Smart shoppers agree that Walmart and Sam’s Club are some of the best shopping destinations in America. But even smarter shoppers know that just because these stores offer a ton of products at great value, not every item on the shelf is the best deal (in fact, some are downright terrible). Want to know what you should always grab off the shelf at Walmart and Sam’s Club? And more importantly, what to NEVER buy? Read on to find out.
DO NOT BUY: High-End TVs at Walmart
Walmart is a good option for TVs if you want to buy low-end, bargain TVs. However, if you’re in the market for a high-end TV, Walmart doesn’t have a big variety. You’ll find better choices at electronic stores such as Best Buy or Microcenter, or warehouse stores like Costco (which also offers a good electronics warranty).
MUST BUY: iPhone and iPad Cases at Walmart
These are not items you need to go to a big box electronics store for – you’ll pay more. Amazon marks many of these up as well, especially if they are from Prime. Your best deals are at Walmart. Check out the Fintie SlimShell Case for a 10.2-inch iPad that offers the protection of a hard-shell case without the bulk.
DO NOT BUY: Batteries at Walmart
Many people assume Walmart would be the least expensive place to buy batteries, given that they sell jumbo packages. However, you’re likely to find lower prices at Amazon, or a warehouse store such as Costco or Batteries Plus. This is especially true if you’re looking for name-brand or specialty batteries.
MUST BUY: e-Readers at Walmart
Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad are excellent e-readers but you pay a premium for those name brands. There are great e-book readers available. At Walmart, you can find the very affordable Kobo Libra H2O (Black) e-reader that is packed with features. Its 8-gigabyte capacity stores up to 3,000 eBooks. Plus, there are many ways to get e-books for free.
DO NOT BUY: Meat at Walmart
You might already be arguing with this one. However, there have been numerous articles and social media videos about Walmart’s potential freshness with its meat selection and refrigeration issues. If you’re looking for a bargain on meat prices, experts recommend ALDI. The selection isn’t as expansive, but the products are fresh and high-quality.
MUST BUY: Mattresses at Walmart
No need to go to the big-name furniture store, Walmart will surprise you with the wide variety of mattresses available. Walmart has partnered with Hayneedle to expand its offerings of mattresses even further. Check out the Allswell 10-inch Bed in a Box mattress. It comes with graphite and copper gel-infused memory foam.
DO NOT BUY: Maple Syrup at Walmart
According to one consumer analyst, the price per ounce of maple syrup at Walmart is much higher than you’ll pay elsewhere. At Walmart, even the generic brand costs nearly 64 cents per ounce. A 32-ounce bottle costs about 50 cents per ounce. By comparison, at Costco, a 33.8-ounce bottle runs about 39 cents per ounce.
MUST BUY: Kitchen Utensils Sets at Walmart
If you want to save money on a new set of kitchen utensils, Walmart is the place to go. Grocery stores are massively overpriced on these items. One of the best deals is a 15-piece stainless steel kitchen set from the Pioneer Woman. It includes every essential tool a home cook needs.
DO NOT BUY: Honey at Walmart
You can save a lot of money on honey by buying in bulk at stores such as Costco rather than at Walmart. A 12-ounce bottle of great value honey (Walmart’s generic brand), runs about 31 cents per ounce. By comparison, at Costco, it runs about 19 cents per ounce, a considerable savings.
MUST BUY: Organic Baby Products at Walmart
Big-name grocery stores, natural stores, and big-box stores are known for their selection of organic products, but they are premium priced at the stores. Walmart carries the Hello Bello line, launched by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shephard. These products are known for their safe and gentle formulas. Check out Hello Bello Shampoo and Wash with its soothing lavender scent.
DO NOT BUY: Paper Products at Walmart
Walmart is not the least expensive when it comes to paper products such as paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and paper plates. Sure you can save money on 1-ply toilet paper, but you have to use twice as much. You can buy cheap generic paper plates, but for slightly more at Costco, you can buy plates that won’t disintegrate.
MUST BUY: Fanny Packs at Walmart
Yes, fanny packs are back. And why not? Utility is what matters, not that a few people decided fanny packs were no longer cool. Walmart has a variety of Fanny packs. Walmart’s most popular is its camo fanny pack (proof that the camo trend is not going away anytime soon or slowing down).
