# What products do you only buy the name brand of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703 "2011-02-26T15:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/61 "2011-02-27T18:05:48Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Motorcraft oil and filters. You do realize that both Motorcraft products are simply lowest-bidder contracts to Ford, right? One year it may be made by Texaco, and the next it’s made by Castrol. Same for the filters- they may be Purolator made now, but that doesn’t mean that they may not move to Champion Labs or Fram in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/62 "2011-02-27T18:15:46Z")
> [@bump](#): > > You do realize that both Motorcraft products are simply lowest-bidder contracts to Ford, right? One year it may be made by Texaco, and the next it’s made by Castrol. > > Same for the filters- they may be Purolator made now, but that doesn’t mean that they may not move to Champion Labs or Fram in the future. It is stuff like this that keeps me so confused when it comes to which products to choose and use. Does anyone know of some master list that tells you what is actually made by whom? As far as brand name items, I stick with brand name plastic wrap and tin foils. Sometimes the generics are fine, but sometimes they are next to useless and I have just given up trying to experiment. ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/63 "2011-02-27T18:45:12Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Dog food. I may eat generic/store brand, but my dogs eat the good stuff, always. Have you considered stocking up when the good dog food is on sale? Then you and your dogs can all dine in style. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/64 "2011-02-27T18:49:05Z")
> [@bump](#): > > You do realize that both Motorcraft products are simply lowest-bidder contracts to Ford, right? One year it may be made by Texaco, and the next it’s made by Castrol. > > Same for the filters- they may be Purolator made now, but that doesn’t mean that they may not move to Champion Labs or Fram in the future. At one pont I read on the internet that Motorcraft filters were one of the good brands and Fram were junk. I can’t invest that much energy in monitoring oil filter contracts. I’ve had good luck in my Ford sticking with Motorcraft. Rational or not. If Texaco produces oil (or Fram, filters) under the Motorcraft name it has to meet Ford specs, right? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/65 "2011-02-27T19:04:41Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > At one pont I read on the internet that Motorcraft filters were one of the good brands and Fram were junk. I can’t invest that much energy in monitoring oil filter contracts. I’ve had good luck in my Ford sticking with Motorcraft. Rational or not. > > If Texaco produces oil (or Fram, filters) under the Motorcraft name it has to meet Ford specs, right? Sure, but pretty much all the domestic American car manufacturers require API rated oil (SN is the latest spec), and you’d be hard pressed to find non-API rated oil at your local parts store or Wal-Mart. The only things that aren’t API SL, SM or SN these days are junky brands like “Ring Seal” or the other no-name brands sold at gas stations and quicky marts. Even Wal-Mart’s Supertech house brand meets SM (and SN these days). Things are starting to get a little strange with GM’s DEXOS specs, but Ford and Chrysler still just require API SM or SN, and that’s usually all that Motorcraft, AC Delco or Mopar oil is. It’s usually run-of-the-mill SM or SN rated oil that’s usually at best on par with the name-brands like Pennzoil, Quaker State, Castrol, Havoline, etc… You can’t really go wrong with filters, despite what some of the internet OCD types seem to think. They’ll all adequately filter your oil, and they’ll all last the recommended interval. That being said, Motorcraft is a good brand, and are in fact Purolator filters. I buy them for my Dodge truck because they’re cheaper than the equivalent Wal-Mart brand filter. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/66 "2011-02-27T20:14:01Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Sure, but pretty much all the domestic American car manufacturers require API rated oil (SN is the latest spec), and you’d be hard pressed to find non-API rated oil at your local parts store or Wal-Mart. The only things that aren’t API SL, SM or SN these days are junky brands like “Ring Seal” or the other no-name brands sold at gas stations and quicky marts. Even Wal-Mart’s Supertech house brand meets SM (and SN these days). > > Things are starting to get a little strange with GM’s DEXOS specs, but Ford and Chrysler still just require API SM or SN, and that’s usually all that Motorcraft, AC Delco or Mopar oil is. It’s usually run-of-the-mill SM or SN rated oil that’s usually at best on par with the name-brands like Pennzoil, Quaker State, Castrol, Havoline, etc… > > You can’t really go wrong with filters, despite what some of the internet OCD types seem to think. They’ll all adequately filter your oil, and they’ll all last the recommended interval. > > That being said, Motorcraft is a good brand, and are in fact Purolator filters. I buy them for my Dodge truck because they’re cheaper than the equivalent Wal-Mart brand filter. What I recall was a long message board thread (not here) about oil filters with lotsa links to technical pages etc. If I recall correctly it boiled down to some filters “bypassing” under some circumstances, that is allowing unfiltered oil and possibly previously trapped contaminants to enter the engine. This was about the time I bought my Ford truck in 2001 so I’m sure things could have changed since. At the time Motorcraft was a non-bypassing filter and that’s what Ford recommended so it was good enough for me. At that time Frams were bypassing and some components were suspect. Again, that was a long time ago and I haven’t bothered to keep up. I’ve now got 160,000 miles on the truck and no oil usage between changes so I’ll stick with what’s working. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/67 "2011-02-27T22:27:22Z")
