#Microblog Monday 294: Brands
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Josh is doing grocery shopping for a few people every two weeks. We have been telling people to give us all their acceptable alternatives because things are often sold-out or missing from the shelves.
One thing this has taught me is how little brand matters at the end of the day. I mean, yes, there are times when something isn’t kosher, so we can’t get it, or it contains an extra ingredient that makes it unusable. But for the most part, while I went in with strong brand preferences, I am walking out of it not caring anymore.
Or not caring as much anymore.
I’m just grateful for my brand-I’ve-never-heard-of cooking spray and generic toilet paper.
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12 comments
I definitely have brand preferences, but in most cases, if nothing else was truly obtainable, another brand/generic would do. Minus a few things, that I’d rather go without, or last ditch, I’d make it myself.
I’ll admit to being brand-particular. But right now, with all the shortages going on, beggars can’t always be choosers.
I know what you mean. At this time, I don’t care about brands but on good days i prefer to stick to what I like. I hope the good days come back soon.
Hope you are well, Mel!
We have been introduced to many new brands as well, or new types of things we were already purchasing. The only burger buns available are some sort of brioche and I usually buy whole wheat? Sold!
Groceries have become such an interesting experience. I was already doing grocery pick up somewhat regularly and now that it’s the preferred way for many, it’s become a lot more intense. Staying up till midnight to get a pick up time, waiting while the too few workers scramble to get my order together, and not being given any options for substitutes if my items aren’t available. If there’s an acceptable sub in the store, they give it to me. If not, nothing. And no one asks me.
I’m willing to accept this as a necessary evil because I’m certainly not going to take up anyone’s time with a return because it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. But it’s yet another way the pandemic has made life so much more tense. I used to know all my grocery pick up people. We would chat and load bags into my car together. Now it’s all business and I can’t help.
There are a few items I’m extremely picky about brand (yogurt comes to mind, along with cheese crackers). Most stuff, though, I’ll at least try the store brand or whatever happens to be on sale. Like you, these days, I’ve just been grateful to get whatever is available.
I hear that, Mel. I still remember that mid March day (the last time I was at the grocery store) when hubby & I contemplated the abundance of our brand of toilet paper at the store, and decided against stockpiling (as we didn’t want to add to the frenzy). Three weeks later, hubby was only able to buy a single roll of a different brand of TP. Now I’m just grateful we haven’t had to cut up our sheets…
Oh, and happy to see #MicroblogMondays are still a thing. Sending loads of good thoughts to you and yours.
Oh yeah. All my usual preferences have gone out the window. It’s a luxury to be choosy!
I was just going to say what Lori said. Yes, brand preferences are out the window. I’m lucky to have had so much stored at home already (pantry hoarder instincts and earthquake preparedness), but I’ve just about run out of my favourite Thai stir-fry paste, and I know that’s unlikely to be in our local supermarket.
Brand preferences are a privilege. One of my sisters, who lives in a small town, was complaining that she (and all her neighbours) now have no option but to shop at their local supermarket, which is much more expensive than the one 15 minutes away in a nearby city, that is blocked off from them. She’s lucky that her husband is an essential worker (but not at risk – in food production) so is still getting paid, but it’s tough on the elderly or those who are struggling financially. Like you, I’m just thankful to have whatever we can find, and to be able to afford them.
I def have brand/flavor/type preferences for some things. But since I’m trying to avoid going to the grocery store, I pick one store and hope for the best whereas I used to go to 2-3 stores a week.
We are using Instacart, and the replacements then can be out of our control — but like others said, can’t be choosy. The only thing that sucks is that I have spent a long time figuring out which GF brands I like best, and I am not able to get those anymore (I am totally unable to have my GF bagels or waffles, which in the grand scheme of things is probably okay because carbs). BUT, I am also discovering new things that aren’t totally gross. So that’s a positive.
And also positive is that I can have the food at all, and that I can afford the premium price put on gluten free food (not a choice for me, thanks to Celiac, but the ability to pick and choose brands and not worry about pricing is my choice, which is a privilege for sure).
I wondered about this a week or so ago. Having been in the ‘whatever is on the shelf is what we’re buying’ situation we’re trying lots of new brands. New floor cleaner – win, love it. Store brand toilet paper – absolutely fine, half the cost of the usual stuff. I wonder if I will revert to my habitual brands when all this is over, or if I will be more willing to try new brands, just to try them. Although, there is no emotional labor in trying new things at the moment, and that might return when there are more options. Placing less emphasis on having ‘our brand’ is probably a good place to be, I think.
I’ve never been too attached to brands – we do most of our shopping at Aldi, so house brands are the standard. There are a few preferences that I have, so next time I hit a different store, I’ll pick up what I need. Those are a few specialty items that don’t sell out much anyway.