I finally convinced my mom that store-brand flour works the same as name-brand

She spent $4.50 a bag on King Arthur for years (which, okay, is fine I guess) but last month at the grocery checkout I grabbed the $1.20 store bag instead. She used it to make her banana bread and didn't even notice the difference until I pointed it out halfway through eating a slice. Has anyone else had a relative finally come around on generic stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

grant_foster798d ago

Man that's a win for sure. My dad was the same way with paper towels for years, would only buy Bounty. Then I brought home the store brand and he complained for a solid week. But after using them he had to admit they did the exact same job. It's funny how much money we waste just because of a logo. Now he brags to his buddies about how much he saves at the store.

riverreed8d ago

@grant_foster79 pretty much nailed it with his dad and the paper towels. That story actually reminded me of something I saw online recently where someone was breaking down how store brands and name brands often come from the exact same factories just with different labels slapped on. It blew my mind a little bit even though it makes total sense when you think about it. Your mom coming around on flour is a big deal though because that stuff gets used in baking all the time and nobody can tell the difference once it's mixed in. Once people get past the idea that spending more means better quality, it's hard to go back to paying those fancy prices.

joelwells8d ago

It's like a domino effect once you crack that first one. @grant_foster79 mentioned paper towels, but it happens with so many things like cereal or even over-the-counter medicine. My uncle swore by Advil for years until I showed him the bottle of ibuprofen that had the exact same active ingredients for half the price. Now he's the one checking labels in the store for the generic version first.