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.)

[superstarheartbreaker]

having

[babyfirefly1980]

I have to have branded washing powder...nothing comes close to it IMHO.

I will also say I like Coca Cola and not own brand coke, but apart from that I don't really buy branded.

[superstarheartbreaker]

I do agree that Coca Cola is the only way to go. Nothing else will do but I only drink it about once a year anyway.
I just can't bring myself to spend £8.00 on clothes washing gel when £2.00 gel from Tescos gets my clothes clean (and smells faintly of lavender!) I know Bold or whatever will be better but is DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!

[Loshad]

Sometimes the items are identical. when i was writing up my PhD I worked the twilight shift for foxes biscuits in Batley (oh happy days, not). The same biscuits were packaged as Foxes, M and S and various supermarkets eg sainsburys. They were literally one and the same biscuit, different days, different boxes .

[defineme]

cozietoesie I use palmers on my feet and elbows-had no idea they did conditioner-thank you

[sashh]

Some branded products are identical to supermarket own versions and in some cases are even supplied by the same manufacturer, changing only the packaging.

That's what I was about to say.

Tesco, ASDA etc do not have factories that produce anything, they buy from other producers in their own packaging.

Loshad
Don't give the game away about foxes, it has been an open secret in Yorkshire for decades.

Do you get the huge bags of broken biscuits too?

[Feminine]

Just thought...

There are no petis pois peas as good as Birds Eye.

In a league of their own!

[ivanapoo]

YANBU with a few exceptions. Sainsburys fresh soup, taste the mark up difference pizzas and big cartons of yoghurt are lovely.

I love Tiptree ketchup, Marmite and fever tree tonic - nothing like them in own brand.

Have you noticed though that it's getting harder to buy brands? Tesco no longer sells Covent Garden soup for example, just their very similar looking own cartons... They see which branded products are selling well and then produce their own and delist the brand at no risk to themselves. Cheeky as hell.

Supermarkets, YABU!

[Stinkyminkymoo]

YAB sort of U as some cheaper own brand stuff isn't as good and the disappointment in my eyes is too great to bear.

However, why people but say 3 white onions in a net thing for 2.40 when 3 of the same onions loose are 1.30 (for example) is totally beyond me.

[crocodilesmiles]

Lifesagame I tried Lidl's chocolate digestives yesterday (all in the name of research, obviously!) and they taste really nice.

Thanks for the tip x

[Loshad]

mmn, broken biscuits

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I heard a report today on the radio saying that some vast number of people (like 30% or so) had accidentally bought own brand with copycat labelling and been disappointed or angry when they got home.

Leaving aside the idiocy of not checking the label if you care that much, that's a lot of people.

[AssamAndDarjeeling]

Cleaning products and toiletries I buy the ones with an animal-friendly label on, and any Eco-friendly ranges. Same with fairtrade and free range stuff.

The rest of anything I'm fine with!

[ouryve]

It depends on the product. Proctor and Gamble is on my don't approve list, but I've ended up converting to Fairy Washing up liquid because a bottle lasts me 3 times longer than anything else and to Ariel for when I need a biological detergent - used to use the M&S one, but they've changed it and it foams up too much for my washer, now. I always buy the stuff on offer, so it ends up pretty cheap, anyhow.

I like Heinz beans and ketchup more than any other (all other ketchups seem to be full of thickeners)

There's plenty of things where I'll happily buy a supermarket own brand (eg mayo ), a value brand or, shock horror, something unbranded from a market or independent shop.

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

I buy branded washing powder for two reasons - one vecause many if us have allergies, and the one I use seems to be the only one that doesn't set anyone's allergies off, and two because I only ever buy it, in bulk, when it is on half price offer or in the reduced section, making it cheaper that the supermarket brands!

[ParadiseChick]

Heinz beans, Heinz ketchup, green giant corn and Robinsons diluting are the only brands I buy!

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Nothing compares to GHDs... I will never change.

However, Aldi/Lidl ketchup, beans, most kitchen cupboard foodstuffs in fact. Also fruit and veg - very much better and fresher.

Lidl's Mazarin tarts that the ladies on Chat were talking about didn't do it for me - but the lemon cakes, OMG!

M&S sweet and sluty popcorn... pointless food of the gods.

Washing powder - I buy whatever smell I like whoever makes it, all much of a muchness to me. My nose decides...

Lemon sole lightly dusted with pepper/herbs - Aldi EVERYTIME, Sainsbury's version is oilier and Lidl's isn't so nice tasting.

Off to read about the fab finds everyone else has made on this thread...

[mummytime]

I would never buy washing liquid with fabric conditioner. We avoid fabric conditioner as it irritates two of my kids Eczema, although they can use Ariel with no problem. A nurse friend comments that she can always tell people who use Bold before she's even seen them by the smell.

[WhitesandsofLuskentyre]

In this house, we have made a permanent switch away from Heinz ketchup, Hellmans mayo and Fairy washing-up liquid to the Aldi versions, because we prefer them.

Then there are Aldi things we like so much, we can't even remember if we ever bought anyone else's version!

About the only thing I have never managed to switch from is branded washing liquid. I've tried, but the results just haven't been as good/don't smell right.

[Fargo86]

Own brands are the same stuff as the branded product. They are made in the same factory! The only difference is the label and the fact youre paying for advertising.

[ouryve]

I've never tried sweet and slutty popcorn :D

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Oops... I really DID write that!

It's very nice, I wish it didn't come in packets of six though...

[chrome100]

I can't think of anything I buy that is branded. I just buy shop's own. it's all the same

[Feminine]

fargo I just don't believe that is the case in all products.

I can certainly taste a difference.

I've tried own brand etc...on most things.

As I'm not fussy , I don't mind eating anything...but the difference exists!