By: Matt Jabs

Dawna Constantine 2 months, 4 weeks ago on Wordpress

excellent article! i’ll be back for sure.

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Len Penzo 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Hey, wait a minute! Why should I take your word for it when you misspell your own name? Hello! Whatever happened to “‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’, unless sounded as ‘a’ as in neighbor and weigh?”

In the US, the term “a savings of” is accepted practice – nobody, and I mean NOBODY, says “a saving of 40 percent .”

Here is just one of a bajillion examples that I found in an article in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/business/30milk.html

And yes, I know, Sheila, “bajillion” isn’t a real word. ... See all content Hide content

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Jennifer Y. 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Nice experiment! I have very few brand loyalties, many times the generic/store brand is just fine.

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FiscalFizzle 3 months, 1 week ago on Twitter

@WiseBread suggests a blind test to see if you like generics http://su.pr/AnREe4 Here are results from @LenPenzo: http://su.pr/1CjTXx

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LenPenzo 3 months, 2 weeks ago on Twitter

Settling the Great Debate. My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste Test Experiment: http://bit.ly/3mF8UE

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LenPenzo 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

Settling the Great Debate. My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste Test Experiment: http://bit.ly/3mF8UE

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Len Penzo 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

@FourPillars: Cousin Kev has always used his nose to eat which, for obvious reasons, is why I rarely serve steak or spare ribs when he comes over for dinner. And please… don’t ask me what organ he uses for his sense of smell! lol

@Mom: Get ready because we’re doing round two over the holidays!

@Samurai: Thanks, Sam! Look for round 2 near the end of the year. I have at least one drink already in mind, so stay tuned! ... See all content Hide content

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Judy P 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Well done Len, it was alot of fun being part of the taste test….Mom

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LenPenzo 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

Settling the Great Debate. My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste Test Experiment: http://bit.ly/3mF8UE

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Len Penzo 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

@Peter: You’re right – doesn’t mean you’re necessarily getting a better product. Based upon the results of this experiment my dog, Major, obviously agrees with us too!

@Family: I almost always buy the store-brand veggies (canned or frozen). I have yet to find a case where the store-brands were inferior to the name-brand products. It makes me wonder how the name-brand veggies even manage to stay in business!

@Jason: Thanks, Jason! It is amazing how a truly blind taste test can eliminate a lot of preconceived biases.

@Jesse: I have noticed that some canned veggie products have the exact same product lot codes! Readers, next time you are at the store, go to the canned veggie section and compare the codes – I bet you may just find the ONLY differences between some store and name-brands are the label and… the price!

@Ashley: I’m with you! But try convincing some people of that very fact. For a lot of folks, their preconceived notions are just too ingrained in their psyches.

@MrCreditCard: In many cases, you’re right on the money! Excellent point! You can go even bigger than PCs. Large-scale products like automobiles and planes have many many parts and components outsourced and the “name-brand” company is essentially just a large-scale integrator. Never thought about it applying on a smaller scale too, but it does.

@Matt: The blind taste tests are actually pretty interesting. My whole family actually had a lot of fun with this experiment. Our dog was in absolute poochie-heaven and can’t wait for us to do it again! ... See all content Hide content

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Matt Jabs 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Although we normally go with a store brand (generic) first… if in doubt we do what Jesse suggested and buy one of each then do an in-home, blind taste test of our own!

Great post Len… thanks.

Matt Jabs´s last blog ..Homemade Toothpaste Recipe – Easy and Frugal

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snowbirdstatus 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste-Test Experiment http://ow.ly/vtua @lenpenzo

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Jesse 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Excellent post, here is my opinion on generics. My family always buys one of each if its something we have never tried before. We use the products at the same time, like with the chips, we would open both bags and sample them both until they are finished. In the end, we choose the one we like and stick with it. Some times its the generic, some times its the store brand.

I agree that there is no definite answer there because each product is made differently. In fact, many of the store brands are actually made in the same factory, by the same company that makes the generic brand such as Peter Pan peanut butter vs Generic Great Value brand.

Jesse´s last blog ..UPrinting.com Business Card Giveaway Winner ... See all content Hide content

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Jason @ Redeeming Riches 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Great post! You always entertain along the way!! Once you convince yourself to get past the perception of “generic” and you focus on taste – a lot of those items do taste very similar if not better! Thanks for the scientific study!

Jason @ Redeeming Riches´s last blog ..Why You Need a Larger View of Your Money (And So Do I)

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Peter 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Great post – an entertaining look at why the name brand isn’t always the better choice.. Paying more doesn’t always mean you’re getting a better product!

Peter´s last blog ..When Getting Great Deals On The Things You Buy, Make Sure You’re Actually Getting The Deal

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LenPenzo 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

My Blind Taste Test Experiment: http://bit.ly/3mF8UE

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