[drunksunflower]

I'm really sorry to diss an article posted on this site.

But just think it is important to actually get some facts right ...

If you read the article that says we are all basically slaves to brands, I'd advise you to take it with a grain of salt.

Yes, it's a theory of advertising that is now - a bit old-skool. It's basically saying people are motivated to buy brands because they make them feel a certain way - blah blah blah. It's about identity, empathy, empowerment.

The latest theory is that people are

a) Bored of this take on things. We are more self-actualised than ever before. Previously, we'd try and angle marketing campaigns to get people to feel that they were achieving an ideal. Showing people a brand and trying to get them to buy into that brand was effective because it was perceived as aspirational. People just don't really work that way anymore. So the motivational model is definitely challenged.

b) More about making *simple* decisions. We buy a brand because it's familiar. There is so much going on in this world that we take mental shortcuts - it's not because we aspire to something that a brand portrays, it's simply easier to go for familiarity (what we are USED to buying). This theory is very much based on cognitive psychology.

This is backed up by the fact that advertising spend is down - marketers have clicked that there are other ways to get brands into people's repertoires than just 'advertising'. Viral marketing anyone?

I work for a global marketing/media/research company and one of our BPPs is based around this - so yea, brand names don't have quite the effect on 'emotions' as that article implies

Just my errr few dollars worth heh.

[almostangela]

That makes a lot of sense and I agree with you, but as a person without your educational background I still see it as emotional in many cases. My sister and mother will only buy stuff that has nice packaging or a name. They look down on me for buying no-name and (heaven forbid!!!) go into a second hand store. For them it is emotional.

[jennie]

Isn't this more an issue of semantics? I think brands and emotions are very much linked.

Which brand gets the top dollar is due to successful marketing. We are programmed to buy the products we buy.

I prefer pretty packaging. It makes me FEEL better when the package in my hand looks and feels nice. I'm certain I'm not the only non-self-actualized-consumer out there . . . heehee.

[wi_fighter]

My son's the same way. He cringes at the thought of being seen at Aldi or Goodwill, where my daughter doesn't care at all. She's like me - we want more for our dollar rather than a status name brand.

I don't understand buying a name-brand of ketchup for $3 when you can get a store brand for $1, and it's just as good. Granted, there are some store brands that are absolute c.r.a.p., but more often than not I've been happily surprised with the quality of the off-brand items.

[jbug]

I used to that way that it had to be name brand or nothing. I have changed my ways though since being on disability not having money changes you quickly.

I have a Family Dollar store just up the street from my new apartment and I went in over the weekend and was very surprised at all the stuff they had. Some name brand stuff too. I bought me a pair of shoes for $3 and they had no brand on them I just thought they were cute and had been looking for them for quite some time actually. I shop at the Deals everything for a dollar store too because they take food stamps. I also shop at Aldi's but not that often because the cashiers are rude there. I shop where I can get the most for my money. The only thing that I say has to be name brand is my underwear because there is only one brand that feels comfortable to me.

Jbug

I'm storebrand too.
Most advertisements get on my nerves anyway and I go out of my way not to buy their products.
Victoria Secret really got on my nerves. They use to be kind of cool many years ago but then their success went to their heads and they got all weird and they kept shoving their models boobies in my face. Forget that. I found another company to buy my underwear from.

[wi_fighter]

One particular item that really irritates me is contact lens solution. I mean, come ON. $10 for Renu, or $2.50 for store brand? You can't tell me the name-brand is worth another $7.50. I wear 2-week disposables, so it's not like I need something that's going to preserve the integrity of the lens for years and years. Buying the expensive solution is, literally, throwing my money away.

[seeker1950]

When my daugher was in high school, she wouldn't go into Big Lots with me out of embarrassment of being seen in there! Now, and during her college years, she learned "Big Lots rocks!" Also, I noticed her 4 year old twin sons commenting on a tv ad about Schechers shoes, saying they wanted some because "they breathe!" to which she laughed. I was never one to go for the brand or label conscious while she was growing up. Now she is the same way. But her boys are bombarded by such stuff on TV (though they watch little TV....still it's there when they do!). It's a cultural marketing thing that starts very young.
Patty

[(JD)]

Wow... I'm not sure such blanket opinion on anything can be totally accurate. I, myself, doubt that the big companies would spend the billions they do on packaging, promoting and research that they do if it didn't matter. Maybe that isn't what anyone is saying... maybe I missed something here, too???

