40 Things You Shouldn't Buy at Walmart

Walmart is the best place for cheap stuff…or so we’ve been told. For years, we’ve heard that Walmart has lower prices than any competitor out there, but have we ever bothered to check? Most of us glance at the cost of something and notice that it could be cheaper elsewhere, but we usually forget how much it was by the time we get to the other store. 

However, we did a little digging and discovered that Walmart isn’t the low-price haven it claims to be. There are actually a lot of products you shouldn’t buy there because it’s just cheaper elsewhere. Aldi, Costco, and Sam’s Club have cheaper items. Driving to different stores could play in your favor considering you could save a ton of money each year by shopping around. 

Keep buying toilet paper at Walmart, since they somehow have the best, cheap toilet paper on the market, but avoid these 40 items next time you visit this store.

(Featured Image via Facebook)

Nothing is better than maple syrup on pancakes, but don’t get it at Walmart. You can find maple syrup that's higher quality and cheaper at other grocery stores.

However, if you're looking for a lousy, high-fructose maple syrup knock-off – you’re in luck! While there are high-quality maple syrups at Walmart, it’ll cost you a pretty penny.

This is one instance where Walmart isn't cheap and low-quality enough. It's just wrapping paper--it's going in the garbage can as soon as you get it off.

Instead, swing by the dollar store. The wrapping paper is exactly the same and will do the job just as well. There are also great pattern choices.

Unless you’re buying store-brand, batteries are pretty much the same. There’s a negligible difference between Energizer and Duracell, but not enough for it to really matter.

That being said, batteries at Walmart will cost you much more than if you purchased them at Costco or Sam’s Club. Yeah, you’ll have 50 batteries, but they’ll last forever.

Never get furniture at Walmart, because you get what you pay for. Sure, it’s cheap, but it’s mostly made of compressed wood that can barely handle screws.

What you get at Walmart is a game of "Is this going to break?" Russian roulette every time you use their furniture. It gets even worse if you’re planning to put something heavy on it.

Cheap and high-quality are two pretty tough to achieve. That’s precisely why Walmart's fish should be avoided. They’re all about cheap, and that’s not what anyone wants from fish.

The fish is usually low-quality and can sometimes even be expired depending on the location. That’s pretty disgusting.

If you still buy magazines, don’t get them from Walmart. Because magazines are becoming rarer and rarer, the publishing company will likely have sales.

You can save as much as 50% by going straight to the source. Barring that, a newsstand is the next best place to pick up a magazine. Depending on the magazine, you could save 100% by just reading the info online.

Walmart has a mix of low-quality no-name laptops. They’re not an awful choice, but don’t expect them to last very long. They’ll also have a hard time keeping up with software nowadays.

Alternatively, Walmart also has name-brand laptops, but they’re way overpriced. Pick your poison--or shop online to find the name brands at lower prices. 

Brand-name diapers are the same across the board in quality no matter where you buy them. The only difference between buying Huggies at Walmart versus online is the price tag.

Amazon has the lowest price of any store, and your baby definitely won't be able to tell the difference. Do yourself a favor and find the cheapest prices around before purchasing (unless it’s an emergency).

Fresh fruit is surely fine, right? Well, maybe if the fruit was actually fresh. Walmart fruit is about what you’d expect: questionably fresh and sometimes covered in gnats.

That’s even if you’re lucky. While washing the fruit can help, there’s no saving a rotten, squishy tomato. So, roll the dice if you want; it's only "sometimes" after all. 

Cups, plates, napkins, and plasticware will be used and tossed. No one uses them more than once. Because of that, it isn’t essential to get the highest-quality party supplies. 

Unless you plan on carrying incredibly heavy food, which may require heavy-duty plates, go for the dollar store. The dollar store will have party supplies that are perfect for a birthday.

Gift cards that are sold in stores on display racks can easily be tampered with. Thieves come in and write down the numbers from the cards, wait for someone to activate it, and then use the numbers to make purchases.

This scam has been going on for years and can happen in any store. To be safe, avoid buying these cards in the store and just order online gift cards. If you’re really concerned (which we wouldn’t blame you if you were), just go with cash. Cash always reigns supreme.

On this one, we’re not claiming that Walmart tires are bad. Quite the opposite. They’re actually pretty good, but they’re the same quality as local stores and other major retailers.

The reason you should avoid Walmart for tires is because other stores have better benefits. For example, Costco usually offers free tire balancing and rotations when tire purchases. The same can’t be said for Walmart.

