Which premium brands do you think should not be premium?

[Cheeseandlobster]

For me it's Morning Fresh. I thought it was shite a decade ago. Bought it again recently and it is still crap. It doesn't lather and my usual Aldi own brand is far superior. How on earth has it survived this long?

Jo Malone perfume, some lovely smells but they last for about 30 minutes and you're encouraged to 'layer' ie buy 2 £80 bottles to create your scent instead of one.

I know it's a cheaper product from the brand but the Longchamp Le Pliage bag is literally a canvas tote with no pockets or sections or anything, and the handles on mine feel strained after use.

At the risk of sounding like a dick, how on earth is Morning Fresh or Richmond sausages considered premium?

I have to say I prefer Branston Beans to Heinz now.

@DinosaurDiana

Hotel Chocolate I agree with, overpriced crap. I don’t know how they survive.

Because their main competitor is Cadburys, who are absolutley crappo nowadays and sell bars of sugar with a couple of molecules of milk and cocoa waved at them.

HC is okay, as long as you buy exactly what you want and not the selection boxes, which are filled with nasty tasting fruit chocolates and overpowering alcohol ones. I swear their chief taster is an alcoholic, based on th strength of them.

@Marmite27

Heinz beans. DC had them on a meal at a play gym the other day and I honestly thought they were the cheapest of cheap beans.

I was in Lidl before the first lockdown, and said to my husband "I wonder what their beans taste like? The label is a Heinz lookalike", and a woman standing next to me said "They're good, my six year old said 'I don't like the beans at school, Mummy, they don't have Heinz like we do' He wouldn't eat them if he knew they were Lidl"

Not sure if premium, but I'm another in agreement on Jaffa Cakes - almost any own brand/cheap corner shop versions are better than the McVites ones.

My kitchenaid Kmix is a bit of a disappointment- the mixers great but the seal on the glass bowl broke 2nd time it was used and the mixer blade has discoloured badly after washing (it's practically brand new) not great quality.
Kitchen aid customer service was shite.

Came on to say I strongly disagree about Heinz!

My DH kept buying the supermarket version and it was horrible…

Mind you I think Heinz is probably good because of the sugar.

Cadbury have gone downhill too. But again, no supermarket version is any better.

I just think the quality of loads of food have gone downhill.

@wonkylegs

My kitchenaid Kmix is a bit of a disappointment- the mixers great but the seal on the glass bowl broke 2nd time it was used and the mixer blade has discoloured badly after washing (it's practically brand new) not great quality. Kitchen aid customer service was shite.

I have a Breville mixer that cost £20 that has lasted 20 years +, still going strong.

Lexus. We drove a Toyota Prius hybrid from new to 14 years old when it began it look a bit tatty. DH splashed out and bought a Lexus hybrid instead. Then we had to splash out a bit more as I was terrified to drive a massive car that cost 40K so we also bought a little runaround for me.

What they didn't tell him at the showroom is that there are so many bells and whistles on the Lexus IS that if it sits in the drive for a week (which it inevitably does because he either WFH or gets the train during the week and only needs his car at weekends) the battery will be totally flat and need a jump start. Every Single Week. We have had the AA out (luckily at Lexus' expense) over 25 times this year. Meanwhile my little Aygo has started first time every time even after sitting on the drive unmoved for the first two months of the year.

@FuckyouCovid21

Heinz beans used to be the best beans but they have messed about with them and the flavour just isn't right anymore, and too much sauce to bean ratio. Branston are the best now IMO.

Hunter wellies - used to be good but now shite, I've had my old pair for 15 years and they are still going. A bought a short pair last year and they have split and leak

North Face - were OK until they became the label of scrotes everywhere - now Canada Goose seems to have taken over that mantle

GHDs - same as the Hunters really, were great when they first came out, now they are rubbish and badly made

I have still got my original GHDs. They are 16 years old and they're still going strong.

I will cry when they break!

"And I don’t think either brands are premium?! Maybe Ted Baker is higher end high street but definitely not designer."

