"Brand name" syndrome (Full Version)

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ScooterTrash -> "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 4:02:14 AM)

OK, this is seriously off topic..lol, but I am curious. How many folks are serious Brand fanatics? I have realized I was "Brand Driven" for a long time, but I guess I just try to overlook it and go on. My most recent encounter was after looking for a telephoto lens for "Shifted's" Canon 35mm. Looking at cameras and accessories made me realize that the reason I didn't have an SLR of my own, was because I was so picky about the brand and wouldn't have anything less than a Nikon. Was this from practical experience? Nope...it was because of some articles I read when I was in High School..perhaps a hundred years or so ago...lol. As far as I was concerned, there wasn't any other brand. This got me thinking...wow, I am really focused on Brand Names...a lot.

I drink Coke, it's Skippy or PeterPan peanut butter or I go without. Heinz is the only ketchup, KC Masterpiece is the only barbecue sauce, General Motors makes cars & trucks..not sure what the other vehicles are (in the way?..lol), all our canned Veggies better be Stokleys, Starbucks and Millstone make the only coffee, stereo equipment is made by Pioneer (exclusively), Texas Instruments makes the only real calculators and of course Harleys are THE only Motorcycles. Generic brands of anything? Ack, I would never even consider them! I could go on and on, but you get my drift...anyone else find that either through learned preferences or perhaps just damned good advertising that they are tunnel-visioned on specific brands?

By the way...in the end, I did go ahead and buy an N80 Nikon with "Brand Name" Nikon 28-80mm & Nikon 70-300mm telephoto lenses...lol. (go figure)



Quivver -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 4:12:25 AM)

I'm Brand Loyal on some items (yes my camera ~Olympus~ is my brand) yet other things I'm a price shopper.  Ok, ok... on other things I'm just plain frugal.  Laundry soap is a biggy I wont skimp on (oh lord i'm viewing frugal as skimpy) but most other dispoasal items I dont care who makes them.  In fact I've found some, like breakfast cerial that are actually better tasting in the store brand.  All in all, I try to shop quality over name, but in the back of my head I always have a name in mind.  



ScooterTrash -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 4:17:48 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Quivver

In fact I've found some, like breakfast cerial that are actually better tasting in the store brand.
OMG...I either want Cap'n Crunch with crunch berries (very adult you know) or Post raisin bran....lol. I will settle for Quaker oatmeal occasionally, only if we aren't having Aunt Jemima waffles or pancakes...lol.



mnottertail -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 4:42:27 AM)

No, nikon is still top drawer for lenses, but if you look at the bodies of most of the cameras they are only stamped for the Name Brand -- they are mostly Mitsubishi.

I go brand name for certain things, but as we get older, I buy more stuff that is the best of the best for stuff I often use, because cheap shit falls apart and I am sick of it.

Ron



windchymes -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 5:00:49 AM)

I have a few brands that I prefer, such as Heinz Ketchup, Jif Peanut Butter, and Mt. Olive Dill Pickles.  But I'll eat other brands if these aren't available, I don't go into a tizz, lol.

I'm not a smoker, but brand-name cigarettes are over $6.00 a pack in NJ.  I see a lot of "generic" brand smokers here, lol.



ScooterTrash -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 5:15:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

I'm not a smoker, but brand-name cigarettes are over $6.00 a pack in NJ.  I see a lot of "generic" brand smokers here, lol.
OK..perhaps my exception as well, we buy GT One smokes, but have for several years...so perhaps that's my brand...lol.



gypsygrl -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 5:20:51 AM)

For items that get heavy use and I want to last a while, I'm willing to pay extra for "the brand" if it has a reputation for quality.  I'm very picky about boots because I want them to last and do the job they're supposed to do.  My really good boots for real cold snowy days are columbia and my everyday--and I mean everyday--are timberlands. (I go to an army surplus/ gear type store for this kind of stuff.   I really like old navy flip flops for summer time.

Jeans, I go with levi or some other brand, but I get them at the thrift store so they're no more expensive than the knock offs.  They last me years.

For kitchen equipment, I get the best I can afford within my budget, picking up what I can second hand.  Furniture, I mostly get stuff that's left by dumpsters (I live in a college town.) but, I invested some money in my futon because its also my couch, so its used pretty much 24 hours a day.  The same for my kids bunk beds.  I don't want them falling apart, and intend for them to last until they move out.  You could sail to tahiti in those things.

I don't buy many electronics, but went name brand when I got my computer and I've had it 5 years without any major trouble.

For everyday groceries, it depends.  I get staples at Aldi's, a deep discount store.  For things that are minimally processed, the brand doesn't matter.  Although, lately I've been trying different brands of flour because there's something wrong with my baking.  So, that might be an exception to that rule. I go back and forth on frozen foods.  For vegatables and juice I go with the generic or store brand, for more processed things, I'll start with the off brand, and if its no good, work my way up.  Frozen fish must be groton's or van de camps.

I'm not picky about canned foods because I don't use them much and if I'm stooping that low, I might as well skimp.  :)  There's a warehouse store I go to for meats and avoid the national brands, like hormel or purdue, because they tend to be heavily processed with that saline shit. 

I'll only buy contenelle toilet paper (the kind with ripples) because everything else disintegrates at the moment of impact.  Trash bags, I go with brand name.  I don't buy other paper products.  For cleaning supplies, I use brand because I can use less.   When laundry detergent's on sale, I buy tons of it so I don't get caught empty handed.  Its way too expensive.

