When to Go Generic – and When to Pay More

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The best generic for facial products and lotions is at CVS. The CVS brand is almost identical if not better than the name brand, and cheaper. All those extra savings add up!

Shawna of LA 10:02PM October 17, 2010

Great Value brand is of a much lesser quality than name brand. The paper plates are much thinner, the zip-top baggies are thinner and lend a plastic taste to foods stored in them (and they are not at all good in the freezer for keeping foods protected). I have bought many food items from Walmart and been thoroughly disgusted with either the complete lack of quality or the fact that the "fresh" items go bad in only a couple of days. I can say that Piggly Wiggly has a store brand that is far superior to Great Value and cost is about the same. Winn-Dixie has great prices on beef so you can stock up and fill a freezer (then you can buy a few name brand items elsewhere). Also, if you pay attention at Walmart, they will raise a price by $.50-$1.00, then a few weeks later lower the price by $.25 and put out a roll back sign. It is not a rollback when the price is higher than the original price!! Let's not even talk about the children's clothes at Walmart. Most of them are made of thin fabrics and the stitching is inferior. I would rather pay a dollar or two more at Target (unique and different) or Sears (Sears has some great kid's clothes at good prices) or K-Mart (excellent prices, awesome sales) and know the clothes are going to last and look great even after they have been outgrown. Walmart is for quantity, not quality. If you want quality, I suggest you shop elsewhere.

Jen of MS 1:05PM July 17, 2010

My son tore the knee out of his walmart jeans in two wears, now I only buy Sears jeans for him, he has pair he has wore 20 times that still look good and if the knee does blow out,m they exchange it for you, even after 20 uses

Chris of KS 9:52PM July 16, 2010

Walmart's Great Value Brand is a lot cheaper than name brands and the products are great! I buy GV's version of Splenda, canned soups, flour, cereals, etc. In fact I find the GV brand of chicken noodle soup superior to the Campbell's brand. I also shop at Piggly Wiggly and Pick 'n Save and their brands are Food Club and Roundy's and the food choices are many and every bit as good, sometimes better than the brand name counterparts.

D. of Wisconsin of WI 11:27AM July 16, 2010

Most of my family's clothing come from Target. They have the best clearance items, especially for the younger kids, and the clothes are pretty good quality. They also have a variable selection ranging from the lower end to the mid/higher end of good quality items.

Stacey of MI 10:13AM July 16, 2010

I work near tank farms in the northern Virginia. Exxon trucks, quarles trucks (supply generic stations), sheetz trucks, you name it (other trucks that supply generic stations) all pull into the same fuel loading ports and get the exact same gas out of the same storage tank.

Maxwell of VA 9:29AM July 16, 2010

Because it comes from the name brand company truck does not mean that it is the same gas as sold at the name brand station. They sell mixes based on the request of the buyer. This is why gas is rated. Use the cheap stuff in a Hugo and no problem. Tey it in a new car for 50,000 miles and see the difference.

Paul of CA 2:15PM June 10, 2010

I have found that many of the Up & Up products at Target are practically the same as the name brands they are compared to. In your article you mention toilet paper... try Up & Up toilet paper. I used Quilted Northern for years. Up & Up is the same thing.
The same goes for Target brand foods. Market Pantry and Archer Farms. I save hundreds of dollars a year by buying these generics and many times taste better than the name brand counterparts.

Sam of IN 12:35PM June 10, 2010

The cheapest gasoline brands where I live are definitely NOT as good as the name brands. The octane number only tells what percentage of the fuel is octane. The remaining percentage is what determines whether the fuel is good or bad for your car. Some fuel additives, like detergents, can be good for your car. Many cheap brands just contain residues from the oil cracking process, or "sludge". Have a look at the gas coming out of the pump. If it isn't clear then there's something in it other than octane and benign additives. If it looks like dark beer then it's probably leaving crud in your engine.

Jimbo of CA 12:34PM June 10, 2010