# Large retailers selling custom made cheaper "name brand" products. Does that really happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483 "2017-10-10T13:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/81 "2018-02-06T23:47:37Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I’ve heard of this but don’t believe it at all. When I was growing up my family always got store brand food and drinks and even today I occasionally fall back to that and store brands are always very different from the actual brands. I’ve eaten so many store brand chips and they never taste anywhere near what the actual brands they’re imitating. I can believe actual brands will make special batches for store brands but they very obviously skimp on the ingredients since I have never had a store brand that was equivalent to an actual brand (note, there are actual store brands that are BETTER than actual brands but at the same time it’s obvious they’re aren’t just some other companies run-offs) I agree! I know Price Chopper doesn’t make their own corn flakes, but their corn flakes don’t have the same consistency as name-brand Corm Flakes. So it can’t just be different packaging on the same contents. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/82 "2018-02-06T23:49:01Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I agree! I know Price Chopper doesn’t make their own corn flakes, but their corn flakes don’t have the same consistency as name-brand Corm Flakes. So it can’t just be different packaging on the same contents. Maybe those are defective name-brand Corn Flakes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/83 "2018-02-07T00:44:37Z")
heh anyone want to know the difference between sears telegames unit and a Atari 2600? … ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/84 "2018-02-07T00:48:04Z")
As mentioned - for some products to exactly match the “brand” it would require more expensive ingredients which would require the manufacturer to charge near brand prices to make profit. Most of these products are sold based on price, so they don’t want to do that, so they use cheaper near-brand ingredients. For other products, the differences may be that a company literally has a “secret formula” (like Coke) or some proprietary manufacturing technique and others can’t or aren’t able to duplicate it. Note - proprietary formulas are one reason the government does not require manufacturers to list the exact proportions of ingredients or the exact “spices” or flavours" on their package ingredient list. Example between two brands: I had a friend who worked for Post cereal (10 years ago) and she told me they had never ever been able to perfectly duplicate Kelloggs Bran Flakes (the market leader). They never got the exact taste, crunch etc., close but they could never fool people in side by side tests. They’d tried for years and couldn’t figure out the Kelloggs secret. She preferred Kelloggs and would buy it and slip it into a Post box in case any of her co-workers checked her cupboards if they were over. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/85 "2018-02-07T21:04:43Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Pickles spoil? Yes, they can. Some pickle producers have been reducing the concentration of the brine the pickles are packed in. The concentration is high enough to (maybe) maintain the flavor, but not enough to preserve the pickles. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/86 "2018-02-08T19:35:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Maybe those are defective name-brand Corn Flakes. 😃 :smack: I’ve been buying Corm Flakes all this time!! ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/87 "2018-02-09T23:45:19Z")
I have owned two mowers that the manufacturer said were built specifically for Walmart. One was a Lawn-Boy, and the other was a Murray rider. I don’t remember the difference in the Lawn-Boy, but I think the Murray had a smaller engine and narrower deck than one could get elsewhere. Of course, the price was lower. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/88 "2018-02-10T02:17:37Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Pickles spoil? There is a mania for Best-By Dates, and every product must have one. Even table salt has a best by date, and housewives consider it “spoiled” after that date, even though it is already 100,000,000,000 years old when it is put in the box, and 100,000,000,005 years old when it expires… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/89 "2018-02-10T02:30:03Z")
Where are you shopping that the table salt is 100 billion years old? That’s even older than the universe. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/90 "2018-02-10T02:34:58Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > There is a mania for Best-By Dates, and every product must have one. Even table salt has a best by date, and housewives consider it “spoiled” after that date, even though it is already 100,000,000,000 years old when it is put in the box, and 100,000,000,005 years old when it expires… Housewives, huh. What will those ditzy girls think next? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/91 "2018-02-10T10:57:22Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > My buddy got back to me and said that Remington does not make different versions for different retailers, including Walmart. He doesn’t know about other makers. > > He said that they introduced low-end models like the 770 to meet price points, but they don’t make different versions for different retailers. AFAIK none of the major manufacturers does this. It’s far too much hassle, the cost benefits would be marginal, and their brand reputation would suffer too much. As you note, you’ve got things like the Model 770 which are designed to be cheap and cheerful, but there’s no way Remington are going to make a “Standard” Model 700 then a “Wallyworld Special” Model 700 that’s got slightly cheaper parts in it in a few places and maybe has a lower grade of wood stock. Gun manufacturers usually offer