# What Brands Have You Given Up On And Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301 "2014-07-29T03:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/1 "2014-07-29T03:38:45Z")
I’ve given up on Dr Martens boots, despite owning and loving at last 8 pairs over the last 30-odd years. I gave up on them in part because they outsourced their production to China a while back and the quality nosedived: I bought a pair of their shoes about two years back which have lasted less well than DMs I still own that are well over a decade older. Seriously, part of the deal with Docs wasn’t just that they were a fashion item, it was that they were originally designed as tough, light and comfortable work boots that lasted forever. They weren’t supposed to be Jimmy Choo’s. The main reason I abandoned them wasn’t just the drop in standards, though, it was that the company knows that full well and cynically cashes in on it to the extent that they still make a “vintage” line in England to the original specifications, which they then sell at double the price of the new flimsy version. Sorry, Docs, but not just making a shoddy product but using that as an excuse to bilk more money out of decades-long loyal customers is a ration of shit I’m not willing to swallow. So no more Dr Martens for me. What brands have you given up on and why? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/2 "2014-07-29T03:49:20Z")
Freschetta Pizzas My wife and I used to be able to get a Supreme Freschetta for $4 on sale and while it wasn’t quite as good as a pizza place…it was pretty close. Apparently, they changed their recipe(mainly the sauce) and now are horrible. We were so disappointed, we gave up on them entirely. I keep thinking I should buy one to see if they fixed it, but I can’t push myself to. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/3 "2014-07-29T04:51:47Z")
Crosse and Blackwell seafood cocktail sauce. A while ago they changed the recipe and increased the sugar by 1/3! Way too sweet! I’ll never buy it again. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/4 "2014-07-29T05:05:28Z")
I think I should have put this in IMHO ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/5 "2014-07-29T07:06:54Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I think I should have put this in IMHO ☹ I wish you would have been more specific as to the type of thing you meant. Just asking for “brands” is so totally encompassing. It just seems so broad. But I suppose that might have been exactly what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/6 "2014-07-29T10:28:48Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I think I should have put this in IMHO ☹ Report your OP by clicking the red triangle on the upper right and request forum change. In fact, I’ll do it for you. 🙂 Since this is CS, I’ll offer up Altoids. Loved them for years because they were so strong. Then in 2006 they [changed the formula](http://www.candyfavorites.com/blog/altoids-make-a-break-from-their-illustrious-past/), making them much less minty-strong, and much sweeter. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/7 "2014-07-29T10:33:00Z")
Reebok makes a walking sneaker that I’ve loved for years - I’ll wear them out then buy another couple of pairs. But the most recent ones will be my last. They’re no longer leather - they’re some kind of leatheroid - ugh. I should have checked when I bought them, but I didn’t. However, I won’t be buying any more. Now I need to find a comfy, not-too-ugly walking shoe. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/8 "2014-07-29T11:55:52Z")
Breyer’s ice cream. When their vanilla changed from the simple vanilla bean recipe I loved to one that added gum stabilizers they lost me. The mouth feel is terrible and the vanilla bean is barely there. I’ve switched to Hagen-Daz or Ben and Jerry’s and won’t go back. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/9 "2014-07-29T12:14:07Z")
[Fluevog shoes](http://www.fluevog.com/). Like Docs, they changed manufacturing locations. I still have a pair I bought in the early 90s - they’ve been resoled 3 times, but the uppers are still in fantastic shape. I bought a new pair in the same style 18 months ago and the uppers are looking older than my original pair. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/10 "2014-07-29T12:24:31Z")
Land’s End used to make sturdy, if boring, clothes; perfect for casual work clothes. The quality has really dropped off and I no longer buy from them. I never ate Papa John’s except every once in a while, but since he decided to chime in on health care reform, I will never eat their crap pizza again. Which is a bummer because it is the only pizza at Nat’s Park. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/11 "2014-07-29T12:53:22Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/12 "2014-07-29T13:05:19Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > The main reason I abandoned them wasn’t just the drop in standards, though, it was that the company knows that full well and cynically cashes in on it to the extent that they still make a “vintage” line in England to the original specifications, which they then sell at double the price of the new flimsy version. Sorry, Docs, but not just making a shoddy product but using that as an excuse to bilk more money out of decades-long loyal customers is a ration of shit I’m not willing to swallow. So no more Dr Martens for me. What brands have you given up on and why? I don’t get this. They offer the same high-quality made-in-UK shoes as before, which you dismiss, but then you complain about the shitty, off-shored shoes? Of course those are going to worse quality. Shoes made in UK are going to be more expensive. And they use much better (and more expensive) leather. