AARoads Forum

I don't think we've had this topic yet.

Store shelves these days have a lot more variety of good-quality products than they did forty years ago.  Notably, store-brand goods are often as good or better than their brand-name equivalents.  Whether it's a newer brand or an older brand of some product, what is an item to which you have unwavering brand loyalty?

I'll start.

1.  Saran wrap.  It clings to my dishes just as well as any other brand, but it's the only brand that doesn't cling irreparably to itself for me.  Our grocery store stopped selling it a few years ago, so now we order it by the three-pack online.

2.  Nabisco Fig Newton cookies.  I've never found another brand that doesn't taste like somewhat-figgy cardboard.

Crest toothpaste. As a practical matter, I have no doubt there are other perfectly good toothpastes on the market, and I have on occasion used Colgate over the years either when I've gotten it as a free sample or when I've been on the road and that was the only brand I could easily find (that happened in Nova Scotia once). But as a general matter, I grew up using Crest and now, in almost 52 years on this planet, I've never had a cavity, so I see no reason to change brands.

Cheez-Its - The generic are terrible
Smith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well
K&N - Best car air filters around
BF Goodrich - My tires of choice

I'm sure I'll think of some more.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMCheez-Its - The generic are terrible

I think I've only tried the Aldi brand, besides the original.  They tasted like nothing.  Like, not cheesy.  Just crackers with flavorless powder on them.

Quote from: kphoger on March 07, 2025, 02:32:13 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMCheez-Its - The generic are terrible

I think I've only tried the Aldi brand, besides the original.  They tasted like nothing.  Like, not cheesy.  Just crackers with flavorless powder on them.

Agreed. However, the Aldi generic Goldfish, "Turtles", are delightful.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMK&N - Best car air filters around

I used to drive a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder.  On winter days with just a flight snow flurry coming down, it would occasionally do what felt like a misfire while driving on the highway.  I started worrying about the transmission, because, well, I guess I always overreact.  The consensus on online Pathfinder forums about that same problem was that any aftermarket air filter would allow an occasional snowflake through, which would then make its way to the mass airflow sensor and freak it the heck out for a split-second.  That split-second freak-out was enough for the MAF sensor to not send a usable signal to the control module, which would in turn cause a single one-off misfire.  The suggested fix was simply to install a Nissan brand air filter.  I decided that a half-dozen one-off misfires a year wasn't worth it to me.

I don't like to blow my nose into anything but a real Kleenex.  The cheap-ass scratchy tissues you usually find in hotels are awful, so I usually carry a few of those little Kleenex travel packs with me.

Quote from: gonealookin on March 07, 2025, 02:51:23 PMI don't like to blow my nose into anything but a real Kleenex.  The cheap-ass scratchy tissues you usually find in hotels are awful, so I usually carry a few of those little Kleenex travel packs with me.

While I do find that generics suck, Puffs work just as well as Kleenex, otherwise that would have been on my list.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:52:23 PM

Quote from: gonealookin on March 07, 2025, 02:51:23 PMI don't like to blow my nose into anything but a real Kleenex.  The cheap-ass scratchy tissues you usually find in hotels are awful, so I usually carry a few of those little Kleenex travel packs with me.

While I do find that generics suck, Puffs work just as well as Kleenex, otherwise that would have been on my list.

I prefer Puffs to Kleenex because I find the former less abrasive on my nose, especially during spring allergy season. I agree with the comment about crappy hotel tissues.

I used to have one for GM automotive products.  Much of my dad's side of the family were former GM employees and my grandpa was even a Chevrolet plant manager.  My loyalty was mainly based in being able to take advantage of family discounts new cars.

I haven't purchased a GM product since 2014.  My grandpa died in 2015 which rendered his family discount void.  I've had quality issues with most my GM vehicles and they don't really offer anything I want in their model lineups anymore.

Diet Coke.

Diet Pepsi is swill.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMSmith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well

As a side note - consider following places
https://www.teasource.com/
https://www.uptontea.com/
https://svtea.com/

Quote from: kalvado on March 07, 2025, 03:23:32 PMhttps://www.uptontea.com/

That's what I grew up with.  It's where my dad still gets his tea.

I buy mine locally, at The Spice Merchant (https://spicemerchant.com/shop/tea/).

Quote from: kalvado on March 07, 2025, 03:23:32 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMSmith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well

As a side note - consider following places
https://www.teasource.com/
https://www.uptontea.com/
https://svtea.com/

I'll check them out. Appreciate the recommendations. Every time I try a new kind, it still just isn't better than the Rose City Genmaicha that I get from Smith's. There aren't a lot of things where I eschew variety, but tea, so far, is that thing.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMSmith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well

Quote from: kphoger on March 07, 2025, 03:31:55 PMI buy mine locally, at The Spice Merchant (https://spicemerchant.com/shop/tea/).

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 03:49:18 PM

Quote from: kalvado on March 07, 2025, 03:23:32 PMAs a side note - consider following places
https://www.teasource.com/
https://www.uptontea.com/
https://svtea.com/

I'll check them out. Appreciate the recommendations. Every time I try a new kind, it still just isn't better than the Rose City Genmaicha that I get from Smith's. There aren't a lot of things where I eschew variety, but tea, so far, is that thing.

For what it's worth, The Spice Merchant here in town offers shipping, and their Genmaicha (https://spicemerchant.com/product/genmaicha/) is less than half the price per ounce as Smith's.  However, it does not have rose petals, bergamot oil, or "natural flavors", so it probably doesn't taste quite the same.

Quote from: kphoger on March 07, 2025, 04:15:34 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMSmith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well

Quote from: kphoger on March 07, 2025, 03:31:55 PMI buy mine locally, at The Spice Merchant (https://spicemerchant.com/shop/tea/).

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 03:49:18 PM

Quote from: kalvado on March 07, 2025, 03:23:32 PMAs a side note - consider following places
https://www.teasource.com/
https://www.uptontea.com/
https://svtea.com/

I'll check them out. Appreciate the recommendations. Every time I try a new kind, it still just isn't better than the Rose City Genmaicha that I get from Smith's. There aren't a lot of things where I eschew variety, but tea, so far, is that thing.

For what it's worth, The Spice Merchant here in town offers shipping, and their Genmaicha (https://spicemerchant.com/product/genmaicha/) is less than half the price per ounce as Smith's.  However, it does not have rose petals, bergamot oil, or "natural flavors", so it probably doesn't taste quite the same.

I think the rose is what separates what I like about the Smith from others. Sometimes green tea can just taste like grass clippings. The toasted rice adds some more "savoriness", but it needs something to lighten it up.