their guns in a few variations, but they’re offered across the board and not to a specific retailer. [Have a look at the CZ rifle line-up](http://cz-usa.com/product-category/rifles); there’s several different variations on the CZ-452, CZ-455 and CZ-527 rifles there but if you look at them, you’ll notice the main difference between the guns is the stock (different shapes, styles, materials etc). The actual action, barrel, magazine and trigger etc are all the same, because once you’ve got your production line set up to make those things, it doesn’t make economic sense to have some of your rifles being made with the “standard” parts and some being made with the “budget” parts, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/92 "2018-02-13T20:30:42Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Housewives, huh. What will those ditzy girls think next? I’m an old maid and I find it hard not to look at the expiration on salt. I swear it has lost some taste after I’ve had it a long time. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/93 "2018-02-13T21:29:34Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > This thread reminds me of the Duluth catalogue, which at least for a while - or maybe they still do? - offered the same pair of pants, made in China and made in the U.S.A. with the attendant difference in price point between the 2 pants due to labor & materials costs. Duluth made no attempt to hide the cost difference. > > Ballsy move - force consumers who complain about foreign imports to put their money where their mouth is. Looks like they still do this. New Balance shoes does it too. I think it’s great! No idea how this distinction helps or hurts the brands. I’d be curious to know. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/94 "2018-02-13T22:50:18Z")
A lot of guitar brands have cheaper models made overseas or in Mexico. For example Fender has the “American standard” models made in the US and the standard models made in Mexico or overseas. the later are often called the mexistrats for the strat model. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/95 "2018-02-14T00:30:17Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > There is a mania for Best-By Dates, and every product must have one. Even table salt has a best by date, and housewives consider it “spoiled” after that date, even though it is already 100,000,000,000 years old when it is put in the box, and 100,000,000,005 years old when it expires… The worcestershire sauce I bought brand new had a best-by date literally only a year after I bought it, despite the fact unopened sauce can pretty much last indefinitely (though the flavor does settle and change a bit after a few years) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/96 "2018-02-14T01:01:17Z")
One practice I’m aware of is simply offering less of an item in similar looking packaging. I can’t remember the specifics, but there was some cleaner that actually sold at a lower concentration at Walmart than elsewhere, so that the price could be lower. I don’t have an inherent problem with the budget goods. I just have a problem with not labeling them well. People need to be able to make an informed decision. Anything else is deceptive advertising. As for foreign vs. local goods, a good point is to consider the acceptable cost of living in these other places. A lot of times, you’re helping out more people with less money. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/97 "2018-02-14T02:41:32Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > As for foreign vs. local goods, a good point is to consider the acceptable cost of living in these other places. A lot of times, you’re helping out more people with less money. And often buying something made with inferior materials, worse quality control and made with more pollution. Chinese products are usually inferior in most respects, and propping up a regime that is troublesome, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/98 "2018-02-14T13:43:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Where are you shopping that the table salt is 100 billion years old? That’s even older than the universe. Artisan salt for hipsters. I’d tell you where the mine is but you’ve never heard of the location. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/99 "2018-02-15T13:37:41Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Pickles spoil? Yeah, supermarket pickles spoil. They’re not really properly pickled, they’re just floating in a weak vinegar solution that’s not strong or salty enough to stop stuff growing. I’ve had to chuck out pickles when I’ve taken the jar out of the fridge and found a layer of mould floating on top of the so-called brine. By contrast, my grandma used to make her own pickles and keep them in the larder for years, and they only got better. We were still eating them a couple of years after she died. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483/100 "2018-02-15T14:41:25Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > I worked a long time ago at an electronics service shop. . . Okay, then maybe you can answer something for me about this thread that I’m trying to understand WRT Amazon and electronics. Suppose there is a particular model of a name brand product, such as the Sony ABC-33Ax camcorder, which is sold both directly by Sony and various retailers. It has been on the market for a few months, and consumer magazines have reviewed, ect, and its specs are well-known. Does Amazon then come along and start selling it at a lower price by _ **exactly the same product number** _ (“Sony ABC-33Ax”), but alter the specs, without making that known? Or do they they change the number slightly? IOW, can a person know the difference by viewing the Amazon listing, or do you have to buy the thing first, and then discover that it’s not quite the same product that has been on the market? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-retailers-selling-custom-made-cheaper-name-brand-products-does-that-really-happen/798483.md?page=6)