The Placebo Effect
Posted by Gail | Filed under Psychology
You probably know about the placebo effect. That’s when doctors give a sick person a sugar pill and it “cures” them of what ails. Yup, it’s been documented. Apparently we are very easily influenced in some pretty significant ways by what we think we know.
“What we think we know” often comes into play when we convince ourselves that something that is more expensive is better than something that is cheaper. Brand name products thrive on this principle.
Just putting a higher price tag on an item can make the item more appealing. Tell someone they’re drinking an expensive wine and watch ‘em like it more than the $9.99 bottle, even if it’s exactly the same wine. Hey, don’t take my word for it. Go read this article published by Stanford University.
According to Baba Shiv, a professor of marketing who co-authored the research paper, “… price is not just about inferences of quality, but it can actually affect real quality.”
This must be what’s at work when people are prepared to drop big bucks for “premium” anything. While there may be a marked difference in the quality of cheese, which is reflected in the price, does the same hold true for bottled water? How about shoes? Fruit juice? Supplements?
Women’s products like make-up and anti-aging potions and procedures are notorious for using the “it costs more so it must be better” approach to influencing consumers. Just look at all the people willing to drop hundreds of dollars on face creams that exactly the same ingredients as the drug-store options, which come in at a fraction of the cost.
A bunch of studies have shown that people’s judgments about quality are influenced by price. Since the general assumption is that expensive things are of higher quality, people seem to value everything from clothing to food more highly when the price is marked up. But what about when you’re told it’s the same product with two different prices? You should be able to get as much pleasure from the cheaper one, right? I mean, you know it’s a great product and you’re getting such a deal.
Maybe not. It appears that even knowing you’re getting the “quality” is not as important as the price you pay. And the perception that something is better can actually translate into real results – thus the name “placebo effect.” When Professor Shiv and his colleagues presented volunteers with a series of word puzzles, those who had a full-priced “energy drink” did twice as well as those who had the same drink at a discounted price.
What the…
Yes, they knew it was the same drink. But the people who had the drink with the bigger price tag were able to complete almost twice as many word puzzles as those who had the drink at the discount price.
This price/quality thing runs deep, and our logic can’t seem to overcome our instinct. It’s one reason we have to be so careful in monitoring how we are influenced by marketing.
Reading labels and keeping up with comparisons tests like this one done on fruit juice can help you arm yourself with good information on which to base decisions as opposed to simply going with the “it costs more so it must be better” placebo effect.
What high costs products have you given up in favour of a similar quality, low-cost option? What have you been “taken in” by when it comes to the quality/price issue?
October 23, 2009 at 6:09 am
We’ve given up name brand frozen juice the no-name stuff is just as good and costs close to 50% less. Our food budget is where we’ve made the biggest move to switching to lower priced stuff. most store brand stuff is made by the same people that make the name brand stuff, just re-labelled.
I was taken in when I bought my last car. I thought I was getting the same quality as the car I had before it because it was the same make and model, but turns out the quality of this vehicle was so much lower then the other vehicle I had.
October 23, 2009 at 6:57 am
Our car. We knew we wanted a smaller commuter car to replace our older, nickle and diming us to death car, so we started to research. We found out that the Toyota Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe were the exact same car, but the Matrix had a 15K higher price tag. We bought used, out of town (always cheaper), and a manual to boot and paid far less than what we could find elsewhere. I always feel superior when I drive by people who have the Matrix. LOL!
We also bought a house we could “afford”, not one the bank said we could afford. I couldn’t imagine spending another 100K. We also got FLACK from our banking person, and encouraged to take a look at any big renovations that we could do to increase the loan size!!! Cheeky bastard!
I run my own business, and part of the reason why I got into it was because I wanted to provide a high quality product without the high price tag. I am in that beauty industry you spoke of, and have seen first hand the dirty tactics that these companies use. I’ll try to avoid getting on my “soap box” though about the whole push to make women feel inferior because they don’t have an 80 dollar eye cream. All they need is a high quality hand soap and a good diet (good genes help too).
Anyway, what I found is that when I started pricing my products if I stayed within the profit margin that I was comfortable with (hovering around the wholesale cost), my items did not sell. When I started to get smart about business (it was a hobby that turned into a business) and started pricing accordingly, using the correct formula and taking all my costs into account, my price went up quite a bit, but so did my sales. To the point where now this is a full time job.
People keep telling me that my prices are too low for the product that I am producing.
