Which one do you prefer?
Hey everyone! I am in time for the #marketfriday initiative by @dswigle. This time, I’d love to discuss product preference, Name brand Or Generic Groceries. This caught my attention the other week when I was grocery shopping with my aunt and her children. Her daughter kept trying to get things and put it on the cart while mentioning about the advertisements that she’s seeing on social media. “ Don’t buy it because you’re influenced by social media ads” my aunt sort of scolded my niece because she kept putting random things into the cart and told how she saw it on instagram and tiktok.
From there, I feel like sometimes I fall into the same marketing targeted ads as I often try things just because I saw it somewhere and was intrigued to try it. Often I use things just because it's a name brand, with a big marketing behind it. More often than not, name brands would cost slightly more than the generic brands. Although when it comes to the quality, it’s definitely still up to a good debate. For example, sometimes I am surprised by its taste(if it’s food), quality, and effectiveness (if it’s things). However, since I’ve been reflecting that my grocery shopping habit has been largely influenced by the idea that expensive is better, I started to change my ways to shop especially when I am trying to save up a lot more and being the sole breadwinner of my family.
*Note that name brand and generic brands in each country would be different.
The definition of a generic brand is something that I refer from Investopedia,
Is Name Brand always better or is it a myth?
When you have the option to choose between both, it means you can afford it. Sometimes though, I learned from my mom that brands don’t matter at all, what matters is the cost. When she doesn’t have that much option, she would go with the generic brands, the cheapest and as long as it works. I heard the same thing from a few people I know and I still remember a lot of my friends who were saving up, would choose the generic options rather than a name brand option.
Though, I have to say that there are things in life in which I personally think name brand does it better. There are things that I am willing to trade just to have that name brand products. For example, coffee beans. I wouldn’t just go with the most generic coffee beans I’ve encountered even if that means, I need to sacrifice something for it. Here, the common coffee beans would be from excelso and anything that can be found on the shelves of supermarkets. But a name brand would be a lot different and often they’re only available in a specific store.
Another thing I tested was a name brand cat food such as whiskas. They didn’t really like it and even when I bought expensive cat food such as royal canin, they also didn’t really like it. In fact, they preferred a generic brand and less known cat food brand. I still find it odd but if that means also saving a lot of costs, then why not?
There are things in life that just simply work even if you don’t buy a well-known brand such as rice, oil, sugar, and salt, or even spices. In a supermarket you would see a lot of products that technically serve the same purpose however, often we’re blinded by marketing, influenced by others to pick a brand that we’re more familiar with and often heard of. In Indonesia, there are dozens of rice brands but with a blind test, it’s really difficult to tell the difference. A generic one vs a pretty one packaging would taste the same for me.
However, I would argue that when it comes to skin care, a generic brand from the store or even a great value one isn’t always better. I generally have more problems with those than the name brand ones. I know that they’re cheaper but they’re also a few things that I wouldn’t buy randomly and settle for the generic ones.
Another one that’s up to debate is snacks. There are knock off oreos, lays and wafers but sometimes they taste as good as the real ones. But if you’re really particular on snacking, these knock off generic brands would definitely not be up to your par.So, in my opinion, there are things in life that name brand that does it better but also generic ones that just works and serves its purpose.
Afterall is it all worth it?
Maybe it is! I don’t know about you but in the pursuit of saving money, I don’t mind going with generic and great value especially. Let me know what you think below!
 | 𝘔𝘢𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘢 & 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 . 𝘈 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨, 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯! 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘱𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘈 𝘳𝘦-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰. |
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Regarding name brand or generic groceries, I would go on generic products as long it is FDA approved. Why would I still buy name brands if the generic product's quality is just the same? For instance, in terms of smartphones, some units offer almost the same specs, but the one that is more expensive is branded. I suddenly thought it was because of my cousin's experiences since he mentioned that he paid more for the brand than the specs. Some people believe that name brands are always better, while others find that generic brands can serve their purpose just as well. But overall, the choice comes down to an individual's preferences, budget considerations, and more!
@iamboring That's interesting when it comes to smartphone. I am not one to consider specs as I am more interested in durability and ruggedness but I know a lot of people who purchase smartphone and is reliant on internal specs. Sometimes, name brand has lesser specs and they mark up at a higher price. And I think it's wise to also buy the generic ones. Thanks for sharing your perspective on it.