I think I have less brand loyalties than most.  I generally buy whatever is on sale or the store brand.  Among my few exceptions are:

Coke, now Coke Zero Sugar as I get older.  All forms of Pepsi are vile.  I avoid any restaurant that has only Diet Pepsi as its only diet drink, as Diet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (which, I suspect are the same thing) are acceptable if no Coke is available, but Pepsi is disgusting.

I generally extend this to all soda flavors.  The only non- Coca-Cola Company flavor I buy is Dr Pepper. 

Heiner's bread.  Local to this area, fell out of family control 20 years ago, but they never monkied with the recipe until about 2 years ago.  Now under the control of Mexican based multinational "big bread" company Bimbo, its still better than others, but not as good as it used to be.

DirecTV.  You talk all day about how much money you saved and how you don't miss * all that much.  I will be enjoying every single option there is on DirecTV.  Life is way too short to do without. 

Kellogg's corn flakes.  While the generic of about any other cereal is indistinguishable from the brand name, corn flakes are the exception. 

As to cars, I have owned or via work had control and responsibility over, many cars.  The "big 3" cars are garbage.  Always have been, always will be.  Every 10 years they tell you the cars they made 10 years ago were bad, but they aren't anymore.   Been saying that for years.  But, beyond that, no loyalty at all.  Toyotas are fine, Nissans are fine, Hondas are fine, VWs are fine, other "German" brands are fine, the "Korean" brands are fine.  Currently own an Audi.  Trade every 5 years, just short of halfway through, next car will be whatever the auto media says is the thing to get in the segment I'm looking at.

I can't say what soft drink products an establishment serves has ever factored into my decision about where to *eat*...

I'm a Dr Pepper apologist. You won't ever see me drink Pibb Xtra. Fucker can't even be a doctor like Dr Pepper.

I can drink other sodas, and I'm wildly indifferent to Coke vs Pepsi (both taste the same to me, which is painfully mediocre), but Dr Pepper is THE soda I drink.

I don't remember the last time I purchased soda.

Brand loyalty tends to be less meaningful as the years go on, and I'd guess the realm of appliances wind up that way. There's either loads of knock-offs or just limited reason to stick with one brand unless it's price or you want everything to match.

But on the other hand, areas where there's less competition also brings about loyalty, whether intentionally or begrudgingly. I'm sure many of us are wedded to our phone and computer OS brands. And I'm not immune, I've been shooting with Canon for decades because you buy into a lens system...the moment I even thought about moving into a new brand, a friend of mine let me use his new mirrorless EOS and I didn't look back. The familiarity is all right there and some backward compatibility is nice.

On the other hand, there's usually a lot of blind spots created when you're overly brand loyal. Unless you're really following a specific industry, you can really miss out on other developments and historically-better options because you're all-in on one brand. Many times we do this for emotional and nostalgic reasons being the deciding factor; or we hold onto untested ideas and preconceived notions of the competition.

As for food, I like to try different brands of the same types of products, just to see if I'm missing anything. Mostly my family likes the same things and that's that. I suppose I've traveled with a tin of lightly-salted Blue Diamond almonds for the best part of nearly 20 years. The generic or local brands are either unsalted (which taste like wax) or over-salted (which taste like...salt) so they just win by default.

Y'all are absolutely right about Cheez-it crackers; there really is no substitute. I can enjoy like 42 brands of potato chips and snack crackers, but nothing hits that "gently crunchy-salty-cheesy" spot quite like they do.

Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 07, 2025, 06:49:31 PMI'm a Dr Pepper apologist. You won't ever see me drink Pibb Xtra. Fucker can't even be a doctor like Dr Pepper.

Of course, Dr. Pepper imitators specifically are an entire industry of their own, far beyond third-party colas or hip Mountain Dew-type citrus drinks.

Quote from: hbelkins on March 07, 2025, 03:12:50 PMDiet Coke.

Diet Pepsi is swill.

I'd disagree with you. But I've already been told that my taste buds must be broken because I don't like Dr Pepper. So ...


Anyway, 30-some years ago, my kids liked Meijer store-brand mac and cheese better than Kraft. We now only buy it to go in one recipe we like (hamburger, onions, chili powder, tomatoes, throw in the prepared mac and cheese). So the difference in taste doesn't matter to us, and we still buy the cheaper store brand.

We've found many store brands that are just as good as national brands. And many others that we stay away from. And we have some preferences for one store-brand over a different store's brand.

Dr. Pepper is good in small quantities.  It starts to taste funky to me if I drink too much of it.  For some reason I like to mix a small amount of it with Coke from drink fountains.

Quote from: GaryV on March 07, 2025, 10:02:19 PMmy taste buds must be broken because I don't like Dr Pepper.

yeah

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 07, 2025, 10:15:04 PMDr. Pepper is good in small quantities.  It starts to taste funky to me if I drink too much of it.

I definitely drink too much of it. I may have drank 38 cans since last Friday...

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 07, 2025, 10:15:04 PMFor some reason I like to mix a small amount of it with Coke from drink fountains.

Satan, is that you?

Another Cheez-It loyal here.  I've tried a bunch of copycats and have regretted every one when I wanted this silly snack.

I used to be loyal to Nissan vehicles after an old Dodge Stratus of mine went kaput.  But, given the low quality of my current Nissan Rogue, I'm ditching them when purchasing new.

Swiss Miss hot chocolate comes to mind.

I will never buy a Canon peripheral ever again after the last inkjet printer I had.  Total junk.

I also like to add a dash of root beer to conventional sodas (Coke and Pepsi) when available at fountains. 

Quote from: Rothman on March 07, 2025, 10:52:36 PMAnother Cheez-It loyal here.  I've tried a bunch of copycats and have regretted every one when I wanted this silly snack.

I liked Cheese Nips for a change of pace, but those were permanently phased out during COVID. Better Cheddars are basically a larger, flatter, rounder Cheese Nip but not the same aesthetically.

My one odd brand loyalty is Crystal Farms butter.

Quote from: Rothman on March 07, 2025, 10:52:36 PMI will never buy a Canon peripheral ever again after the last inkjet printer I had.  Total junk.

You're not wrong; though I honestly bought mine to spite the HP hegemony after 15 years and it was a cheap all-in-one when the last Photosmart gave up on me.

It gives me just as many minor finicky problems, sucks down toner like whale, and requires mysterious reboots, but at least I can use it like a giant Polaroid Land Camera with Wi-Fi printing (...they pretty much all do wireless printing now).

