Bargain hunters love saving money at Walmart, but that doesn’t mean everything at America’s low-price leader is a slam dunk. We combed through reviews of some supposed deals that, for many buyers, have turned out to be a waste of money instead. Here are some of the month’s more dubious bargains.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: The Best Deals at Walmart This Month
Sale Price: $338 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $368 ($30 savings)
Setting aside the fact that March is typically not the best month for electronics deals, this is one 4K TV set that we’ll leave on the shelf. Reviewers warn of the screen randomly going black — not a feature we look for in an ultra-high-definition display.
Sale Price: $75 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $119 ($44 savings)
Who wouldn’t jump at a $75 to furnish their dining room? Well, several reviewers caution that this bistro set is so small that it seems like it’s meant for kids. Put the money toward something you can sit at more comfortably.
Sale Price: $189 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $249 ($60 savings)
A fireplace and a TV stand in one seems pretty genius, but you better have a degree in engineering to put this together. Reviewers pan the unclear instructions, saying you need plenty of patience to make sense of the poor labeling and misaligned screw holes.
Est. Price: $5.98 | Buy it
http://linksynergy.walmart.com/deeplink?id=u9wLU8EIJRU&mid=2149&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FEquate-Moisture-Last-Multi-Purpose-Solution-12-fl-oz%2F34771925
Enough people complain that this solution, supposedly comparable to Opti-Free Pure Moist, made their eyes dry or even sting that we’d probably still spend a few dollars more on the name brand.
Sale Price:$143 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $199 ($56 savings)
It’s sleek and sophisticated, but owners report a bevy of problems with receiving this bed damaged, or having it fall apart after just a short period of use. For our money, we’ll stick to something from Ikea.
Sale Price: $40 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $45 ($5 savings)
The Pioneer Woman’s devoted fans will do well to steer clear of this particular dinner set. Adorable though it may be, owners bemoan how easily these stoneware dishes chip and crack.
Sale Price: $50 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $59 ($9 savings)
If all you want is a cheap microwave, this Mainstays model could be appealing. But it generates a lot of complaints, from the fact that some users find it underpowered, to others who say it smells, has flimsy buttons, and even rusts too easily.
Sale Price:$9 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $10 ($1 savings)
What could go wrong with an inexpensive hand mixer? Well, for one, it “has an initial start speed of turbo” that increases to “nuclear,” according to one reviewer. So if you enjoy wearing your ingredients while you bake, this might be the mixer for you.
Sale Price:$13 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $18 ($5 savings)
We recommend taking any as-seen-on-TV product with a grain of salt, and the Gotham Steel square frying pan is no exception. Its claim to fame is a titanium and ceramic coating that means food “just slides right off.” Sadly, many reviewers say food starts sticking just like any other pan after the first few uses.
Sale Price:$86 |Buy it
Reg. Price: $99 ($13 savings)
Find another pantry to corral your kitchen clutter. This one is panned for poor quality, with several reviewers saying it doesn’t even survive the shipping process without breaking. Others say the veneer peels off too easily, the hinges are wonky, and the doors don’t even meet up well.
Sale Price:$39 | Buy it
Reg. Price:$59 ($20 savings)
Though it might suffice for someone who only needs to print something every once in a while, this HP is hard to set up, owners say; even if you do get it to work, they warn it drains pricey ink cartridges like crazy.
Sale Price: $50|Buy it
Reg. Price: $60 ($10 savings)
You may want to stick to tablets for on-the-go media viewing. This dual-screen DVD player for cars suffers from cheap straps and a glitchy interface that often restarts movies from the beginning, reviewers say. Others caution that it won’t work at all after a short time.
Sale Price:$300 |Buy it
Reg. Price: $400 ($100 savings)
Though undoubtedly a space-saver in small apartment kitchens, this budget-friendly Avanti fridge may not get to you in decent condition. Several reviewers say it arrives substantially dented, and one owner says it was so beat up the freezer door wouldn’t even shut.
Sale Price:$12 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $24 ($12 savings)
Don’t expect much out of this little cordless vac for your money, owners warn. While they say it’s convenient, they caution that the suction is too weak for anything other than the lightest of cleanups.
Est. Price:$6.92 | Buy it
Are they really a “great value” if you have to use two plates each time? Several reviewers say these are so thin that you have to double up, and others complain that they’re hard to pry apart. We’d probably opt for the better-reviewed “everyday” version.
Sale Price:$12 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $30 ($18 savings)
There are a ton of toy drones out there competing for your dollars; this one is temptingly cheap, but that’s the case for a reason, reviewers caution. It’s hard to control, and the blade guards are prone to popping off, they say. Others say it wouldn’t even charge or stopped working shortly after purchase.
Sale Price:$7 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $32 ($25 savings)
We’ll let this reviewer sum it up: “You’re better off wetting your garment and laying it flat out in the sun. It will take less time for it to dry and it will probably look more presentable than it would after using this iron.” It also leaks, others say.
Sale Price:$81 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $100 ($19 savings)
This forward-facing car seat converts from a harnessed seat to a booster, but reviewers complain that it’s difficult to use. Experts agree, saying it’s confusing for even experienced car-seat technicians. There are plenty of other seats that are easy to use safely — pass this one by.
Est. Price:$5.27 |Buy it
There’s no doubt Equate tampons are a good deal compared with name brands (you’ll pay a dollar more for 20 fewer Tampax Pearls) but given how much users complain about the hard-to-use cardboard applicator and short strings, the extra buck or two might be worth the spend.
Sale Price:$5 | Buy it
Reg. Price: $6 ($1 savings)
Sure, they’ll work for small dribbles and spills, but for any larger accidents, reviewers say you may need the whole roll of these not-so-absorbent paper towels. Others complain that they tear everywhere except where they’re supposed to.