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/13 "2014-07-29T13:07:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Freschetta Pizzas > > My wife and I used to be able to get a Supreme Freschetta for $4 on sale and while it wasn’t quite as good as a pizza place…it was pretty close. > > Apparently, they changed their recipe(mainly the sauce) and now are horrible. We were so disappointed, we gave up on them entirely. I keep thinking I should buy one to see if they fixed it, but I can’t push myself to. Agree with you here. We used to buy at least one a month. Not any more. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/14 "2014-07-29T13:17:24Z")
I’ve given up on Apple’s computers. The last 3 I’ve bought have either been anomalous lemons, or their success with phones and tablets has left their computers badly neglected. I’ve had to replace 3 logic boards, 4 track pads and probably a dozen power adapters, and that just covers the problems that were impossible to ignore. Making matters worse, I hate everything they’ve done to OS X since Snow Leopard. So all together you have substandard poorly made hardware at a substantial premium running a formerly great OS that’s now trying too hard to be a cell phone. Not at all worth it. Incidentally, my Mac Book Pro died abruptly last year and I settled on getting a Mac Book Air so restoring all my stuff from backup would be easy. If the Mac Book Pro was able to retire more gently I probably would’ve moved all my stuff to a Windows laptop. At the time I thought all my hardware problems really were bad luck and not a systemic problem for the company. \*They still make by far the best phone on the market. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/15 "2014-07-29T13:24:23Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Land’s End used to make sturdy, if boring, clothes; perfect for casual work clothes. The quality has really dropped off and I no longer buy from them. Yeah, when Sears bought them I knew they would dive down to Sears level quality. Hey, guess what? They did! ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/16 "2014-07-29T13:32:01Z")
- I spent most of my adult life owning at least one pair of **Doc Martens** at all times - usually two; one pair of boots and one of shoes. When my current pair of three holers gives up the ghost, I think it will be my last. Though that may be as much due to the evolution of my personal style as to any changes in quality. - **Starbucks**. Starbucks has become McDonald’s for me: while the latter is to be eaten only on road trips where there is literally no other option, the former is to be consumed only when someone has given me a gift card. I don’t particularly care for their signature Pike Place roast, and when I order an espresso there, the [del]spotty teenager[/del] barista usually looks at me as though I have two heads, because the main thrust of their business is milkshakes, many of which do not even contain coffee. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/17 "2014-07-29T13:32:10Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Yeah, when Sears bought them I knew they would dive down to Sears level quality. Hey, guess what? They did! There was a time when Sears itself was good quality. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/18 "2014-07-29T13:58:01Z")
**InnovAsian Orange Chicken Breast** , from the frozen food section. This was one of my guilty pleasures, the perfect comfort food when I wanted something quick for dinner. Lots of Jasmine rice cut the sweetness. A few weeks ago I prepared it, and as soon as I heated up the sauce I could smell the difference. They changed a perfectly good product to something inedible IMO. I don’t know what is in the sauce now, but it’s rank. ☹ I sent the company a scathing review of their “NEW!” product, and I’m waiting for them to change it back for me. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/19 "2014-07-29T14:01:34Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > I’ve given up on Apple’s computers. The last 3 I’ve bought have either been anomalous lemons, or their success with phones and tablets has left their computers badly neglected. I’ve never owned an Apple, but given the way their market has gone in recent years, it’s entirely possible that you’ve nailed the problem exactly: These days, Apple is mainly a cellphone manufacturer, and they also make computers. FWIW, Windows 8 also tries to act like a tablet. But you can still buy Windows 7, which is what I did for my recent computer upgrade. I want my computer to act like a computer, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301/20 "2014-07-29T14:12:29Z")
HP inkjet printers. Went from being reliable workhorses to run of the mill junk, at least for the home versions. Can’t speak to their toner-type units. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-brands-have-you-given-up-on-and-why/694301.md?page=2)