Quote from: formulanone on March 07, 2025, 11:38:34 PM

Quote from: Rothman on March 07, 2025, 10:52:36 PMI will never buy a Canon peripheral ever again after the last inkjet printer I had.  Total junk.

I switched to Brother.  The only annoying problem is their driver isn't totally compatible with Windows 10. :D

You're not wrong; though I honestly bought mine to spite the HP hegemony after 15 years and it was a cheap all-in-one when the last Photosmart gave up on me.

It gives me just as many minor finicky problems, sucks down toner like whale, and requires mysterious reboots, but at least I can use it like a giant Polaroid Land Camera with Wi-Fi printing (...they pretty much all do wireless printing now).

Quote from: SP Cook on March 07, 2025, 05:08:34 PMDiet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (which, I suspect are the same thing)

Different artificial sweeteners (as well as different marketing - Diet tends to be feminine-coded, Zero masculine) so that the Zero tastes more like the original.

Quote from: english si on March 08, 2025, 04:56:31 AM

Quote from: SP Cook on March 07, 2025, 05:08:34 PMDiet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (which, I suspect are the same thing)

Different artificial sweeteners (as well as different marketing - Diet tends to be feminine-coded, Zero masculine) so that the Zero tastes more like the original.

Then there was the short-lived low calorie "ten" that was marketed strictly to men.

Quote from: formulanone on March 07, 2025, 09:05:06 PMBrand loyalty tends to be less meaningful as the years go on, and I'd guess the realm of appliances wind up that way. There's either loads of knock-offs or just limited reason to stick with one brand unless it's price or you want everything to match.

But on the other hand, areas where there's less competition also brings about loyalty, whether intentionally or begrudgingly. I'm sure many of us are wedded to our phone and computer OS brands. And I'm not immune, I've been shooting with Canon for decades because you buy into a lens system...the moment I even thought about moving into a new brand, a friend of mine let me use his new mirrorless EOS and I didn't look back. The familiarity is all right there and some backward compatibility is nice.

On the other hand, there's usually a lot of blind spots created when you're overly brand loyal. Unless you're really following a specific industry, you can really miss out on other developments and historically-better options because you're all-in on one brand. Many times we do this for emotional and nostalgic reasons being the deciding factor; or we hold onto untested ideas and preconceived notions of the competition.

As for food, I like to try different brands of the same types of products, just to see if I'm missing anything. Mostly my family likes the same things and that's that. I suppose I've traveled with a tin of lightly-salted Blue Diamond almonds for the best part of nearly 20 years. The generic or local brands are either unsalted (which taste like wax) or over-salted (which taste like...salt) so they just win by default.

Y'all are absolutely right about Cheez-it crackers; there really is no substitute. I can enjoy like 42 brands of potato chips and snack crackers, but nothing hits that "gently crunchy-salty-cheesy" spot quite like they do.

Battery powered tools is another area where loyalty is force fed by incompatible batteries.

State Farm Insurance. Both my wife's and my families grew up with it and we insured our first car with it 35 years ago. Have had great service and zero problems with claims. Have never shopped around.

I've had Geico as my car insurance since I was 21.  I wouldn't say that I've stayed with them out of "brand loyalty" but rather nobody else has offered me a better rate. 

Verizon has been my cell provider since 2009.  Like Geico, I never changed because I can't find a better rate when I shop around.

Some others:

Tide laundry detergent
Skippy peanut butter
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star gas

Quote from: SEWIGuy on March 08, 2025, 09:45:11 AMState Farm Insurance. Both my wife's and my families grew up with it and we insured our first car with it 35 years ago. Have had great service and zero problems with claims. Have never shopped around.

Never understood loyalty to insurance.  My wife's family supported a State Farm agent's career for his entire life and across generations.  Her brother died in a car accident and State Farm initially denied the claim.  Family still stuck with them for some reason.

Had another co-worker that stuck with State Farm, but his financial situation was a mess all around.  Didn't seem to have the wherewithal to comparison shop and as long as his agent was nice to him, he would pay whatever rate to avoid the inconvenience of switching.  I suppose you pay for what you want in that regard.

Still, I've yet to see much difference in handling of claims across insurance companies and it's rare that I need that service as well -- despite hitting two deer on two separate occasions in the fall of 2023.

Sure, I'm happy with my current car insurance's service and rate and even my assigned agent (through AAA), but it's getting time to re-evaluate my policy again to go with what's cheapest, especially because the effect of those two costly claims (one deer somehow t-boned the rear quarter of my car while the other jumped out in front -- instead of totaling the car, they repaired half the paneling for big cost -- and another reason why I'm getting rid of the Rogue -- I'd bet hitting it with a pool noodle causes it to dent).  My son will also be dropping off my insurance come the summer, so that's another big consideration.

Claims are too infrequent and with coverage uniform across the board, there's little reason in my book not to go with the cheapest bona fide insurance service.

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 11:36:06 AM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on March 08, 2025, 09:45:11 AMState Farm Insurance. Both my wife's and my families grew up with it and we insured our first car with it 35 years ago. Have had great service and zero problems with claims. Have never shopped around.

Never understood loyalty to insurance.  My wife's family supported a State Farm agent's career for his entire life and across generations.  Her brother died in a car accident and State Farm initially denied the claim.  Family still stuck with them for some reason.

Had another co-worker that stuck with State Farm, but his financial situation was a mess all around.  Didn't seem to have the wherewithal to comparison shop and as long as his agent was nice to him, he would pay whatever rate to avoid the inconvenience of switching.  I suppose you pay for what you want in that regard.

Still, I've yet to see much difference in handling of claims across insurance companies and it's rare that I need that service as well -- despite hitting two deer on two separate occasions in the fall of 2023.

Sure, I'm happy with my current car insurance's service and rate and even my assigned agent (through AAA), but it's getting time to re-evaluate my policy again to go with what's cheapest, especially because the effect of those two costly claims (one deer somehow t-boned the rear quarter of my car while the other jumped out in front -- instead of totaling the car, they repaired half the paneling for big cost -- and another reason why I'm getting rid of the Rogue -- I'd bet hitting it with a pool noodle causes it to dent).  My son will also be dropping off my insurance come the summer, so that's another big consideration.

Claims are too infrequent and with coverage uniform across the board, there's little reason in my book not to go with the cheapest bona fide insurance service.

I don't have a great answer, but the speed and professionalism of how auto insurance claims are inspected, estimated, adjusted, and paid varies from brand to brand. There is a race to the bottom at times, just to save $100 on part procurement by making a customer wait another week for a part (swap new/used, knock-off supplier) . There's less professional companies than others, from my sporadic training at collision centers and body shops.