I suppose it's all relative. It's a premium brand for me. I have a Ted Baker washbag that doesn't dry well after getting wet :(
I was seduced by the flowery design.

@Ireolu

Havianna flip flops. Rip off. Super uncomfortable. £6 Asda flipflops were much more comfy.

Totally agree, they are rubbish and so uncomfortable!

@inappropriateraspberry

Pretty much all food brands. Own brands are as good or better. Half the reason I shop in Lidl!

Coke (the Coca Cola variety) has to be Coke. No supermarket brand or Pepsi.

@herecomesthsun I know it's such a disappointment, bought you replace my 25yo cheap kenwood mixer which lasted so well.

"For me the premium versions of washing up liquid and beans would be something like:
Rhubarb Washing Up liquid at £12 (coltandwillow.com/products/washing-up-liquid?variant=36733910581406)

or
WHole Earth organic baked beans
shop.wholeearthfoods.com/products/whole-earth-organic-baked-beans-420-g"

Whereas I've never come across those.

"Still use the same primer and setting powder but I just can’t get it to stay 😫."

Which setting powder do you use?

All Saints- overly expensive where either Primark copies them or they copy Primark but sell it at expensive prices. I know All saints isn't a premium brand but their prices certainly are.

Louis Vuitton- I mean I have a few handbags from other luxury brands but Louis Vuitton is the only brand that shouldn't be in the premium category. I see it like Michael Kors. Tacky looking things.

Jo Malone- people are nuts to pay those prices for diffusers and candles. I can't comment on the colognes though!

Pandora- overhyped, expensive. For the price of that you can get real gold which will hold its value on a rainy day.

Some London brands such as Rixos. Dresses are no different to the ones you will find in H&M or Zara but they price them at £300+ or some brands like Cos, Massimo Dutti the style and the quality are ok but nothing to justify their prices and also Hobbs.

I like Ted Baker, I never buy anything from it but I love browsing through it as they do really pretty things. I like their coats, dresses, shoes and accessory designs but never had a reason/occasion to buy it for.

Baylis & Harding soap. Barely lathers, rubbish.

Bayliss and Harding hasn't ever been a premium brand though. It's a crap product for a cheap price.

@Ireolu

Havianna flip flops. Rip off. Super uncomfortable. £6 Asda flipflops were much more comfy.

I picked up a pair in John Lewis last weekend. Walked at the shop with them and I was covered in glitter from them Put them straight back, I like my glittery shit to be covered in glitter not cover me in it

Mint Velvet. I love the style but the quality doesn't match the price tag. Their clothes quickly start looking like rags when washed (according to the label).

@Millymog

most "fine wine" is emperor new clothes especially in the expotential rise in price at the top end for something not really very distinguishable.

Now that’s intriguing. I never had the pleasure to sample anything truly mind-blowingly rare and expensive. I customarily purchase en primeur from usual French suspects and switching post Brexit to supporting local English wineries with the odd New Zealand (cloudy) case or three thrown in. If anyone is into fine good value higher end whiskey check out Japanese in addition to the usual whiskey producers. Not necessarily cheap but keen and fair pricing for good value enjoyment.

Lindt chocolate- it just tastes like butter?

I think I've finally thought of one which is truly worth it. McVitie's dark chocolate digestives. The imitations don't come close.

[quote Squiz81]@Cheeseandlobster Just looked up Morning Fresh, I’m not sure that is marketed as a ‘premium product’ do you just mean well known brand? Have to say I’m using some Aldi washing up liquid at the moment and I don’t like it because it’s too lathery 😅 I generally buy shop own brands but I do think it’s worth buying Fairy liquid, it lasts much longer and cleans so much better. It probably works out cheaper.

For beans, the ‘essential Waitrose’ ones are great and much cheaper than Heinz.

Definitely don’t agree with the Lindt hate! I love lindor.[/quote]
I think you have it in one @Squiz81. I meant brands other than supermarket own. Not premium but branded . I failed to explain that well hence lots of discussion around what constitutes a premium brand.