DO NOT BUY: Prepaid Phone Plans at Walmart
Everyone’s heard about the savings on Walmart’s StraightTalk wireless plans. However, you get what you pay for. The service regularly ranks as one of the worst available. For more affordable plans, it’s worth checking out Google Fi. Also, Mint Mobile routinely makes the “best of” list when it comes to prepaid plans.
MUST BUY: Clothing by Ellen DeGeneres at Walmart
In case you didn’t know, comedian and former TV host Ellen DeGeneres has a seriously fabulous line of clothing. Walmart is where to find the EV1 line by Ellen DeGeneres. One of the most popular products is Ellen’s jean jackets which are both fun and whimsical, while subdued, refined, and stylish.
DO NOT BUY: Furniture at Walmart
Walmart offers some cheap furniture options, but if you’re looking for something that will last or be able to handle kids and pets, it’s worth spending a little more. Check out locally-owned furniture stores or furniture specialty stores. Ashley offers a good balance of affordable prices and a lot of variety, as well as higher-end furniture.
MUST BUY: Sneakers by Ellen DeGeneres at Walmart
In addition to clothing, Ellen DeGeneres also has a shoe line. Ellen’s marvelous sneaker design combines the perfect blend of simplicity with a dash of style. Her lace-up trainers, for example, are muted enough to go with any outfit you might wear. The price point makes owning more than one pair a cinch. Get your kicks at Walmart!
DO NOT BUY: Large Appliances at Walmart
Walmart offers a selection of appliances, although much smaller than you’ll find at stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, or Lowe’s. Also, some of the Walmart brands may not be of the best quality. You might save money but your appliance may have a shorter lifespan. Check the aforementioned stores, as well as devoted appliance stores and warehouse clubs instead.
MUST BUY: Coffee and Espresso Machines at Walmart
If you’re feeling like it’s time to put your old maker in retirement, Walmart’s the place to find a great deal on something with modern features. Be sure to look for rollback pricing. Check out Walmart’s line of Nespresso coffee and espresso machines. One of the best is the best-selling De’Longi Inissa Espresso Machine.
DO NOT BUY: Gift Cards at Walmart
Although Walmart has a fairly large offering of gift cards, you’ll be paying the full list price for all of them. However, if you shop at warehouse clubs, you can purchase multi-packs at a discount. Shopping at stores like Costco or Sam’s Club for gift cards you can often expect a 15% to 20% discount on the purchase price.
MUST BUY: Housewares at Walmart
No matter what type of house where you’re looking for, Walmart has the best deals far and away. For the perfect balance of quality and affordability, The Pioneer Woman line at Walmart is a must-buy and hard to beat. You’ll also find fantastic deals on InstantPot, dinnerware, dinner sets, and bedding.
NEVER BUY: Fresh Produce at Sam’s Club
Many people throw out a lot of produce even when buying standard amounts. Therefore, buying produce in bulk is usually not worth it. It will only result in even more waste. The exception would be when you’re going to have to serve a large amount of people and can be sure most will be consumed.
MUST BUY: Tires at Sam’s Club
Tires are expensive, and many places will upcharge you for certain items. However, Sam’s Club offers all the top brands for less. Sam’s Club has an entire auto department that can save you on all your vehicle needs. It even includes a buying program. You can order online and pick up in-store.
NEVER BUY: Gigantic Canned Foods at Sam’s Club
There’s no issue with buying standard-sized canned goods in bulk. These typically have a long shelf life and adequate portions. However, giant-sized canned goods are designed for cafeteria and restaurant settings. Unless you’re certain you will use the entire can, you’re bound to have significant leftovers after opening. These can spoil in your refrigerator before you use the remainder.
MUST BUY: Gasoline at Sam’s Club
Since you’re already at Sam’s Club’s shopping, it only makes sense to fill up your tank while you’re there. Sam’s Club members can expect to save around 5 cents per gallon. That savings alone over the year might cover the cost of getting a Sam’s Club membership if you don’t have one yet.
NEVER BUY: Pharmacy Items at Sam’s Club
It’s not a good idea to buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications in bulk that aren’t used often – such as cold or pain relievers. These have shorter shelf lives and may expire before they’re used. Items you use more often, such as daily vitamins and OTC medications might be okay to buy in bulk for a large household or frequent use.
MUST BUY: Cereal at Sam’s Club
The good thing about cereal is this household staple has a long shelf life. You can save quite a bit of money purchasing cereal in bulk at Sam’s Club. The great news is that the store offers variety packs so you won’t be stuck with an over-abundant supply of one thing.
