Are you loyal to any particular brands? Will you spend more to use a specific product or service because you feel the brand is superior to other brands?

Do you have a $3 a day Starbucks coffee addiction, despite the fact that you can get free coffee at work?

Will you spend a few extra bucks to shop at Target, when Wal-Mart offers the same products at a lower price?



Personally, my biggest loyalty is to Starwood brand hotels. I'll pick a Westin or W hotel over any other brand any day, regardless of price.

I also prefer Jetblue over any other airline, because I feel like there are more perks.



So, how have you been brandwashed?

10/5/2011 10:57:27 AM

not really

10/5/2011 11:02:52 AM

I like Hilton hotels because of the quality, availability, and rewards points.

10/5/2011 11:05:16 AM

Here are some.

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/message_topic.aspx?topic=455104

10/5/2011 11:09:46 AM

Certain guitars yes.

10/5/2011 11:10:33 AM

I'm particular about the brands I will and won't wear for no particular reason. I'll wear converse, puma, and DC, but I won't wear nike, adidas, or reebok.

I always preferred Barnes and Noble to Borders or Books-A-Million, once again with no real reason.

10/5/2011 11:11:46 AM

Quote :

"Do you have a $3 a day Starbucks coffee addiction, despite the fact that you can get free coffee at work?"

Yes, but no, no free coffee.

10/5/2011 11:12:27 AM

^ LOL. I get free coffee at work, but never drank it bc Starbucks tasted better. Then met the bf, who brews coffee at home every morning. It's ready when we wake up. Def saving more $$$$ on that now. Hard to turn down coffee served conveniently in bed.

Though Starbucks still tastes better.

10/5/2011 11:17:23 AM

i will choose Target over WalMart any day of the week, just because I can find an open register when i want to check out

and Harris Teeter over Food Lion

I don't drink coffee, except maybe 2 times a winter, so I don't have a clue about that

I'll fly SouthWest whenever possible

and I'd rather drive anything over a Nissan

cause NMSJ

10/5/2011 11:24:45 AM

i am fairly loyal to Shimano fishing rods and reels. i'll buy other brands, but only after doing some pretty good research. i don't feel like i have to research shimano's stuff that hard because it's always been good equipment for me and they have a great warranty policy.

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 11:26 AM. Reason : and i like carhartt work clothes. just seem more durable to me.]

10/5/2011 11:25:47 AM

Apparently it is possible to "love" a brand: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/opinion/you-love-your-iphone-literally.html?_r=1&src=tp&smid=fb-share

10/5/2011 11:26:03 AM

i'm a sucker for antique labels

and i know exactly what i'm doing

which makes it even worse

10/5/2011 11:28:05 AM

ok I lied.

Fleece jackets - columbia
cargo shorts - columbia
socks - smartwool
tobacco - skoal (old habit)
soda - pepsi

10/5/2011 11:29:11 AM

lol

10/5/2011 11:30:00 AM

In my experience, target's not actually any more expensive than Walmart. I've found the same home phone set for $78 at target (not on sale) when it was $115 at walmart. Toiletries & basics seem to run about the same. Plus I won't get shot at target.

10/5/2011 11:32:27 AM

really?

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-30/justice/north.carolina.shooting_1_apex-store-shot?_s=PM:CRIME

10/5/2011 11:34:24 AM

I have pretty much given up on shopping at Wal mart for groceries unless I just don't have any other option. I get so sick of the lines, shitty produce, and crap they give you regarding coupons. I don't mind paying a little more at HT or Target.

As for individual brands I am loyal to. I pretty much won't eat hot dogs unless they are these:




[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 11:37 AM. Reason : smaller image]

10/5/2011 11:34:34 AM

I am fiercely loyal to Frank's Red Hot. Don't try to give me Tabasco or Texas Pete!

10/5/2011 11:36:23 AM

Honda - because I can fix the cars myself and they last forever and easy to modify.
"True" brand- commercial refrigerators. only brand that makes quality units that don't break down often. The designs are easy to understand, the components are compartmentalized and you can fix them with common sense or by simply switching out parts.

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 11:37 AM. Reason : .]

10/5/2011 11:36:45 AM

Quote :

"Will you spend a few extra bucks to shop at Target, when Wal-Mart offers the same products at a lower price? "

For me it is not the loyalty to target but the convience of not having to wander a store bigger than 3 football fields, having to mingle with the trash of society, and having to wait in 20 minute lines at checkout.

My time thus justifies the extra 20 cents to purchase a product from Target over Walmart.

To answer the topic.

I prefer HT for groceries over Lowes or Food Mutt

I like RL shirts.

