20 Products That Ruined Cheap Alternatives Forever

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2 days ago

These days — especially with prices rising — it seems like everyone is always on the hunt for dupes or cheaper alternatives to their favorite products. But sometimes, the "real deal" is so good that the budget version just cannot compete! So much so that once you experience that kind of quality, there's just no going back.
Recently, redditor Wonderful-Economy762 wanted to know which purchases completely leveled people up and made them unexpectedly picky when they asked: "What's one product you bought that turned you into a total snob — like, you can never go back to the cheap stuff?"
From butter to bedsheets, here's what people said made them raise their standards for good:
"High-quality headphones. Once you hear music on good headphones, cheap ones sound like static."
—ColdAntique291"This! After using great headphones, you try your old ones and suddenly it sounds like your music is coming out of a haunted bucket."—Random_NameGenerated
"High-quality butter."
—Calm-Sea-5526"Kerrygold is my fave."—pereuse
"Balsamic vinegar."
—U_kiddingme"The thick, expensive kind."—nycvhrs
"Really good olive oil."
—WeirdcoolWilson"I married an Italian and learned of this liquid gold. When it goes on sale, the family gets the word out and some buy it by the case."—dbrackulator
"Whole coffee beans. No pre-ground coffee for me, keep your freeze-dried coffee to yourself, thanks!"
—blondehairedangel"Came here to say this. Grinding your own has no substitute."—stairway2000
"Maldon Sea Salt Flakes."
—tyrannosaurus_eh"Their smoked salt is amazing too."—Smallloudcat
"My fancy coffee machine. I'm never going back to instant coffee."
—0ld_skool"I was just telling someone I can't drink drip coffee anymore. It just doesn't taste good to me now."—leese216
"My KitchenAid stand mixer."
—rushX33"Mine runs great. Got it in 1999 or 2000."—Necessary_Internet75
"Heated seats in my vehicles. It's pretty common across most models these days, but I first got them in 2005, and I told myself, 'There's just no going back now...'"
—TravelEven1789"Also the heated steering wheel!"—Fragrant_Turnover_38
"Maple syrup!!!"
—FlapDoodle-Badger"True Vermont maple syrup is on another level. We have a vacation home near many sugarhouses. No chemicals, no flavoring, no additives. Just pure syrup is ridiculously better."—imonlinedammit1
"Quality fabrics — cotton, linen, and wool."
—Jadey006"I never thought I would be checking fabrics as much as I do now. Cotton seems to be becoming a thing of the past."—VivelaVendetta
"Birkenstock sandals. I have knee problems, and they redistribute weight just enough to make a BIG difference — so much so, that I bought a slip-in style and ankle boot for when the cooler weather comes."
—nycvhrs"Agreed. I've bought similar cheaper brands and they are not the same support at all."—catashtrophe84
"Vanilla extract for baking. I cannot use the 'imitation' crap anymore, even if it is half the price."
—L0st-137"Real vanilla is expensive and worth every penny."—Transcontinental-flt
"Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce."
—bebenee27"Oh hells yes. It's pricey, but it's damn good."—Yankee6Actual
"My perfume. The specific scent I wear, I've worn almost every day for the past 25 years. I won't change it."
—Ecjg2010"Exactly! I may have on a thrift store shirt and a pair of jeans I bought at a yard sale, but Imma have on one of my expensive perfumes with them."—ALmommy1234
"Really great cookware. Most people start out on T-fal, but once you can afford the good stuff, your cooking will never be the same. I personally love my Scanpans. Oh, and quality knives like Wüsthof."
—Adorable_Complaint36"Solid advice. Great cookware and great knives are so worth it and will last a lifetime given proper care and use."—UnsafeAtEverySpeed
"Coca-Cola. I never buy the cheap shit."
—ricst"Off-brand cola is the worst. I can handle off-brand orange, citrus, or ginger ale, but any brown soda needs to be brand."—Pizzaisbae13
"Q-tips."
—Foxingmatch"True. Generic ones are crap."—FireBallXLV
"Aesop body wash and hand soap. Smells so good and doesn't dry skin."
—mega_star_"That's a level of rich I aspire to."—Careless-Ad8346
Lastly, "High-quality sheets with a great thread count.'
—Heebyjeebees"And silk pillowcases."—vernongodlittle_
You can read the original thread on Reddit.