Generic Products You’re Better Off Avoiding

Buying generic is a great way to save some money. In a time when people are stretched thin when it comes to their monthly budgets, brand names cost more than ever, leaving some people wondering how they can cut some corners.

Buying generic items is a good way to save some money, but there are some items you should stick to purchasing name brand.

If you’re working on your budget and thinking about cutting some corners when it comes to brand names and generic options, there are simply some generic items to avoid.

Learn more about these items today. You can save money without forfeiting quality and safety by skipping some generic items.

Baby Products

There’s a pretty significant price difference between some brand-name baby products and their generic counterparts.

Unfortunately, the reason for that in many instances is the big gap in quality. Your baby’s health and safety are the most important things, which means there are some products that you just can’t risk going generic with.

While you may be able to get by with baby wipes, bottles, or pacifiers, some other products should be brand names.

Baby Formula

Baby formula is expensive, but if you’re not going to be breastfeeding your child, you’ll need a formula that provides all of your child’s nutritional needs.

Even though generic formulas must meet FDA guidelines, some of them still just aren’t as good as their counterparts that carry a brand name.

One of the reasons that brand-name baby formulas cost more is that many of them have proprietary blends of nutrients and minerals. While you may need to pay a little more for them, they’re usually worth it. This becomes doubly true if your child has any allergies or special nutritional needs.

Strollers and Car Seats

Strollers and car seats are another pair of items that you shouldn’t buy generic. Off-brand strollers usually don’t last as long since they’re made with cheaper materials. Instead of saving money, you’ll end up spending more when you have to purchase replacements.

When it comes to car seats, buying generic not only means that you forfeit quality, but they’re just not as safe.

While your state undoubtedly has laws that cover how car seats must be attached to your car and the FDA monitors car seat production, choosing safer, high-quality materials keeps your child safe in the event of a dreaded car accident.

Medications and Health Products

There is a lot of misinformation and unnecessary paranoia when it comes to some generic medications. When you go to your pharmacy, you probably get a generic version of the medication that your doctor writes for you.

In most states, the law requires pharmacies to dispense the generic equivalent of a drug unless instructed to choose the brand name product by the doctor. However, this is because generic prescription medications must be therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name version of those products by law. The FDA regulates this.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case when it comes to over-the-counter (OTC) medications and other health products.

While OTC medications are required by law to have the same active ingredient as their brand-name counterpart, that doesn’t always translate to the medications being exactly the same. This means that there may be some difference in how the drug is absorbed by the body, which is referred to as bioavailability.

In rare instances, this is even a problem in prescription medications, which is why prescribers have the right to require brand-name medications for their patients.

There’s also some debate about the effectiveness of OTC medications when it comes to generics. Some cold medicines, allergy treatments, and other OTC products may lack the efficacy that brand-name products offer.

If you’re purchasing something vital for the health and safety of you or someone in your home, consider spending a few extra dollars and getting the brand name.

Electronics

As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our daily lives, quality and durability are everything when you’re shopping for electronics and tech accessories.

Generic electronics might save you money upfront, but the lack of quality, shorter life expectancy, and even safety issues that can come with them make it smarter to just purchase a brand name that you know and trust.

Laptops and Cell Phones

One area that people often try to go generic involves chargers for their cellphones, tablets, and even laptops. Not only do they often run into computability issues, but several studies indicate that these off-brand accessories may pose fire hazards and other safety risks.

Some generic chargers don’t go through the safety tests that brand-name products do, which is how the companies that produce them save some money.

Headphones

When it comes to earbuds and headphones, it’s easy to only look at the price tag, but that’s not the best way to choose your products.

First, generic earbuds are usually less comfortable because they aren’t made from the same high-quality materials as some of the more expensive options on the market. Those cheaper materials aren’t just used on the outside of those items, but they also impact the wiring inside. This leads to lower sound quality and more frustration with your earbuds or headphones.

In the world of electronics, you get what you pay for, so trying to be cheap when it comes to your sound accessories leads to more problems.

Kitchen Staples

While there are some food items that are just as good in their generic form, other kitchen staples are just better in their more expensive, brand-name form.

This is especially true when it comes to items like tea and coffee, which go through a rigorous manufacturing process before they ever get into your kitchen. The quality assurance that major coffee and tea companies have in place ensures that their products taste better than some of the generic options on the market.

If you care about ethical business practices when it comes to the products that you buy, it’s worth noting that some major companies spend money on ethical sourcing practices. This may mean that they charge more in the stores, but it’s because they’re trying to do things ethically.

There are also several studies available that indicate that there is a big difference in the quality between generic spices and brand-name spices.

Typically, brand-name spices are considered more potent and provide better flavor without having to use more of the product. This means that you may not be saving a lot of money when it comes to buying generic spices because you’ll have to use more of them to get the same result.

Tires and Other Car Parts

When you think about the word “generic,” you probably think about medications and possibly food items. However, there is also a huge demand for generic car parts, including brakes and tires.

While you may not go to the store and pick these items up yourself, you’ll have a choice when you go to the garage as to how much you want to spend on your vehicle.

Some garages have deals with lesser-known tire manufacturers that allow them to offer their tires at a major discount when compared to some of the most trusted names in the industry. Unfortunately, there’s usually a reason that those tires are cheaper.

Brand-name tires are better than generics in virtually every way. This is also true of brakes, windshield wipers, and other car parts that you have to change every so often.

Not only does the tread last longer, but you’ll also experience better handling in adverse weather conditions, making brand-name tires a safer option.

Paint

If you’re tackling a DIY project in your home and need to repaint some walls, it’s better to choose a more expensive brand than generic paint.

Not only will you not have to spend more time applying multiple coats, but you’ll also notice that brand-name paint goes on more evenly and smoother, which creates the look that you had in mind when you were planning your project.

The paint itself isn’t the only area where you should avoid buying generic. Brand-name painter’s tape, rollers, brushes, and other accessories are simply superior to their generic counterparts.

While it does mean that you’ll have to pay a bit more, you’ll have an easier time completing your project, and the results will look much better.

Be Wise When Choosing Generic

Buying generic is a great way to save some money, but it’s not always the right choice. When it comes to the items that we’ve discussed here, plan on spending the extra money to ensure quality, durability, and safety.