NEVER BUY: Sunscreen at Sam’s Club
Unless you spend every day of the summer in the sun, it doesn’t make sense to buy sunscreen in bulk or in a bulk-size container. Plus, when sunscreen reaches its expiration date, it begins losing its effectiveness. Buying in bulk, the sunscreen could expire before you even open some of it.
MUST BUY: Cleaning Products & Household Items at Sam’s Club
Far and away, Sam’s Club is one of the best places to shop to find a wide variety of cleaning and household items that don’t expire. You can save big on things you use every day. Sam’s Club is the best place to buy laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, trash bags, and Swiffer refills.
NEVER BUY: Gift Wrapping Supplies at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club offers a large variety of different wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. But how many gifts do you actually give annually? Buying in bulk, you could have piles of these supplies taking up space for years. Plus, you may want to switch up your designs. Do you really need a $45 six-pack of ribbon?
MUST BUY: Salad Kits at Sam’s Club
Salad kits can be one of the most expensive produce items at big-name grocery stores. Sam’s Club offers a variety of options that have everything you need in a single kit. The salad kits have all the separate ingredients packed in perfectly proportioned packets. It saves time and there is less waste.
NEVER BUY: Books at Sam’s Club
The prices on books at Sam’s Club seem like a great deal. However, most of the books are for children or young readers. There aren’t many choices for adults, and even those selections are slim. You’ll find better deals at traditional or independent bookstores when they do clearance sales. Used books through Amazon are another good option.
MUST BUY: Paper Products at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is a great place to save money on paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and paper plates. The best deals are found on Sam’s Club store brand Member’s Mark. Most importantly, you’ll find these deals on high-quality paper products, not cheap stuff that will disintegrate.
NEVER BUY: Condiments at Sam’s Club
Although condiments have a long shelf life, those “best by” dates do matter and some products can taste strange after a while. Unless you routinely go through certain types of condiments rapidly, buying them in bulk doesn’t make sense. The exception might be if you’re hosting a big event and will have lots of mouths to feed.
MUST BUY: Rotisserie Chicken at Sam’s Club
The price of rotisserie chickens at Sam’s Club can work out cheaper than buying chicken breasts or thighs to cook yourself. Plus, it saves you a ton of time. The price of rotisserie chicken at Sam’s Club runs around five dollars a bird. Rotisserie chickens are a great shortcut to numerous, quick weeknight meals.
NEVER BUY: Sam’s Club Brand Chips at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club’s variety pack of potato chips seems like a deal. It features barbecue, sour cream & onion, cheddar & sour cream, and classic (think Ruffles). However, reviews say half of the 1-oz bags were barely full. One bag had only six chips in it. One video weighed the bags and several weren’t even half an ounce.
MUST BUY: Croissants at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club Bakery is a great place to find fresh baked items. One outstanding item is their croissants. They’re great for breakfast plain, or for breakfast sandwiches. They also make a great item for guests when entertaining. Sam’s Club croissants are a perfect puff pastry, with a delicate, light, airy, texture and a buttery flavor.
NEVER BUY: Beauty Products at Sam’s Club
The problem with buying beauty products in bulk is that most of them have a shelf life of six months to one year. Therefore, if you do decide to buy products in bulk, factor in this expiration timeframe and how quickly you typically go through the product. Otherwise, it’s best to buy beauty products on an as-needed basis.
MUST BUY: Ranch Dressing and Dips at Sam’s Club
If you use ranch dressing or dip often, you’ll save big by buying in bulk at Costco. These items have a good shelf life, not requiring refrigeration before opening, so it’s something you can stock up on. But an even better reason is that many people say the Litehouse Homestyle Ranch at Costco is the only store-but ranch worth buying.
Read More: 10 Must-Buys at Sam’s Club
NEVER BUY: Breakfast Cereal at Sam’s Club
Unless you have a large family and everyone’s going to eat cereal for breakfast every day, buying breakfast cereal in bulk will likely be money lost. If you buy cereal in bulk, you may also want to invest in airtight containers to store it in after you’ve opened the box. This will help extend its shelf life.
Read More: 10 Things Not to Buy at Walmart
MUST BUY: Menswear at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club may not be the first place you think of in clothing, but the store has an excellent clothing department. Most notably, Sam’s Club has a very robust selection in its men’s department. You’ll find name brands in golf polos, as well as outdoor wear from Eddie Bauer such as hiking pants, fishing shirts, and more.