Brand Names That Have Replaced the Generic Name of Their Product (1 Viewer)

[Insein]

Nothing bigger than Coke. I still ask for a Coke at a pizza shop and sometimes they say, " is Pepsi ok?"

I think that is more recognizing Coke is a brand and asking you if a different brand is OK.

I've heard "what kind?" afterward, as in:

"I'll have a Coke."

"What kind?"

"Sprite."

...that's truly making "coke"="soda"

I ask places if they have Pepsi and if they say no, I'll take a sprite.

 

[Northern Voice]

Interesting how regionality plays into it as well. No one in Canada has ever called Sprite/Pepsi or anything else other than Coca Cola brand "Coke".

Also, I find up here more people say "Sea-Doo" than "Jet Ski", regardless of what brand the machine actually is... but that's likely the Bombardier influence.

 

[Zegras11]

soon to be one.......

StubHub

 

[msommer]

Hoover

Mackintosh

For the Limeys on the board

 

[Keerock]

Nothing bigger than Coke. I still ask for a Coke at a pizza shop and sometimes they say, " is Pepsi ok?"

I think that is more recognizing Coke is a brand and asking you if a different brand is OK.

I've heard "what kind?" afterward, as in:

"I'll have a Coke."

"What kind?"

"Sprite."

...that's truly making "coke"="soda"

I ask places if they have Pepsi and if they say no, I'll take a sprite.

I ask placed if they have Coke and if they say no, I'll have an ice water.

 

[John Bender]

In a somewhat reverse situation is what goes on when you want a Yeungling in Pennsylvania.

You ask for a "Lager" and you get a Yeungling. That's it. The patrons and bartenders don't even use the word Yeungling around here.

I found that weird when moving to the area a few years ago.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

In a somewhat reverse situation is what goes on when you want a Yeungling in Pennsylvania.

You ask for a "Lager" and you get a Yeungling. That's it. The patrons and bartenders don't even use the word Yeungling around here.

I found that weird when moving to the area a few years ago.

Good one. I've lived in PA all my life and forgot all about that. It's second nature in the drinking community.

 

[DocHolliday]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......Yeungling.

 

[Fennis]

Fennis

 

[Mr. Ected]

TiVo

Agree with Pollard here, TiVo has largely been replaced by DVR.

Fascinating list on Wikipedia includes:

Spoiler

Dry Ice

Heroin

Kerosene

Laundromat

Lineoleum

Trampoline

Videotape

App

Touch-Tone

Zipper

AstroTurf

Bubble Wrap

Bubbler (drinking fountain)

Crescent Wrench

Durex (twice, a brand of adhesive tape and the condoms)

Freon

Memory Stick

Tarmac

Spelling mistake here, where I grew up (MA) it was Bubblah.

 

[SWC]

everyone says filco instead of radio take that to the bank brohans

 

[inca911]

Ziploc

 

[MindCrime]

In a somewhat reverse situation is what goes on when you want a Yeungling in Pennsylvania.

You ask for a "Lager" and you get a Yeungling. That's it. The patrons and bartenders don't even use the word Yeungling around here.

I found that weird when moving to the area a few years ago.

I had the reverse with the same product. Grew up in PA, expected Yuengling when I ordered "Lager". Moved to Florida, and early 2000's, yuengling opens a brewery in Tampa to make their beer while the PA brewery was being returned. Luckily, they decided to distribute in FLA as well. I go into a bar, ask for a "Lager", and the response now is "What kind".

Ummm.... The Only kind. And get off my lawn you hipster!

 

[Fennis]

FICO score

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Apparently Otis the Elevator People owned the name "Escalator"

Those damn people think they are so high and mighty but they have their low moments too.

 

[Despyzer]

Murphy Beds, once upon a time.

I think this is what trademark law calls genericide. It's a doctrine in ™ law where you actually lose the right to the protection your name because it becomes so synonymous with a product.

Yep. And companies (think Coke and Pepsi) will send investigators into restaurants that serve the competitor's product. An "undercover" Coke employee will go into a restaurant that serves Pepsi and ask for a Coke, and if the waiter doesn't correct the "investigator" then the restaurant will get a strongly worded letter in a few days. Xerox does the same thing.

My biggest complaint with Xerox is how much time and effort they spend worrying over restaurant beverage branding.

 

[Despyzer]

Interesting how regionality plays into it as well. No one in Canada has ever called Sprite/Pepsi or anything else other than Coca Cola brand "Coke".

Also, I find up here more people say "Sea-Doo" than "Jet Ski", regardless of what brand the machine actually is... but that's likely the Bombardier influence.

"It's as if those French have a different word for EVERYTHING." - Steve Martin

 

[Hu-Tang Clan]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......Yeungling.

This stuff is terrible.

 

[Hu-Tang Clan]

Interesting how regionality plays into it as well. No one in Canada has ever called Sprite/Pepsi or anything else other than Coca Cola brand "Coke".

Also, I find up here more people say "Sea-Doo" than "Jet Ski", regardless of what brand the machine actually is... but that's likely the Bombardier influence.

Probably due to the winter version Ski Doo. If you use that term then you're probably more apt to use Sea Doo for the water version. Just a guess. I call them Jet Skis and snowmobiles.

 

[Hu-Tang Clan]

Jet Ski, Roller Blades, Aspirin all surprise me.

On a converse note, Oreo was the generic brand of Hydrox cookies.

Edit: just saw Dumpster. That one is surprising.

This one is a pet peeve of mine. I used to work at a sporting goods store and people would say they're looking for Roller Blades but then point at a completely different brand. I'd start bringing out just Roller Blades until they would say they didn't want those. "Oh you mean inline skates???" Sorry.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Apparently Otis the Elevator People owned the name "Escalator"

Those damn people think they are so high and mighty but they have their low moments too.

The rest of the elevator industry got shafted.

 

[Fennis]

Apparently Otis the Elevator People owned the name "Escalator"

Those damn people think they are so high and mighty but they have their low moments too.

The rest of the elevator industry got shafted.

these are the best elevator puns since Love in an Elevator video