Do Supermarket Own Brands Cut it in the Electrical Department?
I completely admit it – I often fall for brand names. As while my hand might hover for a second over the lesser-priced own brand and one part of my brain says but look at the money you will be saving, it’s almost as though it has been programmed into me that own brands taste worse, don’t last and are just not up to par.
So when I was contacted by Debt Free Direct to take part in an experiment to see if buying own-brand electronics could really help save you money. Or do they just end up sitting in a corner as they are about as useful as blowing a raspberry? I wanted to take part for the sake of my own pocket.
I was sent three products from Sainsbury’s own range of home electricals to try out. And I have to admit I’m really surprised by the results and just how much I am using one particular item I received.
Sainsbury’s Stainless Steel Sandwich Toaster
I have a small addiction to toasted cheese sandwiches. So when I moved out of home over 10 years ago, one of my first purchases was a sandwich toaster.
For some reason though, once it stopped working, I never got around to replacing it. Perhaps it was because I could always melt the cheese in the microwave so why shell out pennies on another appliance?
Of course, I didn’t realise you could pick up an own brand for under £10 and perhaps even if I did, I wouldn’t have grabbed one. Due to assuming it would take forever to heat up and cook my much-wanted toastie.
However, I can say with a very well tested toastie belly – this one gets a thumbs up from me. It takes a few minutes to toast your cheese sandwich to perfection. While a microwave can do it quicker, you aren’t treated to the toastie goodness that a sandwich toaster offers.
This own-brand sandwich toaster costs just £9.87 and for that price, you are getting a double toaster. Which includes non-stick plates and has a thermostat to help you get the right temperature to make your perfect snack.
Sainsbury’s 8.5L 3-tier Steamer
This is another appliance that I’ve just thought about buying, but then put off. As I was left thinking, would it be worth shelling out so much money on something that I may not use that often? Of course, unlike the branded options, a supermarkets own version comes in at a much more pocket-friendly £19.99.
Again, as with the sandwich toaster, my main worry was it just not cooking well, taking hours to do something a much pricier branded one could do in minutes. To give it a real test we decided to do a 3 person meal of salmon, broccoli and potatoes. We set up an hour for cooking but were pleasantly surprised when it was done in just 20 minutes.
As for the food? Well, that tasted delicious and was finished by all very quickly. In fact, as well as just how quickly the steamer got things cooked. I was also impressed with just how tasty the food from it was, perhaps I had been putting off getting that steamer for just a bit too long.
Sainsbury’s V8715 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
I said at the beginning there was one item that I was using so much more than I would have expected. This is it! It’s a handheld vacuum. It’s the most expensive item on the own-brand run down coming in at £29.99. However, that’s still around 1/2 the price of some of the own brands.
This own brands vacuum is made to clean up both dry dust as well as liquids. While I have yet to try it with liquids, for sawdust, hay and dog fur it has become a daily tool in my cleaning arsenal. The only time I have found suction has gone down is either when it needs emptying or the battery is dying. Of course, it’s not going to suck up as much as a normal vacuum. However for, just spilled items or quick dust bunny clean-ups it is brilliant.
Conclusion on Own Brand Products.
So what has this foray into own brands taught me? Well definitely that I shouldn’t keep putting buying items off. If I think they could be useful, they most probably will be. But more importantly, I have learnt that own brand doesn’t necessarily mean bad. In fact, they can work just as well. Plus by saving some money buying an electrical appliance, well I can save for something more important.
The one thing of course I can’t give testament to with this post is the longevity of these products. Which in the long term is of course a very important factor in choosing the right appliance for you. However, this trial has definitely made me more likely to look into an own-brand product.
What do you do when it comes to buying products? Do you go for brand names or are supermarkets own brands a-ok with you?
*The products included in this post were a gift from Debt Free Direct as an experiment on money-saving.
it was very helpfull article.
I once bought a supermarket kettle when pennies were tight. I intended it to be a stopgap until payday – I used it for two years! So I agree that supermarket brands are just as good. My 7.99-that’ll-do-fine kettle lasted as long as the 70/00 kettle it replaced!
