Why are some people snobby about Baylis and Harding?

[hollielouise66]

I remember a thread this time last year from a mum whose daughter had given her a Baylis and Harding gift set for Christmas that she planned to regift .

My daughter (14) gave me one yesterday (the Mulberry Fizz set). It looks pretty and smells nice. More than that, I knew she'd have been chuffed to bits that she had found something affordable, which looked festive and which she knew I would like. Granted, it's not the poshest brand in the world but it couldn't have made me happier...

I think the issue people have on here (bearing in mind this is Mumsnet) is that it markets itself as being upmarket when it's actually a lot cheaper. Before joining MN, I'd only ever seen it in the loos of country pubs and didn't realise anyone would have an issue with it.

Snobbery

Why can you just be happy about it? Who cares about what other people thinks. Your dd gave you a lovely gift. That's all that matters.

In the circumstances you describe it is a sweet and thoughtful gift and I would really appreciate it. But more generally I think of it as a cheap rip off of Molten Brown, which itself isn't the best of brands in my view, certainly not one I'd want a rip off of.

As something for a teenager to give her mum, it's fine. But Bayliss & Harding is basically a knock-off of higher-quality brands like Molton Brown, which might seem more appropriate as a gift from someone with a bit more income.

@Sittingonthefence83

Snobbery

Absolutely this. It is snobbery, plain and simple.

I use their hand soaps to decorate the cloakroom at Christmas. So many festive looking bottles all lined up on the sink and shelf. Looks amazing

Agree that it's cheap masquerading as posh.

I don't use liquid soap, or liquid shampoo. I prefer my nivea creams to scented stuff. I object to the amount of packaging on those gift sets which are mass produced cheaply.

I think though it's the lack of thought - into the supermarket, grab 3 gift sets on a 3 for 2 offer, job done.

I would most definitely regift a Bayliss and Harding gift set. I gave teenage DD a "SO" giftset of some sort of lotion and soap - definitely not my thing. But when given things like that I would never make my intentions obvious.

We see a LOT of Bayliss and Harding style gift sets in donation bags at our charity shop after Christmas.

I'm fine with it personally and do think there's a lot of snobbery involved, but then I'm also happy to use Aldi products which are apparently 'knock offs' of more expensive brands.

It’s absolutely fine. It’s not as strongly perfumed or lasts as long as it’s expensive cousins in my experience but it looks pretty and is perfectly serviceable.

I don’t understand the outrage about toiletries sets on here. Do people not wash?

I think they are clever. They make liquid soap in pretty dispensers at an everyday price.
Why spend 10 times as much on something that does the same thing for not 10 times the better quality?
It's snobbery because of the price.
I'd say Molton Brown saw some people coming.

Pure snobbery.

Would I be impressed if it was the only gift from my husband? No.
Would I be so rude as to turn up my nose if a neighbour, or cousin, or one of my kids bought it for me? Also no.

Perfectly acceptable gift unless you really should now better, ie giving to someone with allergies.

I rely on my annual Bayliss and Harding sets to stock the downstairs bathroom!

Honestly? It’s really cheap and smells it in comparison to then higher end products,

I'm happy and I like to use it but I'd hate to get it as a present as it's often in my weekly Tesco shop. It's a bit like being given a bottle of shampoo imho.

I don't mind it in that it's posher then the aldi own brand I usually buy. I think I've been refilling a bayliss and harding container with aldi soap!

I'm not a fan of sets for Christmas but I use liquid soap so thats not a bad gift.

Not a fan of Moulton brown or whatever its called. It's the same stuff but silly money.

Presumably because it’s a knock off of or more expensive product.

Personally I don’t like either.

It smells cheap (because it is).

It's horrible stuff, cheap and trying to rip off MB

However, having said that, if my teenager had bought it for me after putting thought into it etc etc then of course I'd be delighted and use it. Because that's what you do.

Personally I think some of the liquid soaps smell lovely but we don’t buy it as DD is allergic,
And I think some of the Milton Brown shower gels are really strong and unpleasant.

So basically i appreciate the sentiment of buying us a gift, but would re-gift both. 🤷‍♀️

I quite like them.
I don't get the upset or irritation that it's a cheaper version of a more expensive brand.
I would never buy an expensive brand so this is perfect.

Why do people say it's cheap? It's not cheap !! I bought some as gifts this year from Waitrose because I had a John Lewis voucher and thought it was expensive. I can't remember the exact prices but I think some of the shower gel was something like £2.95 give or take. 3 quid for shower gel is hardly cheap. I normally spend about £1 on shower gel or if in Aldi/Lidl etc about 65p.
Buying Baylis and Harding was a special treat this year because I had the voucher.
But Mumsnet is a strange parallel universe where people will say "I need to buy a gift for a relative I haven't seen for a decade and I know nothing about - my budget is £50"

There is a lot of snobbery on here about particular brands, which I never hear from anyone I know in 'real' life.

It made me start to doubt myself because I have some of those brands and actually like them. But then I realised that I also didn't like some of the brands that were mentioned on here, so I guess it swings and roundabouts.

Enjoy using your present and don't let anyone put you off.

I refill my empty MB with Baylis Harding or LIDL stuff. Sometimes I dont even bother. It's all codology.

I hate it. It irritates my skin snd BIL buys me one every Christmas. Sick and tired of telling him.
They now end up in the toilet at work.