How low can you go? (generically speaking)

Image by jbcurio via Flickr

I've never been a real fan of generic brand anything... I don't know why, but somehow I feel that I'm always getting an inferior product.  For instance, when I buy a drug, I want Zithromax... not generic azithromycin.  When I buy stuffing mix I want Stovetop Stuffing, not America's choice, and when I buy shampoo, I want Paul Mitchell, not CVS brand.   Well, lately I'm starting to change my ways... the price difference is just too steep to ignore. Unfortunately, my mouth is a tough critic and some generic brands just don't taste right.  I tried ShopRite Vitamin water and it couldn't compare to THE Glaceau Vitamin Water.  It tasted more like cool-aid..ugh.  Well I'll just have to wait until the real stuff  goes on sale and then print out some coupons.
The shampoo thing is another issue.  I've been told for years by my hairdresser that inferior shampoos will damage my hair, so I've been spending upwards of 12.00 for a smallish bottle of high end shampoo. 
Shampoo has come a long way since my grandparents were using bar soap to wash their hair. And, when I was a kid, the Breck girl was then envy of every teenage girl. How I longed for the things that Breck shampoo could do for me.
Luckily, I now know that my shampoo won't give me popularity or anything else other than clean hair, so just for kicks I decided to use the shampoo that my son and husband use.   I'm actually embarrassed to use the name of it (no it's not Suave) as it normally sells for .99 a bottle.  What a far cry from my Paul Mitchell.
Even crazier is the fact that my husband came in from one of his shopping adventures and was very excited that "his" shampoo was on sale for .88 a bottle.  Wow... that's almost free!  So, against all better judgement, I tried the 88 cents shampoo.  Incredulously, my hair never looked shinier!  No, I'm not going to try the bar soap next.