Walmart is one of the many retail giants that offer shoppers items at a typically lower price than they may find elsewhere. In the United States alone there are around 4,618 stores, which is more than doubled when you add worldwide store totals. Texas holds the record for the most Walmart locations in the country – 508 – although several major cities, like New York, San Francisco, and Boston, don’t have any.
It is not only the biggest retail store in the U.S. but the biggest in the world, with more than 600 billion in sales (the U.S. had 500 billion in sales). With figures like this, you would think you can’t go wrong with what you buy, however, just because many budget-conscious shoppers opt to shop at Walmart, it doesn’t mean that everything for sale should be bought.
Like many retail shops, we often are enticed by items that are on sale or cost less than others but these are not always the best purchase. Some items may meet expectations, like the company’s Great Value line which offers good deals on many items, but others leave you realizing that you often do get what you pay for.
It may be a lack of quality, not much genuine value, or even ethical concerns that make certain products best left on the shelves. (Walmart is not the only megastore where some products are best left there — here are 10 things to never buy at Target.)
To determine the items you should never buy at Walmart, 24/7 Tempo conducted thorough research, looking at customer reviews, price comparisons, and quality with competing stores and brands, as well as viewing Walmart’s track record for specific products.
Here are the items you should never buy at Walmart:
1. A Prepaid Phone Plan
Many people often choose prepaid phone plans because of their affordability and flexibility. With that in mind, knowing that Walmart has a great price point for their Family Mobile plan – a $49 monthly unlimited nationwide plan and 4G LTE data – you may be tempted to switch carriers. Although this budget-friendly option could help you save money, it won’t save you in the long run. Here is why there are much better options out there:
- While Family Mobile’s monthly plan might seem like a steal, others are better. Budget carriers like Ultra, Boost, and Mint have cheaper plans. For example, Mint Mobile has a 3-month Unlimited plan for $90 ($30 per month).
- Walmart’s Family Mobile doesn’t stand out from a value standpoint, and customer reviews are VERY poor. The prepaid phone plan market offers numerous alternatives with more competitive pricing, enhanced customer support, and a broader array of features to cater to your needs. Many users complain about Family Mobile’s quality, with very poor connection and terrible customer support.
Alternative Recommendations: If you want prepaid phone plans that provide superior value and service, it’s worth checking out other alternatives like Metro by T-Mobile, Google Fi, Ultra, Boost, or Mint Mobile. These options provide better coverage and features at competitive prices.
2. Wooden furniture
It’s not always easy, or possible, to get good quality, inexpensive furniture. While there are many options to choose from, they aren’t always ideal for your budget. While Walmart’s wooden furniture may catch your eye with its budget-friendly prices, it’s essential to remember that you get what you pay for.
- Walmart’s wood furniture, despite its affordability, is much lower quality and cheaply made.
- The items may be budget-friendly, but it’s worth noting that they often lack durability and may not last long.
Experts in the field advise that Walmart’s furniture is more susceptible to breaking or deteriorating quickly. So, even though it is cheaper, you are likely going to have to replace it more often than quality furniture.
Alternative Recommendations: Certain retailers specialize in reasonably priced furniture and instead of choosing Walmart from the start, it’s better to explore other options. Retailers like IKEA, Wayfair, or even second-hand stores provide reasonably priced alternatives that are much more durable.
3. Phone Accessories
We all need phone accessories to enhance our mobile experiences, while at the same time protecting them from potential damage. When you shop at Walmart, you might be tempted to grab that bargain deal but it’s vital to know that these items often come at a steeper price point when compared to what you can find online. Before making any purchases, you should do a price comparison and research electronics and phone accessories products.
Many big box retailers, Walmart included, tend to mark up the prices of phone accessories significantly. You might end up paying more for these items than necessary. By aiming to compensate for their lower profit margins on big-ticket items, many of these stores increase prices in the accessories category.
Alternative Recommendations: For certain items like phone and tablet cases, charging cables, glass screen protectors, HDTV screen cleaning kits, computer accessories, and laptop bags, it’s often a smarter move to buy exclusively online. When shopping online retailers, you’ll be able to easily compare prices and will have a much larger pool of products to choose from.
4. Plates, Cutlery, and Glasses
Like many other retailers, Walmart offers a wide array of budget-friendly kitchenware, from bowls and plates to coffee mugs and flatware. Although Walmart claims to be the cheapest retailer, this isn’t always true. If you’re trying to save money, you are better off checking out stores like Dollar Tree or thrift shops which offer these items for a fraction of the cost.
Take the time to compare prices at different stores and consider using coupons to maximize your savings. Additionally, the kitchenware sold by Walmart is not very good quality and items may break quickly, necessitating another purchase.
Alternative Recommendations: For disposable utensils and plates, dollar stores can be a better cost-effective option. For kitchen accessories, online shopping can often save you money by eliminating in-store costs. Stores with better quality kitchenware at a decent price point include IKEA, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair, and Macy’s. (Click here for a list of toxic products sold at dollar stores.)
