# What Off-Brand Products Do You Swear By? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274 "2004-04-16T01:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bangiadore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Bangiadore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bangiadore)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/21 "2004-04-16T17:05:39Z")
Target’s great for store-brand paper towels, aspirin, soaps and so on, and it’s a more conscionable alternative to Wal-Mart. Their clearance clothing is often cheap and stylin’ too. Whole Foods has great store-brand cereals for a buck ninety-nine, and their soy milk is grrrrreat, too. Actually, most all of their store-brand stuff is good and can actually be afforded by hoi polloi. Did somebody say Trader Joe’s? Man, anything from Trader Joe’s is good. Their big bag of potstickers for $2.59, especially. And now they’ve got white balsamic vinegar – yeow, put it on your greens! But most of all, a huge can of excellent French Roast for $7.69 that lasts three weeks even in my highly-caffeinated house. Thing about TJ’s is, they seem to have described a fifty-mile radius around Providence, and they always set up right outside it. I tend to get a lot of store-brand stuff wherever I’m shopping; it saves a lot of money, and I’m only rarely disappointed. With the big brands a lot of what you pay for is their advertising budget. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/22 "2004-04-16T17:47:03Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Albertson’s carries a vodka called “Six” that I assume is a store brand (yet says nothing about Albertson’s on it.) It’s in a semi-Absolut-shaped bottle and the little shelf tag says “compare to Absolut.” It’s usually on sale for around $9.99 and in my opinion is far superior to Absolut, which does not agree with me for some reason. Here in S Florida Albertsons actually has an vodka with Albertson’s name on it. I wonder if it’s the same stuff, but for some reason in your neck of the woods it has the “Six” label. I just looked at the bottle (plastic) in my freezer and saw no “Six” on it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/23 "2004-04-16T17:54:29Z")
> [@Asperity](#): > > However, I avoid generic Grape-Nuts. Usually called “wheat and barley” or some such. It’s just not the same at all, and it’s worth spending extra to get brand-name Grape-Nuts. “‘Wheat and barley’? No wheat! No barley! What’s the deal with that?!” Oh, wait … wrong joke. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/24 "2004-04-17T00:28:22Z")
> [@](#): > > most of the Hannaford (local grocery store) brand stuff is just as good as the name brand stuff I prefer Hannaford peanut butter to any other brand including all the big names. Same goes for their french onion dip. Most of their other products are comparable to the name brands and I buy them when they are cheaper, but I would buy their PB and dip even if they cost more. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/25 "2004-04-17T00:46:06Z")
Herr’s nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips have twice the artificial cheese powder of Doritos. They are cheesy heaven in the biggest possible bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/26 "2004-04-17T01:50:35Z")
Thanks for all your responses, everyone! I’ve hesitated to post threads before because I’ve had the feeling that they’d die a quick death. I guess I’ll have to rethink that now. 🙂 I forgot to mention that I _looovee_ Dr. Bronner’s Castile soaps! I like the liquid but there’s bars too. They’re a bit hard to find. Your best bet is a health food store but Fred Meyer carries it too. I haven’t seen it at Trader Joe’s though it’s right up their alley. Dr. Bronner’s is the only liquid soap that doesn’t shred my hands with unnecessary chemicals and perfumes. They use natural oils for a nice smell but the smell doesn’t linger after you’ve washed. Ugh! It may look expensive at first but it dilutes 6-to-1 and a little bottle lasts a long time. Especially if you put it in a used pump bottle like I do. Plus, the label is packed with interesting reading material. Whether or not you agree with the upbeat spiritual hippie style, the message is a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/27 "2004-04-17T01:56:57Z")
> [@Tikki](#): > > They use natural oils for a nice smell but the smell doesn’t linger after you’ve washed. Ugh! The “Ugh!” was meant for this part, which somehow didn’t get in there: I’ve noticed that even “perfumeless” soaps leave behind a stench after washing that smells suspiciously like “perfume” to me. Ugh! The hampsters seem to have eaten that line. Bad, bad hampsters! ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/28 "2004-04-17T03:03:41Z")
They sell this group of products in Wal-Mart called “Equate” and it is always next to the brand name. For example there might be some “Nyquil” and next to it will be some “Equate” and on the bottle it would say “Compare to active ingredients in Nyquil”. So the Nyquil might be over 3 dollars nut the “Equate” will be just under 2 dollars. They also have “Equate” for other products such as lotion, acne cream, hand soap, eye drops, shampoo, sleeping pills, etc. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/29 "2004-04-17T03:16:15Z")