Yeah, just like Oppo, Apple, and Samsung compared to Xiaomi, Realme, and Techno. Those brands I mentioned first mark up the higher prices, but those generic brands I've mentioned also offer the same but better specs and more affordable prices.
Hello dear friend @macchiata good day
What a dilemma, I usually don't let myself be influenced by TV ads or social media. Today in my country, due to the strong inflation, we are forced to buy second-brand products, except for those specific products that have fewer calories or without tac. As they are special, it is convenient to buy those of well-known brands, since they ensure that their advertisements in the Ingredient labels are what the products actually have.
I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful weekend
@jlufer Right, labels and ingredients can be important too. I noticed that sometimes generic groceries has more of the "not-so good" ingredients compared to the name brands. It's definitely interesting and thank you for telling me on how is that in Venezuela :)
I think I am more of a mixed one, for some I prefer a branded one, but not that expensive, while some other I prefer a generic one, even a locally made product, especially a snack. hahah
but yeah, ads really played a big part on our buying habits.
@ekavieka locally made products for snacks is the way it is haha. I usually buy more of that than store or name brands products. It's just usually, the local one is a lot more healthier too.
Sometimes that ostentatious life creeps in when we least expect so we just believe that the more expensive brand names means the higher quality. But like with your cats, I feel the sense that the generic ones might just be the better quality for them.
But yunno, others times, the branded ones really are better. It's a most mind boggling choice.
Anyways, it's so good that you could share your market experiences. Happy Market Friday to you.😊
@jhymi hahaha yeah, it's interesting how many choices we have now and at times, we get caught up into the paradox of choice. Thanks for sharing your perspective on it!
What a great question for today sis. How I love to buy branded products but I always compare it to the generic ones and when I see there is a big difference to the price, I am choosing the generic. But if I have really an extra money to go for the other products and that is the only case, hehe. But still quality matters to me. Happy Market Friday my friend!
@pinkchic Right? you're like my mom hehe. She also considers the cost of it before buying. Sometimes name brand can be cheaper too :)Thanks for telling me how it is for you!
Hehe, you are most welcome sis and the pleasure is mine. Happy weekend and take care!
I'm somewhere in-between. Some there is no comparison to brand name. First thing that jumps out to me is cologne. The generic/cheap are not the same. Now speaking of generic I agree with the things you mentioned about rice or just plain ingredients. I've seen somethings that are made in the same plants as the brand name. Just different packaging, slightly different make up though. The one thing that floors me is water bottles. Why would someone pay much more for a brand name versus generic.
@coolmidwestguy Water is a good point! I mean people do brand tests and the generic one and tap water tastes just alright but there's also a difference with the more expensive water. I am those crazy people who can pay so much for a good quality water xD. Where I am from we have Evian, Equil and some other brands for the expensive one.
I don't prefer brand shopping the reason is their price. Mostly they show different thing and give different and it usually happens on online shopping from different brands.
Yep, online shopping is a lot more trickier. I am not used to that one :) I still prefer offline shopping.
I would never hesitate to upvote you!! 💜 :))
This was a well-written post, with arguments in both directions. I couldn't agree with you anymore if I tried. I remember growing up and the jingle advertising was in full swing. Everything had a song to it... including Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs.
Everything was like that! So, I can understand how we all fell into those traps. Nowadays, just like you say, there are things that are a must for me with names brands, or more directly, a certain brand. Thigs things that don't matter are like rice (but, not pasta so much, although to be honest, I make most of mine or it is a certain Italian brand) Coffee is absolutely a brand name. You hit the nail on the head, over and over, I am all about saving the money, but, I am willing to give up something to get a name brand when I need it. Totally agree!
Great post! Thank you!
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday
That's true though like I think we also should have a little fun with life where we have our own preference to things. I mean with a note that we should not fall into the brand trap. Took a while for me to get back here, still trying to fit everything into my routine and finding a sweet spot to fit in hive too :)
I'm not brand conscience at all, but, for some things, only my brand works for me. :)
Getting back feels familiar and odd at the same time. Time... that is what it takes. Hope you are doing well!
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