QUICKLY FOOD MACHINERY CO., LTD. was established in 1985. We are a professional manufacturer and exporter of commercial stainless steel kitchen equipments of steamer & warmer!
I’m a self-confessed cheapskate, and look for the cheapest possible products in all departments. My sandwich toaster was only £3.50 at Argos around 9 years ago when we first bought our house, and has done us proud being used weekly at least for those 9 years. Sadly, it gave up the ghost a few months back and I’m yet to replace it (laziness). I think they’re priced around £4.94 in Argos now, and do as good a job as a branded one imho. I’ve had to make my omelettes the old fashioned way since it died though 🙁 (Sandwich Toasted omelettes are the beast!)
Most of my other gadgets are own brand – from my son’s Tesco hudl, to my ‘smartprice’ kettle from asda, the few branded products we do have, have either been bought cheaply in sales, been given as presents or just given free by friends or family. I honestly don’t see a difference x
You got awesome items here! I also use steamer in cooking veggies and fish 🙂
It depends on what I’m buying… However, in recent years, I’ve noticed that Supermarket brands have gotten better… They now compete against known brand items fairly well.
Luckily I don’t know any brands so it’s never so much of an issue for me. One of the benefits to growing up in the third world I guess. 🙂 I will usually go by whatever gets good reviews online.
It depends what I’m buying, if it’s something that’s going to get loads of use I go for the brand names as I have been stung buying cheaper brands which didn’t last any time at all.
I go for brand names on some things, but on small appliances, sometimes I’ll try an off-brand. As long as it does the job, I’m happy!
I think it all depends on what items. So things are actually better from the supermarket brands but others, you are better off going for the department brands. It’s all about choices and what money you are willing to spend.
I’m quite okay in purchasing supermarket brands. I find myself adjusting my level of expectations whenever I do that though. I’m curious to see how this 3 “devices” perform for you in the long run. 🙂
I don’t think named brand always means a better product. I’ve bought store brand items that worked great also like my coffee maker, toaster & deep fryer. I think the only thing I’m brand picky about are things like cell phones, computers and items like that.
I always go for brand names. But, I would never turn down a supermarket brand if someone gift it to me.
I will agree that store brands are just as good as name brands. I am snob about some items but I love saving money more than being a snob!
we have quiet a few brand named items which we got as wedding gifts but when we buy things like this ourselves we tend to go for supermarket ones. We not had any problems yet.
I usually look at reviews before buying a product, but usually supermarket brands work well for me!
most of the stores in my area don’t have store brand small electric appliances. I shop by a combination of feature and price, so would consider a store brand if it had the features I was looking for.
I agree about store brands being just as good. I mean, if you were to compare labels, with the name brands – most of the time they are exactly the same.
I have a mix of both supermarket and named brands…
Great buys at Asda Homeware and more expensive at Lakeland and John Lewis..bit of label snobbery!
I look forward to updates, but that sandwich maker is a bargain price
I would never think to purchase these items at a supermarket. But, next time I am there I’m going to look for a handheld vacuum – I really want one of those!
They can be just as good, it all depends on the manufacturer they choose. I would expect a store brand from a higher-end grocery store (Whole Foods, Schnuck’s, etc.) to be better than one from a discount grocer.
I don’t see a different from store brands to name brands so we always just go with the less expensive.
I’ve always used supermarket for thing like kettles, i don’t think there is much difference, things aren’t really made to last a life time nowadays.
As a student, me and my flatmates have invested in a fair few shops own brand electrics. And it has definitely been hit and miss. I’ve learned to avoid the cheapest ranges (ASDA smart price, Tesco everyday value etc). The toasters from both shops are been utterly useless (Tesco one broke after 1 month…), my handblender from ASDA was thrown away after 6 months (and replaced with a £30 handblender/whisk with a jug, which has been worth every single penny). Kettles have been fine though!
I don’t find supermarket brands any different to others to be honest. Most items are made by the same companies, just differently branded.