But as someone who very fortunately hasn't had a major claim in nearly 30 years (windshields excluded), I can't tell you anything other than anecdotally which are better or worse. There's been a collective lethargy in just sticking with what works (if ain't broke don't fix it mentality), which is why insurance companies have been jamming everyone with a advertisements for the last 20-30 years.

I will say I've been leery of GEICO since many decades ago, they offered money to police departments to purchase more radar guns which in turn, creates more traffic offenses, and in turn causes your rates to go up...that's a racket I don't want to part of, but I suspect a lot of agencies now come up with methods like this nowadays. That OBD port scanning device might be for you, or it might be tracking many more infractions...

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 11:36:06 AM

Quote from: SEWIGuy on March 08, 2025, 09:45:11 AMState Farm Insurance. Both my wife's and my families grew up with it and we insured our first car with it 35 years ago. Have had great service and zero problems with claims. Have never shopped around.

Never understood loyalty to insurance.

I just told you why.

I call BS on SP Cook's claim that he actually watches every single channel he gets on DirecTV.

Quote from: 1995hoo on March 08, 2025, 12:30:18 PMI call BS on SP Cook's claim that he actually watches every single channel he gets on DirecTV.

I don't know.  With my mother's family, I've learned to never underestimate an Appalachian's ability to sit still and watch TV.

Quote from: 1995hoo on March 08, 2025, 12:30:18 PMI call BS on SP Cook's claim that he actually watches every single channel he gets on DirecTV.

Never said I did.  Said I had the option to.  Message boards all over, and YouTube, are full of tight a**es who like to brag about how much money they saved just watching Netflix (or whatever) and how little they miss being a part of the mainstream culture.  OK, you do you.  Life is way too short to sit about and actually brag about how cheap you are.

Ok, well, you did say "I will be enjoying every single option there is on DirecTV," so I quite understandably interpreted that as your claiming you watch every channel. Had you said, "I enjoy having every single option," I wouldn't have doubted your comment.

I personally couldn't care less about having the option to watch the religious channels, the Spanish-language channels (I don't speak that language, so the only Spanish programming I watch is the occasional soccer game), or the porno channels. If I know I'm never going to watch a channel, the option to do so is simply irrelevant to me. But I guess if having the option makes you feel important, that's certainly your prerogative.

On this tangent of television watching, I only watch broadcast TV for New Year's Eve and the Super Bowl nowadays.  Quite happy with living in a location where I don't even need an antenna to get more channels than I'll ever "enjoy" for the rest of my life.

There's definitely no substitute for a Cheez-It. Cheese Nips were a good alternative 20+ years ago, but they slowly got worse until they were discontinued. Otherwise we're not particularly brand loyal, though I've been with Verizon since college. I was with State Farm for car insurance since I got my first car until a month ago. My agent was great but corporate jerked me around too much in recent years and I had enough.

Quote from: kalvado on March 08, 2025, 07:08:27 AMBattery powered tools is another area where loyalty is force fed by incompatible batteries.

I believe Harbor Freight Tools sells "house brands" of popular power tool battery packs. They also sell some white-label products which are just as good as several other branded tools, and people claim they're essentially the same item. Though they also have a lot of average to basic-grade stuff which professionals avoid, unless it's a tool they will use once and probably not need again.

Quote from: SP Cook on March 08, 2025, 01:14:00 PMMessage boards all over, and YouTube, are full of tight a**es who like to brag about how much money they saved just watching Netflix (or whatever) and how little they miss being a part of the mainstream culture. 

I might argue that if you watch a lot of broadcast TV and don't have any streaming services, you might be the one outside of mainstream culture.

State Farm paid out a whopping 5% of assessed value after my car was broken into and dropped me. I've filed complaints with the State Insurance Commissioner because it's frankly insulting to be treated this way for two total claims in 10 years.

Quote from: SP Cook on March 08, 2025, 01:14:00 PMNever said I did.  Said I had the option to.  Message boards all over, and YouTube, are full of tight a**es who like to brag about how much money they saved just watching Netflix (or whatever) and how little they miss being a part of the mainstream culture.  OK, you do you.  Life is way too short to sit about and actually brag about how cheap you are.

Considering that most of the trending and popular shows nowadays are on streaming platforms, or even exclusive to them, TV is outside of the mainstream. And good riddance to the ad-filled hell that it is.

Quote from: formulanone on March 08, 2025, 05:30:40 PM

Quote from: kalvado on March 08, 2025, 07:08:27 AMBattery powered tools is another area where loyalty is force fed by incompatible batteries.

I believe Harbor Freight Tools sells "house brands" of popular power tool battery packs. They also sell some white-label products which are just as good as several other branded tools, and people claim they're essentially the same item. Though they also have a lot of average to basic-grade stuff which professionals avoid, unless it's a tool they will use once and probably not need again.

It's more along the lines of my first drill being Ryobi - and then every time I need another tool (something like 7 by now), batteries on hand (4 or 5 by now) make me look towards another Ryobi before even thinking about other options. Anything else would require a battery - which isn't really a cheap thing, even generic one.
Another dirty trick is the shape of Ryobi battery - other brands can be adapted for Ryobi tools, but not the other way around.

Quote from: kalvado on March 08, 2025, 06:43:02 PM

Quote from: formulanone on March 08, 2025, 05:30:40 PM

Quote from: kalvado on March 08, 2025, 07:08:27 AMBattery powered tools is another area where loyalty is force fed by incompatible batteries.

I believe Harbor Freight Tools sells "house brands" of popular power tool battery packs. They also sell some white-label products which are just as good as several other branded tools, and people claim they're essentially the same item. Though they also have a lot of average to basic-grade stuff which professionals avoid, unless it's a tool they will use once and probably not need again.

It's more along the lines of my first drill being Ryobi - and then every time I need another tool (something like 7 by now), batteries on hand (4 or 5 by now) make me look towards another Ryobi before even thinking about other options. Anything else would require a battery - which isn't really a cheap thing, even generic one.
Another dirty trick is the shape of Ryobi battery - other brands can be adapted for Ryobi tools, but not the other way around.

I have three Ryobi tools but moved over once the battery packs on the Black & Deckers wore out after about 10-12 years. The Ryobi drill has more adjustable power and torque so that also sealed the deal. There's a lot more variety of tools and having a pack to power any of them is nice.

Delta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price is reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco. Plus I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms, plus free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members, so it doubles as a "travel center" should any of those things be needed

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

It seems to me it wold make more sense to go to the gas pump first, then the car wash, just in case you drip any gas on the car when you remove the pump.