October 23, 2009 at 6:59 am
If you carry a balance on your “Gold” Visa..get rid of it and get the one with the cheaper interest rate…”Gold” means nothing more than a higher interest rate and what’s so prestigious about that?????????
October 23, 2009 at 7:50 am
I’m with Jason-we buy a lot of no-name or store brands. They taste the same (or better in some cases) and they cost much less.
October 23, 2009 at 8:11 am
Our food is primarily no-name brands. What I do is try the no-name product at least once. If we like it I continue to buy that product. So far 95% of our groceries are no-name.
October 23, 2009 at 8:13 am
Clothing – we gave up buying expensive brand clothing years ago. You can buy really high quality clothing right now quite cheaply. Clothes rarely wear out anymore these days. If you are like most, either you kill it in the laundry or you outgrow it
. (We also don’t buy anything that is “Dry clean only”).
I am a tactile person so I will spend more on things that I touch. Sheets and towels are a weakness, but I always wait to get them on sale. 800 thread count sheets are wonderful, feel great and last a lot longer.
I am a cook and will spend money on quality cooking equipment. Great pots and pans, high quality electric items, dishes, and flatwear – love it. Again though, I know how to look and buy on sale only when I need it. The stuff lasts forever so for most things it truly is buy it once.
I will spend more for higher quality furniture. Solid wood, dove-tail joints…again, buy it on sale and buy it once.
There are things though that we splurged on – the Weber BBQ, Apple computers, granite countertops. What can I say? I am human after all!
October 23, 2009 at 8:43 am
We go store brand with our groceries as long as we objectively can’t tell the difference in taste or quality (so orange juice and laundry detergent are still brand name from our experiments).
As for women’s cosmetics, check out http://www.loreal.com/_en/_ww/brands-l-oreal.aspx and you’ll find that L’oreal owns Lancome and Maybelline as well so they’ve got all the price ranges covered. Through some crafty promotions I have tried the more expensive lipsticks and actually found a huge difference in quality. Plus I feel extra chic and glamourous in a pricy lipstick. It comes out of my allowance and it makes me feel stunning on the 3 dates a year that my husband and I go on.
It is part of our nature to want to appear superior. We don’t do it with the biggest antlers anymore, so we do it with cars and clothing. If the little luxuries make you feel pampered and regal, and you can afford them in cash, then go for it.
October 23, 2009 at 8:51 am
I will spend more money on shoes because cheap shoes do not last as long, do not fit as well and lose their shape quickly.
I do buy some store brand foods, but some things don’t seem to have the same quality or taste (ie veggies or soups).
My downfall is face creams!!! (hope in a jar as my husband calls it). I do fall prey to the idea that if it costs more, it will soon make me look like Angelina Jolie. Luckily, some part of me is still cheap and I don’t even look at department store brands.
I do spend the money on products we put on our home:furniture, rugs, cabinets, etc..I consider those investments and need them to hold up to wear and tear.
Alas, we all have our weaknesses.
October 23, 2009 at 8:57 am
Clothes is a toss-up for me. The clothes that get comments from friends never seem to be that outfit from zellers
. And that jacket with the lining that is so soft and fits perfectly doesn’t come from Sears. I don’t see the need to buy a $200 hoodie but I think for adult clothes you get more when you pay more – as long as you aren’t sucked into a “hot” brand name.
Something else interesting. Has anyone else ever noticed how Canadian women will respond to a compliment on something they are wearing with ‘oh this – I got it on sale…such a deal…etc.etc’. I lived in the US for several years and never noticed anyone there do this. Why do we do it? Why does a compliment on a pair of shoes invoke any need to discuss the price (high or low)?
October 23, 2009 at 9:12 am
Quality is always simple. Simple is always quality.
We don’t fall for the marketing trick – we always look at what the product is designed to do and always pick the one that is built better, and look at the value for the price.
If it’s something that moves, we always see if it can break prematurely somehow. We use the simplicity metric to evaluate the probability for something to break. We never look at the name to decide that.
October 23, 2009 at 9:13 am
Kerry – clever observation. Very true (with women). Guys, we dont’ justify our purchases, we just buy them. Great post Gail, very informative.
They will still have to pry my beloved coca cola cans from my cold dead hands though, no matter if they raise or lower the price!
October 23, 2009 at 9:28 am
Kerry – clever observation. Very true (with women). Guys, we dont’ justify our purchases, we just buy them. Great post Gail, very informative.
