There are some Walmart brand products you definitely need to steer clear of!
Like many popular stores, they will have their own brand of items. This practice, known as creating a private label, allows retailers to offer products at a lower price point by controlling the manufacturing and branding process. And the Walmart brand products are by no means all bad! In fact, there are a few gems among them that are going to surprise even the worst of skeptics, offering incredible value and quality that rivals well-known national brands. Savvy shoppers have found great deals on everything from certain pantry staples to cleaning supplies under the Walmart umbrella.
Yet, this does not mean that all of them are worth your hard-earned dollar. The sheer scale of Walmart’s operation means their product lines are vast and varied. With millions of shoppers passing through their doors daily and thousands of products on their shelves, it is obvious that there will be some better and some worse products. Quality control can be inconsistent across such a massive range, leading to a significant gamble for the consumer on certain items.
And the Walmart brand products subscribe to this rule! For every fantastic find, there seems to be a corresponding dud that leaves customers feeling disappointed and out of pocket. This inconsistency is the primary reason why a little bit of prior research can save you a lot of frustration.
Some of them may appeal to you due to the price, which is often significantly lower than the competition, or you may think that there is no way they could be that bad—after all, how can you mess up something simple? But believe us, some of these Walmart brand products are better off left on the shelves. Customer reviews, online forums, and our own experiences have shown that the initial savings are often not worth the subsequent letdown in performance, taste, or durability.
Be it that they are not that tasty or that they have low-performance scores, we have brought you some of the products that you need to steer clear of when shopping for Walmart’s brand products! We’ve sifted through countless reviews and reports to compile a list that will help you shop smarter and avoid the pitfalls of a bad bargain. Keep on reading to discover which they are and protect your wallet from buyer’s remorse!
What Walmart product surprised you, be it in a good or bad way? Let us know your answer in the comments! We love hearing about your own shopping discoveries and warnings.
Dishware and glasses
If your goal is to invest in dishware and glasses that are going to last you a long time, you may want to steer clear of the Walmart brand. The attractive price tags on a full set of plates or glasses can be tempting, especially when setting up a new home or replacing old items, but this is often a case of getting what you pay for.
This is not true of all of them, but most of their dish or glass sets are not looking good, and it does not take long to realize that they may not end up having a long shelf life in your home, especially if you use them frequently. Many customers report issues like dishes chipping with the slightest bump, glazes crazing or scratching from normal cutlery use, and glasses developing a cloudy film after just a few runs through the dishwasher. Some have even experienced glasses cracking when filled with a cold beverage after being washed in warm water.
Since this is the type of item that you want to not have to repurchase often, we recommend you skip the lower-quality ones from Walmart and instead turn your attention to some that may be pricier, but they will also be of higher quality and last you longer! Think about the cost-per-use; a set that costs 30% more but lasts ten times as long is a much better financial investment. Look for durable materials like stoneware, porcelain, or borosilicate glass, which are designed to withstand the rigors of daily use.
Mainstays Furniture
The Walmart brand of furniture is not a good choice. Named Mainstays, this is one of those items from Walmart that you should steer clear of if you do not want to effectively waste your money. While the pictures on the box might look appealing and the prices seem unbeatable, the reality of the product inside is often a stark disappointment.
It may sound a bit harsh but trust us. There are multiple accounts online that talk about the low quality of their furniture and some of the disappointments that they have caused! The issues often begin during assembly, with widespread complaints about misaligned pre-drilled holes, confusing instructions that seem poorly translated, and even missing essential hardware like screws or cams, leading to a frustrating and time-consuming build.
From wobbly chairs that end up becoming loose with time to easily dented wood furniture and faulty drawers on dressers, these are just some of the few mishaps you may have when it comes to Mainstays furniture. The materials are often the main culprit; particleboard swells and disintegrates at the first sign of moisture, and the thin laminate veneers are prone to peeling and chipping away, revealing the unattractive composite wood underneath.
And while you may be lucky here and there when it comes to getting a good piece, and they are not that bad when it comes to furnishing a room fast and on a tight budget, it is better to not opt for them if you want durable pieces. These items might serve a temporary purpose in a college dorm or a first apartment, but they are not built to withstand moves or long-term daily use. Don’t expect them to become family heirlooms.
It is better to invest more in furniture when you know you want to keep it for a long time! Saving up for solid wood pieces or higher-quality composite furniture from other retailers will pay dividends in both longevity and satisfaction. Plus, quality furniture has a much better resale value if you ever decide to upgrade.
Great Value frozen broccoli
Another Walmart brand that you may be familiar with is Great Value (which will feature in our article a couple of times)! While there are some gems and great options in their roster of items, there are a couple of ones that you are better off not purchasing. Their frozen vegetables are a prime example of this hit-or-miss nature.
In this case, the frozen broccoli is only going to disappoint you. While it may seem that it is pretty hard to mess up frozen veggies, Great Value has somehow achieved that. Many shoppers purchase frozen vegetables for their convenience and the promise of locked-in freshness, but the end result with this particular product often falls dramatically short of expectations.
There are multiple accounts of the vegetable becoming mushy and soggy when heated up, so much so that it is hard to tell it is broccoli anymore. Instead of florets that retain some bite and texture, you are often left with a watery, flavorless pulp. The vibrant green color fades into a dull, unappetizing olive hue, and the taste is often described as bland or even slightly bitter.
While it is to be expected that even if flash freezing will keep veggies fresh longer, it will also inadvertently affect the integrity of the veggies, it is not supposed to completely get rid of them. Proper freezing techniques should preserve the cell structure to a large degree. The consistent sogginess of this product suggests issues with either the quality of the raw broccoli or the processing method itself.
