# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/41 "2010-09-15T00:58:29Z")
> [@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. No contradiction here. I’m a bit biased though, as the guy who wrote all the early versions of it, Jon Ort, is a friend of mine. He was actually headhunted by Adobe to work on Photoshop at one point, but they made the mistake of letting him look at the code. He said it was the nastiest looking pile of spaghetti code he ever saw. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/42 "2010-09-15T03:57:42Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I have a friend who prefers fake maple syrup over the real thing. > [@matt\_mcl](#): > > > [@sachertorte](#): > > > > i have a friend who prefers fake maple syrup over the real thing. > > _**[color=“darkred”]Heresy!![/color]**_ I’m a heretic. Give me Log Cabin, Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworth any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/43 "2010-09-15T04:57:29Z")
CostCo’s “Kirkland” brand is often better quality than the name brand products they carry. Their paper towels are great. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/44 "2010-09-15T06:38:45Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > > [@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. > > No contradiction here. I’m a bit biased though, as the guy who wrote all the early versions of it, Jon Ort, is a friend of mine. He was actually headhunted by Adobe to work on Photoshop at one point, but they made the mistake of letting him look at the code. He said it was the nastiest looking pile of spaghetti code he ever saw. Who ever wrote xnView should get a medal. It’s so much faster than MS’s picture viewer. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/45 "2010-09-15T06:51:20Z")
Ikea’s yellow batteries last at least as long as the big name brands. When we were still using incandescent bulbs, I’d say the same thing about their lightbulbs. I haven’t been quite as happy with their CFLs. Oh yeah, and their paper napkins rock. Cheaper than the ones in the supermarket but about a hundred times as sturdy. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/46 "2010-09-15T08:53:35Z")
Winn-Dixie’s store brand (Crackin’ Good?) of chocolate toaster pastries (the only kind I like) are far superior to Pop-Tarts. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/47 "2010-09-15T09:38:25Z")
The example that occurs to me may seem silly. Our 7-Elevens have three grades of playing cards; two expensive plastic brands and a cheaper paper brand (though it’s nice coated paper). I’ve tried all three grades. The paint fades so quickly on the plastic cards that they can be identified from their backs before long. After some dozens of playing hours, the paint on the fronts is so faded I have to squint to see what card it is! The paper cards work fine. (Admittedly, I might need to switch to the plastic cards if I played with slobs who crunch up the cards.) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/48 "2010-09-15T10:07:03Z")
Linux. I’ve used Windows and Mac OS X for extended periods and they go from actively interrupting my work-flow to, at best, being profoundly unhelpful and forcing me to do more by hand. Comparing Linux to proprietary Unix variants is even more hilariously unbalanced in Linux’s favor; only the open source BSDs can manage a draw or, at best, a limited victory on the basis of specific features. Emacs and vi. This is just barely even close to being fair, given that the commercial world has largely replaced text editors with notably inferior products known as ‘word processors’ and ‘IDEs’. The closest comparisons are nowhere near as capable. LaTeX doesn’t seem to have any commercial competition. TeX owns the field of professional-grade automatic typesetting, and LaTeX makes TeX convenient on a day-to-day basis. Firefox. Chrome. Konqueror. Opera. Personally, I pick Firefox, mainly for the extensions. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/49 "2010-09-15T14:47:54Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > [@sachertorte](#): > > > > I have a friend who prefers fake maple syrup over the real thing. > > I’m a heretic. Give me Log Cabin, Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworth any day of the week. I feel the same way about Aunt Jemima (etc.), but that’s just because I don’t care for maple flavour; I don’t buy syrup with fake maple flavour, either. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/50 "2010-09-15T15:15:23Z")