They will still have to pry my beloved coca cola cans from my cold dead hands though, no matter if they raise or lower the price!
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
October 23, 2009 at 9:34 am
One of the reasons that I will only shop at the Loblaws chain of stores is because I love their no-name and PC products. PC Decadent cookies are WAY better than any other chocolate chip cookie around. PC Candycane ice cream = the best
However, no-name cola and ginger ale taste nothing like real Coke/Pepsi and Canada Dry.
I love $8-12 dollar wines and never really buy expensive ones.
I don’t buy expensive clothes, but I don’t buy cheap clothes either, its kinda in the middle. I find that the cheapest clothes go in the donation bin fairly quickly and don’t fit me as well. However I really only buy more expensive clothes for my work wardrobe.
October 23, 2009 at 9:39 am
I don’t like to read too much into experiments – I took a research methods course in Psychology, and there are so many things that can affect results; however people do make these associations (among many others) all the time! I can sometimes spot them as I majored in psych, and chuckle at sales pitches sometimes – and just ask for the facts. If the facts make sense to spend a little more I will. For example – I sell gowns – I have seen some gowns purchased online for “a steal” and well, they were gross!!!! Really crappy quality (one girl ended up buying another gown!) so this can actually be true at times, you just have to be careful and get all the information – and I never make snap decisions about money, and if someone is pressuring me to do so – my answer is no thanks!
And when I’m grocery shopping I’m like a walking commercial for no-name products! Unless brand-name is on sale (and cheaper). I get a high from saving so much money!…I so need a life…
October 23, 2009 at 10:13 am
Most of the time we use no name brands over brand names when it comes to groceries. Most of the time the store brand is just as good. I have also found that even the discount grocery stores (Food basics, no frills) have definite price differences in our area. We don’t shop at No Frills because, frankly, their no name products are higher priced than Food Basics prices. If we do shop at No Frills, we spend, on average $20 more for the same things. So we only go there when there is a decent special. No Frills has their 1/2 price sale on this week and next week, btw!!
As for clothes, we tend to buy less expensive things, or go scouring the second hand stores. I just purchased an almost new, London Fog winter coat at Talize for $18. We splurge a little on detergent because we find the better detergent keeps our inexpensive clothing looking nice, longer.
October 23, 2009 at 10:18 am
I switched my laundry detergent from Tide to XTRA ($5.00 a price difference)… We buy no name food as well… one thing I cannot give up is my charmin toilet paper.. weird I know! I agree that when you buy an expensive cream for your skin it always seems to be better than the cheap stuff – I am sure this is psychological.
My biggest expense other than cars/mortgage is my dog/cat food. I spend close to $300.00 per month on dog/cat food and kitty litter. I absolutely HAVE to buy arm and hammer kitty litter which is $17.00 a box. With six cats that gets expensive! Dog food is $70.00 a bag and with 3 dogs, have to buy 2-3 a month. This is one thing I will not skimp on.
October 23, 2009 at 11:06 am
My kids like no name rice crackers from Superstore (1.47/pkg) more than the expensive ones (2.69/pkg) from the health food store. And they like homemade popsicles (just frozen juice) better than store bought expensive ones. Price difference? About $0.08 each for the homemade, and about $1 each for the store bought. You’d be surprised how much these two changes add up to over a year (or maybe you wouldn’t if you also have young kids!)
October 23, 2009 at 11:10 am
This placebo effect is so true!! My dad prefers “head and shoulders” shampoo, and my mom once bought the knock off brand and he said he didn’t like it. She then bought a new Head and Shoulders shampoo and when it was empty she put the same knock-off brand inside the Head and Shoulders bottle and he didn’t complain once.
Things I don’t mind going low-cost on are food, I find I often prefer the no-name brands, and cheap wine! My clothes are also somewhere in the middle, not cheap, but not expensive. I like looking for the deals on quality clothing, not really into name brands anyway!
October 23, 2009 at 11:20 am
Ugh, this is so true. My husband is a big believer that more expensive products are better than cheaper products, just because they cost more. I’ve given him foods that I’ve made that were no-name or cheaper varieties and he has liked them. When I tell him they were the cheapest kind at the store, he is always surprised and thinks that it was just this ONE TIME that the cheap stuff has been good. Little does he know that I buy the cheap stuff all the time and he eats it so he must like it!
It’s just so frustrating that people don’t seem to realize that more expensive doesn’t always = better product.
