What items are worth the premium to pay for the name brand/high end stuff? What are not?

Around 25 years ago, I remember seeing an article about this very topic.

Apparently someone had done a study, and classified all consumer goods into three categories:

(1) goods for which price and quality were positively correlated, that is, the higher the price, the higher the quality.

(2) goods for which price and quality were uncorrelated, that is, the price of the good was unrelated to its quality.

(3) goods for which price and quality were negatively correlated, that is the higher the price, the lower the quality, and vice versa.

There was about an equal amount of stuff in the three groups.

The first category contained a lot of durable goods like cars and cameras. The other two categories had a lot of consumable stuff like soaps and cosmetics.

Of course, a lot has changed in 25 years, and I think consumers are more aware than they used to be.

 

My Canon FTb-QL is waiting for payment at the camera repair shop. Only cost me $60 for what was no doubt the first time it had been CLAed or otherwise serviced in 40 years. Chose to stick with this model over just buying an AE-1 or similar newer cousin for the simple fact the FTb only needs a working battery for the light meter, rather than turn into a useless brick without one.

 

speaking of boots, - and winter boots, I say Sorel. I bought a pair (rubber bottoms, leather uppers fully insulated, in Dec 1982. I'm still using them, especially last weekend to deal with the slushy heavy icy snow that fell with our mini ice storm.
--- merged: Dec 26, 2013 at 11:37 PM ---
kinda like this:

 

Two things immediately come to mind:

1. Never pay for dating sites.
2. Always pay for OEM pistol magazines.

 

Love Kirkland but they are sneaky. They will stock a new yummy or awesome product for maybe 3 months or so. Then you go to purchase it again and *poof* it's nowhere to be found. Sometimes, 6 months later, it will show up again. Sometimes, it never shows up again under the name brand. Costco buys it and sells it under their own Kirkland brand name. Consumer win!

 

Now you tell me, I just tossed all of my 8 yr old Smartwool sock for new ones. 15 pairs, all grey and the same. No more 5am sock matching for me. Remind me about REI in 8 years, OK?

I'd probably expand this to most sporting goods. There are sports that I am causual about and ones that I am not. I have a softball and bat, I own a bicycle, too. All are mid-level, on-sale stuff that works just fine for me. Skiing is different. My gear is top of the line. When you are on top of a mountain and it's -20° and blowing snow,
my $200 goggles and "we're not going to talk about it" Gore-Tex shell are worth what I paid. When you find yourself in a "turn or die" situation, having skis, boots, and bindings that you trust are worth what they cost. It's also my experience that high end stuff lasts forever. Nothing says "local" in Colorado like North Face or Marmot with duct tape.

The same applies to motorcycles. I don't try to save money on tires. When you are in the habit of doing 50 around 20 mph corners, cheap tires wouldn't seem to be a good idea. Helmets and jackets don't necessarily get safer as the price goes up; but they do get more comfortable. My helmet uses carbon/kevlar to reduce weight, has a very nice wicking liner, and is superbly vented. Helmets and jackets only protect me if I wear them and comfort has a lot to do with that.

 

I have 'insider info' about the entire process of how, say, a product like you've described or even Jellie Bellies become Kirkland brand. You are 100% correct. The packaging differs. The contents are the same.

 

And life is too short for cheap Wine

 

We buy many items that are "store brand" and "off brand." In many cases the product is identical to the "name brand" because it is manufactored/made by the same company.

I won't attempt to list the numerous store/off brand items that we find to be just the same, or at least acceptably very close to, the name brand items. In general, I'll give Private Selections brand at Kroger, and the Equate brand OTC meds at Wal-Mart, positive recommendations.

What I can say is the old expression "It pays to shop around." became an old expression for a very good reason. Some store/off brand items suck, period. Some are not good buys if you pay attention to the sales and use coupons. Sometimes the packaging is misleading. Be sure to save your receipts, and don't be afraid to return the crappy items. I've never had a store question why I was returning a store brand item (keep in mind I'm not one of those dishonest people who try to return nearly used-up items).

We have a Sam's Club membership for which we pay. I'm not proud of supporting Wal-Mart Corp, but there are enough good buys (again....repeat....with careful shopping) to make the paid membership worh having.

 

Oh, hey, forgot about this.

I still think it's totally worth it to drop some serious money on running shoes. Since this post, I've become a huge fan of Brooks. Still use my Asics for aerobics and walking, though

 

My BMW motorcycle might be worth what I paid for it. I ridiculed the heated seat & grips; but a year later, I use them all the time. The dealer might be an asshole; I wouldn't know, haven't needed him in 2 years. Beemers have a repution for being devoid of personality, I'm growing pretty fond of having everything work and work well.

 

Tropicana orange juice is enormously better than typical off-brand orange juice.

There may be options for equivalent quality at a lower price, but it's simpler to just buy Tropicana.

 

I don't run BUT I'd like to expand your statement with which I totally agree: it is totally worth it to drop serious money on good walking shoes.
You young folks that run will be glad when your knees are starting to complain that you took good care of them with the right equipment.
--- merged: Apr 29, 2014 at 5:53 PM ---

Simpler, if money is no object, I agree. I have more money now than I did a couple of decades ago but I learned to be a budget shopper. That meant and still means I shop for value and quality.
I agree though there are certain items like your example of Tropicana, which one just cannot seem to find duplicated. Maybe they won't sell the patent?
--- merged: Apr 29, 2014 at 5:56 PM ---

I agree and I trust your judgment.
I also respect that not everyone is gonna agree and that's OK, too. Meanwhile, I take copious notes on just about every comment you make in re: anything I can imbibe or ingest.

 

When I shop for food, I have the instincts of a poor man. For example, I am gleeful to see a dented-and-discontinued table, stacked with items on huge markdowns. I am reluctant to pay full retail for anything. I have to remind myself that an extra 49 cents on a jar of marmalade barely registers at my income level.

A patent lasts just 17 years. In the case of Tropicana, I think it's just a matter of getting good quality fruit, moving it quickly and treating it right. That costs a lot more than just reconstituting juice from five-year-old frozen concentrate of overripe bottom-quality oranges, and adding chemicals to cover up the stuff that tastes bad.

Anyone could do what Tropicana does (and continues to do, to uphold its reputation), but they don't, because cutting corners is so much cheaper.