To wonder why anyone buys branded products?

[superstarheartbreaker]

When they are so much more expensive?

Especially things like washing powder; Persil etc ; at least £4.00 for a bottle of fabric washing gel. Tescos own; £2.00 for a bottle of similar gel often with added conditioner. Does the job fine.

Admittedly some products have no equal like Marmite or Nutella and there are certain value products that don't cut it but it does strike me as odd that so many stick to brands that are so expensive and then moan about the price of shopping nowadays. It is possible to be savvy even in these difficult times. (Although I still baulk at the price of butter and cheese recently branded or not.)

[littlemissnormal]

I always try unbranded but am yet to find a digestive biscuit as good as McVities!

[EuroShaggleton]

Fabric conditioner also makes the ironing easier.

[hedgefund]

buy branded stuff in cheapo savers types stores, they're cheaper in there!

[Feminine]

That is a good tip hedge :)

[cozietoesie]

But watch the sizes, hedgefund - and the sell bys. There's sometimes a reason they're on sale cheaper there.

(I'm not phobic about sell bys by the way, but some things do go a little off if they're stored too long.)

[Lifesagame]

littlemissnormal - try the ones from Lidl. My DH had no idea he wasn't eating mcvities until I told him!

[ArtemisKelda]

Depends on the product. Own brand beans and ketchup are fine, cornflakes must be Kelloggs and tomato soup can only be Heinz. Quite happy with own brand washing powder too but wouldn't use the smart price one.

[ivykaty44]

whats ironing?

[cozietoesie]

A person after my own heart, ivykaty!

[cozietoesie]

Artemis

Try Sainsbury's own brand tomato. Great - and much cheaper.

[ivykaty44]

Hair conditioner smooths the the outer layer of the hair shaft (there are three layers in each hair and the outer layer is like scales on a fish) so that all the scales lie flat and then the hair looks glossy as light reflects from it.

How is this similar to washing conditioner?

[Alwayscheerful]

Fabric conditioner is an unncessary purchase, a little white vinegar in the dispenser drawer will keep towels soft and fresh smelling and they will stay whiter for longer.

[Feminine]

A lot of the cheaper ketchup contains Glucose-fructose. This is known as HFCS in the US.

Its very bad for us.

[TumbleWeeds]

Agree depends on the product and your own taste.
I love Sainsbury cheap tomato chutney. I buy the cheapest loo roll from Lidl as well quite a few other of their 'own brand' products such as washing powder or dishwasher tablets.
Some might not be working as well but when it is more than half the price, I am happy with that.

Others just work. Nutella is a good example.

The issue is when you assume that branded stuff will be better quality. It quite often isn't.

[defineme]

Just read the labels of food items-some brands do have identical ingredients to value, some have higher proportions of more expensive ingredients and often more sugar/fat which obviously makes the biscuits taste nicer.
I think buying brands blindly because you're too scared to buy anything else is wasteful, but if you've tried the alternative and prefer the brand (and can afford it) then obviously stick with what you prefer.
I honestly thought I couldn't drink anything but diet coke, I did a blind taste test and hated pepsi, but turns out I quite like asda own brand cola-classy me
Hair is also tricky-my hair is the driest of the dry and cheap conditioners can't touch it( I buy the 3 for price of 2 offers in Boots but still expensive), if anyone knows of cheap conditioners that will help my dreadful dry/frizzy hair please let me know.

[cozietoesie]

Oh yes, Feminine. Check ingredients as well. You may well find that own brand have less of the 'expensive' ingredients and make up for it with eg more sugar.

Everyone's individual call whether that matters to them of course.

[crashdoll]

There is no pickle like Branston pickle and there are no baked beans like Heinz baked beans. Anyone who says otherwise is automatically going on my laminated shitlist.

[AmazingBouncingYoni]

I buy branded because I want to.

It's my money.

[AmazingBouncingYoni]

There is also no pickled onion like a garner's pickled onion (unless it's one of my dad's homemade of course...)

[ivykaty44]

Feminine - I agree that HFCS is bad for us and avoid buying products that contain this sugar substitute - but don't always find that price, brand or own brand makes any difference to whether it is in the product and sometimes even the same brand will have different flavours and one will contain HFCS and the other doesn't

for example Deurr's jams and marmalade

[FreudiansSlipper]

depends on product but washing powder, dishwasher tablets, pasta, herbs/spices, tea and coffee I always buy branded

I have stopped using fabric conditioner too as it does lock in smells and leaves clothes often feeling like they need to be washed again

[TheYamiOfYawn]

I mostly shop at Aldi, so no branding at all. I got some Fairy Platinum washing up liquid a while ago, and it was lots better, but I'm not sure if it was better enough to justify the price difference. Looking through my cupboards, the stuff I am picky about is Patak's lime pickle, Marmite, Pukka herbal tea and Lurpak butter. I also strongly prefer Waitrose own brand sardine piccanti and frozen roast veg.

[FreudiansSlipper]

and no other chocolate spread is like Nutella. actually most of what I buy is branded but I buy what is on special offer

[TheRealFellatio]

I have flirted with non-branded stuff over the years, but with the exception of a handful of items I find that my tried and tested favourite brands are vastly superior in quality and/or flavour.

I will give own brands a try but I NEVER buy 'value' versions of things - especially foods. They are always very poor quality compared to the more expensive stuff.