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the_original_Retro t1_jaenkk8 wrote

A LOT of reasons.

  • Name brands often have sexier packaging, assembly, and presentation than not-name brands. A lot of people are into that, and pay the mark-up on the name brand.
  • Name brands sometimes go on sale based on discounts from their manufacturer for lower prices than non-name brands. You can often score really decent deals on stuff like branded laundry detergent, shampoos, canned sauces, and so on. You just have to wait for the sale.
  • Name brands are ADVERTISED. Want an example? "Aspirin" is "Acetylsalicylic Acid". Which do you think most people recognize? They'll buy Aspirin and Tylenol because they "know" what it is due to seeing the ads. But they won't buy ASA or Ibuprofen, even though they're the same thing.
  • People are really gullible. Brands tell stories about their product that people believe, and so they buy them rather than no-brand stuff.
  • Some name brands are simply better than no-name. I've never found wheat chaff in my brand flour, and I do a LOT of cooking. I have found wheat chaff, and had to sift it out, in the non-branded stuff. And most tomato sauce is far better when branded, trust me on this. (I make a ton of pasta).

All of these things make people go to your store and buy your store's stuff. A great, great many people would never go to your store if it only had non-branded stuff though.

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BloodAndTsundere t1_jaexedx wrote

Re: your Aspirin example.

Food is of course a matter of taste and name brand food items are often (but not always!) simply different from generics. But I can’t for the life of me see why you’d buy name brand OTC meds besides allergies or maybe a kid who has to have the superhero packaging or a very specific version of artificial cherry flavor

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CheeseMakingMom t1_jaf2e8q wrote

I have yet to see a generic version of Advil Dual Action, which is truly a miracle pill.

And as an all-year-long “seasonal allergy” sufferer, there’s really no generic allergy medication that comes close to Zyrtec in relieving my allergy symptoms.

The generic version of BioFreeze has an odd odor, and seems greasier than the original.

There are justifiable reasons to not purchase generic medications.

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the_original_Retro t1_jaf1zmb wrote

You just gave three separate examples of why you would, and you're ONE person.

Now extend your post to someone else.

  • "It's the only thing I ever see advertised on TV."
  • "9 out of 10 doctors recommend it compared to... well, the other... stuff"
  • "My niece told me she saw a poster for it and it helped her sick baby."
  • "It's been around for over a hundred years!"
  • "I am a Huge fan of Politician X, and he promoted it!"
  • "I just love their advertisements, they make me laugh so hard!"

And keep going.

Yes, some of those answers are probably indicative of someone that's not as aware or smart as you.

But that doesn't matter if they spend their money on the brand product in question.

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