29 Things You Should Never Buy at Walmart

Beleaguered department store chain Sears used to be the gold standard for in-store automotive centers — places where you could get an oil change while shopping for clothing, kitchenware, and tools. Walmart has taken up the slack in this space as Sears continues to shutter stores. But tires can be more expensive at Walmart. For example, Costco tends to have better deals and (unlike Walmart) offers free rotations and balances for the lifespan of the tires.

Buying cheap luggage can lead to your overstuffed bag bursting open at check-in — one of the reasons why luggage is sold in stores at major airports (at a huge markup). In this instance, Walmart isn’t alone in selling luggage lemons, as its competitors like Target aren’t any better. A Consumer Reports survey found that the best places to buy luggage include REI, L.L. Bean, or a dedicated luggage vendor like Luggage Pros.

Even by the flimsy standards of mass-produced particle-board furniture, Walmart is not the best place to find budget shelving, tables, or other self-assembled home furnishings. IKEA remains the gold standard for these affordable goods.

As with wood furniture, Walmart is not a great place to purchase bedding. Higher thread-count sheets and pillowcases can be purchased elsewhere at comparable prices (relative to quality), and larger selections, such as Bed Bath & Beyond or Macy’s.

Walmart is a decent place to buy non-perishable food items like canned food and frozen dinners. But with its massive supply chains, complicated logistics operations, and aggressive pricing strategies against its suppliers, the quality of perishable foods can suffer. According to Consumer Reports, a common customer complaint about Walmart is the quality of its meat and poultry.