WalMart Food and Drink
Feb 17th 2014, 12:06 pm
#16
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Re: WalMart Food and Drink
Your generally okay with Wal-Mart with name brands for food stuffs, I've never seen a food product yet from a major brand that contained different stuff.
Soaps, and detergents, cleaners and the like, same stuff.
What you have to look out for is electronics, this is where it can come back to bite you, but an LG at Target may not be the same as Wal-Mart and may differ again from Best Buy, you can't really put too much trust into names on electronics anymore, some are just that nothing but a name that another company bought but the company doesn't really exist anymore.
I'd not worry about packaged food stuffs from major brands or general household stuff (tide, downy etc)
Produce and meat varies, and produce especially, hard for a retailer to know how the quality will be on each shipment, after all nature has the power there.
But in general, I found the produce at the Super Wal-Marts no worse then any other chain grocery store, most of the time its the same produce brands that the other stores have, oddly Wal-Mart is generally the higher priced store on produce too, so I hardly buy produce there.
Soaps, and detergents, cleaners and the like, same stuff.
What you have to look out for is electronics, this is where it can come back to bite you, but an LG at Target may not be the same as Wal-Mart and may differ again from Best Buy, you can't really put too much trust into names on electronics anymore, some are just that nothing but a name that another company bought but the company doesn't really exist anymore.
I'd not worry about packaged food stuffs from major brands or general household stuff (tide, downy etc)
Produce and meat varies, and produce especially, hard for a retailer to know how the quality will be on each shipment, after all nature has the power there.
But in general, I found the produce at the Super Wal-Marts no worse then any other chain grocery store, most of the time its the same produce brands that the other stores have, oddly Wal-Mart is generally the higher priced store on produce too, so I hardly buy produce there.
Feb 17th 2014, 12:50 pm
#17
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
As far as quality is concerned, I agree there is little or no difference between Walmart and the branded grocery stores (round here it's Ingles, but we also make regular trips to Publix). Some of the Great Value products are as good if not better than their branded counterparts - and the Equate brand of toiletries and OTC medication costs a fraction of the price!
The difference, generally, is the selection. For example, where Ingles may have 15 varieties of Marie Calendar's frozen meals, Walmart may have 10 or less.
The difference, generally, is the selection. For example, where Ingles may have 15 varieties of Marie Calendar's frozen meals, Walmart may have 10 or less.
Feb 17th 2014, 1:53 pm
#18
I have a comma problem
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Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
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Feb 17th 2014, 2:02 pm
#19
Mouthy Yank
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,229
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
I won't buy any fresh food or meat there for sure; every time I do, I get sick. Seriously. Every damn time.
Things that I've found to be particularly junk quality: fresh foods (meat, dairy, eggs, produce), baked/cooked-in-house foods, bedding and linens, electronics, clothing, some hand tools, most kitchen electronics, knives, many craft materials, camping/outdoor equipment
Things that I am willing to buy at Walmart: pet supplies (cat litter, etc. but not food), books, pillows (decorative and bed), most (but not all) cleaning supplies, toiletries and cosmetics, prescriptions, fabric, name brand pre-packaged craft supplies, and (a particularly good value) the house brand of glucose monitor and strips
Things that I've found to be particularly junk quality: fresh foods (meat, dairy, eggs, produce), baked/cooked-in-house foods, bedding and linens, electronics, clothing, some hand tools, most kitchen electronics, knives, many craft materials, camping/outdoor equipment
Things that I am willing to buy at Walmart: pet supplies (cat litter, etc. but not food), books, pillows (decorative and bed), most (but not all) cleaning supplies, toiletries and cosmetics, prescriptions, fabric, name brand pre-packaged craft supplies, and (a particularly good value) the house brand of glucose monitor and strips
Last edited by Speedwell; Feb 17th 2014 at 2:04 pm.
Feb 17th 2014, 2:38 pm
#20
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 66
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
My local Walmart sells an 'English Toasting Sandwich Bread' in the bakery section. So much better than the sugary crap on the shelves. It's usually discounted too... my freezer is full of the stuff. I'm probably the only person who buys it...
Feb 17th 2014, 2:41 pm
#21
Under blue skies
Joined: Mar 2011
Location: East Anglia->New England
Posts: 3,624
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
The 'Great Value' line works fine for me too. I get all baking & cooking ingredients, breakfast cereals, crisps, tinned anything, etc. there. Even yeast for breadmaking (always checking the expiry date carefully, though--my WM can be lax about that)
I won't buy any fresh food or meat there for sure; every time I do, I get sick. Seriously. Every damn time.
Things that I've found to be particularly junk quality: fresh foods (meat, dairy, eggs, produce), baked/cooked-in-house foods, bedding and linens, electronics, clothing, some hand tools, most kitchen electronics, knives, many craft materials, camping/outdoor equipment
Things that I've found to be particularly junk quality: fresh foods (meat, dairy, eggs, produce), baked/cooked-in-house foods, bedding and linens, electronics, clothing, some hand tools, most kitchen electronics, knives, many craft materials, camping/outdoor equipment
So in your opinion, WM camping gear is poor quality?