October 23, 2009 at 11:38 am
Some items are relatively the same quality or flavour, but I have to admit that I’m not a No Name tissue/toilet paper/hygiene product kinda gal. Tried ‘em all atleast twice and have been disappointed with the quality so much that saving a few cents or even a dollar isn’t worth it. Same goes for oj. My house definitely knows when I’ve switched the Tropicana oj for something else (but in the same bottle). Oh, and milk too. Can’t get the cheapie stuff as even I think it tastes kinda plastic-y or smells funny.
Other than that, clothing is medium quality as I’ve learned the $10 yoga pants at Walmart are just that…and when you’re bending and stretching, a hole or seam coming apart after the first wash is NOT something my yoga-neighbour wants to see!
October 23, 2009 at 11:41 am
I have read time and time again that brand name grocery products and the store brands are often produced in the same plant, then packaged differently. I try go for the store brand whenever possible, but sometimes the product itself (when visible in the package) just looks inferior.
I used to buy very cheap purses, but soon found that this was “false economy” because I had to buy two $30.00 purses a year (because they fell apart) instead of investing in one $60.00 one that lasts several years. So I buy good quality purses now (but never more than $60 bucks-I could not fathom spending several hundred dollars on a purse!)
October 23, 2009 at 11:57 am
@ Girl Makes Sense – I think that is absolutely brilliant!! Did your mom tell him what she had done afterwards?
October 23, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Some of these answers really made me giggle. The story of changing Dads Head and Shoulders for one. I’ve tried all (and I mean ALL) the different shampoos, and my favorite? Sauve – yeah, I can buy it for less than $2 a bottle. Compare that to the professional salon stuff!
Laundry detergent is another good example. I used to be a die-hard Sunlight user – until I realized that it was because I liked the way it smelled. My decision had absolutely nothing with it’s ability to clean my clothes! Now I buy the Xtra at Walmart – sometimes its $3 a bottle!
The only product I will not, ever, no way, no how budge on is my Coke Zero. Those No Name, Safeway Brand, PC Stuff…..blech. I don’t drink much, but when I do, I’m getting the stuff that makes me happy!
October 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm
For the longest time I was a product of what my parents used when I was growing up – Tide laundry detergent, Minute Maid Orange Juice, Uncle Ben’s Rice etc. It took a while for me to deviate from certain brands. Now I couldn’t care less about the brand name. I look at price and quality. For food I always look at the nutritional label for fat, fibre and sodium content. But once I find something that tastes good, it’s hard for me to accept a substitute. Example – Tostitos Salsa. It’s the most expensive one at the stores and it’s the one I like the best.
October 23, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Great comments and come great ideas as well.
We are in the middle like a lot of people. We will try no-name and if it is good then we go with that, if not back to our name brand. Even name brands are different and I like certain kinds over others.
With two boys clothing is always an issue. If they want the name brand, then I wait and get it on the sale rack. An American Eagle or Aeropostale t-shirt can be bought for $10 on the sale rack instead of $25. Second hand stores are always a good option if you are willing to look and wait.
When buying a big purchase talk to the people who fix them. That is how you can tell if they are good or not. I spent a lot of money buying a front loader washer and it was done 7 years later. It was by Fridgidaire. Thought we were getting a good brand name. Come to find out by the repair man that Fridgidaire are not a good brand to buy. He told us what we should stay away from and what he gets very few calls on. I am sure a general mechanic would be able to tell you the same thing.
I research everything now and I wait. Doing it this way usually gets me a deal.
October 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I think this may be why some people only drink Starbucks. I’m sorry, but there coffee isn’t very good, but, its more expensive. hmmm . . . .
October 23, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Yes but you have to qualify what you are buying as well.
If items ae priced cheap to begin with they generally are.
Genuinely marked down(I stress that) to cheap or serious rreductions are a good buy if they fit your use.
I can show you multimeters that could melt in your hand or cause you harm under the right conditons that are sold.
In fact this goes for many tools as well.
But they are cheap and were priced as that from the get go.
I can extend this to having wok contracted as well.
I having done hvac contracting for over twenty five years noticed that my prices were never the cheapest. I used even get told that at times.
But I sure got lots of referrals to fix the cheaper jobs that got done!!
Even going back to where I had quoted previous, but didn’t get the job to fix it right this time.
I always found those jobs sadly humorous.
October 23, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I hate to say it, but I’ve been suckered in by the price from time to time. I tried on several different watches…even though you couldn’t tell which watch cost more, the one that was more expensive made me FEEL all elegant and hoity toity. Lol.