It's huge with men, and teens for sure.. this buying a certain brand. I know in the clothing realm, and in vehicles and electronics...it's all about EGO.

[PasDeDeux]

On name brands. My hair products are by Matrix. I did not buy them because I saw an ad but because they work better than ANY product I have ever used on MY hair. I do buy many cheap and no name brand items but some name brand items are better IMO

[radio_flyer]

Well I have to say there is no perfume like Dior, Chanel, or Elizabeth Arden.. I can't afford those wonderful fragrances and I refuse to buy cheap ones, so I smell now like Irish Spring soap.. lol...

. and as for the cosmetics and skin care... I at one time used designer skin care as in Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden and gee also Dior... The skin care products are wonderful, my skin always looked beautiful.. I've tried drug store skin care and they are nothing like Arden or Dior and you can tell by how awful my skin now looks... lol

I have been using drug store shampoo because I can't afford the brand I used to use.. It has been so long I even forget the brand I used.. I can say my hair lacks lots of luster.. The only non-expensive brand shampoo that works decent on my hair is Infusium23...

If I had the money I would not hesitate buying designer brand skin care (not the cosmetics) shampoo and perfume. I did look good and smelled quite nice too... lol....

Funny designer clothes never meant a thing to me.. I guess as long as my hair and skin looked good and I smelled nice, I could wear most anything and feel great.. shrugs shoulders

[drunksunflower]

He he interesting.

Yes I still do a lot of research using in part the motivational model - looking at needs, subconscious drivers, etc.

The point is (and I guess i probably stated things overly strongly because I wanted to see the reactions) that for many purchase decisions we are NOT so much driven by underlying motivations - we are just swamped with options so we buy something familiar.

I have enjoyed reading replies

[radio_flyer]

OOo I forgot to add that I don't buy Dior or Chanel because of the name brand or because I feel better because I have purchased something expensive... The packaging has nothing to do with the items I like... As Pas said....and I agree.... I buy certain items because they are better and do work.... and for the perfume there is no explanation needed if one has a good sense of smell... lol

All of the more expensive perfumes, shampoo or skin care products are highly concentrated so you need to use less each time. " a little dab will do ya"........ With lets say a .25 oz of Coco-Chanel parfum @ $80 ... you need only a dab behind each ear or on inside of wrist... If you use more it will be oh so over powering . And it will last a year or so... The cheaper perfumes you use more and you will need to buy it more often and they don't even smell that great.......as always IMHO

[drunksunflower]

Ohhh I couldn't live without my Issey Miyake perfume, my Stila (current favourite) makeup and skincare, my Lancome lippy and gloss and foundation (Colour ID) and mascara ...

i change my skincare (have used clarins and dermologica mostly) every couple of years or if a product comes out i wanna try (yes i'm a bit of a product slut).

haircare i am HONESTLY not that fussy - my hair gets bored ez so i might use kms one week and something cheap from the supermarket the next.

[sujunew]

what an interesting subject! Growing up i was none of the few at school who did not have labelled clothing or accessories, and i still don't. About the only thing I buy that is brand name is Coke (or Diet Coke actually!). I CANNOT stand the budget stuff out there. Budget lemonade etc is fine, just not coke!! My ex and I used to regularly have disagreements about the pantry incl the cat food- I wasn't allowed to buy the cheap cat food as apparantly Monty didn't like it... same for dog but as the dog is with me he gets what ever is on special and he never complains!!! And sure, a lot of the cheaper brand food doesn't taste as good as the more expensive stuff, but if you only know the taste of the cheaper stuff then it makes no diff... If it gives you a cheaper grocery bill at the checkout then great!!!

[wi_fighter]

Name brands in clothing and shoes are so darn "important" to school kids. My daughter has a really well-paying babysitting job, so she's been buying a lot of her own stuff, but the job is going to end soon because we and the family she babysits for have to move soon due to commercial developers buying the places.

I'm so glad she's not above wearing gently-used clothes found on eBay. She got a new-with-tags Abercrombie sweater this week for $18 including shipping. It would have been $49.50 at the store. I wanna know where these eBayers find the stuff so cheap. And now if only my son was as receptive to the idea.

I will say one high-end brand item I won't buy again - Bolthouse Farms Baby Cut Carrots. They taste awful. Give me Green Giant over Bolthouse any day.

