Not everyone is the biggest fan of Walmart. It’s tough to deny the fact the store is a top option to find money-saving deals. However, it’s not always the best choice. In my testing, there are some items you should purchase elsewhere. Here are 13 items that may want to avoid putting in your shopping cart while at Walmart.
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Vacuums
While other appliances are good deals at Walmart, some things, like vacuums, aren’t. Steer clear of buying a vacuum at Walmart and instead, try online retailers like Amazon, big box stores like Best Buy, or even membership clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club.
The key is to shop around for the best price before you buy your next vacuum.
Meat
Walmart sells lots of meat, but it’s well-known not to be of highest quality. Consumer Reports indicates the biggest complaint by shoppers is the meal quality.
This includes freshness, taste, and selection. Shopping at a local grocery store or butcher may be a bit more expensive, but quality and satisfaction are often well worth the increased cost.
Wood Furniture
When I was first out of college, Walmart was my choice for furniture. There’s one minor problem, the quality of that wood furniture is lackluster at best.
Materials are often made out of particle board and quickly break down. Studies also reveal this is the case. It may work in a pinch, but spending up for higher quality furniture typically leads to higher quality and increased satisfaction.
High-End TVs
Television sets have become more affordable, but avoid high-end sets at Walmart. You usually get what you pay for with TV sets at Walmart.
Shopping at Best Buy or Costco will typically serve you better and give you a higher quality picture and features.
Appliances
Walmart doesn’t have a good selection for every item. That includes appliances like washers and refrigerators.
Most locations have few options to choose from and don’t compare well against other big box retailers. Consider stores like Best Buy or Home Depot if you’re in the market for a major appliance.
Video Games
Are you a gamer? You’re likely going to be overpaying for your next video game when you purchase it at Walmart.
Amazon is often a better choice. They sell more games, so they can offer a better discount. Don’t overlook Target either to snag a deal.
Produce
Who wants to bite into a rock hard peach, or have a less than tasty vegetable? No one. You’re more prone to find that situation at Walmart.
Consumer Reports cites Walmart as one of the worst retailers to buy fresh produce. Consider a local farmer’s market or grocery store to get what you want without sacrificing satisfaction.
Gift Cards
Gift cards work great as presents. However, you’ll always pay face value for them. You can buy discounted gift cards on various reputable sites.
Costco is another fantastic alternative that sell gift cards for less than face value.
Batteries
Having good batteries on hand is essential in many homes. Again, Walmart is a bad choice for your batteries. Costco’s generic Kirkland batteries often perform better for less.
If you need to buy batteries in bulk, both Costco and Sam’s Club tend to offer better deals.
Books and Music
Walmart loves to hide behind the mystique they’re the low-price leader on everything. That’s not always the case, especially with books and music.
Amazon often beats the retailer on pricing for both and may even have a better selection.
Disposable Utensils
Do you use a lot of disposable utensils in your home? They can be helpful to use for picnics, tailgating, or if you often take road trips.
Walmart isn’t a bad place, per se, to purchase them, but I often find that you can get them on a better deal at most dollar stores. You’re going to throw them away anyway, so why overpay if you don’t have to?
Party Supplies
There’s no doubt that Walmart typically has good deals on party supplies. But, they can still be beat.
Many dollar stores offer the same items you need for a party, but for less. There’s little sense to overspend for something that will likely end up in the trash anyway.
Toys
Walmart has an extensive offering of toys. There’s one problem – the pricing often isn’t very competitive.
You can often find toys for children cheaper on Amazon, or other retailers. Like other purchases, it pays to comparison shop to secure the best deal.
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11 Things You Should Always Buy at Aldi
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I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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