We just discovered the Canadian Wholesale Store here, and are in the process of testing out various No Name products. Seriously, $5 for 3 packs of hot dogs versus 3.79 per PACK–I have to at least test it!
My hairdress gave me a tip once–told me if I wanted to save money, skip the expensive shampoo and conditioner, and just buy the higher end styling products. Works like a charm.
Have a friend who worked in a honey processing plant once–she watched as they put the EXACT same honey in about 5 different brands of jars, all at different prices. Hmmm.
Another friend worked at a vehicle parts store. They would sell the exact same part for about 3 different models of vehicle–the vehicle model dictated the price to be charged! Cheaper model, cheaper price–because people EXPECTED to pay more for their expensive, superior car with its ‘expensive’ parts.
October 23, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Several years ago we owned a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette. The side mirror got broken during a hail storm and since that was the only major damage and certainly not worth an insurance claim, my husband went to the parts store to get it. The guy thought he said Corvette and brought out the part…my husband corrected him and he went to get the Chevette part…turns out they were the EXACT same part just listed as each vehicle and guess which one costed more???
As far as food, clothing etc. in rare occasions you get what you pay for. Clothing doesn’t have to be new to be good quality. Consignment shops are full of “designer” stuff but at prices I’d rather pay. No name stuff is packaged at brand name factories. Rubbermaid makes a lot of those off brand containers you see on the shelves, it’s just the quantity of certain ingredients that changes…same goes for food.
I was at the grocery store a long while ago and the lady behind me had a cart full of no-name stuff…I asked her if it was all good because I had bad experience with no name tomato sauce once and wouldn’t buy any other no name products because of it. The lady said to me….we buy everything no name…if we don’t like the flavour or taste we move up to the store brand and usually find it tastes okay but our decisions on food are based on PRICE and the less we pay, the more we have for our retirement. That comment stuck with me on my next trip to the store and every trip in the last 15 years since then. I do the exact same now too. Turns out that bad experience with no name tomato sauce was a one off. Haven’t had a tinny tasting one since.
On another trip someone asked if I had seen cranberry sauce (canned stuff) and I said yes it was just down at the end of the aisle – the no name one is there. She visibly shuddered and said, oh I guess they don’t have any real stuff then do they? If you want real, go buy a bag of cranberries and make it!
All this is always about perception of what we think is better than something else and companies love this because it’s money for their retirement that they are taking out of our own. And as consumers we buy into this all the time…it costs more so it must be a better product. Store brand, home made and hand made are far superior in my opinion but then I want my retirement money to be mine and not someone elses’
October 23, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Yabut…when it comes to food, I’d rather pay an extra buck or two for the ‘good frozen fish filets’ or ‘better frozen lasagna’ (come on, we all have those got-home-at-4:30-have-to-be-out-by-6:00 meals
) than experience what I usually do, buy the cheap-o one and everyone hates it…then the entire package is wasted and I’m out the whole shebang more than the extra $1-$2 I would’ve spent on a meal that was completely eaten.
Pasta sauces, pasta, sauces, all the stuff that gets covered up with other spices, veggies, etc. who cares. But something that’s a meal on it’s own is a different animal for me and mine I find. And I do find that although some of the cleaning supplies are cheaper, some of the bad ones you have to use two times the amount to get the cleaning power of the 50 cent more one.
October 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@ Jessie – no she didn’t tell him. Still a big secret! Shhh don’t tell!
October 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I dislike shopping, so I usually go for the stuff that looks solidly made, has a neutral or classical design, can be repaired when needed, and is not extravagantly priced. One local clothes store repairs at no charge all the jeans bought there, as long as you can see some trace of the store stamp. The store stamp lasts for three to five years and if you ask nicely they will refresh it.
I also keep an eye open for inexpensive basics at one big box store, which have proven far more resilient than I expected. Especially for outdoor activities they are more comfy, last longer and are more easily washed than the expensive brand-name outdoor clothing, cost 1/10th of it, and I’m not going to climb Everst anyway. (I wear out my clothes. Most of what I throw out is good only for paper making.)
With consumer electronics, which are not made to last in any price range, I go for the cheapest that does what I want it to do.
Groceries are a mixed bag. When I’m well within budget, I buy at the farmer’s market, because it’s more fun, when I’m short on money, I buy at the discount store.
When it comes to cleaning, hygiene and cosmetics, I take the cheapest that doesn’t smell bad and doesn’t give me rashes.
