shouldn’t be eating Mac N Cheese but….

]]> By: Amanda http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139436 Amanda Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:34:14 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139436 We do on a case by case basis. There are some name brand items that I know I prefer, and thus don't buy generic on those items. One store band find I can note, however, is the Safeway brand frozen pizzas - they're really good! I haven't had a negative experience with buying store brands per se, but I will def. avoid condensed soups! We do on a case by case basis. There are some name brand items that I know I prefer, and thus don’t buy generic on those items. One store band find I can note, however, is the Safeway brand frozen pizzas – they’re really good!
I haven’t had a negative experience with buying store brands per se, but I will def. avoid condensed soups!

]]> By: Esmo http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139430 Esmo Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:40:39 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139430 I find that Safeway plastic wrap has a very weak metal cutter, leading to aggravation when trying to tear off a piece - I'd just go with Saran Wrap to skip the hassle (especially since one roll lasts... forever). I find that Safeway plastic wrap has a very weak metal cutter, leading to aggravation when trying to tear off a piece – I’d just go with Saran Wrap to skip the hassle (especially since one roll lasts… forever).

]]> By: Di http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-139416 Di Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:11:14 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/09/12/question-of-the-day-shopping/#comment-139416 The only bad experience I've had with a store brand was Jewel grocery pizzas. They tasted, quite consistently, like cardboard. Most store brands are actually made by the mainline brands; they simply charge less for them because they don't have the marketing expenses behind them. Branding is, for the most part, just visual entertainment. The only bad experience I’ve had with a store brand was Jewel grocery pizzas. They tasted, quite consistently, like cardboard.

Most store brands are actually made by the mainline brands; they simply charge less for them because they don’t have the marketing expenses behind them. Branding is, for the most part, just visual entertainment.

]]>