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

That's what I suspected.

I've forced a gas cap in the trigger a few times to wash the windshield while pumping.

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

I wonder how many states they are still illegal in. They were banned in Massachusetts from 1970 to 2015, and given that, few places have them unless they've gone through a recent renovation.

There's definitely a geographic element to where they can be found in New York.  Rochester has a fair number of stations that have them, but they're practically non-existent in the eastern parts of the state and downstate.

Quote from: Bruce on March 08, 2025, 05:55:30 PM

Quote from: SP Cook on March 08, 2025, 01:14:00 PMNever said I did.  Said I had the option to.  Message boards all over, and YouTube, are full of tight a**es who like to brag about how much money they saved just watching Netflix (or whatever) and how little they miss being a part of the mainstream culture.  OK, you do you.  Life is way too short to sit about and actually brag about how cheap you are.

Considering that most of the trending and popular shows nowadays are on streaming platforms, or even exclusive to them, TV is outside of the mainstream. And good riddance to the ad-filled hell that it is.

Speaking of ads, don't get me started on YouTube and Twitch putting as many ads as TV or more on stuff on their platforms, then wondering why people use adblockers.

Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 09, 2025, 05:14:24 PMSpeaking of ads, don't get me started on YouTube and Twitch putting as many ads as TV or more on stuff on their platforms, then wondering why people use adblockers.

Aren't these ads your personal source of income?

Quote from: 1995hoo on March 09, 2025, 09:45:54 AMIt seems to me it wold make more sense to go to the gas pump first, then the car wash, just in case you drip any gas on the car when you remove the pump.

Vehicles around here get so plastered with salt in the winter months that I'd much rather risk a minor gas spill and have a clean car at the pump. Fueling up a salt covered vehicle is just asking for salt smears everywhere, plus I tend to like to lean against the car while pumping gas, which I can't do when it's salt covered.

And half the time my fuel cap cover pops open in the car wash anyways, so fueling afterwards saves a step.  :D 

Quote from: formulanone on March 09, 2025, 09:46:54 AM

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

That's what I suspected.

I've forced a gas cap in the trigger a few times to wash the windshield while pumping.

Hm.  Wonder what the odds are of it making a mess.  Probably fun betting odds...

Quote from: hotdogPi on March 09, 2025, 05:18:33 PM

Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 09, 2025, 05:14:24 PMSpeaking of ads, don't get me started on YouTube and Twitch putting as many ads as TV or more on stuff on their platforms, then wondering why people use adblockers.

Aren't these ads your personal source of income?

On Twitch? I get pennies in ad revenue every month, out of the $50 needed for a payout. It's not worth the constant bombardment.

Quote from: Rothman on March 09, 2025, 08:35:16 PM

Quote from: formulanone on March 09, 2025, 09:46:54 AM

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

That's what I suspected.

I've forced a gas cap in the trigger a few times to wash the windshield while pumping.

Hm.  Wonder what the odds are of it making a mess.  Probably fun betting odds...

It hasn't happened so far by jamming it, but I won't do it if it's less than 8-10 gallons, just to be sure. Flow rates are usually about 2-3 gallons a minute, sometimes agonizingly longer. And there's lots of recent cars without a fuel cap, it just seals against the door flap.

I've had three fuel overflows in my lifetime, one caused by a troublesome car (fixed under warranty), one pump problem out in the sticks, and another indeterminate (rental car in Denver).

If it were a massive safety issue, I think we'd hear about much more in the media, because nothing leads like death by fire on camera.

Quote from: formulanone on March 09, 2025, 09:19:31 PM

Quote from: Rothman on March 09, 2025, 08:35:16 PM

Quote from: formulanone on March 09, 2025, 09:46:54 AM

Quote from: Rothman on March 08, 2025, 07:54:40 PM

Quote from: webny99 on March 08, 2025, 07:52:03 PMDelta Sonic fuel, for the following reasons:

• Price: reliably a bit cheaper than other generic gas stations, though more expensive than BJ's/Costco
• I have a member card that's good for an additional 10 cents off
• Convenience, especially in the winter months. The efficiency of pulling out of the car wash and right up to the gas pump is unmatched
• Trigger locks on the gas pumps. You may be surprised to know that most gas stations in New York don't have these, so you have to manually hold the handle down the entire time.  :no:  So going to a station that has them is a huge bonus, especially in the winter months
• The location I frequent most has 10 total pumps, well over average for this area. So there's never a line for the pumps, except maybe on the day before a holiday
• Has a decent C-store with decent restrooms
• Has free vacuums and DIY cleaning supplies for members

And my loyalty is despite them not having a location that's super convenient for me. If I'm not going to the car wash, it's a bit out of the way just for gas, but it's still worth it to me.

Trigger locks on gas pumps were made illegal in NY some years ago.  Have no idea if that law was rescinded.

That's what I suspected.

I've forced a gas cap in the trigger a few times to wash the windshield while pumping.

Hm.  Wonder what the odds are of it making a mess.  Probably fun betting odds...

It hasn't happened so far by jamming it, but I won't do it if it's less than 8-10 gallons, just to be sure. Flow rates are usually about 2-3 gallons a minute, sometimes agonizingly longer.

I've had three fuel overflows in my lifetime, one caused by a troublesome car (fixed under warranty), one pump problem out in the sticks, and another indeterminate (rental car in Denver).

If it were a massive safety issue, I think we'd hear about much more in the media, because nothing leads like death by fire on camera.

I'm just saying, fun betting odds are less than 50/50, but good enough to say, "I told you so" in the unlikely event something happens. :D

My old Fiesta once overflowed by two gallons while I was washing the windshield.  The issue wasn't the pump but rather the capless fuel filler sensor failing.  Until I got said sensor fixed the fuel filler would overflow at the pump unless I manually calculated how gas I needed.  The overflow valve dropped the excess fuel a couple inches away from the left read drum brakes. 

Nike for shoes. That's about it for me.

Nike does tend to make shoes for people with flat feet (like me).  I've tried other brands for running purposes but they tend to be hard to break in and cause strains in my toes.

Quote from: kalvado on March 07, 2025, 03:23:32 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 02:28:39 PMSmith Teamakers - I can't find any other teas I like nearly as well

As a side note - consider following places
https://www.teasource.com/
https://www.uptontea.com/
https://svtea.com/

I haven't tried Smiths, but I like Harney & Sons and Dammann Freres.

I have several brands I'm loyal to.

