However. HowEVer. I am no longer venturing into store brand territory. Let me backtrack. I am not a brand-ist. I am in no way an elitist when it comes to who makes whatever I choose to buy. Rather, I let performance dictate where my money goes. And, based solely on performance, Target's Up and Up* brand of products is becoming a last resort.
Let's see: a random sampling of Target brand products.
Baby food - This tops the list as NOT interchangeable w/ typical name brand manufacturers, (i.e., Gerber). The consistency is MUCH more runny, and I suspect the quality of fruits used is inferior to that in branded baby food.
Baby lotion (zinc oxide ointment, e.g.) - Again, loses out to branded ointment, (i.e., Desitin). Not only is the consistency far too thick and gloppy, the Target brand contains less active ingredient (zinc oxide) than typical Desitin = Desitin is a better buy, both for performance and economy (since you'll see smashing results w/ less product).
Pregnancy tests - Personally, these have been okay. However, friends have discovered a higher-than-expected incidence of false positives, especially if the tests are months and months old. Maybe my expectations are too high and the number of false positives falls w/in an average range, but... Sorry, no, I don't need that kind of excitement.
Ziploc-type bags - Adequate. Perhaps household items that are less distinguishable by performance are still okay...
Napkins - Cheap, but again adequate.
At this point, I'm turned off enough to probably not try anything else by the Target brand unless it's all that's available and I absolutely need it...
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In addition to these little branding shenanigans, WHAT is the DEAL w/ day-after candy?? I mean, not like I totally watch the calendar and plan a trip to Target AS SOON AS THEY OPEN the day after a major holiday, but c'm'on! Where they used to automatically go 50% or more off of holiday items, it's now a measly 15-30%. I mean, part of the fun is getting a great deal, and now I can't even enjoy that. It's like saying "I went shopping and got this great dress, and it was a steal!" But now, if you went shopping at Target, you'd be saying "I got this great top and half a sleeve to a dress, and just ignore those unfinished seams, and there is still some hemming to do, but it was a pretty good deal..." Well, not really like that. But yes, kind of like that. GIVE ME BACK MY RIDICULOUSLY DISCOUNTED CANDY, TARGET!!
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*Prior to the Up and Up brand, the traditional Target brand items seemed fine! I hate when companies take over stuff and then proceed to change everything about it until it's inferior and unrecognizable. Like Electrasol. ARGH. (For the record, Cascade is WAY BETTER. Take THAT, Finish dishwasher detergent!)
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