Yet, many people have experienced their blanched broccoli losing all its structure once boiled, so you should probably opt for something else. If you’re making a soup where the texture is less critical, it might be passable, but for a side dish or stir-fry, you are much better off choosing a different brand or simply buying fresh.
Great Value snack foods
Great Value makes an appearance again with their snack foods. This is an incredibly broad category, encompassing everything from chips and pretzels to cookies and crackers. While it may not count for many people out there, this is one of those items that can easily be missed if they are not made well.
And unfortunately, this is where the Walmart brand goes wrong more often than it goes right.
Most of their snacks are either underwhelming and sad, or they have what most characterize as “off” flavors; their potato chips are too greasy, with inconsistent seasoning and a higher-than-average number of burnt crisps. When it comes to the likes of pretzels, there is a high chance that you will get more pieces than full pieces! It can be incredibly frustrating to open a bag expecting wholesome pretzel twists and instead find a collection of salty dust and tiny shards.
If you have thought that they cannot ruin the likes of a simple cheese cracker, then you would be wrong. Avid fans of this snack say the Great Value ones are too waxy, and they come along with a weird cheese taste. The texture is often described as dense and cardboard-like rather than light and flaky, and the flavor is more artificial and chemical than cheesy and savory. The same can be said for many of their cookies, which are often criticized for being overly dry and crumbly, with a distinct lack of rich flavor.
If you want to give some a try, we are sure there must be some that are okay, but since it seems like such a mixed field, we recommend you tread carefully or just get snacks from other brands. When the craving for a specific snack hits, paying the extra fifty cents for the name brand is usually a worthy investment to ensure you’re not left with a disappointing, half-eaten bag sitting in your pantry.
If you want to be able to save some money but still get a number of great snacks, we recommend you look into getting a mega variety pack from Amazon. It has a great variety, and you get snacks to last a while!
Cereal
It may sound good to save at least a dollar each time you end up buying cereal for breakfast, but when you end up with subpar cereals, you are wasting that money on cereal that just sits in the pantry. This is the classic definition of a false economy; the product is cheaper, but if it goes uneaten, you’ve wasted 100% of your money.
Yes, we know that Great Value is trying to emulate the likes of famous cereals like Cocoa Puffs and Apple Jacks, just to name a few, but the taste is not even close to these. Their versions, often with names like “Cocoa Dyno-Bites” or “Apple Blasts,” frequently fail to capture the magic of the originals. The chocolate flavor can taste weak or artificial, and the fruit-flavored cereals often have a generic, sugary taste rather than distinct fruit notes.
If you are a fan of all the originals but think you can get the same experience while saving a couple of bucks in the long run, we’d advise against getting a deal with the Great Value cereal. Another common complaint is the texture. Many of the Great Value cereals get soggy almost the instant milk hits the bowl, turning into a joyless mush before you’re even halfway through your breakfast. The crunch, a critical component of the cereal experience, is disappointingly short-lived.
They try to dupe the OG ones, but they still have a long way to go before they can be called proper dupes. Unless you are not particularly picky about your morning bowl, it is probably best to stick with the brands you know and love or wait for them to go on sale. That way, you’re guaranteed a breakfast you’ll actually enjoy.
Kitchen Appliances
When it comes to other non-food items you should avoid from Walmart brands, we cannot miss mentioning their kitchen appliances. This often falls under brands like Mainstays or Farberware (a licensed brand with specific low-cost models for Walmart), and the low prices can be very alluring.
They are great value when it comes to saving anywhere between $15 and $30 when compared to brand names, but it is not such a great deal if they stop working in less than a year. Stories abound of coffee makers that start leaking from the base, blenders with motors that burn out trying to crush ice, and toasters that either burn one side of the bread while leaving the other untouched or simply stop working altogether.
If it is one of those appliances that you do not plan to use that often or you’re in a pinch, then there is no issue with going for the Walmart brand. For instance, buying a cheap hand mixer for a single holiday baking project might make sense. However, for items that are central to your daily routine, the risk is simply too high.
But if you are aiming for long-term use and quality, then you are better off going to the likes of Costco for competitive prices and better quality! Investing in a slightly more expensive, reputable brand-name appliance will almost always result in better performance, greater durability, and enhanced safety features. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your appliance won’t suddenly fail is worth the extra initial cost.
Great Value frozen pizza
The last item on our list today is going to be the frozen pizzas from Great Value. The frozen pizza is a staple of easy weeknight dinners and late-night snacks, but a bad one can be a truly depressing meal.
It is one of those sad experiences when getting a frozen pizza that we do not wish on anyone. The cause they use has little to no flavor and is very watery, and when it is combined with the cheese, it ends up creating a rubbery and artificial experience that is not good. The sauce often tastes more like a thin, sweetened tomato paste than a zesty pizza sauce, and the cheese struggles to melt properly, instead congealing into a greasy, plastic-like layer.
The sad parts do not stop here, as we often find that the crust generally remains soggy in the middle and never crisps up! No matter how you cook it—on a pan, directly on the rack—the center seems to remain in a perpetual state of doughy disappointment while the edges might be overcooked. The toppings, too, are often sparse and of questionable quality, from tiny, greasy pepperoni discs to scant sprinkles of vegetables.
If you are looking for a budget option that tastes better, we recommend the likes of Red Baron or DiGiorno, which are better value for money and taste way better. These brands, while still affordable, consistently deliver a more satisfying experience with better crusts, more flavorful sauces, and more generous toppings. When it comes to frozen pizza, this is one area where spending an extra dollar or two makes a world of difference.
Walmart is not the only store that has products that you should make sure you do not spend your hard-earned money on! If you are a frequent Amazon shopper, make sure that you do not end up falling into the trap and buying these items! We definitely regretted it!