For groceries, I generally stick to any of the HEB store brands. They are just as high quality as the big name brands but less expensive and HEB is a big force for good in Texas with all the money and work they put back into the communities.

Other than that, Dr Pepper and Diet Coke for sodas, Remy Martin for my cognac, and simply for my fruit juices.

For cars—Honda all the way. Two door, manual transmission Honda Civics are my choice for cars every time.

PlayStation. I have a PlayStation 3 and a 5. And I have owned every single generation PlayStation system. And will continue to—absolute loyalty there.

And finally, probably the one I'm most loyal to—apple. I won't use anything other than an iPhone and a MacBook. I don't even know how to use an android phone or a windows pc

Quote from: SP Cook on March 07, 2025, 05:08:34 PMAs to cars, I have owned or via work had control and responsibility over, many cars.  The "big 3" cars are garbage.  Always have been, always will be.  Every 10 years they tell you the cars they made 10 years ago were bad, but they aren't anymore.  Been saying that for years.  But, beyond that, no loyalty at all.  Toyotas are fine, Nissans are fine, Hondas are fine, VWs are fine, other "German" brands are fine, the "Korean" brands are fine.  Currently own an Audi.  Trade every 5 years, just short of halfway through, next car will be whatever the auto media says is the thing to get in the segment I'm looking at.

Well yeah, if you buy new and then get rid of your car after just five years, then of course you can't tell a difference in quality.  When you get to 140,000 miles, the differences become much more apparent.

Quote from: thspfc on March 09, 2025, 10:16:57 PMNike for shoes. That's about it for me.

For hiking shoes, I only wear La Sportiva. They run a bit narrow, specifically at the heel, which is great for me since I feel like they really hug my foot when hiking in the mountains. For flip-flops, I only wear Olukai. Most comfortable pair of shoes I own.

Quote from: english si on March 08, 2025, 04:56:31 AM

Quote from: SP Cook on March 07, 2025, 05:08:34 PMDiet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (which, I suspect are the same thing)

Different artificial sweeteners (as well as different marketing - Diet tends to be feminine-coded, Zero masculine) so that the Zero tastes more like the original.

I notice a slight, not significant taste difference between Diet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar.

It's funny to me that Dr Pepper is served in some establishments that serve Coke-branded fountain drinks, and is also served in some with Pepsi-branded drinks.

Quote from: SP Cook on March 07, 2025, 05:08:34 PMDiet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (which, I suspect are the same thing)

Quote from: english si on March 08, 2025, 04:56:31 AMDifferent artificial sweeteners (as well as different marketing - Diet tends to be feminine-coded, Zero masculine) so that the Zero tastes more like the original.

Actually, both contain aspartame as a sweetener.  Dr Pepper Zero Sugar also has a second sweetener.  But that's not the only difference in the ingredients list.

(https://i.imgur.com/oX6HKDH.png)

One thing I haven't noticed here is phones.

I have too much invested in Apple apps to ever switch to Android.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 10, 2025, 10:57:48 AM

Quote from: thspfc on March 09, 2025, 10:16:57 PMNike for shoes. That's about it for me.

For hiking shoes, I only wear La Sportiva. They run a bit narrow, specifically at the heel, which is great for me since I feel like they really hug my foot when hiking in the mountains. For flip-flops, I only wear Olukai. Most comfortable pair of shoes I own.

Merrell Moab 3s here, both the mid-level hiking boots and the lower-cut hiking shoes that I use as my everyday walking shoes.  They are comfortable right out of the box and the Vibram soles last quite some time (not forever of course).  REI periodically has 20% off sales for members and that's when I pick up a new pair.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 07:54:21 PMI don't remember the last time I purchased soda.

I basically stopped drinking soda (it's "pop" in this part of the country) a number of years ago, and now it has the taste and consistency of bubbly corn syrup to me. I'll have ginger ale in a mixed drink now and again, but rarely to never by itself. There's plenty of sparkling water options out there that are better tasting and more refreshing than soda anyways.

Quote from: webny99 on March 10, 2025, 03:13:08 PMI basically stopped drinking soda (it's "pop" in this part of the country) a number of years ago, and now it has the taste and consistency of bubbly corn syrup to me. I'll have ginger ale in a mixed drink now and again, but rarely to never by itself. There's plenty of sparkling water options out there that are better tasting and more refreshing than soda anyways.

I never completely eliminated soda, but I did cut down quite a bit several years ago.  When I did so, my taste in soda changed from preferring the sweeter-tasting ones to the ones with a little more 'bite'.  For example, I used to prefer Pepsi but now I prefer Coke, I used to prefer Schweppes but now I prefer Canada Dry, and I used to prefer Sprite but now I prefer 7-up.

Quote from: webny99 on March 10, 2025, 03:13:08 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 07, 2025, 07:54:21 PMI don't remember the last time I purchased soda.

I basically stopped drinking soda (it's "pop" in this part of the country) a number of years ago, and now it has the taste and consistency of bubbly corn syrup to me. I'll have ginger ale in a mixed drink now and again, but rarely to never by itself. There's plenty of sparkling water options out there that are better tasting and more refreshing than soda anyways.

I guess I can't say that I can't remember the last time, as I'll get something in a value meal from fast food occasionally. But I only get fast foot maybe 7-8 times per year, and of those, only get a soda maybe 2-3 times with it. I don't remember the last time I purchased a 2 Liter or 12-pack for myself. That's probably been 7-8 years?

I'm in the "there-is-none-but-Cheez-It" category.

I couldn't think of any particular Brand Loyalty I had, but I definitely have (and had) Brand Lethargy: a company that you've been with for years, when you know you can get better prices or service or what-have-you elsewhere, and/or you know the company has not been a good corporate citizen, but since you personally haven't been impacted negatively (yet), you just roll along with it.

Wells Fargo fits this for me. I opened my checking, savings and credit card account with them in 1990, and they're still my main accounts. Every so often I think about switching to a credit union, or somewhere with better savings rates, or credit card points programs, but just...haven't.

Quote from: hbelkins on March 10, 2025, 03:11:21 PMOne thing I haven't noticed here is phones.

Probably because it's a topic that rivals, if not surpasses, DST in terms of insanity. :popcorn:

QuoteI have too much invested in Apple apps to ever switch to Android.

