From diapers to aspirin to macaroni, buying non-brand items can save you big-time bucks. One study found shoppers can trim an average of 33 percent off their grocery bill simply by choosing store brands.
1 Why Store Brands Are Worth a Try
From diapers to aspirin to macaroni, buying non-brand items can save you big-time bucks. You may have been convinced (by very effective advertising) that brand names are better than store brands/labels, but Billshark would like to try to convince you otherwise.
Of course, not all store (aka “off-label,” “private label,” and “generic”) brands are as good as name brands. Then again, not all name brands are equal, either. A lot depends on individual taste, as well as specific ingredients. Which is better, Jif or Skippy peanut butter? Heinz or Hunts ketchup? Kraft or Sargento cheeses? Sometimes it’s simply a matter of individual preference.
It’s worth experimenting with store brands, because the price difference can often be huge. One study from the Private Label Manufacturers Association found that consumers can save an average of 33 percent off their usual grocery bill by buying store brands.
2 What About Quality?
According to Forbes, even though store products are typically priced much lower than national brands, the store still makes a nice profit because there are little to no marketing or advertising costs involved. And, because stores want repeat customers for their brands, they invest heavily in creating quality products.
Consumer Reports (CR) did a taste test comparing store brands vs. name brands on 19 staple items and found that national and store brands tied on 10 items, name brands won eight times, and a store brand was preferred once.
They also surveyed 24,000 of their readers, 72 percent of whom said they’d bought store brands in the past month. Of those, 74 percent reported being “highly satisfied” with the quality of the store brands in their supermarket. When they were asked, “In general, do you think that store brands are usually better, the same as, or worse than national brands?” three percent said better, 78 percent said the same, and 18 percent said worse.
3 Off-Brand Categories to Consider
So besides supermarket items, what kinds of “off brand” items should you buy? It’s worth it to your wallet to try everything, from makeup to over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs to gasoline. Here are some off-brand categories you might want to consider.
Drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, and dosage as the brand-name product. This is true for both prescription and OTC drugs. Any difference between the two might lie in the inactive filler ingredients, such as caffeine or beeswax, for example, but the FDA ensures they work the same as the name brand.
Makeup. Many Hollywood makeup artists swear by Maybelline or Max Factor, but designer makeup has more cachet (largely due to advertising). So which is better? It can depend on the type of makeup. Experts generally put designer lipsticks and foundations ahead of store brands because of their pigmentation and wear, but the less-expensive mascaras, eye shadows, and eyeliners do as well as or even better than the pricey designer kind.
Gasoline. CBS reports that the price difference between nationally known brands and off-brand stations can be as much as 20 cents per gallon, or $170 annual savings for the average driver. And studies show that gas at both types of stations is essentially the same. They added that one report showed off-brand stations often receive their delivery from the same tank trucks that deliver to the name brand stations, and that even name-brand stations can receive gasoline from a different name-brand refinery.
Batteries. When it comes to batteries, the difference between off-label vs. name brand lies in how long they last vs. how much they cost. Wired did a study and found that Duracell and Energizer batteries last twice as long as those from a dollar store. But cost-wise, both the generics and the name brands cost about the same, and it all comes down to how often you want to bother changing batteries.
4 Where Name Brands Still Win
Paper products. This is the one category where you might be better off sticking with name brands. You can buy cheaper store-brand napkins, for instance, but they can often be thinner than the name brands. If you need to use two as opposed to a single brand-name napkin for the same purpose, you might not come out ahead in savings. The same holds true for paper towels, tissues, and toilet tissue.
Bottom line? We suggest you at least give store brands a try. You might find you like them as well as the name brand, and could save yourself hundreds of dollars a year. Compare cost per ounce, and consider returning the store brand if you don’t like it. Some retailers will even offer a guarantee to replace the name brand with theirs if you’re dissatisfied.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save by buying store brands instead of name brands?
One study from the Private Label Manufacturers Association found that consumers can save an average of 33 percent off their usual grocery bill by buying store brands. Across the categories covered here, switching can add up to hundreds of dollars a year, which is why it is worth experimenting with store brands the next time you shop.
Are generic drugs as effective as brand-name drugs?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, and dosage as the brand-name product, for both prescription and OTC drugs. Any difference might lie in inactive filler ingredients such as caffeine or beeswax, but the FDA ensures they work the same as the name brand.
Is off-brand gasoline the same as name-brand gas?
CBS reports the price difference between nationally known brands and off-brand stations can be as much as 20 cents per gallon, or $170 in annual savings for the average driver, and studies show the gas is essentially the same. Off-brand stations often get deliveries from the same tank trucks, and name-brand stations can even receive gas from a different name-brand refinery.
Did taste tests find store brands as good as name brands?
Consumer Reports taste-tested store brands vs. name brands on 19 staple items and found national and store brands tied on 10 items, name brands won eight times, and a store brand was preferred once. In a survey of 24,000 readers, 78 percent said store brands were the same as national brands and 74 percent were highly satisfied with their supermarket store brands.
Which products are better to buy as name brands?
Paper products are the one category where you might be better off sticking with name brands. Cheaper store-brand napkins, paper towels, tissues, and toilet tissue can be thinner, so if you need two to do the job of one brand-name sheet, you may not come out ahead. For makeup, designer lipsticks and foundations also tend to beat store brands.
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Skip name brands and save big: store brands can cut grocery bills 33%, and generic drugs, gas, and batteries often match name brands. Start saving today.
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From diapers to aspirin to macaroni, buying non-brand items can save you big-time bucks.
Of course, not all store (aka “off-label,” “private label,” and “generic”) brands are as good as name brands.
It’s worth experimenting with store brands, because the price difference can often be huge.
According to Forbes, even though store products are typically priced much lower than national brands, the store still makes a nice profit because there are little to no marketing or advertising costs involved.
Consumer Reports (CR) did a taste test comparing store brands vs.
They also surveyed 24,000 of their readers, 72 percent of whom said they’d bought store brands in the past month.
So besides supermarket items, what kinds of “off brand” items should you buy?.
Drugs.
Makeup.
Gasoline.
Batteries.
Paper products.
Bottom line?.
One way you can save big is to let Billshark review your bills for free.
One study from the Private Label Manufacturers Association found that consumers can save an average of 33 percent off their usual grocery bill by buying store brands.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, and dosage as the brand-name product, for both prescription and OTC drugs.
CBS reports the price difference between nationally known brands and off-brand stations can be as much as 20 cents per gallon.
Consumer Reports taste-tested store brands vs.
Paper products are the one category where you might be better off sticking with name brands.
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