Several years ago, big box stores or your mass retailers began a new marketing technique. It was to partner with a well-known designer or brand name, and then they’d produce a B-Line of merchandise to be sold in the big box store. I believe Target was one of the first, in partnering with Isaac Mizrahi. There are now dozens and dozens of examples of this. Working in a consignment shop, it’s very difficult at times to keep a straight face and not roll my eyes out of my head, when I have a consignor in front of me insisting “But it’s Vera Wang!” when I’m pricing her item lower than what she wants. Yes, there is a Vera Wang name on this item. But make no mistake, this is not the real deal–this is her line from Kohl’s.

If I like an item and feel it’s a good value for the money, I don’t really care what label is on it. I’m constantly raving about the Wonderkids line of clothing from Kmart. I love it and it holds up very well. But I hate for people to think they’re getting a real Vera Wang or real Dana Buchman (QVC) when it is in fact the B-Line of stuff.

Did you know that this idea extends beyond clothing? We recently had to replace our very old grill and in doing research, learned that the Weber grills you’re getting at Lowe’s are (imo) a lesser quality grill than one you’d get at a licensed dealer. The main thing we found was that the big box ones were NOT made of a stainless steel interior, which is very important for longevity of the grill. When I mentioned this fact to my dad, he said “Yeah, John Deere does it too. That’s why you have to go to a John Deere dealer, not the big box stores for one.” He said the same for tires too. If you get name-brand tires at some of the big box stores, chances are they are lesser quality and you will get lesser mileage than if you go to a regular mechanic that uses a distributor. Same goes for Kohler stuff–you’re not getting the same high quality, fancy faucet you see on tv; you’re getting a specially designed line just for Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Anyone who follows my blog and knows me will tell you, Smart Spending is not just about finding the cheapest items you can find. It’s about all over quality, value, longevity and price. It’s why I hate clothing from Old Navy. Sure, it’s trendy and fashionable and cheap. But it’s crap and looks even more crappy after just a few washings. I think it’s a better idea to spend a bit more and get more wear out of an item.

We found a grill dealer that we liked, based out of West Chester. At first glance, we spent more on a grill than most people probably would (and no, I’m not saying how much!). But, we honestly expect that we will not have to replace this grill again in our lifetimes. So overall, I think it’s smarter spending. We supported a local business, got something that has extreme value and longevity which is better for our bank accounts, and better for the environment. If you’re getting a new grill every 5-10 years or so, that could be 5-7 grills in a landfill for one lifetime.

Anyway, I’m rambling, but my point is…..I know I’m going to try to be much more aware of the brand names sold at stores, for ALL product commodities.

On the plus side, we’re very happy with our new grill!