The complete opposite is sweets. I’ll gladly buy Häagen-Dazs ice cream for six times what the store brand costs, luxury chocolates, and cookies from the best bakery in town. Because I spend a fixed amount of money per month on sweets, and it’s better for my waistline and for my happiness to go for the good stuff.
October 23, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I’m definitely a no-name gal. My father, about a year or two before he died, discovered our local Price Chopper. My late parents were die-hard Loblaws’ customers. Well, wasn’t he just so made up when he could do groceries and come home with almost twice as much for half the price?
I will always try the store brand and if I like it – stick with that. I’m definitely a Tropicana juice gal. I will try other brands, but usually go back to my Tropicana. I do like Miss Vickies and Tostitos brand tortilla chips for my salty snacks, but have tried generic/store brand.
I buy mid-range wine, mid-range clothing and store brand cosmetics/hair products. I have friends who swear by the $150 creams, gels and potions – and most times, their complexions look way worse than mine. I just can’t justify spending that kind of money on expensive “designer” cosmetics when most times it is the same ingredients packaged and priced more expensively. Apparently, that’s the marketing philosophy behind eye creams – give them half the amount for twice the price. But, according to Paula Begoun (the ‘Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me” lady), there isn’t even a need for a separate eye cream but women get sucked into believing that we actually need this product for the delicate eye area – when your regular moisturizer will do the job just fine if you pat it around your eye area just like you would an ‘eye’ cream. Go figure?
October 23, 2009 at 10:41 pm
After we made our budget and I had a dollar limit to stay within for groceries, I had to make a choice at the grocery store. I needed flour for baking and had always used Robin Hood (my mom did too). I could by the no-name 10kg bag for around $6 or a 2kg bag of Robin Hood for about $1 less (the 10 kg bag was $13). It forced my hand and I tried the no name flour. I’ve not bought a bag of brand name flour since then–it worked exactly the same. First I was skeptical, then I was just down right mad. So that has made me try other no name stuff (canned tuna, soup etc) and so far have not been disappointed. If I do change back to a brand name version of something, I know I won’t leave the store wondering if I could have had the same thing for 1/2 the price.
October 23, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Sorry folks. There are some things I just won’t compromise on. If the nutrition label shows the no name has the least sodium, the better grams of fibre, the least sugar, fewer fat grams, the fewer chemicals, then that will get my attention. If not, then I’ll pay a higher price for better nutrition. No compromise on health.
As for shoes and clothes, I buy very few shoes because I need good quality shoes that don’t cause me foot problems – and you can’t get that that at Pay Less with cheap quality chinese made shoes. And cheap clothes from Walmart are just that. Cheap. If it falls apart after a few washes, shrinks etc, then what have you saved by going cheap.
Sometimes quality, durability and nutrition mean spending a bit more money. And sometimes it just takes longer to find.
October 23, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Well for big ticket items, like a car — we’ll do a lot of research before we finally buy. Our main criteria are things like reliability, durability, and lots of positive customer reviews all within a reasonable price range. Reasonable based on the average price out there and what we have room in the budget for. Not so much the brand of car or baby tandem stroller or whatever we’re buying. This way we feel we’ve got the best value for our hard earned money.
As for everyday shopping I try to be an “environmentally friendly” shopper. For instance, I buy paper towels and toilet paper that’s made from recycled products, I buy laundry soap or cleaning detergents that are safe for the environment, and I try to buy organic fruits and veggies. These may cost a bit more than other brands but I feel I’m making a longer lasting impact with my choices.
For my daughter we get her Costco diapers and wipes. I’m too lazy to go with the washable diapers and wipes! We also revel in hand me down toys and clothes from generous friends and family, in addition to second hand items from a gently used kids’ store. We must be saving a ton of money there!
I do tend to splurge on shoes/footwear since I find that I have to pay for comfort and durability along with style. I’m active on my feet and I value a comfy pair of shoes.
My husband likes certain brand names for food and personal grooming items, but not so much for clothes. He’s also very handy so he’d rather spend time and effort fixing things himself rather than paying someone else to set up his satellite, change the car’s oil, fix the computer etc.
October 24, 2009 at 12:46 am
Beer. I can’t stomach the cheap stuff with the sediment at the bottom that gives you a headache the next day. It’s definitely worth it to pay more for the good stuff.
