I agree with you, Jason. Even though some national brand items are better then the generic brands, its mostly psychological. If you want to spend less, ignore the pretty packaging and labeling. After you open it and try it, if you don't like it, Wal-Mart will take it back and refund your money, in full. Simple as that.
Well... two things here.
The first thing is that there are differing quality products that are produced for these off-labels. This may not be so with all products, but it's so with enough of them so that you have to try it out and see if there is a difference. In many cases, it might be fine, and then again, in many cases, you might find out that it's absolutely terrible (bad quality control there or bad raw products/lowered quality). So, it can vary and there are differences between name-brand stuff and "off-label stuff.
Now, the "second thing" here is that the problem that people have run into here with Walmart (i.e., what the article is about here) is not about the quality of the off-brand label that Walmart has -- but -- it's about the fact that Walmart has chosen to eliminate some name-brands and only carry their "off-brand" label, as the only item. And I understand from some other articles that Walmart is going to be doing more of that, too.
SO..., what has happened is that a certain number of Walmart shoppers have been pushed out (by Walmart's decision to eliminate the name-brand item) and right straight into the hands of Walmart's competitors.
And there you have it -- the stupidest marketing decision that I've heard Walmart making ... LOL...
>>>>>And there you have it -- the stupidest marketing decision that I've heard Walmart making ... LOL...
Obviously, you don't know what you're talking about.
As an old purchasing agent and manager, I've bought supplies, services and capital equipment for several industries and businesses since the 1960`s, including retail sales. As I said, the quality of Walmart in-house generic brand products is mostly as good as you'll find in national brand names. Although it wasn't always like that. Sometimes items do not measure up.
In the 12 years or so I've been buying groceries at Walmart, I'd say the generic brands have worked for me in almost all cases. After several generic items didn't measure up to my standards, I went back to the old standbys.
Walmart's marketing of these generic products is straightforward and limited to a trial and error basis. Put it on the shelf and if it sells, you've got a winner. If the item doesn't sell, you remove it and try again at some future date. May be after finding a new supplier or simply after revamping the product.
The reason Walmart, along with Safeway and King Soopers in my area of the country, are using more generic products is obvious. They're selling and saving people money!
For the most part, its good stuff. If you have a problem shopping at Walmart, go somewhere else. Just stop whining already!