[radio_flyer]

We have a Giant food store here and most of Giant's brand of food is good.. They have the best frozen veggies and ice cream..

I 've been on a jello kick lately. I tried Wally World brand jello and pudding... The pudding isn't that great but the peach with no sugar jello is wow yummm... other than the peach jello the Wally World brand was sorta ok... I prob won't buy Wally World's brand jello/pudding again...Nothing like the Jello Brand..... With food, the taste buds control what I buy... Not advertising or packaging... although a $2 off coupon will encourage me to try most anything.. lol

[drunksunflower]

As far as purses and things go ... i'd rather have something vintage from an opshop for $2 than something cheap from a chain store.

E-bay (and our nz version Trade-Me) are fab ... i need to start buying stuff on there

[wi_fighter]

I found a Coach bag at Goodwill for $10. They retail for $250, and the style I got is still being manufactured. Only bad thing is, it weighs a ton because it's full-grain cowhide and makes my neck and shoulder hurt even if it barely has anything in it.

Not meant for anyone particular just clicking on the last in the thread.

I too don't buy name brands. I live on SSDI with a maximum of $603.00 a month. most times my bank account is overdrawn because that money just barely covers rent, phone and electric and cable when I have it so just buying bathroom necessities and cat food my account is in boucing cycles. how people live on SSDI and welfare and still manage to get name brands I have no idea but I can say that 4 for a dollar mac and cheese tastes the same to me as the $1.50 - $2.00 brands and socks 4 for a dollar still keep my feet as warm as the $2.00 ones do and the $1.00 bubble Bath still makes the bubbles that the $3.00 brand of bubble bath does. Yes the $4.00 toilet paper is softer but hey its just for wiping crap and runny noses and flushing not for making a luxury dress outfit out of. If Im going to literally flush money down the toilet I don't care how soft it as long as its the least amount of money possible that is wiping possible and going down that toilet.

for me choosing name brand or generic doesn't come down to emotional of packaging and so on it comes down to my using common sense with the money that I am given.

I have worked in many department stores and the market runs on supply and demand - those items in more demand cost more and these in less demand cost less -

When stores over buy their goods they put the items on sale. those they have less of end up getting mark ups in pricing.

The same with companies that sell stores their goods. if that company has less of an item they hike up the price, if they have an abundance of that item the price goes down.

Name brands are in more demand so their prices are up. generic are in less demand so there is more quantity wise to the price remains lower.

Now the companys who process and make their goods may use all kinds of marketing tactics like putting this athelet on this package and that slogan on another but I as the consumer can choose whether or not I want to buy that based on their slogans, atheletes, actors and actresses or on my budget.

I choose based on my budget and what will spread my money further.

[drunksunflower]

Myself your post just illustrates the point that consumers are getting much savvier - recognising that they have a choice and that many products that are store brands or cheaper brands are actually extremely similar to name brands.

i'm going to concentrate on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods - supermarket stuff etc) here, but my daddy works in the dairy industry and i know for a fact that many basic milk, yoghurt, other dairy products are made in exactly the same PLACE - whether they are store or name brands. (Not talking so much about specialty products).

Of course if you're buying olive oil or something quality often goes up with price - that's a different story.

[radio_flyer]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
my daddy works in the dairy industry and i know for a fact that many basic milk, yoghurt, other dairy products are made in exactly the same PLACE - whether they are store or name brands

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

That is interesting that your dad said that... Because many years ago this guy that worked in the Giant grocery store told me that Giant's brand were actually name brand that didn't quite meet the standards for the name brand so it therefore gets a Giant sticker... pr Giant buys it and puts their name on it... Something like that....I don't remember exactly how he explained it because it was many many years ago.. I was saying how good Gian't's ice cream was and he said I'd be surprised if I knew who actually made the Giant ice cream...

LOL I will prob remember tomorrow when I am wide awake and not half asleep...but then maybe not... lol

[drunksunflower]

Well, the reason store brands get it cheap over here is cos we have two main supermarket (grocery) chains: Progressive and Foodstuffs.

They can buy in huge amounts and thus pay less per unit than a smaller company.

There are certainly instances of specialisation but for basic milk, etc ... same shyt, different label.

[wi_fighter]

Yep. I once worked in a factory that made all kinds of cheese, sausages, and pastries. The "cheaper" brand was labeled Swiss Colony. The "expensive" brand was labeled Figi. It was the same darn stuff.