Walmart is a great place to buy a ton of affordable stuff! You could certainly do most of your shopping there if you wanted, but we recommend that you avoid buying these 19 things from there if possible.
Books
Walmart occasionally includes books in its sales, where you can find low prices and good deals. But you’ll usually find better prices at bookshops or online. Plus, the range of book choices just isn’t that good in most Walmart stores.
Diapers
Stats from Sedona Sky Academy show that Americans can spend as much as $70-$80 per month on diapers, so it’s important to keep the cost down any way you can if you have a young baby. You can often save more by bulk purchasing online compared to buying diapers at Walmart.
Cat Litter and Pet Food
Having a pet isn’t cheap at the best of times, but Walmart is actually one of the worst places to shop for their food and other pet items. It’s recommended to sign up for bulk purchases elsewhere rather than buying these things individually as part of your regular shop.
Gift Cards
A gift card can be tempting as an easy fix for a birthday or Christmas present, but it’s not particularly economical to buy them at Walmart for full price. That’s because you can typically get discounted gift cards when you shop online, and also find more choices.
Smartphones
Getting a new iPhone won’t be any cheaper at Walmart than by purchasing directly from the manufacturer or the carrier. You will also miss out on the support services that those who buy directly get to experience, such as tech support, and you may get a reduced warranty.
Video Games
It’s generally more affordable to buy your video games online or from actual game stores than at Walmart. According to Neoseeker, Walmart may be getting rid of all physical game sales anyway, so you won’t even have a choice!
Toys
It’s true that Walmart often has a huge selection of toys, but this doesn’t mean you should buy them from here. The prices aren’t usually very competitive so you can find better deals and discounts on Amazon or other online retailers. Also look out for seasonal sales where you can make some decent savings on toys online.
Perfume
Walmart offers significant markups on your favorite fragrances compared to other retailers. We’re not saying it’s going to be cheaper to buy from Dior or Givenchy directly, but third-party perfume stores are the best place to go for these products, in-store or online.
Magazines
Buying the occasional magazine from Walmart isn’t the worst idea in the world, but if you’re looking to purchase the same publication regularly, a subscription will be a much more economical option. That way, you might be able to save as much as half of the money.
Rotisserie Chicken
Yahoo! Finance reports that Walmart is actually the worst place to buy rotisserie chicken for a few reasons. They claim that the chickens are often too dry because they were roasted too long or aren’t even cooked enough, which is even worse.
Tires
You might not have known that Walmart sells tires, but there’s not much worth doing with that information anyway! They don’t offer services like free rotations or balancing as many smaller companies do, so it’s worth going to one of those instead if you ever get a puncture.
Batteries
AA and AAA batteries are almost redundant now, but people still need them occasionally for things like the TV remote or torches. Next time you need them, we recommend shopping online, as Walmart charges a lot more than other online retailers.
Organic Produce
Mashed tells us that it’s not a good idea to buy organic food at Walmart for one key reason: they say that it’s more expensive than at many other, smaller stores. Therefore, it’s best to do your research and shop for your organic produce elsewhere.
Wrapping Paper
It’s always best to go to the dollar store to get your gift wrapping paper. When you can pick up a tube for a dollar or two, it makes a lot more sense than spending several dollars at Walmart. You’ll probably also get more choices.
Cookware
Walmart’s own-branded cookware is not particularly high quality, so you’ll probably find yourself replacing it more often. We recommend choosing a more premium product instead, as not only will it be better to use, but it will save you money in the long run.
Bedding
The quality matches the price once again with Walmart bedding, and for the most part, that’s going to be low. If you want a comfortable night’s sleep, it’s better to go to a department store or a bedding shop to find better-quality items. Fabric quality is key!
Jewelry
So, while it can be tempting to shop at Walmart to save money (let’s face it, it can be a lot cheaper), we don’t recommend it. According to The List, Walmart’s jewelry is pretty bad, so spending a little more at a jewelry store will make your purchases last longer, and you’ll get more for your money in the long run.
Furniture
Here’s another Walmart product that’s lacking in quality. Not all Walmart furniture is bad quality, but you’ll usually get more robust furniture somewhere else. Plus, online retailers tend to offer more competitive pricing.
Electronics Accessories
We recommend avoiding Walmart’s electronics accessories for a few reasons. One is that they’re not particularly good quality, and the other is that they’re not that cheap. You’d be better off going to an actual electronics store for these items.
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