[olog-hai]

I think you're overstating the case. I found that Ivory soap dries out my skin, while Dove doesn't. The store brand single-blade disposable razors at Duane Reade tend to get badly clogged with hair, while Bic's version doesn't clog at all. The wooden spoon from the 99¢ store snapped in half after a few months of use. It's still true that you get what you pay for.

[barrkel]

I agree. But it's often a little more subtle. Here in the UK, most major supermarket chains have "own-brand" lines of major product lines; everything from bread to plastic bags. The "own-brand" products are produced in the same factories as one of the branded products (it would make very little sense to anything else), but corners are often cut elsewhere. Own-brand pizzas have skimpier and lower-quality toppings, sliced bread is poorly mixed, paper towels have fewer plies, etc. On the other hand, some products, like whole milk, are harder to cut corners on, and others, like various area cheeses etc., are unique and the product of choice is simply the one who's taste you prefer.