# What grocery store items will you absolutely not skimp on and get the generic equivalent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574 "2013-03-10T21:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/61 "2013-03-12T14:04:03Z")
Teddy’s Peanut Butter, Purina dog food, Polar Seltzer, Lean Cuisine, McCann’s Oatmeal, Celestial Seasonings or Bigelow tea, coffee and others. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/62 "2013-03-12T14:39:37Z")
Jif Creamy Peanut Butter Diet Coke Leseur English Peas ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/63 "2013-03-12T15:44:41Z")
I used to buy my kid the Aldi’s “lunch packs” of chips (the big bag with 12 or so small bags of chips in various flavors) for his lunches. He never complained but he was probably just happy that I was buying him chips and not carrot sticks. I was peckish a while back so I took one and ate it. God, those things are awful. I make a special trip to the “real” grocery store now for the Frito-Lays packs. The weird thing is that I always buy Aldi’s kettle style chips (cracked pepper) and thought they were quite good. Had no idea how dire their Dorito’s knock-offs were. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/64 "2013-03-12T15:52:06Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > Tylenol – it’s all I’m allowed anymore and generic OTC makes me nervous. I’m the exact opposite on this. I’ve had to process so many recalls on name-brand OTCs in the last couple of years (especially Novartis and J&J), that I’m wary of them now. J&J still hasn’t gotten their manufacturing plants in order after two years of federal involvement (and shuttering one plant that was essentially irreparable), and it’s one of the reasons that Tylenol is relatively hard to find. Anyway, back to the actual topic… Nutella. Kroger has a generic, and I tried it once. Nutella is pretty fluid to begin with, but Kroger’s was ridiculously thin… it was like sticking a knife into a jar of chocolate syrup. La Banderita bagged tortillas. Hate store brand tortillas, not a fan of Azteca… La Banderita is pretty good for bagged tortillas, though. Pepsi Max/Tab/Diet Coke. Can’t stand most of the generic diet sodas, usually bottled by Cott’s Beverages. I used to like Sam’s Choice diet cola when it was essentially relabeled Diet Rite. Tide, Era, a few other branded laundry detergents. I’m sure generics launder just as well, but they tend to have horrible scents. Freschetta or DiGiorno frozen self-rising pizzas. Store brand self-risers I’ve tried all have a sickly sweet crust. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/65 "2013-03-12T15:58:31Z")
Hellman’s mayo Heinz ketchup Saran wrap Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cottonelle toilet paper Coke or Pepsi products Otherwise, I’m totally cheap. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/66 "2013-03-12T16:19:28Z")
I prefer Walmart’s Diet Dr. Thunder to Diet Dr. Pepper, which is the only pop I’ll drink. Must have: Hellman’s mayo, Oscar Mayer Bacon Pieces, Glad or Saran Wrap, Reynold’s tin foil (makes the best hats), Vanity Fair or Bounty paper napkins, Trader Joe’s organic peanut butter. I have no problem with Target’s toilet paper unless Cottonelle is on sale. Heinz ketchup, Dawn dishsoap. I prefer Land O’Lakes butter but will do the store brand if I’m using it for non-baking. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/67 "2013-03-12T17:14:36Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I avoid generic dishwashing soap - the name-brand stuff really works better. Absolutely. The no-name dishwashing liquid does not make anything like suds. Oh, it makes a valiant effort but ultimately a vain one. > [@bump](#): > > I absolutely get name brand extra-virgin olive oil, and typically get it from the specialty food store, and the same goes for anything else where the finished product depends on the unprocessed qualities of the ingredient or a particular unique flavor of the ingredient(i.e. it’s not cooked or baked, or the taste of the ingredient is integral to the dish- like say… **ham in Coca-Cola**. (might taste weird if it was Ham in Big K Cola) It took me entirely too long to figure out you meant glazing the ham with Coke and not putting ham pieces in the soda and drinking it. :smack: For me, I only buy Kleenex tissues due to too many years of having a red, raw nose during allergy season thanks to generic cardboard tissues. I also get Scott toilet paper because it’s soft but not fluffy and has 1000 sheets per roll. ---
**Author:** ![DeweyDecibel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DeweyDecibel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeweyDecibel)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/68 "2013-03-13T10:17:36Z")
-Mayonnaise -Cola, if I get it at all (kind of a rare, special treat) it’s Coke or Diet Coke. No Pepsi, and certainly no generics. -Frozen pizza (DiGiorno’s) -Canned beans - actually, generic is fine if it’s my store’s organic generic line, otherwise all the generics are so much higher in sodium -Peanut Butter (Jif Natural) -Spices. I won’t buy grocery store spices at all. Penzey’s has a store near me and I like theirs so much better -Coffee. There’s a local roaster that I like to go to, but if I need coffee from the grocery store I don’t get generic. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/69 "2013-03-14T00:06:07Z")
Oh, definitely most spices too. I need to make a trip to Penzey’s. And coffee, but I buy so many different brands that it’s ridiculous. (My current favorite is Peet’s Azuri African (I think that’s it). Man, I want to go shopping. I’m on a grocery diet this month because my grocery budget went to car repairs. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/70 "2013-03-15T15:54:02Z")
Dental floss. I’ve tried enough brands and only Oral B’s regular floss is good enough. Is it that hard to make? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/71 "2013-03-15T16:31:32Z")
Gefilte fish. Actually I wouldn’t touch “name brand” gefilte fish either. Grottiest-looking food ever. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/72 "2013-03-15T18:06:07Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Oh, there is definitely a difference. Cheap motor oil needs to be changed pretty much before the empty bottle hits the garbage can. It’s worth it to spend a couple extra bucks a quart on decent motor oil. There are differences, but if the oil meets the standard specified for your vehicle, it’s good for the specified interval. For example, my truck specifies API SL rated oil for a 6k standard interval and a 3k severe service interval. This means that ANY SL, or more recent oil (SM, SN) will be adequate for the 6k or 3k interval under the conditions stated for the interval. Or for that matter, my wife’s VW specifies VW 502.00 oil for a 10k interval, so any 502.00 oil is adequate. I’m more in the habit of using oils like Mobil 1 Extended Performance, and running them for 10-15k, so the oil choice matters to me. Back when it was under warranty, I generally used whatever was on sale that met the spec, including Wal-Mart Supertech, and changed it religiously at the stated interval. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/73 "2013-03-15T19:55:09Z")
Bounty paper towels, and name brand deodorants, soaps, and shampoos. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/74 "2013-03-17T03:34:00Z")
Heinz Ketchup Hellman’s Mayo Back when my cat lived with me (he now resides with my parents), I only bought a certain brand of expensive kitty litter, never ever the cheaper store brands Tropicana OJ only Coke only for cola Fage or Chobani for greek yoghurt Non-Generic Toilet Paper Muir Glen canned tomatoes only Method dish soap (in those plastic thingies) because it’s the only brand that doesn’t leave streaks on our glasses Dove soap only (allergic to everything else) I don’t drink soy milk regularly but if I buy it the only ones that taste good are the sugar free really fresh ones from H-Mart, or 8th Continent sugar bombs. I’m okay with generic garbage bags, aluminum foil, tissues, paper towels etc. And generic everything else, even olive oil etc. But most of the time we aren’t buying a particular name brand since we don’t eat a lot of packaged food. We end up spending more by splurging for organic (milk and eggs always) or buying our meat at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574.md?page=3)