Okay, sure, if cheap, disposable jewelry is your thing: go nuts at Walmart. That stuff isn’t made to last too long. But expensive jewelry is another thing.

If you're shopping here for an engagement ring...well, you may be beyond help. Go to a jewelry store or even better, a local jeweler. You’ll pay less and may even have customizable options.

First off, we’re going to suggest that you don’t purchase physical music, like CDs. Records are cool, but CDs? Totally out of date. That isn’t the only reason that music is on the list, however.

Instead of purchasing music at Walmart, go to a local business. Since records grew in popularity, many towns and cities have a record store. As for CDs, they likely carry those, too, although we still suggest avoiding them and going all digital.

Gifts bags are like wrapping paper, except they may be used more than once. Even then, there’s no reason to spend top dollar on a little paper bag. It’s just a waste of money.

Instead, stop by your local dollar store and browse what’s on sale. They’ll do the job just as good without costing twice (sometimes three times) as much.  

Pet food is a good bulk buy. We promise that Fido won't be able to tell the difference between Walmart and Costco. Walmart has smaller portions at a much higher price.

Most of the stuff in the pet food aisles aren’t really that healthy. A quick look at the ingredients will tell you that much. If you want quality ingredients, talk to your vet about which brand would be best.

Walmart TVs are like Walmart laptops. There are crappy, low-quality off-brands, and then there are name-brand options like Samsung that are a lot more than other stores.

First off, we’d suggest shopping around for a good sale, especially for name brand. Second, don’t get low-quality TVs that are likely to break after a year of use.

Almost no one walks into a Walmart with the intention of buying a book, but some people carouse the book section while they’re waiting around. They have some big titles, but there are other options. 

Buying from a local shop is a much better option, especially since you may get deals on used books. Alternatively, Barnes and Noble is another choice. The selection at either of these stores will be undoubtedly better than Walmart.

Most shoppers know that organic products will cost more than their non-organic counterparts, but Walmart has been known to bump up the price of these fancy products even more than other stores.

Considering they’re already expensive, that’s stretching an already stretched budget. Be sure to search elsewhere for your organic goodies. You'll save money, and you won't have to set foot in a Walmart. It's a win-win.

Printer ink is notoriously expensive. “Liquid gold” may as well be its alternative name. Places like Walmart charge top dollar for printer ink because it has ridiculous profit margins.

If you’re purchasing printer ink, shop around online. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a coupon code that discounts the price further, too.

This one is just plain unsafe. Studies found that Walmart’s store-brand supplements have inconsistent amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Supplements is one of those things you need to be consistent. If it isn’t, it could negatively impact your health. If you're looking to be inconsistently healthy, Walmart-brand supplements might be right up your alley!

Buy small kitchen appliances online. Why? First, because it’s cheaper. Much cheaper. You can get a decent toaster oven for $20, and it holds more than a single piece of toast.

Second, there are more options. Depending on your price range, you’ll be able to pick more colors than black, white, and stainless steel.

Walmart might be all about shouting their low prices from the rooftop, but large appliances don’t follow that same trend. They’re actually more on the expensive side. 

For large appliances, it’s best to shop around. You can get the same appliances for a lot less, and sometimes even on sale. It just takes patience and timing.

Video games are taking a weird turn where digital is the best way to purchase new content. There are constant sales on video games—even new releases.

If you want to buy the item in person, check out local game stores. Used prices are always lower by a minimum of $5, and they’re basically like brand-new.

We want to imagine that our cards will be saved, but they won’t. The person we’re giving it to will likely throw it away, which is why you should buy them at the dollar store.

Plus, what you write on the inside is what matters most—not the little design on the front. Just spend a little extra time writing something sweet on the inside, and they’ll be happier than if they got a Hallmark card.

Ground beef is a necessity in most American homes, but you may want to purchase it somewhere other than Walmart. Some reports claim that Walmart’s ground beef is lower quality than other stories.

Others simply claim that it’s cheaper at places. Business Insider found that it was $1 cheaper at Aldi than Walmart. It just goes to show that the best plan is to shop around for the best prices.

This one is on the list because Straight Talk ranks as one of the worst cellular providers ever—and we mean ever. Just to be clear, the service isn’t totally awful because it buys the right to use major company towers. 

No, no, no. We’re talking about the customer service. It’s extremely difficult getting a hold of anyone to solve problems, and it’s normal for them to charge people more than originally claimed.