We have really good luck with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club brands. My husband has several pairs of khaki pants we got at WM for like $9.99 each–he has worn them for going on 3 years and they are in excellent shape even still. He likes them much better than the Eddie Bauer khaki’s I bought for his BD one year. Plus, he has several wonderful cotton polo shirts we bought at Sam’s club that are far better than anything we have bought at mall stores. I have never been disappointed in an Equate product, which is the Walmart/Sam’s house brand. Also, Sam’s Club Cheez Puffs are SOOO much better than Cheetos or Cheez Doodles. And are like $1.00 a bag!! (too bad they are not on my Atkins plan…!!) We don’t have an Albertson’s where we live now, but used to shop at one. I always found Albertson’s brands were better than the name brands on almost everything I ever tried. Bread, canned veggies, olive oil, ice cream…their store brands were excellent. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/30 "2004-04-17T06:39:29Z")
I’m a big fan of the super-cheapo Wal-Mart toothbrushes- “Dentax” I think. At the rate I go through them, they work just dandy, and don’t cost $3 each. (.80, I think). Wal-Mart Supertech oil filters are also damned good for the price. According to [this website’s](http://www.bobistheoilguy.com) forums, they’re basically the same as STP, Deutch and NAPA- they’re all made by Champion Labs. Can’t beat that for $2. Wal Mart’s Miracle Gro knock-off fertilizer seems to do quite well on my plants, and actually is lower in heavy metals like arsenic than Miracle Gro (cite: [http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/ProductDatabase.htm](http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/ProductDatabase.htm)) ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/31 "2004-04-17T07:02:08Z")
I’ll second the Sam’s Choice flavored water thing. Luuuuurrrrrve them. I also love the Sam’s Choice lime and garlic salsa. Light, spicy, flavorful, but not hot. Yum. I’ll also second the Rugged Exposure thing. I had a couple of pairs of their boots years ago, and I adored them. However, I haven’t been able to find them since. Payless apparently no longer carries them, and for that my god will strike them down. Any store brand naproxen or ibuprofen or acetaminophen is great in my book–exact same thing with different inert ingredients, roughly half the price of Alleve or Advil or Tylenol. Same thing for generic pseudoephedrine instead of Sudafed. Really, there’s only a handful of things we don’t buy the off-brand. Paper towels and toilet paper are well worth the extra money, and Barilla pasta. And cookware. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/32 "2004-04-17T07:16:48Z")
I always use store brand medicines if they are available. All you have to do is check the active ingredient and the concentration. 99% of the time, they are absolutely, 100% IDENTICAL to the full price brand. They don’t just work the same, they are the exact same drug. So, if they have it, I always buy the store brand and save half the cost. Jman ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/33 "2004-04-17T14:38:04Z")
I think Great Value (Wal-Mart) mayonnaise is as tasty as Hellmann’s; their salad dressing is not as good as Miracle Whip. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/34 "2004-04-17T14:59:20Z")
There is a local soft serve ice cream truck that puts Mr. Softee to shame (and they’ve started coming around again this year. WOO HOO!) ---
**Author:** ![bittersweet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@bittersweet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bittersweet)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/35 "2004-04-17T16:18:34Z")
Publix (a grocery chain in FL) brand Saltine crackers **rock your face off**. Not sure why, but they just taste better than the Nabisco Original Premium Saltines. ---
**Author:** ![SamIAm336](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SamIAm336](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamIAm336)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/36 "2004-04-17T17:06:49Z")
I prefer tea from the dollar store or Kroger brand, instead of any name brand. it is less bitter and 1/2 the price. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/37 "2004-04-17T21:18:01Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I’ll second the Sam’s Choice flavored water thing. Luuuuurrrrrve them. I’d forgotten about those! My roommates and I virtually lived on them in college; our little cube fridge was always full of Black Cherry and White Grape. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/38 "2004-04-18T00:00:40Z")
Wal-Mart’s Mint Chocolate-Chip ice cream is very tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/39 "2004-04-18T00:33:48Z")
> [@bittersweet](#): > > Publix (a grocery chain in FL) brand Saltine crackers **rock your face off**. Not sure why, but they just taste better than the Nabisco Original Premium Saltines. And their ice cream is _far_ superior to the national brands. Even better than the Blue Bell and Valhalla, IMO. Try the Homemade line, especially. Also, their Grape Nuts is called “Nutty Nuggets” and the Chex is called “Crispy Hexagons”. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274/40 "2004-04-18T01:15:29Z")
Speaking of ice cream, Safeway Select made a wonderful black cherry vanilla. Wich I could find more. **sigh** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-off-brand-products-do-you-swear-by/240274.md?page=3)