I've generally been happier on iPhones. The advantages Androids have are things that I generally don't care about, and every iPhone I've had has run extremely smoothly for years (my old 6s Plus still works, though I no longer use it other than to check my mostly-dormant Yahoo email account about once a year as it's the only thing I have that still has the password for it saved and their customer service won't help me with it) while the Android phones I've had were more finicky, and the most recent, a Pixel in 2019 or so, was literally falling apart physically after 3 months. A few months ago I traded my old iPhone 12 in for a 16, with 4 times the storage space, just for futureproofing purposes. I could have stayed with the 12 for awhile longer except I was starting to run out of room for music on it, and I don't stream music on principle. The new phone costs me about the cost of a streaming subscription a month.

Quote from: DTComposer on March 10, 2025, 07:34:51 PMI'm in the "there-is-none-but-Cheez-It" category.

I couldn't think of any particular Brand Loyalty I had, but I definitely have (and had) Brand Lethargy: a company that you've been with for years, when you know you can get better prices or service or what-have-you elsewhere, and/or you know the company has not been a good corporate citizen, but since you personally haven't been impacted negatively (yet), you just roll along with it.

Wells Fargo fits this for me. I opened my checking, savings and credit card account with them in 1990, and they're still my main accounts. Every so often I think about switching to a credit union, or somewhere with better savings rates, or credit card points programs, but just...haven't.

As with State Farm, repeated negative experiences with Wells Fargo corporate drove me elsewhere, in this case a credit union.

Quote from: hbelkins on March 10, 2025, 03:11:21 PMOne thing I haven't noticed here is phones.

I have too much invested in Apple apps to ever switch to Android.

I haven't owned anything other than a Samsung in probably 10 years.

Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 07, 2025, 06:49:31 PMI'm a Dr Pepper apologist. You won't ever see me drink Pibb Xtra. Fucker can't even be a doctor like Dr Pepper.

I can drink other sodas, and I'm wildly indifferent to Coke vs Pepsi (both taste the same to me, which is painfully mediocre), but Dr Pepper is THE soda I drink.

I'm intensely loyal to Diet Pepsi rather than Diet Coke. But before I had to stop drinking sugared sodas, I insisted on Coke rather than Pepsi.

For some other brand loyalties in this topic:

-- Apple smartphones (both of my sisters and all of my nieces have iPhones, which means I can get free and easy tech support from them)

-- for cars, I buy Japanese brands (started off with Datsun/Nissan-- I've soured on the latter -- then Honda, then Toyota, now Subaru), once had a BMW, only briefly drove a Plymouth land barge until I could afford something better

-- for TV/internet, I use Comcast, but about once a year it does something that has me on the verge of switching to Verizon or someone else, so I consider this more like "brand disloyalty"

-- for chips, I am a notorious devotee of Ruffles potato chips, but not so much that I won't switch to tortilla chips just for a change of pace

-- I'm deeply locked into the Nikon camera brand (way too many Nikon lenses, not compatible with anything else), but if I were starting all over again I could as easily go with Canon

I am the Diet Coke guy. I hate Diet Pepsi. I hate Coke Zero even more than Diet Pepsi. I will drink Pepsi Zero Sugar, it is not too heinous.

Dyed in the wool Ford guy. 200K+ no problems. Put me in a GM car and about 125, it starts beating me up. Likewise a Toyota.

I spent all of 9 months with an iDevice before I got sick of it. Being locked into a dull ecosystem with limited customization (even after jailbreaking the old way) and no true freedom is not the life for me. I want to be able to bend and break my device in the manner I deem fit.

Quote from: oscar on March 11, 2025, 12:20:53 AMNikon camera brand (way too many Nikon lenses, not compatible with anything else), but if I were starting all over again I could as easily go with Canon

Starting over, honestly any brand is as good as another. There might be one or niche lenses which one brand makes and another does not, but amongst Sony / Nikon / Canon there's a lot of similar (but not interchangeable) products with some minor variations. Familiarity is key and some Nikon cameras easily serve lenses dating back 60 years. (On Canon, I need an adapter for EF and FD lenses.)

I personally found Sony's eyecup wasn't far enough away from my nose to make it ergonomically useful, but for a few years their mirrorless full-frames were ahead of the rest. They may have resolved that by now.

And honestly, I like the "retro" Nikon Df and Zf series for which Canon feels no urge to copy. (Although there's rumors of a digital "AE-1", there's zero proof at this time.) Something tells me they'd probably just make a limited run where the price exceeds its usefulness and then the secondary market still manages to inflate the prices.

Well, this is the perfect thread to have hanging around in the wake of Southwest's news this morning...

I've flown Southwest exclusively for a while for several reasons: My home base airport (BWI) is one of their largest operations, the free checked bags, ease of changing flights (including the ability to "change" to the same flight and get a credit if the fare dropped), and said credits never expiring which was just introduced a couple years ago. But with free checked bags now going away, itinerary changes being removed from the WGA fare (which is being rebranded as "Basic"), and flight credits going back to expiring (6-12 months depending on fare class), all on top of the already-announced shift to assigned seating, this pretty much removes the remaining defining elements that separated Southwest from all the other airlines.

For as long as BWI is the closest airport to me, it may still make sense for me to use Southwest given their large presence there. But moving forward I'll probably start checking other airlines, especially if my destination is a hub for someone else (say, United for going to Denver or Alaska for Seattle).

Quote from: jmacswimmer on March 11, 2025, 11:15:31 AMWell, this is the perfect thread to have hanging around in the wake of Southwest's news this morning...

I've flown Southwest exclusively for a while for several reasons: My home base airport (BWI) is one of their largest operations, the free checked bags, ease of changing flights (including the ability to "change" to the same flight and get a credit if the fare dropped), and said credits never expiring which was just introduced a couple years ago. But with free checked bags now going away, itinerary changes being removed from the WGA fare (which is being rebranded as "Basic"), and flight credits going back to expiring (6-12 months depending on fare class), all on top of the already-announced shift to assigned seating, this pretty much removes the remaining defining elements that separated Southwest from all the other airlines.

For as long as BWI is the closest airport to me, it may still make sense for me to use Southwest given their large presence there. But moving forward I'll probably start checking other airlines, especially if my destination is a hub for someone else (say, United for going to Denver or Alaska for Seattle).

Yeah. Same story here. I've flown a lot of Southwest lately because it's the same price as the other airlines that fly the route but, when traveling with my son, it's much easier to check a bag. Now, when I run the numbers, it's likely that United will be cheaper for a lot of the flights we take as a family.

I've often stated my gripes about Apple phones:

• An inability to "sideload" apps and the requirement to use the Apple App Store.
• They do not accept external storage like TF/MicroSD cards.
• No drag-and-drop file transfer ability to copy music, files, or photos; you have to use the Apple Music/iTunes interface.
• The cost when compared to Android phones.

The main reason I bought an iPhone was because I'm a longtime Mac user.

