What generic/store brand items are better/just as good as the name brand? - Alternatively, are there things you should buy name brand?

[Spunt]

Pretty much ALL medication from supermarkets is identical to the main brands in terms of its active ingredients. Lidl sells anti-diarrhoea tablets in the Uk for 70p for 6, and they are identical to Immodium which I've seen on sale for £4.50 for the same number. There are similar markups on things like Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, antihistamines, travel sickness tablets, anything with just one active ingredient.

The only issue sometimes is that the own-brand stuff has cheaper stuff forming the rest of the pill. They might use lactose or chalk rather than more expensive alternatives, and some people can react to it. But if you don't, never buy named brand, there's no point.

 

[TiggerNits]

I buy generic meds normally. Ever since I’ve learned that all generic meds are the same as brand name ones, I’ve been buying generic.

Not all. Tylenol is a brand name that actually matters due to formulation and suspension. Tums uses a catalyst that their generics don't which makes it work a bit quicker. For the most part its always a very minor difference when there is one, though

 

[The Cunting Death]

I forgot, Kroger brand Flavored Water is pretty good

What's weird is that there has never been a Kroger up here where I live, though they bought one of our local chains and just sell their products there.

 

[neverendingmidi]

Kroger has these 13 gal trashcan liners that are the best ever. Just the rim of it is flexible, just enough to hold on to the top of the can, and you can get them for about half the price of Hefty or whatever.

On the other hand, the Kroger knockoff Fritos are horrible. There was this funky oily chemical aftertaste.

 

[Midlife Sperglord]

Costco Kirkland Signature bourbon does not suck at all.

 

[sasazuka]

I wish I could get store brand vodka in Ontario or Quebec. Many supermarkets and Walmarts can sell beer, wine, and cider (moreso in Quebec where you can buy beer by the case in supermarkets rather than in just 6-packs at most in Ontario, where you gotta go to the Beer Store for 24-packs) but the hard liquors are still exclusively sold in government-owned liquor stores (LCBO in Ontario and SAQ in Quebec).

 

[Neozeonian]

Oh and gotta have Cheezits. Not Cheese Nips. Huge difference.

I was appalled at how disgusting off-brand Cheezits are. It's gotta be the real deal or not at all. Nobody's been able to duplicate the flavor, afaik.

I guess it's not a "store brand" but Maltomeal is the red-headed step child to the bigger cereal brands and they have these Honey-Os or whatever that are amazingly delicious. Better than Honey Nut Cheerios by a long shot.