toilet paper laundry products dish detergent (for handwashing and the machine) macaroni and cheese ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/68 "2011-02-27T22:54:45Z")
I read the title as meaning things for which there are generic/storebrand vs. proprietary brand-name versions so vehicles sold under specific carmaker badges would not come under that unless they were “twins”. Me: Razor cartridges; Tires ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/69 "2011-02-27T23:04:10Z")
Bar soap – I only like Zest or Irish Spring, not Ivory (like washing with a lump or wax) or Dove or various other brands my wife sometimes gets. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/70 "2011-02-28T00:33:09Z")
Toilet paper and cat food. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/71 "2011-02-28T02:16:42Z")
> [@Waxwinged](#): > > Toilet paper and cat food. Oh, cat food, yeah. My cats are _very_ picky, plus if I try to feed them the cheap stuff, the litter box stinks to high heavens! ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/72 "2011-02-28T05:55:57Z")
Scott’s toilet paper Hellman’s mayo Miracle Whip Kraft Mac & cheese Cereal - I have lots of favorites but all are name brand Dog food Cat food Cranberry sauce - ocean spray Salad dressings Sugar Vanilla Cake mix I guess I’m pickier than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![bink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/73 "2011-02-28T08:05:31Z")
Q-tips, and American Q-tips at that. The foreign ones are as bad as the off-brands. Ecover dishwasher pellets Smucker’s seedless raspberry jelly, when I ate sugar. I believe that name-brand Plax is better than the supermarket stuff, but I buy the supermarket stuff anyway. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/74 "2011-02-28T16:18:16Z")
Jif Peanut Butter Lesuer english peas ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/75 "2011-02-28T18:37:49Z")
I insist on Puffs brand Kleenex. Only technically they’re Puffs tissues. But I still call them Kleenex. ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/76 "2011-02-28T18:52:41Z")
In addition to toilet paper and cat food mentioned above by **Waxinged** I buy Mayonnaise (Duke’s), Apples (Honeycrisp), and hot dogs (Hebrew National). There may be others, but I can’t think of them now. (Also, apples may not count since that isn’t really a brand… But it still costs more than pretty much every other type of apple.) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/77 "2011-02-28T19:02:58Z")
Cream cheese MUST be Philadelphia brand; nothing else will do. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/78 "2011-02-28T19:17:27Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > What I recall was a long message board thread (not here) about oil filters with lotsa links to technical pages etc. If I recall correctly it boiled down to some filters “bypassing” under some circumstances, that is allowing unfiltered oil and possibly previously trapped contaminants to enter the engine. This was about the time I bought my Ford truck in 2001 so I’m sure things could have changed since. At the time Motorcraft was a non-bypassing filter and that’s what Ford recommended so it was good enough for me. At that time Frams were bypassing and some components were suspect. Again, that was a long time ago and I haven’t bothered to keep up. I’ve now got 160,000 miles on the truck and no oil usage between changes so I’ll stick with what’s working. I personally think it’s one of those things that may have some theoretical benefit, but in real-world terms, it comes down to getting 325,000 miles out of that engine vs. 310,000. In either case, the rest of the vehicle will have long since gone to pot, so why sweat it? FWIW, I put 230,000 miles on a Ford Ranger that I bought at 60K miles. Never used Motorcraft oil, did use Motorcraft filters for the last 80k or so. My father put 220,000 on a 1980s Pontiac Bonneville, using whatever oil was at the quick-lube and whatever filter they used. It did burn a little oil when he sold it, but it wasn’t a ridiculous amount. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/79 "2011-02-28T21:00:48Z")
Diet Coke. Off-brand sodas, particularly diet ones, are disgusting. Pop-Tarts as well; off-brand “toaster pastries” are terrible. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703/80 "2011-02-28T21:05:45Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I insist on Puffs brand Kleenex. Only technically they’re Puffs tissues. But I still call them Kleenex. I’m not dedicated to Puffs, per se, but I won’t buy generic tissues (yeah, I call them all ‘kleenex’, too). Usually, actually, I _do_ buy Kleenex brand, mostly because Sam’s Club sells them by the case, and this allows me to have a box in just about every room of the apartment, and be sure I’m not going to run out. We have a lot of sinus issues in our family, and if you need a tissue more than a couple of times a week, your nose really _does_ appreciate the name-brand. Well, _my_ nose does, anyway. > [@geneb](#): > > Apples (Honeycrisp), and hot dogs (Hebrew National). > > There may be others, but I can’t think of them now. (Also, apples may not count since that isn’t really a brand.. But it still costs more than pretty much every other type of apple.) (Snipped) Really? Honeycrisps are more expensive where you shop? At Kroger, where I do most of my grocery shopping, the Honeycrisps will be the same price as the other _good_ varieties of apples. Yeah, the red and golden Delicious will be cheaper, but they’re crap. At Kroger, the Honeycrisp will invariably be the same price as the Jonagold, the Gala, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-do-you-only-buy-the-name-brand-of/572703.md?page=5)