I tend to only buy sony electronics except for my Sharp TV.

Anything but Apple

10/5/2011 11:46:02 AM

I don't like the store brand Q tips. Never enough cotton.

10/5/2011 11:47:00 AM

I shop Target b/c of convenience, location, and the target CC discount negates any price difference (5% off). Kroger for meat/produce.

If I can't tell much difference in quality, I'll buy whatever is cheaper, but I have no problem paying more for superior brands (Cheerios, Luzianne Tea, Prego sauce, Uncle Ben's rice, etc.). Conversely though, only target diapers, as they fit the best for my daughter.

I typically only buy Old Navy Jeans (b/c of fit, price, and they actually stock tall sizes)

I try to only fly Southwest for free bags, no change fees, and I can get an exit row for free.

If I'm traveling I tend to pick places I know I'll like over a local place I'm not familiar with.

10/5/2011 12:11:58 PM

Charmin toilet paper
GH Bass & Co. clothing (even though I do shop elsewhere)
target baby wipes
Neutrogena make-up and face wash
Canada Dry Diet Ginger Ale
LaRoc mascara
iced coffee at Starbucks
I don't fly that often but I would love to stick with JetBlu as well
Arnold's HealthFull Breads
Jif natural peanut butter creamy
Duke's mayonnaise

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 12:39 PM. Reason : ....]

10/5/2011 12:19:08 PM

put a pickle in front of me that's not a claussen and i might punch you

10/5/2011 12:21:19 PM

General mills/betty crocker. They are more allergy friendly than any of the other food conglomerates, so when I want to get processed stuff that's what I get.

10/5/2011 12:29:00 PM

Almond Breeze

iPhone

Sony

Tide

Chipotle

Florida Crystals

Classico

Target

Sunoco

Neutrogena

10/5/2011 12:34:33 PM

if it's solely for a name on a product, i very rarely brand whore.

I guess one example is last weekend, I bought a vineyard vines fleece vest at the outlet for $15. Had it said Izod on it, i'd have had zero interest in it even though there would have been no functional difference.

10/5/2011 12:39:30 PM

I'd have to do some serious thinking about this question. Without giving it more than a few minutes thought I don't think I can come up with anything.

Generally I buy the brand names I buy for a reason. And more often than not that reason is a superior product. For example I buy some generic food items at the grocery store because I can't tell any difference between them and the name brands. But some generic items I can and I won't buy those.

10/5/2011 12:43:56 PM

i will trust any REI-brand product without reading a single review...i know they're not perfect and have their fair share of mistakes in quality or design, but knowing that they stand behind everything they sell under their name (and other brands, as well) means that i have absolutely zero doubts buying one of their products (or a product from them, but i generally choose their brand)

i stay almost exclusively at marriott brand hotels

10/5/2011 12:45:04 PM

Quote :

"really?"

yeah. i'm in rocky mount so i'm talking about the rocky mount target & walmart. teenagers get kidnapped at gunpoint at the walmart here, pushed into the trunk, then dumped in the ghetto. i only go to walmart here with chris or on weekday mornings. i really try to avoid it if at all possible.

brands i like:

first ascent & eddie bauer
rei
jif creamy pb
deer park
apple
q-tips
charmin ultrastrong
bounty selectasize
HEINZ. i will not eat hunt's. we have our own heinz ketchup bottle at this cafe we go to every friday. they started ordering hunt's & we said hell nooooooooo.

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 12:53 PM. Reason : ]

10/5/2011 12:47:28 PM

Target - b/c the people who shop at Walmart suck at life
Hot Dogs - Hebrew National or Ballpark b/c I think they taste better than the others
Grocery Store - Harris Teeter, I think their store brands are better than the others and they've got a great selection
Gas - Exxon cause BP spilled the oil last
Pizza - Papa Johns when I can't get Mellow Mushroom b/c Dominos and Pizza Hut suck scrotum
Soft Drink - Coke b/c a Crown & Pepsi is fucking nasty
Bagels - Bruggers b/c Panera's and Manhattan's don't taste as good to me, and heaven is Bacon Scallion creme cheeze
Doughnuts - Krispy Kreme b/c fuck you that's why
Football - Panthers & NC State b/c they're the home team duh
Running Shoes - Asiacs and Brooks b/c after demo'ing all the other brands (across the last 5 years), these are the two that fit my arch, running style, and distance perfectly
Music Stuff - Apple b/c iTunes + iPod/iPhone = more duh
Adult Publication - Playboy b/c of.. um.. the articles.. yeah
Sports Broadcasting - NBC b/c Chris Collingsworth drunk is almost as good as John Madden drunk and b/c Joe Buck wants to have Aikmens man-baby
Tomato Sauce - Prego b/c Ragu is too damn thin
Gaming System - Playstation b/c that's what I grew up on
Religion - Agnosticism b/c I like my spiritual guilt/fulfillment to be delivered by the world and not by the clergy
Laundry Detergent - Tide b/c it doesn't make my skin break out
Light Beer - Bud Light b/c Miller Lite tastes like shit and Coors Light is water with a little beer in it
Message Board - TWW b/c you fucks are still kinda amusing

