Iman’s constant cravings… » What’s in a brand name?

What’s in a brand name?

Under: Ugh!, Uncategorized @ 10:40 pm on Sunday, 11.4.07

When it comes to specific things, I choose brand names over generic … the main reason being quality … I’ve always believed that brand names are better quality than generic and so I’d rather spend more on something that will last me a long time than spending less on something I wont get much out of … I’m starting to doubt though the quality in/of certain brands … here is what has happened through out the past several months:

- The several items I bought from Banana Republic are completely of no use after the second wear!

-The one item I bought from J Crew is of no use after the first wear!

- The shoes I bought from Aldo are also of no use after a few wears! I actually went to Aldo and made an official complaint about that … I was told to bring them in and they will fix them! Whatever. Actually, I was planning on boycotting the Aldo on Michigan Avenue for a good reason. Three months ago, on a sunny morning on my way to work, a very unfortunate incident happened…as I was walking from my car to the train station, my sandals (that I had bought from Ramallah early in the summer… pricey but cheap quality…) started falling apart…I have quite a walk, so I prayed that they’ll last me till I get to work…but my prayers went unanswered .. as I was going up the stairs to go on to the street, the sandals fell apart completely. The thought of stepping on the ground with my bare feet grossed me out … Luckily, I was able to catch a cab so I didn’t have to walk with bare feet that much … I got to Aldo at 930 …I tried to push the door open, but it was locked. One of the workers came to the door and said they open at 10. I waived my sandals and asked to be let in … she said “No! Sorry…” the nerve … a lady having a smoke in the corner came up to me and asked what happened … I explained that my sandals broke and I need to buy new ones, but Aldo wont let me in … she said: “I’m from Ann Taylor across the street, we’ll let you in. I’ll call and have them know!” How nice of her! At this point, I didn’t care about having to cross the street with my bare feet; all I wanted was something to wear so I can get to work! I really like Ann Taylor’s clothes - it’s one of my favorite stores, but I never bought shoes from there before that day… I ended up buying two… and vowed to never, again, buy anything from inconsiderate Aldo!
- After a make-up consultation that ended up in matching my colors ‘perfectly’ and me spending over $100 on those Este Lauder (which I was supposed to be boycotting too) products, I break out (that was totally bizarre!!!) and so that too is of no use!

- October has been the most horrendous month for my hair … and I blame that on the very expensive (I am very embarrassed to admit the price) deep conditioner I bought!

I think I should stop paying for names!

10 Comments »

eyad

11.5.07 @ 1:31 am

“brands” ?!!! they steal our money, now you can even find generic names (technology improved) not that big difference, :)

salam

11.5.07 @ 4:30 am

I’ve had 2 bad experiences with Aldo shoes recently..and I just bought one from there last week..I don’t know why I do this..I hope I dont regret it soon!

Dima

11.5.07 @ 4:39 am

ummm I can’t but pay for brands! When i know that it’s wrong 99.99999% of the times, but still i guess it’s psychological, if it’s not a brand name i feel it’s cheap and wouldn’t last. So i’d rather pay so much money on 1 item that i feel confident with, than spending the same amount on 10 items!

asoom

11.5.07 @ 6:16 am

I definately look for quality and usually higher price is associated with higher quality but not always and really the only way you can determine that is through experience, like you!

For example I used to work at BEBE which is on the expensive side but the quality there was definately lacking, except for the logo wear and the jeans, you’re basically paying for the name and the design, especially the accessories-those were horrible.

Prescriptives makeup is on the expensive side ($36 foundation) but I think it’s worth it, the best foundation I ever tried; Mac makeup is also expensive but I think it’s bad quality (even their oil-free stuff leaves you greasy).

My 2 year old black leather coach purse still looks new, but my 2 month old juicy couture suede bag that cost twice as much is already turning weird colors.

Everything I ever bought from the rather low-priced H&M always fell apart and didn’t last, however Old Navy is also cheap and I still wear some old navy stuff from years ago-they also have some really great jeans.

victoria’s secret has the worst bras ever and JC Penney has some of the best for 1/2 of the price. Lerner NY makes the best underwear.

When it comes to hair, the best things that I found for my hair are in fact expensive (frederick fekkai, aveda) but also the brands that did the most damage to my hair or also expensive (matrix, redken).

The point that I’m trying to make is that usually but not always the better stuff costs you more however just because something is expensive it doesn’t mean it’s of high quality and you really just have to experience trying different things to know what’s what.

Summer

11.5.07 @ 9:23 am

I hate Aldo, they have the most uncomfortable shoes on the face of the earth…nine west are much better.
for Makeup, i love MAC, they have the best mascara, and i also use the good old cover girl.
Gap and Old Navy for jeans, they have the best fit for me ( you know, short!) New York and company (Lerner) always have quality clothes that do not fade or wear out…basic colors and basic styles, so i shop there a lot.
Brand names are not always the best, you tend to pay for the name more than anything else, that is why they can get away with bad quality goods.

7aki Fadi

11.5.07 @ 10:40 am

Banana Republic and Gap are the same company. The same people manufacture their clothes but they stick 2 different tags on them.

11.5.07 @ 2:22 pm

give me armani or give me death!
just kidding :D

away from all the girly estee lauder and make up talk :P

regarding the title of this thread .. “What’s in a brand name?” .. that could easily be the title of a book .. i couldnt even begin to try answering it without writing an essay .. and since im too lazy to do that .. no further comment :D

Mohanned

11.5.07 @ 6:00 pm

7aki add to that old navy, and no they don’t make anythig..

Google Li&Fung..

asoom

11.5.07 @ 6:37 pm

I remembered a story so I had to come back and tell it!

My best friend used to work at this cheap store called “wet seal” which is owned by the same folks that own the more pricy Arden B., she swore to me one day they they got a shipment of boxes of pants from Arden B. and they took the Arden B. tags off, $78, and replaced those with Wet Seal tags, $30 (or something close to that I can’t remember exactly), and then put the pants on their floor to sell for less than half of the Arden B. price!

HadeS

11.7.07 @ 12:32 am

I KNOW!! personally Dior eye makeup never works for me! but ’surprise surprise’ maybelline does!

i think its a trial and error process. and that sandal breakdown incident, tenzeker ma ten3ad!

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

What’s in a brand name?

10 Comments »

Leave a comment