5. Home Appliances
Certain stores may be good for almost everything, appliances included, but Walmart is not one of them. You generally won’t find very good deals there. This is often because Walmart has a limited selection that may not impress as much as what you’d find at home improvement or specialty appliance stores.
According to Consumer Reports, in terms of both pricing and selection, Walmart doesn’t surpass its competitors like Costco, Best Buy, and Lowe’s. These alternative stores often offer more attractive deals, higher quality merchandise, and a wider array of choices for consumers.
Alternative Recommendations: If you value customer service and support, Consumer Reports advises visiting a local independent retailer. They usually have more to offer and have a wide range of options and features. Other good stores to buy appliances are Best Buy, Home Depot, and Wayfair.
6. Batteries
Batteries are an essential household item but those purchased at Walmart tend to not only lose their charge rather fast but leak as well. If you’re in the market for batteries that offer long-lasting performance without breaking the bank, you should avoid Walmart. Great Value brand batteries end up being a waste of money, and you’ll need to purchase new batteries relatively quickly.
Alternative Recommendations: When powering various devices around your home, we recommend shopping at Costco, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, and Amazon. (Walmart currently offers a four-pack of Energizer Ultimate AA Lithium Batteries for $14.76. In contrast, by buying in bulk at Sam’s Club, you can secure an 18-pack of the same batteries for just $34.98.)
7. Gift wrap
Wrapping paper is typically something that we use year-round, not only during the holiday season. Where you buy it from can make all the difference. Walmart doesn’t have the best variety of papers to choose from and their quality is lacking, leaving you with wrapping paper that easily rips, which may cost you more in the end.
Alternative Recommendations: Depending on what you’re looking for, either budget options or good quality gift wrap, you might want to look at other options. If your budget is rather tight, your local dollar store is the ideal choice for the most budget-friendly prices on gift wraps and supplies. But if you prefer a various selection, Target takes the top spot.
With its extensive selection of gift wraps, bags, and supplies, Target has something for every occasion and price range. Other alternatives to consider for a great value are Michaels or your local Hallmark. They provide bundles that include gift bags and tissue.
8. Vitamins and supplements
You might to reconsider purchasing vitamins and supplements at this retail giant. Walmart’s history with supplements is a large factor. In 2015, they faced criticism for selling “herbal” supplements that either didn’t contain the labeled substance or had unlisted ingredients.
Alternative Recommendations: Shopping locally often gives you better choices and peace of mind. According to experts, it’s often better to turn to your local warehouse store for vitamins and supplements. There is often a broader selection of quality items and prices are competitive. If you want the best quality vitamins, you can purchase them at a pharmacy or health store.
9. Meat and fresh produce
It might be extremely convenient for you to purchase all your grocery items in one place, and Walmart may have less expensive options than other stores, but when it comes to certain items, you are best going elsewhere. This discount chain left shoppers, almost 80% of them, with grocery-related grievances, which were mostly aimed at the quality of meat and poultry.
The produce department didn’t fare much better, leaving customers unsatisfied. According to Consumer Reports’ grocery store survey, both Walmart and Target ranked at the bottom of the list when it came to offering the best quality and variety of produce.
Alternative Recommendations: For meat and fresh produce, you’ll have better luck shopping at your local farmers market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s.
10. Diapers
There are many items you can save money by purchasing generic brands but diapers should not be one of them. Quality goes much further than quantity. Considering the high cost of diapers, it is understandable that one may wish to explore money-saving options, particularly at discount retailers. After all, the price of diapers can be quite staggering, especially when infants can go through more than 10 diapers daily.
Based on data from the National Diaper Bank Network, parents can spend as much as $80 a month on diapers alone. However, when you analyze the figures, Walmart may not have the best choices. The diaper packs offered can be quite expensive since they don’t have large packs and many parents have reported that the quality is subpar.
Alternative Recommendations: If cost-cutting is what you’re looking for, Amazon’s subscription service through Amazon Family is a more budget-friendly option. Amazon Prime members can unlock a 20% discount on their diaper subscriptions through Amazon Family, complete with free shipping. Amazon’s Mama Bear pack drops to just $24, a price that’s tough to match at other retailers.
11. Toys
It may seem like Walmart would have a great, inexpensive toy selection which is what many people are looking for when it comes to holiday shopping or children’s birthdays but this isn’t necessarily the case.
Walmart may offer a wide selection that can be highly convenient, but their prices are rather high. In 2019, Kiplinger conducted a price comparison of Walmart’s toy offerings with several other retailers and discovered that Amazon consistently provided better deals on the same toys and games.
Alternative Recommendations: If you’re focused on getting the most bang for your buck when shopping for toys, Amazon could be the go-to destination. (But the online retailer is not a go-to store for everything — here’s a list of 11 things not to buy on Amazon.)