People Share The Cheap Brands That Are The Exact Same As The Expensive Ones And It Will Save You Loads

Cheap lookalikes can be a gold mine when you know where to spot them, and this Reddit thread is packed with examples people swear are basically the same product in different packaging.

The conversation started with users comparing bargain buys to pricier name brands, then quickly turned into a long list of everyday items, from medicine and milk to car parts, clothing, and headphones.

By the end, it is hard not to look at store shelves a little differently. Read on.

The thread began over on Reddit, when a user asked: "Sometimes cheap and expensive items are the same thing with the only difference being the brand name. What are some examples of this?"

The question was posted by financial expert

That kicked off a flood of examples from people who think branding does a lot more work than it should.

Love to rip off medical staff!

"In many industries, including healthcare, there's a significant markup on products that are marketed as 'specialized' or 'medical grade.'For instance, a simple protective glove can be sold for exorbitant prices under the guise of being tailored for medical use.It's essential to recognize that often, these products are not fundamentally different from their cheaper counterparts, which can lead to unnecessary expenses."

As if military budgets aren't inflated enough

lalondtm:

"The military operates the same way. My buddy is in purchasing for the navy. They buy tools, equipment, raw materials and such and pay anywhere from 50% to 500% markup. One example he gave me was he had to order like 500 screws for some project. They paid $1.18 per screw. You could buy the EXACT same screws in a box from Lowe’s for like $12. Corruption in military contracts costs taxpayers billions upon billions."

Car parts

Off-brand medicine is often the exact same at the fraction of the price...

"When it comes to over-the-counter medications, many consumers are unaware that generic versions often contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts. For example, both ZzzQuil and Benadryl contain 25mg of diphenhydramine, yet ZzzQuil is typically sold at a significantly higher price point."

Just check percentages/dilution levels!

Hm....

"Many consumers are unaware that the same manufacturers produce both high-end and store-brand products. This often leads to significant savings without sacrificing quality."

Huh that's definitely newsworthy!

Randomusername12545:

"In the UK, there was a news story about a man finding another brand of crisps (chips) in a multipack.This made national news.Edit. Now my highest ranked comment is about crisps. And for those asking here is the storyhttps://metro.co.uk/2017/04/18/it-turns-out-that-aldi-hoops-might-be-hula-hoops-in-different-packaging-6582393/"

Personal care products got their own share of attention, especially the way gendered packaging can push prices up for nearly identical items.

And if you’re hunting deals, Amazon’s $27 Fire Stick discount might scratch that “cheap but identical” itch.

That one hit a nerve with a lot of shoppers.

All knowledge is useful knowledge

"When it comes to finding value in products, sometimes the less expensive options can offer the same quality as their pricier counterparts. It's all about understanding what you truly need and not getting caught up in brand names."

Noted

"However, some items, like Oreos, have a unique flavor profile that is hard to replicate.""It's important to balance cost-saving with personal preference when choosing products."

Very valid way to identify this!

Some things are better bought from small business!

"The perception of value is often skewed by branding and marketing. Many consumers are unaware that they can find equivalent products at a fraction of the cost. For instance, spices marketed under premium brands can be significantly more expensive than those found in ethnic markets, which often provide the same quality for less."

Headphones!

"For instance, when testing audio equipment, it's not uncommon for consumers to prefer the sound of budget-friendly options over high-end brands. This highlights that brand loyalty can cloud judgment when it comes to actual performance.""Ultimately, the best choice is one that meets your needs and preferences, regardless of the label attached to it."

A lot of the time, the only difference between expensive and cheap clothing is the company's profit margin--the workers are still paid the same

LucyVialli:

"A lot of clothing. Most of it is made in the same sweatshops in China/Bangladesh/wherever, the only difference is the name on the label."

They're milking us!

ThisIsCody_:

"Milk. I was in a WalMart looking at milk and an old man stopped me. He said he retired from the dairy industry. He told me the same milk plant, from the same cows, fills different colored cartons, from the same batch. He tapped his nose and winked and said, “it’s all the same shit.”"

Well then

wolfadeus:

"My grandfather owned a textiles company and he sold the exact same shirts to Walmart to be sold for <$10 and to Polo to be sold for >$60"

Watch out for packaging tricks

ImNotRacistBuuuut:

"HDMI cables were a huge offender of this back when they were first introduced. They found all sorts of ways to justify paying over a hundred bucks for five feet of cable. But in reality, it's not about quality, but about customer manipulation.Let's say you see three HDMI cables on the shelf. First one is just wound and ziptied, marked $5. The second is $25, and it's in a nice paper box with some snazzy graphics on it. Third one is $120, has a thick box with dark maroon and gold graphics, looks ornate and fancy.The consumer is going to think "well, I don't want something that looks cheap and will probably break after a week of use," so they skip the $5 cable. But then they look at the $120 cable. They figure "ah-hah, I'm no fool, I know a rip-off when I see it, this is all just fancy packaging!" So they skip the $120 cable. They happily choose the $25 cable, believing they have outwitted those clever marketing folks at the HDMI Cable Factory, and returns home with their smart sensible purchase thinking they won.But they haven't.The cables are all the same.

They just spent $20 more for a simple paper box. They were tricked by the "middle option" product, deceived into thinking it has any justifiable value over the che...[truncated]

Packaging can do a lot of heavy lifting when the product itself is basically unchanged.

I smell a rat

"When it comes to purchasing products, many consumers are unaware that the quality of generic brands can be just as high as their more expensive counterparts. For example, in the candle industry, the same materials are often used, and the only difference is the branding. This can lead to significant savings without sacrificing quality."

Cereals are not the same!!!!

Do you have any brand hacks to save money? Let us know in the comments.

Wondering how “same brand, different price” turns into drama, read about refusing to split pricey pet food costs.