that's all i've got for right now

10/5/2011 12:57:19 PM

United because I've flown them and their partner airlines an absurd amount and have never had a bad experience with them. I'm either extremely lucky or they're better than the assholes I've dealt with at Delta and Northwest

Also store bought yogurt is nasty. I'm not a diehard van of any of the brand yogurts but I can't bring myself to eat Food Lion or Harris Teeter yogurt

10/5/2011 12:58:07 PM

Smokeless tobacco - Grizzly straight. Because I like to stay classy when I put in a dip

10/5/2011 1:01:00 PM

apple
logitech
bmw
amazon (vs marketplace sellers, buy.com, etc.)
target
pop-tarts
Heinz Ketchup


i take the spending philosophy of spend BIG on the things/brands you truly love and mercilessly scrimp on the things you are indifferent about

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM. Reason : more]

10/5/2011 1:04:22 PM

Papa Johns

American Airlines

10/5/2011 1:04:45 PM

grizzly?

and is not classy

10/5/2011 1:05:29 PM

lol o rly

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 1:10 PM. Reason : please tell me which brand of dip is "classy" ]

10/5/2011 1:10:13 PM

i guess classy could be relative.

Maybe a certain brand implies that you can probably afford a double-wide instead of a single-wide.

10/5/2011 1:11:57 PM

skoal. or cope.

grizzly is fucking gross.

lol

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 1:12 PM. Reason : l]

10/5/2011 1:12:05 PM

cope's too pricey.. I like that grizz because I can get it for $3

10/5/2011 1:13:18 PM

haha. skoal is worth the premium.

10/5/2011 1:15:03 PM

Skoal was my HS brand, Cope was my college brand, and now its Grizzly... it's all about the same, unless you're all about the flavored crap Skoal has

10/5/2011 1:16:49 PM

straight

but the cut and texture is so very important. cope is ok, a little too fine for me. and i just can't stand grizzly's cut/texture. and i can really taste a huge difference between the 3 straights.

10/5/2011 1:34:52 PM

Maui Jim sunglasses: two pairs ran me around $550. They are easily the best glasses I've owned. I have $15 cheap glasses for outdoor work, but my nice pairs for everything else.

10/5/2011 1:35:50 PM

Depends on what it is. I'm pretty picky about my athletic clothing and shoes (I prefer Tyr, Pearl Izumi, and Asics/Brooks), bike stuff (depends on the part, but Bontrager, Specialized, Axiom, Cateye come to mind), and I'm addicted to Diet Coke, but for other stuff like toothpaste or my street clothes? Mainly those are all discount or thrift store. Costco undies!

10/5/2011 1:37:18 PM

When I booze it up, I'm very brand loyal:

Vodka: Grey Goose or Pinnacle (only Pinnacle if I'm making girly cocktails and martinis)
Bourbon: Bookers or Knob Creek
Wine: Go-to low-cost wine is Barefoot Pinot Noir or Red Diamond Merlot

Also, for shopping, I love TJX stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Home Goods. Makes me feel like a hunter/gatherer of good deals. And they carry great brands at a low price.

10/5/2011 1:38:34 PM

Pretty sure they're all going to give you cancer at the same rate. ^^

[Edited on October 5, 2011 at 1:40 PM. Reason : ]

10/5/2011 1:39:45 PM

I only carry kate spade purses.

The only ginger ale I'll drink is diet Canada Dry.

And I only use Q-tip brand cotton swabs.

10/5/2011 1:41:27 PM

I always try to buy lance crackers (nabs) instead of the Food Lion Brand. Lance puts more PB and salt on theirs

10/5/2011 1:42:18 PM

Quote :

"yeah. i'm in rocky mount so i'm talking about the rocky mount target & walmart. teenagers get kidnapped at gunpoint at the walmart here, pushed into the trunk, then dumped in the ghetto. i only go to walmart here with chris or on weekday mornings. i really try to avoid it if at all possible. "

Most females I know go to the Wal-Mart in Nashville. They say it is much more civilized.

10/5/2011 1:59:16 PM