joe on the thread take some time and read this, I'm sure you know of Bonnie Hunter.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2009/...-thoughts.html
as I've said I drove a big truck for 15 yrs, doing this I sent days in most every type manufactring plant you can think of, you wait, for them to load your trailer, this may take a full day. so you walk around watching.. what an eye opener as to who make what and which labels go on the product..
as you just said, so many items are the very same thing, just sports a different label and sold at different prices via that label.
take thread. no there no different it all comes off the same mega huge roll that was hipped in from china. as in a 2 1/2 ton roll. x amount goes to maxilock x amount goes to superior or bottom line or coats so on.
paper products same thing . canned food is about the worst for this.