29 Things You Should Never Buy at Walmart

Anyone who has shopped at both a bargain grocery store and a high-end market is likely to have noticed a difference in the quality and shelf life of fresh produce. Walmart’s content pursuit of the lowest prices means the quality and selection of fruits and vegetables suffers. Produce is usually better from premium grocery stores, and prices tend to be competitive (for in-season fruits and vegetables) as they use it to lure customers to their higher-profit goods.

Walmart’s store brand may cost less than similar items it stocks, but the value might not be that great. Reader’s Digest reported that when considering the sizes of Great Value products versus name brands, the price difference is negligible. Additionally, Great Value products can cost more than competing store brands, like Costco’s Kirkland.

Walmart isn’t the best place to buy dog food. There are numerous alternatives that offer wider selections. If you have Amazon Prime, you can set up regular pet-food delivery at a lower price (excluding the Prime annual membership fee.)

Navigating the world of dietary supplements involves walking through a minefield of misinformation and sketchy health claims that barely meet FDA standards. In 2015, New York prosecutors revealed that major retailers including Walmart were selling mislabeled herbal supplements. Generic brands aren’t always worse than name brands, but when it comes to supplements, it’s a “buyer beware” world.

Sometimes a spoon is just a spoon. Other times you want quality flatware. Walmart fails at both ends. Cheap flatware generally costs less at dollar stores, while the high-end stuff is better purchased elsewhere. Walmart offers decent prices for quality multi-piece pots and pans, but there are plenty of better options for spoons, knives, and forks.