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Clark Howard's Tips

Store brands versus brand names

July 6, 2005

Consumer Reports just published a survey entitled the "Battle of the Brands" in its August issue.

In most categories, store brands were rated just as good or better than brand names.

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Not to mention the fact that you'll cut your costs by at least a quarter to a third if you buy store brands.

So, who makes the store brands?

They're made by the national manufacturers. They just don't have the fancy names on them.

In just one area — the facial tissue category — the store brand did not win. Puff's was the winner.

But after that, it was store brands. Safeway's private label, Publix's private label and several others came in second to Kirkland in many of those. In the plastic food bag category, it was a tie between Great Value and Ziploc. Great Value, which is Wal-Mart's store brand, costs much less than Ziploc but obviously is just as good.

Sometimes the store brands won't measure up.

But if you find a store brand that works, stay with it. The stores prefer that you buy the store brand, too, because they make more money off of it.

And, stores will usually give you your money back if you aren't satisfied with their store brand. It's just smart shopping.

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