So, no, I'm not insanely brand loyal but use trial and error.  I'm more picky about stores and have my preferences about buying certain things at certain stores, and if I can, will pay extra to support locally owned businesses.




sub4hire -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 5:27:38 AM)

Considering every off brand has a brand name making the product for them.  Nah, it doesn't really matter to me what the name is on the outside.
Only if I like a specific taste and the taste is lost do I care about what brand I go with.

We've been watching sodium lately and I've noticed the off brands seem to be better overall in many cases.



Dtesmoac -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 5:49:04 AM)

Thinking on this it seems more a case that I won't buy some brands due to the image of the brand or past bad experience rather than positively buying a particular brand.
I never buy anything considered "designer".
I never buy electronic goods from Philips
Starbucks coffee
Airlines - not Aeroflot or any local African carrier

Preferances for Brands
Branston is the only pickle / chutney
Motorcycles - Ducati & Triumph are the only brands.................... OK scooter your not going to agree but your favourites do not match the roads of my home area - no such thing as a straight road and you need to over take every 200 meters...
Heinz Ketchup

Of course I'm totally practical and break all of the above rules as considered necessary. I hate the image of BMW but one of the best cars I ever had was a BMW and I probably will never actively get one again. I had major problems with a Nikon camera but the last three cameras I bought were all Nikon. The best jacket I have is a designer silk & cashmeir that I bought years ago which is designer................but the label is on the inside....lol.



seeksfemslave -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 6:27:16 AM)

With regard to clothes I am a bit of a scruff and buy cheap. It doesn't pay off really but I just cant bring my self to dig deeper into my pocket.

Similarly with supermarket food.I am full of food additives but so far I seem to be surviving.
I eat lots of fruit/veg. tho'



OffTheBeatenTrak -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 7:42:35 AM)

For cloth no, as most of the time the only benifit i'd get from paying the often stupid prices is a name of some one that i don't know, have never met and probably never will meet. If i have to start waring expensive cloths before people will try to get to know then i need to start looking closer at my self because there is some thing wrong. Although i can understand that for some it's a kind of confidence booster and makes them feel good.

As for food quilty as charged i'm affraid because i've eaten the branded food for so long the cheater foods often tastes bland in comparison.
As for tech i find that usally the brand has come from a reputaion thats been earned over time.



xGoddessx -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 7:57:29 AM)

I have a few things I am a bit picky on, but for the most part I buy what works best for us by trial and error.  My camera is an Olympus, other than that..I buy what works, doesn't matter the brand.
 
I think that people get too wrapped up in brand names.  Look at kids that get killed because someone wants their shoes, or the kid that gets shunned at school because their parents can't afford to get them the most popular brands.  I think its very much absurd that its going on, and I prefer not to add to it.  Clothes are clothes, I have had the cheap and the high end both fall apart at the seams in a short time.  The only reason I spend a bit more on shoes is that I only buy tennis shoes every year and a half or so, and they need to last me.  As far as food goes, the generic lots of times is made by the same people as the one on the label. 
 
Probably if I am picky, the one thing I am most picky about is my animals food.  There is no Ol'roy in this house, nor will there ever be. [;)]
 
Drea



Devilslilsister -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:02:54 AM)

i honestly dont care about brand names.  Though i did find if you cant shirk on the cheese.  It tastes like plastic if youget cheaper stuff.......



other then that i dont really care.  So long as it WORKS.  If it works and tastes good, thats what matters.



windchymes -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:03:21 AM)

Ah, toilet paper!  lol  I like my Quilted Northern and am willing to pay the extra for it!  Although, lately, a couple of the grocery stores I shop at have come up with pretty good knock-off's  (can toilet paper be a knock off?  lol) and if they're available, I'll save the buck or two and buy the store brand.



mymasterssub69 -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:12:21 AM)

*sob* it's true - i have the "brand name" syndrome.  well having 2 minor UMs (who are picky eaters), most of the food i buy is "brand name". i know my UMs will not eat the generic Easy Mac because it doesn't taste like the real Easy Mac. when preparing taco or chicken fajitas (like i did last night), my tortillas have to be fresh and locally made by the tortilla factory near me. even my laundry detergent has to be "brand name" as well.  i did buy no-name brand detergent one day to do laundry and found that it made my skin irritated unlike using Tide or Gain. 



twicehappy -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:20:21 AM)

 
 
Brand names, gee i don't know....wait...i have it!
 
HARLEY DAVIDSON!



missturbation -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:23:59 AM)

My mobile phone is usually a Samsung.
My trainers adidas or nike.
I prefer branded shoes - pleaser, dune, faith, playboy.
Not obsessive about it though.



mnottertail -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 8:33:22 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: twicehappy

 
 
Brand names, gee i don't know....wait...i have it!
 
HARLEY DAVIDSON!


Well, there is also a quality issue imbedded in that brand name---
You see many fine Harlanski's still on the pave that are older than our parents, after some of the roughest treatment known to man. 30-s and 40's and on up are common.  And don't whine they leak, goddammit!!!! adjust your fuckin' chain oiler.
(goddamn kids!!!!)

You do not see a dearth of yammiehoppers on the road from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s.

Ron



Wulfchyld -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 1:38:13 PM)

About the only thing I focus on in a brand name is food. I am always feeding 3-15 growing little bodies and am quite particular about what they eat. Just about everything else is based on the bargin.



ToServeIsToLive -> RE: "Brand name" syndrome (2/4/2007 1:50:05 PM)

For food, I usually go with brand name because in my experience generics are usually of a lower quality, but I guess I don't have a particular favorite brand for most food.  Stuff such as computer parts, I usually do research on before choosing, and favor the better product or perhaps the brand with the better customer service if the difference in performance is close.



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