Some items you want to buy from brand names. In regards to this item I don't think this is any less good product than any other brand out there. My daughters have been using this for school for the past number of years and we never had any issues with it. In the summer months Staples has many back-to-school sales and notebooks has always been on sale. So I stock up on whatever I estimate I need for the year. As long as the quality remains as it is I will continue to use this item as long as I need it.