What brands or products do you continue to buy (or did buy for a long time)? Also, do you continue being loyal to a certain brand even after the original reasons for being loyal to it no longer exist? With me, it would be Levis. They were my jeans of choice when I was a teenager because they were comfortable, durable, and affordable. Also, buying Levis back then was a defiant anti-eltist shot at Calvin Klein, Jordache and other pretentious trendoid designer jeans peddlers who sold the same (or lesser quality) product at a jacked-up price purely on the basis of the name on the backside. In addition, Levis were American made and sold in a way that benefited small mom-and-pop clothing stores. Of course, all that’s changed. Levis closed their American factories and outsourced their manufacturing to sweat-shops overseas and then went in with Walmart and other large retailers to the detriment of the independent stores. The quality of the product has also become uneven. I’ve noticed that even if I buy the same size and the same model number of Levis jean (e.g., a 505), they’ll fit differently even though I’ve gained no weight and fall apart much more quickly. For comparison, I still have some old Levis that are wearable after more than 30 years. And yet, I still keep buying them and won’t seriously consider switching to someone else.
So, are there any brands you remain loyal to? Let’s discuss.
I’m on board with your appraisal of Levi’s. They are what I’ve been wearing since the early 80’s. Good stuff! Almost couldn’t wear them out.
Now? Utter shit. Got several pairs, all 501’s, all the same size. Some fit, some are baggy, some are too big, and they all wear like paper towel.
Budweiser. I brew my own, much better beer. I prefer a good hoppy IPA, but I still buy Bud for cheap “garage beer”. Never mind passing them around to the rare visitor who shows up. Makes for easy drinkin’ while off-roading, too.
I bought Coleman milk most of my adult life. It was a fixture in Arkansas since the 1930’s. It sold to Hiland and they changed the name. I switched to Kroger generic milk.
Levi jeans. Mr Clean to mop the floors. Formula 409 to clean counters and table tops. Dawn to wash dishes.
Tide dishwashing liquid. Force of habit I guess, it’s what my mom has always purchased. And it does do a good job, and ish’t really any more expensive than other major brands.
Absolutely none. I cannot think of a single brand of anything that I buy because it is that brand. There are some things that are almost impossible to find except the dominant brand. Even those I would instantly by a competitor, should one arise, if it were a better deal.
I figure having a name I recognize on the label adds any where from 25% to several thousand percent to the price of the item. Generics and store brands are often made with the same materials and packaged in the same factories as the name brand products. They just don’t have the mark-up for advertising and/or false rarity.
Mostly I buy store-band groceries, but a few exceptions. Kraft cheese is very slightly higher in price , but the aged sharp cheddar actually tastes aged and sharp. Dannon yogurt and Daisy sour cream are all natural, with no gelatiin or other shit mixed in. I re-use the tubs, so I buy the same brand all the time so my lids always match. I once bought cheap off-brand instant coffee, and except for the color, you couldn’t tell that any coffee had been stirred in. Back to Maxwell House. But most store-brands are fine, and in fact, at HEB, they are usually excellent.
Basically, whatever brand I used before, I buy the same thing again if I have no particular reason to be dissatisfied with it, whereas another brand is an unknown in a marketplace full of disappointments. I very rarely buy clothes, so rarely that the brand that I’m replacing often doesn’t even exist anymore… I bought Gold toe socks with a gift certificate from a pretentious store, and I’m very happy with them, they were worth it.
I buy any laundry detergent that makes me believe I actually washed my clothes. My TV is a $99 Element from Wamart, which replaced my previous Element that lasted three years. I cannot think of any way a name-brand could be any better… My 2+yo computer a $135 refurb Dell laptop Win 7, and if I needed to, I’d look for another one.
I buy name-brand light bulbs because half the time, they burn out quick, and with a toll-free call, I can get a coupon to replace them.
I buy Levi’s because they seem to fit me the best. If another brand came out that fit me better than Levi’s, I would switch and not look back. So I don’t think I am that loyal.
OTOH…Tabasco Sauce, I buy it because I love the stuff. I have tried others and nothing comes close to it. I have also toured the factory and have several Tabasco hats, shirts and assorted knick knacks. So when it comes to them, yes, I am a very loyal fan. There are several sauces using the tabasco peppers, but I wouldn’t think of changing at this point.
I have many brand loyalties, but I don’t think any of them are without reason. Although, I will say that I feel weird using a glass cleaning product that’s not Windex.
I do have some anti-brand sentiments that are pretty baseless, though. I won’t buy Apple products, for example. I don’t remember why, but I’m sure there was a good reason for it.
Coca Cola - Never shall any other brand of soda gain admittance to my house or body.
Arm & Hammer Unscented Deodorant - Is it better than all others? Can’t objectively say, but it’s what I prefer.
Anderson Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites - My go-to driving snack on long trips. I’ve tried other brands, but Anderson rules.
Cheez-It - Again, no other brand of cheese flavored cracker holds a candle to them.
ETA: Please don’t challenge any of the assertions in this post or I will be forced to mock you mercilessly.
I only like Bounty select-a-size paper towels. Brawny will do in a pinch but no other brand is acceptable.
Other than that I don’t think I’m especially brand loyal.
Oh, wait, for baking stuff I vastly prefer Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese to anything else but sometimes it’s too expensive for me and I’ll get the $1.29 store brand (don’t tell anyone)
I can’t think of anything either, offhand. If I find something better, then I’ll switch. A recent example is that we discovered Portland Foods ketchup and yellow mustard. Honestly the best yellow mustard I’ve ever had. I do insist on brand names for some things, but only because I’ve never had a generic brand that was as good, i.e., S&W canned beans vs generic brand, or Hunt’s tomatoes vs generic. Or Hellman’s/Best Foods mayo over any other brand.
You stole my answer. Eyes on your own paper!
I bought other cream cheese brands until I actually tasted them plain without anything on top or mixed in and realized Philly is the real deal. I’ll pay the extra.
Sam’s club has a Bounty select a size equivalent that’s almost imperceptibly different. I’ll often buy them unless Bounty is on sale.
DeWalt Tools. Back when I started buying them they were made in the U.S. (important to me) and considered a premium brand. Now they are made abroad and some say no better than some much cheaper brands. Still, that’s what I usually buy and my luck with them has been pretty good.
Another one that more closely fits the OP - I bake very rarely, but when I do need to buy flour it is always White Lilly. Why? Because that is what my Grandmother always used, and she was an awesome cook and baker.
Nissan. Bought my first pickup truck from them (back when they were still Datsun) in 1978. I’ve owned a truck or crossover from them ever since. I’m sure there are better vehicles out there, but you couldn’t prove it by me.
I don’t think I have any brand loyalty unless there is an objective reason for it. Ivory soap, the only unscented bath soap AFAIK. Hellman’s mayonnaise, the only one worth buying. (When my son moved to the west coast he refused to buy mayonnaise because they didn’t have Hellman’s. I pointed out that they do, they just call it Best Foods. Then he started buying it.)