# When the cheaper choice is far superior **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702 "2010-09-14T07:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [September 14, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/21 "2010-09-14T16:06:23Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > > [@Leaffan](#): > > > > No-name spicy tomato clam juice, as opposed to Mott’s Clamato. > > > > And right now everyone outside of Canada is going “what?” > > Clamato is readily available all over the U.S. Highly consumed, tho, is another thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/22 "2010-09-14T16:06:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No-name spicy tomato clam juice, as opposed to Mott’s Clamato. > > And right now everyone outside of Canada is going “what?” Not at all. Every c-store I’ve worked at in California has sold it, or at least the non-spicy version. It’s OK, less clammy than I expected. Joe ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/23 "2010-09-14T16:49:07Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > i have a friend who prefers fake maple syrup over the real thing. _**[color=“darkred”]Heresy!![/color]**_ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/24 "2010-09-14T16:58:19Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > [@suranyi](#): > > > > Clamato is readily available all over the U.S. > > Highly consumed, tho, is another thing 🙂 Yeah, when I go to the grocery store I try not to “see” it because the concept makes me kind of vomity. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/25 "2010-09-14T17:05:37Z")
I can’t help but think of Richard Jeni whenever I come across Clamato: > [@](#): > > …while we take a look at today’s product in the spotlight, and here it is, Clamato Juice! Clam and tomato mixed together and you drink it. And notice I say _you_ drink it, 'cause I couldn’t think of a more disgusting, Addams Family combination of juice. Who the hell thought of that?! When’s the last time you had some tomato juice & went, “Boy that needs fish, put some fish in there! How can you bring it out plain?! Swizzle a mackerel around in there, for chrissake, what kind of a host are you?” > > “Want some clamato?” No thanks I just had a big glass of flounder-apple, you sick psychopath. I just had some herring-prune, but thanks for the invite! ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/26 "2010-09-14T17:17:01Z")
Before I switched to using 7th generation cleaning products, I found that Target brand wipes were far superior to Clorox or Lysol ones. Much more textured, wetter, thicker. I still don’t know why that is. Every time I go home I have to bring my mom some Target wipes, since they don’t have a Target. Target brand kitchen trash can liners that have the odor-eaters thing in them are slightly better than the comparable Glad ones. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/27 "2010-09-14T19:40:17Z")
I like the cheaper brands of spaghetti sauce (e.g. Ragu) over the more expensive stuff (Emeril’s, Rao’s). I also find that some imported pasta is not as good as the cheap domestic stuff-I prefer store brand stuff ($0.75/lb) to the imported stuff (@ $2.00/lb). For clothing: some low end brands are quite good-I’ve had good luck with H&M stuff.Old Navy jeans are OK, not quite as good as Levis. For wines, Robert Mondavi is a great buy at $6.00/bottle-tastse as good as the \>$15 stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/28 "2010-09-14T19:42:32Z")
Creatine. You can get a tub of the stuff for dirt cheap. Yet, Muscletech seems to feel they can rip off their customers… ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/29 "2010-09-14T20:02:33Z")
Chocolate. For several years I ate $7-a-bar French stuff. Then I discovered Hershey’s Special Dark, which I like much much better. Woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/30 "2010-09-14T20:56:00Z")
[Kuhn Rikon peelers](http://www.kuhnrikon.com/products/tools/tools.php3?id=36). They cost under $4, and are sharper and eaiser to use then any other peeler in existence When it gets dull, just throw it away and buy a new one. The cheapest offerings from target or walmart are around $8, and are crap. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/31 "2010-09-14T21:22:02Z")
Chips. I much prefer store house-brand potato chips to the national brands. So far, that’s been true no matter what store/house brand it is. The unknown label tortilla chips are always better than the national brands. I have had to change brands a few times, as the unknown label becomes known and their price goes up - but there’s always a new unknown that’s at least as good. One advantage of living down here! The only one I haven’t found a good knock-off for is Frito’s. I’ve only ever once seen knock-off Frito’s. I didn’t notice much difference, but the SO swears they were awful. I may have to sneak in a blind taste test sometime. (I don’t eat Cheetos, so I’ve got no idea on those.) ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/32 "2010-09-14T21:43:47Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > [@suranyi](#): > > > > Clamato is readily available all over the U.S. > > Highly consumed, tho, is another thing 🙂 Exactly. The “what?” is that there is a generic store-brand Clamato. I’ve seen Clamato, but I doubt they ever sell enough to consider needing another brand! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/33 "2010-09-14T21:50:15Z")
