Great 'disguised Own Brand' Hunt.

navig8r

soundsmith wrote:

Hi all, I was given a widescreen TV by cheapo brand JMB found in Argos among others. I opened it up to find the tube labelled as Panasonic and the circuitry by Philips. Go forth and open your "cheap" brand (after disconnecting the elec) and report it here.

Beware opening TV's,even with the power off as there are voltages held within the capacitors that can give a nasty shock or even kill if the wrong area is touched :eek:

Dave

996ducati

Panasonic=Technics audio equipment

Sanyo used to make some of the Matsui portable tv's

Campbells (about 3 years ago)used to make most of the major supermarkets "premium" soups.

ppozma

Roops wrote:

I've bought 3 or 4 dishwashers in the last few years (different houses) and noticed the model stamp inside the units were exactly the same for Bosch, Neff and some MFI in house brand models. A quick look at the web site reveals that Bosch & Neff are located in the same place in Milton Keynes:

Neff & Robert Bosch Domestic Appliances,
Grand Union House
Old Wolverton Road
Wolverton
Milton Keynes
MK12 5PT

And from ARG's website - AEG Domestic Appliances is one of the leading manufacturers of domestic appliances in Europe and a subsidiary of the Electrolux Group with worldwide operations.

I know for a fact that my Zanussi fridge / freezer is identical to an AEG model selling for £250 more...how smug I felt!

I work not far from here, I believe the sign says BSH. (Bosch-Neff, Seimens and no idea what the H stands for), they also distribute Gagganau (?).
I believe they are the same manufacturer, but this is only a distribution centre to my knowledge.

Gemini21

I understand that Bosch are also part of the same group as Hotpoint, Bosch marketed as top of the range and Hotpoint further down!

loopy_lass

i was told the other day that belling make beko, anyone know if its true and are beko cookers any good as im considering buying one.

loops

DonGrunbaum

Maggie_Holmes wrote:

I am looking to buy a new washing machine, I like the Zanussi make. Can
anyone tell me of some cheaper brands of washing machines that have the
same motor as the Zanussi, obviously I would like to save money if the
only difference is the outside casing etc.

Also the same for Panasonic I like their products too, T.V.'s Hi Fi, Video
and DVD's players. What makes/brands have the same components as
Panasonic.

Might as well tell me if Sony products come under some other brand as well.

I would be very grateful for any info.

Maggie

Zanussi are now part of the Electrolux group. AFAIK there are no cheaper equivalents of Zanussi, who are one of the lower priced brands anyway. We have always been happy with their Washing Machines (3) and Dishwashers (2)

Panasonic are part of Matsush!ta (edited as the I gives a forbidden word), who also produce Technics goods. Technics are the "upmarket" brand. Again we've also found Panasonic very good - Which rate them as better than average reliability. We had one of their VCRs for nearly 20 years, and it only stopped working when the rubber drive belts perished. We also had one of their TVs that packed up after 4.5 years. But as we'd bouth it from John Lewis, it was replaced with a brand new one FOC. We went for a wide-screen Sony, as it was a good offer. We got the full price we'd paid for the previous TV credited and a new 5 year guarantee. JL give a 5 year warranty on TVs without any extra payment.

Sony only make Sony, although there might be Sony components in other devices (eg CD ROM drives in PCs) and the also buy in and badge some cheaper stuff.

HTH

Red_Elle

I work as a Consultant to lots of fresh produce companies. Most supermarkets have several suppliers, depending on their location across the country. Some suppliers are contracted to only supply one supermarket, but the supermarkets can have several suppliers.
Generally, products like potatoes and mushrooms are identical in different stores. The difference is in their shape and colour. For example, with potatoes, the 'higher end' supermarkets insist on uniformity of colour and shape, so similar shapes and sizes will be picked and packed on a separate line. The potatoes that are strange shapes will go to places like Aldi and Lidl. There is no difference in the growing or picking of the veg and fruit, but 'higher end' consumers apparently prefer things to look nicer.
If you are in any doubt, look at the small print on the labels. It will be coded to show where it has come from location wise, which supplier and which batch. It's the same with flowers and plants.

Bob_the_Builder_5

Kodak claim not to make film for anyone else

A couple of years ago, I went on a tour of their UK factory (has since closed), we went everywhere and if they were making 35mm photographic film for anyone else, I would have seen it - I didn't.

UK007BullDog

Hi there,
This is my first post on this site. Yummy!

First of all I would like to point out that Aldi and Lidl are cheap food and goods discounters who are from Germany and are treating their staff cheaply too. have you seen the turn around of staff in their shops? Each time I go there they have new people working there. In Germany staff are taking them to court.

Secondly I would like to let you all know that most of the stuff in the shops are from branded manufacturers. A similar site like this one by a lady in Germany produced a booklet where she traced a lot of the foods made back to the big names.

I noticed that over the years more and more of the goods are produced in the UK. I would guess that some of those UK factories are subsidiaries of the big branded ones. Brands are now global so it should not matter. Heinz baked beans are known everywhere. Muller Milk yoghurts used to be a no-body in Germany 30 years ago and now they are one of the biggest players in Europe.

My mom sent me the booklet which is good. There is a way of finding out if some of the fresh items come from a big playa.

On meats, cheeses, cold meats, milk, butter, margerne and yoghurts etc. there is a little stamp like looking mark. It is oval or at times triangular and has numbers and letters on it. if you compare that no-name with the branded and it is identical it means that both come from the same factory, where the likelyhood of it being totally identical is logical. In the end do the taste test.


To the person mentioning "GAGGENAU" that is one of the toppest range brands in germany regarding cookers. If you see one like that and another brand looking just like it i would assume you get a very good quality on the cheap.

D.

UK007BullDog

I had a Zanussi washer dryer which was £600+ bought about 3 1/2 years ago. It packed in just when the warranty ran out. It was the motor for the pump. Paid another £50. for a new pump motor. Then the pump motor went a second time, again a new replacement. Then it started to go again and the bearings started to leak oil and metal bits, ruined a whole load of clothes. I lost my tether and bought a new machine a Creda, which just washes and hang clothes in spare bedroom. Paid £120 for it. Its not the best machine I had. The best was an AEG model top range which lasted for 16 years and never went wrong. I can kick myself for selling it on as that person still has it and only needed a belt replaced. I went through 3 machines in the mean time.

MY TIP: Never Ever Buy A New Model That Just Came Out!!!!! Let other consumers be the ones to test them, as the manufacturers do not test their stuff anymore at all it seems. Also they drop in price later on anyway. And support your small independent white goods dealers, dont run to Curry, dixon and co., as their sales staff have no clue, and only care about their comissions. Go to the local guy who cares, delivers and connects the machines. And knows their machines regarding reliability.

D.