Luggage is an investment. You don’t want to buy a new suitcase every year, and Walmart luggage is notoriously low quality. The threading comes loose, the plastic breaks, and so much more. Some people claim that the luggage doesn’t even last through a single flight.

Nothing will make a vacation or business trip suck more than having your luggage break when you get to your destination. Instead, get your next suitcase or duffle bag at Amazon, L.L. Bean, or REI.

How long does your kid spend playing with a new toy? We’re guessing not long. You could save a lot of money by just buying used toys. That way when your kid gets bored and moves on, you haven’t wasted a lot of money.  

If it’s something new that your kid has to have, buy it online. You could wade through piles of bodies on Black Friday to find the perfect toy for Christmas, or you could spoil the kids from the comfort of your own home online. 

Even we’re guilty of going cheap with our bedding, but it really is worth it spending that extra money. Have you ever purchased Walmart sheets to find they aren’t as luxurious as they say? Turns out you’re right.

Consumer Reports found that Walmart has lower quality bedding when compared to other stores like TJ Maxx and Target. You can also buy your sheets online on Amazon. Talk about sleeping easier!

Walmart used to be the place to get your photos printed, but the new age is upon us. Now, most of us want to print pictures off of our phones, and Walmart makes that more difficult than it ought to be.

Places like Shutterfly allow you to choose the images you want and print them without getting out of your PJs. Many of these online photo printing services even have coupon codes. Who pays full price nowadays, anyway?

Getting together for a family reunion? Don’t buy disposable utensils at Walmart. Sure, the quality is fine, but you’ll pay twice as much for a product that can be purchased at the dollar store.

Swing by your local Dollar Tree and pick up cheap disposable spoons, knives, and forks. People will toss them in the trash, so why spend top dollar?

There’s only one time a year that it’s worth it purchasing a vacuum at Walmart: Black Friday. During this time, they have vacuums on sale for what they’re actually worth. Otherwise, they’re far overpriced.

The only drawback is that nearly every retail company has vacuums on sale during Black Friday. At the end of the day, it’s better to avoid the crowds and just purchase everything online for pickup or delivery.

Drones are fairly new to the consumer market, and these fun devices have become extremely popular. As a result, many retailers are now carrying them, but be careful where you buy them.

Walmart has several options for drones, but you'd be better off going to an electronic store or buying one online. When you get one online, you'll get a better deal and more information on the product. 

If you just want a simple camera to take photos of your upcoming family vacation, Walmart can help you with that. If you're looking for a professional camera with certain features, then Walmart isn't the place for you to shop.

It would take an act of God to find an employee in the electronics section that knows anything about cameras. If you want to find the perfect camera for your style, go to a specialty store (preferably something local).

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that Walmart jacks up the prices of phone accessories. They’re far overpriced, and they tend to break pretty quickly. The only benefit is if you happen to find the phone accessories online.

Since most people purchase directly from their carrier or from their brand, phone accessories often go on sale at Walmart. Just keep an eye out and browse the clearance section often. Otherwise, go straight to Apple, Samsung, or Amazon.

Walmart supercenters usually have a decent garden section, but the rest of their outdoor supplies can be pretty lacking. Camping supplies, for example, have a very limited selection.

Not only does this lead to you paying too much, but you often don't even get the right items. You should go to your local sports and outdoor store for great deals on high-quality camping supplies. 

It isn’t that the nuts at Walmart are crappy. It’s hard to get poor quality nuts unless they’ve been sitting on the shelves for a long time. Unless you’re getting pine nuts or another rarely-used nut, Walmart is fine.

We do just mean fine, though. You’ll probably pay more per pound of nuts than if you purchased them in bulk elsewhere. Other grocery stores usually have much better deals at their pick and mix, so don’t be afraid to load up. They won’t really go bad.  

Anyone who has browsed Walmart’s arts and crafts section can tell you that it’s small and the selection is beyond limited. On top of that, everything you buy will be overpriced and lower quality.

Basically, Walmart’s arts and crafts section is great to entertain kiddos who are stuck at home or have to work on a project for school. If you’re an actual artist, go elsewhere. Get quality paints at an actual crafts store or online.

If you're looking for true, high-quality vanilla extract then you should avoid Walmart. Local bodegas often carry the extract for a great price, and you can be sure the quality is top-notch!

Other grocery stores carry pure vanilla extract at a much lower price than Walmart and customers say it lasts longer, too! We can say this one is especially true from personal experience.