When I needed new tires for my SUV, someone suggested a store that sold ‘off brand’ new tires, of which I was highly suspicious. The store, however, made a pretty reasonable pitch, which is “Michelin, BF Goodrich, Yokahama, etc. all advertise, and their prices reflect that. All tires sold in the U.S. are required to pass safety inspections, so short of specialty racing tires, and other soft rubber/unidirectional models, they really are all the same”. Fast forward several years and my ‘Nexan’ brand tires, look exactly the same as every other tire out there, except they were 1/3 cheaper than every other brand and have actually lasted longer than other brands I have purchased in the past. Perhaps there would be some difference if I lived in an area with crappy weather and huge temperature fluctuations, but here in Southern California, we don’t get any of that. Ergo, I will only ever buy this tire brand from now on. ---
**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 15, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/51 "2010-09-15T15:17:34Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Generic cables are much, much better than Monster $100 cables, even if they have the power of voodoo to justify the price. I’d agree that many generic cables are just as good as the Monster $100 cables performance wise. But I don’t think that they are “better” in any way. Given the choice of a generic cable for $10 or a Monster cable for $10 I’d take the Monster just for the aesthetic and build quality. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/52 "2010-09-15T16:50:47Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > > > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > > > > > diaper wipes > > > > Why are you wiping diapers? > > They’re not going to wipe themselves, are they? Whooosh!!! I’ve never wiped a diaper…wiped lots of ass, but never a diaper. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/53 "2010-09-15T17:04:44Z")
The cheapest place I’ve ever found for tires was Costco (when they have their every few month sale, I think it’s buy 3 get 4th free or something). I got the same price quoted as my dad’s buddy who owns a tire shop. Plus at Costco you get free rotations for the life of the tire. You really can’t beat that. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/54 "2010-09-15T17:24:20Z")
I second the Costco wipes (whatever your reason for using them). Also, once you get out of the newborn-type diapers, Kirkland diapers are far better than their brand counterparts. And this is going to make me sound uncouth and sick, but their sushi is awesome. Sometimes I’ll pick up a tray and my husband and I will make two meals of it. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/55 "2010-09-15T17:54:41Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Whooosh!!! > > I’ve never wiped a diaper…wiped lots of ass, but never a diaper. Right, exactly. Have I just executed the coveted “Double Whoosh”? I’m going to have to wait to see my score from the Ukrainian judge. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/56 "2010-09-15T18:07:49Z")
Costco sushi, hmm…hey, if it’s good enough for **overly** , I’m going to pick some up on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/57 "2010-09-15T18:08:50Z")
I’m a big bourbon fan, so I’m not endorsing this as a bourbon to drink, really. BUT, if you want a nice one for mixing, skip the Jack Daniel’s and get Evan Williams. It’s something like a third of the price and tastes much better. In blind taste tests among my friends and relatives, all of them have picked Evan Williams as the tastier option. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/58 "2010-09-15T18:17:19Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > I’m a big bourbon fan, so I’m not endorsing this as a bourbon to drink, really. BUT, if you want a nice one for mixing, skip the Jack Daniel’s and get Evan Williams. It’s something like a third of the price and tastes much better. In blind taste tests among my friends and relatives, all of them have picked Evan Williams as the tastier option. I there any difference on the intensity and duration of the hangover? As for maple syrup, _everyone_ I know prefers the fake commercial versions. The real stuff is too watery. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/59 "2010-09-15T18:28:34Z")
Kraft Dinner is vastly superior in every way to every other Mac n’ Cheese option out there. ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702/60 "2010-09-15T18:34:20Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > I’m a big bourbon fan, so I’m not endorsing this as a bourbon to drink, really. BUT, if you want a nice one for mixing, skip the Jack Daniel’s and get Evan Williams. It’s something like a third of the price and tastes much better. In blind taste tests among my friends and relatives, all of them have picked Evan Williams as the tastier option. I’ve never had that brand, but I’d hope it would be a better bourbon as Jack Daniel’s is not bourbon, but Tennessee whiskey. ETA: I am not a Rye connoisseur, but for mixing I’ve heard many dopers recommend Old Overholt. It’s like $10 a bottle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-cheaper-choice-is-far-superior/553702.md?page=4)