Does more $$ = more quality?

[leonp1981]

I'm sure this has been covered before but I'm new to the boards.

Is the quality of the products sold by these big companies any better than the smaller private ones who sell cheaper?

My creatine costs about £25-£30 ($40-$45?) for 1000g tub, from a less well-known company who sell in the smaller local shops.  But is this going to be less effective than the stuff sold by MuscleTech, ON, Met-Rx, etc. etc.? 

I ask because I have always been satisfied with my progress, but everytime I look at the never ending adverts in the magazines I wonder if I'm short changing myself by going for the more cost effective option?   

(I thinking mainly about creatine, glutamine, BCAA's, etc.)

[Figo]

Smaller guys just have smaller advertising budgets.

[Montague]

Is the quality of the products sold by these big companies any better than the smaller private ones who sell cheaper?

Not always.
Somebody was just discussing the co. NOW Foods on another thread. Good reputation for quality, and lower than normal prices.

[Montague]

Right.
Here it is:

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=118094.0

[Sjipes]

Interesting, but you have to remember brands like muscletech, and BSN  in particular have bigger advertising revenues i think, the n.o-explode commercial and so on. im sure somewhere down the line they intend to make some kind of profit back more so than the cheaper brands who spend less and dont have as many glossy advertisements and fancy packaging, what a better way to do this than bump up the prices, especially when we all know n.o-explode is SERIOUS business when it comes to building muscle! I wouldnt doubt its effectiveness for a minute. <---insert sarcasm--->

 

[MCWAY]

Smaller guys just have smaller advertising budgets.

Look at a MuscleTech ads today; now, find a MuscleTech ad from 10-11 years ago. You'll notice a distinct difference. Initially, MuscleTech ads were only found in MuscleMag International. Now, you'd be hard pressed to find a muscle mag that DOES NOT have MuscleTech ads (maybe Jeff Everson's Planet Muscle).

MuscleTech started with a mere THREE supplements: Hydroxycut, Acetabolan, and Creatine 6000-ES. Now, MuscleTech has dozens of products. And, that's not counting those from its spin-off sister company, Six Star.

Go back 15 years and check out MET-Rx's old-school ads, back when the product was in two forms: MET-Rx Plus and MET-Rx Base. Now, look at their ads.

Going back to 1989, I remember when one-page black-and-white flyers were being handed out for Hot Stuff at Bally and GNC. In just 2-3 years, Hot Stuff became the #1 selling supplement in the country, with other companies making their knockoff, trying to keep up.

Companies don't start out with millions for advertising. MuscleTech, MET-Rx, and BSN started off as "smaller guys". At the end of the day, the products have to work, in order for the $$$$$$ to roll in the pockets. That's the case for those companies; and, now, they're the BIG GUYS in the supplement business.

 

[canadian_husker]

And, that's not counting those from its spin-off sister company, Six Star.

that's interesting. i didn't know that. has anyone tried any of these? the only place i've seen them is wal mart and they are a lot cheaper priced than muscle tech products

[MCWAY]

that's interesting. i didn't know that. has anyone tried any of these? the only place i've seen them is wal mart and they are a lot cheaper priced than muscle tech products

I haven't tried any of Six Star's products. But, the company is a spin-off from MuscleTech. Some bodybuilders on MuscleTech's payroll endorse Six Star's products, two in particular are 2006 North American Champion, Leo Ingram "The World's Freakiest Bodybuilder", and 2006 National Heavyweight Champion, Lionel "L-Train" Brown.