October 24, 2009 at 8:58 am
Balance seems to be the common thread here…doesn’t have to all be the top of the price range nor the bottom of the quality range either…buying better quality so it lasts longer is great..you are stretching out your purchases so you don’t have to buy as often i.e. clothes, footwear etc…throwing out something awful tasting or nutrionally lacking is a far bigger waste than spending the dollar or two more on the one that will be consumed….having said that, there are still other places to save i.e. many store brands from household products, to food, to clothing and footwear are just as good and sometimes better than the more expensive other brands (although sometimes the Safeway store brand is MORE expensive than the name brands…be sure to check the unit price!)…by using common sense and taking the time to look at all the options we can all trim the fat from our budget:)
October 24, 2009 at 11:33 am
I too believe in balance. Before my husband and I moved in, I had a lot of “yellow” foods in my cupboard..I was a single mom with a teenaged boy so I used generics for alot of stuff back then. But I never compromised on some products such as Heinz Ketchup, real Pepsi, Kraft Dinner, Campbells soups and tiolet tissue..somethings have just gotta be brand name. By my husband has an aversion to all things generic so I can honestly say we don’t have a yellow label in the house. Clothing I try to stay mid range, I used to buy all my clothes at Zellers and Wal-mart but once I bought high”er” end clothes the fit and quality made me a convert. I don’t have to replace clothing as often and get far more wear from them. I need shoes now, all the ones I have I bought when I had a part time job at Naturalizer a few years ago I am ready to replace..before that I never would have paid $100+ for shoes..but they last longer and feel better. I have gone though at least 6 prs of cheap Payless & Wal-Mart shoes while my old Naturalizers are still comfy..but starting to look rather tired and worn. So balance is key, spend a little more for good quality and fit (or taste & nutrition) and you will be further ahead in the long run.
October 24, 2009 at 11:49 am
Amen to balance and common sense!
October 24, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Definitely overpriced prints in art shops, people who buy designer sunglasses for the logo think they’re magical
and adapters or plugs for my electronics
I do agree that good shoes and good coats are better places to spend your money, than on clothing itself, unless it’s a tight fitting suit or dress
October 24, 2009 at 10:00 pm
One thing to realize about NO NAME products, is that the seller doesn’t always stick to the same supplier to make No Name product, sometimes they will change supplier to get a better deal on the ingredients. SSo don’t give up on No Name, and don’t stick to them slavishly.
October 25, 2009 at 4:10 am
@ Michelle….I don’t ever buy pre-packaged meals generic or otherwise. If I am making chili/lasagne or whatever with my no name ingredients, I will always make double or triple and freeze the rest so that when we have the 4:30 home but out the door by 6 nights, supper is covered and tastes good so there isn’t a waste!
October 25, 2009 at 9:32 am
Shoe must be good. I wait until the season is over and they are 50-70% off. Good clothes, I go the the second hand store. You would not believe how many designer well fitting clothes you can find there. For food I get the food box. A program through the government that promotes fruits and vegs. regardless of income. The rest of the non-name products are usually made in the same plant but if not sure, read the label. Including drugs. I always ask the pharmatist. They are honest as to what is in it, is it the same. Dont be fooled by the name. Live the best quality of life for the least green back possible! Its just as good in your pocket as any.
October 25, 2009 at 11:35 am
One thing to keep an eye out for is over-the-counter medications, especially those with only one or two ingredients. I went to pick up some more OTC sleeping pills, which I knew through my geeky amateur medical research was exactly the same as the original allergy medication (i.e. once they started marketing non-drowsy formulas, they basically re-packaged the original as sleep-aid medication), and the first thing I noticed was that the no-name brand ’sleep-aid’ was cheaper than the brand name, for the exact same quantity and dosage. Then I walked to the allergy section and picked up the no-name allergy medications to compare… again, the exact same single-ingredient medication, cheaper than the name brand AND cheaper than the same no-name medication when labeled as ’sleep-aid’, rather than ‘allergy formula’. Plus, a bottle of 50 regular-strength pills was cheaper than 25 extra-strength pills (2x the dosage)… Is it not worth your money to just take two instead of only one?
Also, since they started keeping decongestants behind the counter, I find the pharmacist will only offer you you the smallest quantity off the bat – which may not be a big deal for most people, but for someone who uses them often enough that they’re used up before they expire, you might as well ask for a higher-quantity bottle (you’ll pay less per dose). I’ve had a few pharmacists stare me down trying to figure out if I was using it to make meth, but my conscience and police record are clear and, dammit, I’m not going to let someone intimidate me into wasting my money!
