Walmart might be the go-to spot for everything from groceries to garden tools, but not every deal is actually worth your money. While those low prices can be tempting, some items are better left on the shelves. Smart shoppers know that certain products offer poor quality, hidden costs, or simply better deals elsewhere. Here’s what to avoid during your next Walmart run.
Fresh meat and fish disappoint customers
Walking past Walmart’s meat counter, you might notice the prices seem great compared to your local grocery store. However, countless customers have complained about the quality and taste of Walmart’s fresh meat and fish. The meat often lacks the freshness and flavor you’d expect, with many shoppers describing it as having an off taste or strange texture that makes meals less enjoyable.
Consumer Reports consistently ranks Walmart at the bottom for meat and poultry quality in their grocery store surveys. Beyond taste issues, there have been problems with improper labeling of weighted products, which resulted in customers being overcharged. Your family dinners deserve better quality protein, so consider shopping at a dedicated butcher shop or grocery store with a better meat department reputation.
Great Value toilet paper feels like sandpaper
Everyone needs toilet paper, but Walmart’s Great Value brand might leave you feeling uncomfortable. Multiple customer reviews describe this particular toilet paper as rough and scratchy, comparing the texture to sandpaper. When you’re using a product multiple times every day, comfort becomes incredibly important, and this isn’t an area where you want to compromise for a few dollars in savings.
The quality difference between Great Value toilet paper and name brands is significant enough that most people notice immediately. Instead of dealing with an uncomfortable experience every time you use the bathroom, consider spending a little extra on a softer, more comfortable brand. Your daily comfort is worth the additional cost.
Furniture looks cheap and breaks quickly
Walmart’s furniture section might catch your eye with incredibly low prices on dressers, dining tables, and sofas. While these pieces might work for a college dorm room or temporary living situation, they’re not built to last in a real home. The furniture often looks obviously cheap and lacks the durability needed for daily family use, with many pieces showing wear and tear within months of purchase.
Most furniture items at Walmart are made from particleboard rather than solid wood, despite what the product descriptions might suggest. This means your wooden furniture will likely chip, sag, or break much sooner than expected. Investing in slightly more expensive furniture from dedicated furniture stores or even finding quality used pieces will save you money in the long run since you won’t need to replace items constantly.
Electronics come with terrible customer service
Walmart’s electronics section offers plenty of gadgets and devices, but the prices rarely beat dedicated electronics retailers or online competitors. More importantly, when something goes wrong with your purchase, you’ll quickly discover that Walmart’s customer support for electronics is notoriously unhelpful. Technical issues, warranty claims, and returns become major headaches that can leave you stuck with broken or defective products.
Electronics stores like Best Buy offer much better customer service, technical support, and warranty handling for the same or similar prices. The selection at Walmart also tends to be limited compared to specialized electronics retailers. When you’re investing in expensive gadgets or devices, having reliable customer support and easy returns makes a huge difference if problems arise.
Produce lacks freshness and good prices
Walmart’s produce section might seem convenient when you’re already shopping for other items, but the fruits and vegetables often disappoint in both quality and price. The produce frequently lacks the freshness you’d find at grocery stores or farmers markets, with wilted lettuce, soft apples, and vegetables that spoil quickly after you bring them home. This means you end up wasting money on food that goes bad before you can use it.
Local farmers markets and stores like Save-A-Lot often offer better prices on fresher produce. Consumer Reports consistently rates Walmart’s produce quality at the bottom of their grocery store surveys, alongside Target. Shopping around for your fruits and vegetables will get you fresher ingredients that last longer in your refrigerator and taste better in your meals.
Shoes fall apart after minimal wear
Walmart’s shoe section features trendy styles at incredibly low prices, making it tempting to grab a few pairs while you’re shopping for other items. However, these shoes are notorious for falling apart quickly, often after just a few weeks of normal wear. The low prices reflect the poor construction and cheap materials used, which means you’ll likely need to replace them much sooner than expected.
Beyond durability issues, Walmart shoes typically offer poor comfort and support for your feet. The low quality construction means inadequate cushioning and arch support, which can make walking uncomfortable. Investing in better quality shoes from dedicated shoe stores or department stores will actually save you money since they’ll last much longer and keep your feet comfortable throughout the day.
Luggage breaks during your first trip
Planning a vacation and need new luggage? Walmart’s suitcases might look like a great deal, but they’re infamous for breaking during travel. Airlines are notoriously rough on luggage, and even expensive, well-made suitcases can get damaged during flights. Walmart’s budget luggage simply can’t withstand the throwing, tossing, and rough handling that happens during air travel.
Many customers report that their Walmart luggage falls apart during their first trip, with broken wheels, torn fabric, or damaged zippers. This leaves you stuck buying replacement luggage while you’re traveling, which is both expensive and inconvenient. Spending more upfront on quality luggage from dedicated travel stores will ensure your belongings stay protected throughout multiple trips.
Batteries cost more than warehouse stores
Running low on batteries for your remote controls, toys, or other devices? Walmart might seem like the obvious choice since you’re already there shopping, but you’ll pay significantly more per battery compared to warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club. The individual battery prices at Walmart add up quickly, especially if you have kids with electronic toys that constantly need fresh batteries.
Warehouse stores offer bulk battery packages that bring the per-unit cost way down compared to Walmart’s prices. Since batteries have a long shelf life, buying in bulk makes perfect sense for most households. Stock up during your next warehouse store trip and you’ll have batteries ready when you need them, at a much lower cost per battery.
Gift cards become targets for scammers
Gift cards seem like perfect last-minute presents, and Walmart has a huge selection displayed right near the checkout lanes. However, these gift card displays have become prime targets for scammers who write down card numbers from the rack, then wait for someone to purchase and activate the cards. Once activated, the scammers can use the card numbers to make online purchases, leaving the intended recipient with a worthless card.
This scam problem has been going on for years and affects gift cards at many retailers, but it’s particularly easy for thieves to tamper with cards in busy stores like Walmart. Instead of risking your money on potentially compromised gift cards, consider giving cash, checks, or purchasing gift cards directly from the specific retailers online where they’re better protected from tampering.
Shopping smart means knowing when to skip the convenient option in favor of better quality, prices, or security. While Walmart excels in many areas, avoiding these particular items will save you money, frustration, and disappointment. Your wallet and peace of mind will thank you for shopping around and choosing better alternatives for these products.
