First off, let me say I love store brands… usually.
And often I choose the store brand above the name brand items because of the cheaper prices. Many of their products are just as good as the name brands… but I’ve also found some that are not. Some so much so that I’ve decided to give you a heads up about them. Please feel free to leave a comment to add your store brand hits and misses too. We’ll get a nice list going and can learn what to avoid or seek out AHEAD of time.
Target:
Sandwich and snack-sized baggies - HIT!!
Gallon-sized baggies – HIT/MISS ~ They are a bit thinner than the brand names but so far I haven’t had a blowout.
Pantyliners – MISS!! ~ “Hourglass” shape is too severe so the coverage leaves a LOT to be desired! And of course I bought the big box. =0(
Plastic-wrap: HIT!! ~ It sticks better than the brand names. Except still some difficulting sticking to metal. But then, so do the name brands.
Costco:
Toilet Paper- MISS!! ~ They did a great job making it look like Quilted Northern and each roll is individually wrapped (I like that because I can stack them up in the closet and not worry about them getting dirty) but it is horrible! Feels like 1 ply sandpaper… except somehow they managed to make the world’s thinnest plys ever so their “2″ is a normal “1″. Bleh!
Paper Towels - HIT! ~ Love ‘em… except they only come in the big sheets. Hoping they come out with a “select-a-size”.
Butter- HIT!! ~ Fabulous 1 lb packages with 4 wrapped quarters inside. Tastes great (I can’t tell the difference between it and the brand name). And I won’t be divulging the amounts of butter my kitchen goes through but I will say that at $2 or less a lb, I don’t feel bad about my huge amounts of baking… unless of course I EAT it all.
Cheese – HIT!! ~ I love the fact that I can buy a 2 block chunk of sharp cheddar for under $3. Now, it doesn’t quite have the zip that store brands have but the texture is good (not too “soft” like some store brands) and it’s still sharper than a mild or medium cheddar. And at more than half the price of a brand name, well, it just gets my heart all fluttery just thinking about it.
Sams Club:
Butter – HIT!! ~ Same thoughts as the Costco butter.
Liquid Detergent – HIT!! ~ Great scent, great cleaning abilities, safe for all washers and half the price of Tide. ‘Nough said.
What store brands have you tried? And were they Hits or Misses? Help a girl out and let me know in the comments. I’d love to know!
By the way, anyone tried the Costco version of Downey? I just bought it but haven’t used it yet. It smelled good. Anyone? If not, well, I’ll let you know what I think after I try it.
Happy bargain shopping!
4 comments
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June 10, 2009 at 9:19 am
Jerri
Are you talking about the Kirkland TP or another “Costco” TP? We use the blue print wrapped Kirkland TP, which is 2 ply and love it.
You can get a 2lb block of sharp for under $3 at your Costco? Wow. Going prices up here is about $4.50 for a medium ched. at our Costco. I’m thinking there must be regional differences in what they carry and prices? Hmm…
I have a high efficiency washing machine that “MUST” have “He” laundry detergent and as soon as Costco’s brand of detergent was labeled that it could be used for “He” I got some. Works just great and SOOOOOOO much cheaper than Tide He, etc.
I have also found that Fred Meyer store brand mayonnaise (which is $1.50 a jar everyday, same size as Kraft and tastes the same) is a hit and so much cheaper than even name brands on sale.
Hubby would say that store brand olives are a miss. Some are okay, but most are not. Which is sad because I like the price when they are on sale.
I know there is tons more, but my brain isn’t functioning too great this morning. lol.
~jer
June 12, 2009 at 6:28 pm
christywong
I ditto most of your HITS- love the Target brand baggies, foil, and plastic wrap.
But Costco’s Kirkland TP, I actually love; it’s all I buy. Also love their boxes of tissue paper. I sometimes use them to wipe my skin/ face if I get sweaty as I am putting on my makeup. I find the the Kleenex brand leaves little tissue pieces on my face, but the Kirkland brand wipes clean, no residue left behind. I haven’t been able to get the paper towels there, I love the select a size, so I am stuck buying Bounty. Let me know if they add select a size, I would definitely buy them. Now where do you get that $3 chunk of cheese? I looked at Costco in MV the other day, and it was close to $6 for the 2 lbs. of cheese (maybe you were talking about less than $3 a lb?)
Winco is my regular grocery store. I was hesistant to buy their Hytop brand, because it was so inexpensive, but I have started trying a lot of their hytop canned and dry food, and so far, so good. No problem, and sooo cheap! They also have great prices on their cheeses in their deli selection. Most of their chunks of cheese are $2-$3 a lb.
Not sure about Sam’s club, I don’t shop there. But I do use Costco’s laundry detergent and their laundry softener, and both are a HIT.
That’s all I got for now!
June 13, 2009 at 10:22 am
runningamuck
Oops! Yep, Christy you’re right. I goofed on that sentence for sure. It IS just under $6 for the 2lb block of cheese and not under $3… although how awesome would that be if it were true?!! =0) Thanks for the correction.
I think we need to compare our Costco tp because I’m thinking I have a different kind that you and Jerri. Hubby was the one who brought it home so I have no idea what other types there may be under the “Kirkland” brand. But I’m going to take a picture today and post it so you gals can let me know if we have the same or not.
June 16, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Jerri
Where is the pic of your tp ? =)