October 25, 2009 at 11:53 am
@Monica…I’m only 3 months into using meal plans, so I’ve got to cut myself some slack on the frozen dinner thing every now and then. BUT, I am pleased to say I’ve gotten back into the habit of buying larger sizes of meats and such to fresh the sauces added to the freezer bags already. Thaw and cook is working well. And today there’s a huge pot of chicken soup on the stove, so that’ll freeze nicely for one of the 4:30-6:00 nights next month! Thanks for the reminder.
October 25, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I have a young friend who worked in a pickle factory while attending college. She was the one who convinced me – the label snob – to try no-name brands. Apparently they would bottle a brand name pickle then the line would be halted while the packaging was switched over to the no-name brand. Different jars, different labels, same pickles.
Over the past 10 years we have experimented with no-name products and I have to say that many are the same or extremely similar to the brand names we used, only cheaper. Some have even been better. However we have had some really awful failures as well.
Another thing to be aware of when using no-name products is that a particular item may start out being manufactured by a particular company but then along the way the no-name production is switched to another company. This has to do with the cost I am sure. and they will always switch to the lowest bidder. If you read the labels and are familiar with the ingredients then it is easy to see when the switch has been made. Another way to tell is when the jam you like suddenly tastes like soap. We have also noticed that no-name products can start out really good but over time they are changed – cheapened. Chicken pies that were rich in sauce and bursting with vegetables and chunks of chicken suddenly became “essence of chicken” pie. We recently complained about a product (soup that suddenly went from really tasty to watery thin and super salty) and to our surprise we received $10 worth of brand name coupons as an apology. Wonder why we didn’t get no-name soup coupons?
October 25, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Hey! No Name Coupons do you think the dragon’s Den people would invest? LOL
October 26, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I’ve found that often the no name stuff is better! No name brands I’ve encountered have these excellent caramel coconut cookies, which I’ve never found a comparison for, the best ice cream sandwiches, and the most varied and inexpensive stir-fry vegetables. Usually, I cackle my way to the bank as I get my own way in quality and price. My pop is always Kirkland brand diet cola… after a little while, you don’t even notice the difference! We’ve even done bottle-your-own wine, which was a huge kicker… for $120, you get 30-40 bottles of decent quality wine (worth about 10-12 per bottle at the LCBO). We’re saving tons of money. Even though it doesn’t have the catchy name and the fancy label, we don’t care once it’s in the glass!
The few things I won’t budge on are toilet paper (always the premium stuff – hubby doesn’t understand, but it’s not his delicate bits being sandpapered!), Heinz ketchup and beer.
Yet another reason to buy no-name: accountability. We had an issue with Equality brand cheese from Food Basics. Several packages went moldy months before their expiration date without even having been opened. I was fuming as I called the hotline. Five minutes later, I had been apologized to, the packaging issue had been explained to me, and a $10 gift certificate (to the grocery store, not for the brand) was in the mail for each brick of cheese that had gone bad. The problem was taken care of quickly and professionally, and there was no passing around of the blame.
October 26, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Manda! The caramel coconut cookies! They are not allowed in this house anymore. I have wobbly bits that are all their fault. I actually give them as Christmas presents. Have you tried the no-name fudge bars? Superb and only 125 calories.
Completely agree on the Heinz ketchup – somethings are classic because they deserve to be. Ditto on the toilet paper but the no-name paper towels made from recycled fiber are excellent.
And all no-name and Presidents Choice products are “no hassle fully guaranteed” and they actually seem to want to know my opinion of their products. And they get it – good and bad. Serves them right for having a 1-800 number. I find their customer service to be exceptional. Our dog snuck into our grocery bags while we were unpacking and tore open a brick of no-name cheese eating about a third of it before we stopped him. My husband then noticed that the cheese had mold on it so he took it back to the store and explained what had happened. We got a free brick of cheese and they insisted we take a free box of no-name dog cookies! They were concerned and upset for the dog. Didn’t have the heart to tell them that we weren’t worried about him and the mold since he eats socks and our mail.
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April 21, 2011 at 11:16 pm
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April 21, 2011 at 11:16 pm
have the heart to tell them that we weren’t worried about him and the mold since he eats socks and our ma
April 21, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Hey! No Name Coupons do you think the dragon’s Den people would invest? LOL
May 19, 2011 at 4:26 am
I find their customer service to be exceptional. Our dog snuck into our grocery bags while we were unpacking and tore open a brick of no-name cheese eating about a third of it before we stopped him.
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