Ballpoint pens. The cheap Bics and Pentels I use are completely reliable and work great every time. Whenver I try one of those big honkin fancy Montblanc, Cross, or Parker things they don’t work work half the time or blob out ink that smudges. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/34 "2010-09-14T21:54:39Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The cheap diaper wipes that come in bulk from Costco are better than any other diaper wipes I’ve ever tried, including expensive name-brand ones. > > (Wow, I am so glad that I don’t actually have to buy diaper wipes anymore. 😃 ) Why are you wiping diapers? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/35 "2010-09-14T22:04:23Z")
I don’t like the $50 - $100 range of Champagnes. I’ve poured them down the drain before and that is a painful thing to do. Do NOT like store brand corn syrup. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/36 "2010-09-14T22:06:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No-name spicy tomato clam juice, as opposed to Mott’s Clamato. > > And right now everyone outside of Canada is going “what?” Except for me. I am going ‘Crap, forgot I have that in the fridge; bloody marys tonight!!’ 😃 Oh, and I like the cheapo cheese curls. They taste stale…which is perfect, since with regular _Cheetos_ I have been known to leave them open for a day, so they’ll get stale and chewy faster 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/37 "2010-09-14T22:08:40Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Why are you wiping diapers? They’re not going to wipe themselves, are they? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/38 "2010-09-14T22:11:56Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > You can buy really thin “liner” gloves for running at sports stores for anywhere from $15-$25 a pair. I buy the little cotton gloves that come 3 or more to a pack for less than $1 a pair at Target. They seem to do the same thing. From what department in Target? I ended up ordering them online this winter because department stores don’t seem to carry them. Since one person has already been declared a hertic, I might as well say it. Paint Shop Pro X[insert 2 or 3 here] is a easier to use, vastly more intuitive product than Photo Shop for 1/6 the price, and you can get similar results with it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/39 "2010-09-14T22:22:37Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > > [@Athena](#): > > > > You can buy really thin “liner” gloves for running at sports stores for anywhere from $15-$25 a pair. I buy the little cotton gloves that come 3 or more to a pack for less than $1 a pair at Target. They seem to do the same thing. > > From what department in Target? I ended up ordering them online this winter because department stores don’t seem to carry them. > Since one person has already been declared a hertic, I might as well say it. Paint Shop Pro X[insert 2 or 3 here] is a easier to use, vastly more intuitive product than Photo Shop for 1/6 the price, and you can get similar results with it. Took too long to get this link edit the above, sorry. Take [this image](http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e130/theevilwriter/cow/inappropriatecow4.jpg), for example. Besides the cow orginally being in color, it lacked the highlights at the top of its head to light it like the girl in the photo, and I was able to overlay the curtain to give the suggestion of the cow’s bulk behind it though slight shadowing near the cow’s back. I doubt you could do better with Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/40 "2010-09-15T00:57:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > > [@Balthisar](#): > > > > Is Clamato Canada-only? I’m from Michigan, but have lived for a year in Ontario, so I guess I just didn’t notice. > > > > Heck, even Wikipedia says that the country of origin is the USA. > > Good question. I know that the Bloody Caesar cocktail is way more popular in Canada than the U.S. I guess I assumed that the virgin drink would be the same. I’m unsure now! I think it’s a Mexican thing. I see it more in Mexican neighborhoods, and the [Michelada](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelada) is pretty popular; Budweiser even makes their own version. Don’t know if it’s drunk straight. > [@elfkin477](#): > > Since one person has already been declared a hertic, I might as well say it. Paint Shop Pro X[insert 2 or 3 here] is a easier to use, vastly more intuitive product than Photo Shop for 1/6 the price, and you can get similar results with it. [Paint.NET](http://Paint.NET) does everything I want, and it’s free. For those who want a more Photoshop-like environment, GIMP is also free. Both have tons of community support and plugins. Generic cables are much, much better than Monster $100 cables, even if they have the power of voodoo to justify the price. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702.md?page=3)