But as far as computers go, I've owned both Apple Macintosh computers and Windows-based computers. I have no brand loyalty to Windows laptops. I've owned H-P, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and some no-name laptop; all worked just fine.

Back in my college and law school days when I had the time and the inclination to tinker with my electronics, I would probably have had an Android phone had such things existed at the time. Nowadays I don't have the time or the patience and I just want everything to work, and in that vein I very much like the way my iPhone and iPad sync a lot of things with each other. (I do not, however, have a Mac.) I did check out an Android phone at the store back when I first got a smartphone in 2011 and I simply liked the iPhone better, though I couldn't give you a firm or clear explanation of why. I don't feel any real "brand loyalty" to Apple, but I haven't felt any motivation to switch to a different brand either. So perhaps more of an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" feeling?

The problem with Apple products is they "just work" if you happen to think and use your devices the exact same way the developers do. This is because they provide exactly one way of doing most tasks that works really well. But the second you try to do something the developers never intended, all of a sudden it doesn't "just work" anymore and it becomes impossible.

My go-to example of this is the time I tried to set a wallpaper on an iPad that was taller than the screen resolution. Apple decided that the way that would be handled is to crop the top and bottom of it, and that would be good enough for everyone, rather than than providing an option to select which portion to show. So I was left with a wallpaper showing a belly, rather than a face.

My various experiences with that iPad caused me to decide that I will never use an Apple product again. I firmly believe that in any human-machine interaction, the human should be the one in control and the machine should adjust to what the human wants, not the other way around. And so that rules out Apple for me, as their design ethos does not comport with my beliefs.

Quote from: Scott5114 on March 13, 2025, 08:01:49 PMSo I was left with a wallpaper showing a belly, rather than a face.

A bare midriff with belly button...  Now that would be one cool wallpaper...

Assuming a female...

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 11, 2025, 11:32:02 AM

Quote from: jmacswimmer on March 11, 2025, 11:15:31 AMWell, this is the perfect thread to have hanging around in the wake of Southwest's news this morning...

I've flown Southwest exclusively for a while for several reasons: My home base airport (BWI) is one of their largest operations, the free checked bags, ease of changing flights (including the ability to "change" to the same flight and get a credit if the fare dropped), and said credits never expiring which was just introduced a couple years ago. But with free checked bags now going away, itinerary changes being removed from the WGA fare (which is being rebranded as "Basic"), and flight credits going back to expiring (6-12 months depending on fare class), all on top of the already-announced shift to assigned seating, this pretty much removes the remaining defining elements that separated Southwest from all the other airlines.

For as long as BWI is the closest airport to me, it may still make sense for me to use Southwest given their large presence there. But moving forward I'll probably start checking other airlines, especially if my destination is a hub for someone else (say, United for going to Denver or Alaska for Seattle).

Yeah. Same story here. I've flown a lot of Southwest lately because it's the same price as the other airlines that fly the route but, when traveling with my son, it's much easier to check a bag. Now, when I run the numbers, it's likely that United will be cheaper for a lot of the flights we take as a family.

Some of the changes are good, notably the establishment of assigned seating.  In my observation the open seating causes some behavioral issues by selfish jerks who don't want anybody sitting next to them.  I head to the back of the airplane because that type of person wants to be as close to the front as they can get.

Southwest has the most flights out of Reno so I expect to continue to fly them more than anybody else.  I've had their "Priority" Chase credit card for a number of years.  It has a $149 annual fee, but you get a $75 statement credit once a year (have to pay cash for one flight that's priced at $75 or higher to get it) plus 7500 FF points per year, worth $105 at 1.4 cents per point, so the $180 between those two benefits more than pays for the $149 annual fee.

The four annual free upgrades to A1-A15 boarding that come with that card become irrelevant with assigned seating.  That was useful when I was late to check in and drew the C boarding group.  That is essentially replaced by the one free checked bag for credit card holders.

If those are the changes the $149 credit card is a pretty good deal.  The variables that might make it a lousy deal and would cause me to cancel the card are:

Reducing or eliminating the $75 statement credit; or
Reducing or eliminating the annual 7500 point bonus; or
(the most likely) Devaluing the frequent flier points to significantly less than 1.4 cents per point.

Quote from: gonealookin on March 14, 2025, 03:20:22 PM(the most likely) Devaluing the frequent flier points to significantly less than 1.4 cents per point.

They just announced changes to redemptions as well. It used to be a fixed rate of points per dollar. Now it's going to be dynamic so they can charge more for busy dates/routes. Especially since Southwest only allows redemptions on themselves and Icelandair, this makes their points worth much less in my opinion.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 14, 2025, 03:40:18 PM

Quote from: gonealookin on March 14, 2025, 03:20:22 PM(the most likely) Devaluing the frequent flier points to significantly less than 1.4 cents per point.

They just announced changes to redemptions as well. It used to be a fixed rate of points per dollar. Now it's going to be dynamic so they can charge more for busy dates/routes. Especially since Southwest only allows redemptions on themselves and Icelandair, this makes their points worth much less in my opinion.

The incentive to keep playing Southwest's FF points game is the reinstatement of expiration of cash flight credits, which will be after 6 months for the fare levels most people buy.  If you buy a ticket with points and then cancel, those points go back into your account without an expiration date.

I don't buy plane tickets anticipating a cancellation, but plans do change.  If they imposed an expiration date on redeposited FF points that would end the game for me.  I would pay cash using my 2%-on-everything cashback card and be done with it.

Quote from: gonealookin on March 14, 2025, 05:01:54 PM

Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 14, 2025, 03:40:18 PM

Quote from: gonealookin on March 14, 2025, 03:20:22 PM(the most likely) Devaluing the frequent flier points to significantly less than 1.4 cents per point.

They just announced changes to redemptions as well. It used to be a fixed rate of points per dollar. Now it's going to be dynamic so they can charge more for busy dates/routes. Especially since Southwest only allows redemptions on themselves and Icelandair, this makes their points worth much less in my opinion.

The incentive to keep playing Southwest's FF points game is the reinstatement of expiration of cash flight credits, which will be after 6 months for the fare levels most people buy.  If you buy a ticket with points and then cancel, those points go back into your account without an expiration date.

I don't buy plane tickets anticipating a cancellation, but plans do change.  If they imposed an expiration date on redeposited FF points that would end the game for me.  I would pay cash using my 2%-on-everything cashback card and be done with it.

Yeah. The miles game in general is just about over. Long gone are the days where I would take mileage runs, flying to Singapore and immediately turning around just to earn miles and status.