Feb 17th 2014, 2:56 pm
#22
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
One thing that bugs me is the check out process.
Current local one is marginally better, but still, there's only ever a few tills open and millions of empty tills. Last town we lived in, was really bad as there was only ever a till or two open during lunch, or over the weekends.
Current local one is marginally better, but still, there's only ever a few tills open and millions of empty tills. Last town we lived in, was really bad as there was only ever a till or two open during lunch, or over the weekends.
Feb 17th 2014, 3:03 pm
#23
Mouthy Yank
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,229
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
Well, there are some things that are not, of course, but the things I've bought have tended to stop working or wear out quickly, often don't come with all the features of the "same" produce sold at other retailers, are often made with lighter-weight materials, more often show slipshod quality control/defects, and (sometimes) are expired or have little shelf life left.
Feb 17th 2014, 5:04 pm
#24
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
One thing that bugs me is the check out process.
Current local one is marginally better, but still, there's only ever a few tills open and millions of empty tills. Last town we lived in, was really bad as there was only ever a till or two open during lunch, or over the weekends.
Current local one is marginally better, but still, there's only ever a few tills open and millions of empty tills. Last town we lived in, was really bad as there was only ever a till or two open during lunch, or over the weekends.
Feb 17th 2014, 5:20 pm
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
They've got those self checkout things in ours.
Can't use cash or coupons in them though.
Actually the coupon thing....I successfully scanned a coupon, and got the discount, but when prompted to put it in the receptacle I found that it was taped up with a label that said No Coupons.
I asked the assistant what should I do and she barked at me "No coupons!"
I paid and left.
(It's amazing the kind of people you see there. I once saw a young woman, trolley full of sugary drinks, snacks and junk food, she was using the trolley as support while she walked around. At one point she stopped suddenly.
Her belly, which was bare, stopped wobbling about 20 seconds later.)
Can't use cash or coupons in them though.
Actually the coupon thing....I successfully scanned a coupon, and got the discount, but when prompted to put it in the receptacle I found that it was taped up with a label that said No Coupons.
I asked the assistant what should I do and she barked at me "No coupons!"
I paid and left.
(It's amazing the kind of people you see there. I once saw a young woman, trolley full of sugary drinks, snacks and junk food, she was using the trolley as support while she walked around. At one point she stopped suddenly.
Her belly, which was bare, stopped wobbling about 20 seconds later.)
Last edited by Hotscot; Feb 17th 2014 at 5:23 pm.
Feb 17th 2014, 5:27 pm
#26
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
Well, there are some things that are not, of course, but the things I've bought have tended to stop working or wear out quickly, often don't come with all the features of the "same" produce sold at other retailers, are often made with lighter-weight materials, more often show slipshod quality control/defects, and (sometimes) are expired or have little shelf life left.
I've never seen this or even heard about it and I'm sure if it were true, the consumer press would be all over it!
there are, however, some electronics that are sold specifically to Wally World and have a different model number. Some of these may have less features or even exactly the same as alternate stores, but cannot be price-matched because of the variance in SKU. Usually, these are low-end products to start with!
Feb 17th 2014, 5:29 pm
#27
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Posts: 1,570
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
I avoid walmart, too many shootings.
Feb 17th 2014, 5:34 pm
#28
Mouthy Yank
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,229
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
Examples?
I've never seen this or even heard about it and I'm sure if it were true, the consumer press would be all over it!
there are, however, some electronics that are sold specifically to Wally World and have a different model number. Some of these may have less features or even exactly the same as alternate stores, but cannot be price-matched because of the variance in SKU. Usually, these are low-end products to start with!
I've never seen this or even heard about it and I'm sure if it were true, the consumer press would be all over it!
there are, however, some electronics that are sold specifically to Wally World and have a different model number. Some of these may have less features or even exactly the same as alternate stores, but cannot be price-matched because of the variance in SKU. Usually, these are low-end products to start with!
One commenter:
K. Sullivan
March 22, 2007 3:01 AM
Today I talked to a Tramontina, a maufacturer of cookware (pans) I had purchased. The purchase price was $79.97 for a 10 pc. stainless steel set.
I was familiar with this brand of cookware because I had an old set from this same manufacturer. In researching the web to see if I got a good price and consumer feedback about this product, I could not find this particular set. So, I called the manufacturer and YES, I discovered that this set is manufacturered to WALMART'S mandated specifications. They were manufactured with a lower gage of steel (pans were lighter), the bottom is a separate bottom that is triple plied clad vs the more expensive pans with an all-clad bottom (made in one solid mold).
I was told if I bought a comparable set directly from Tramontina, it would cost about $100 more, but it would be made with the higher specifications. I re-stated to the Tramontina customer service representative, "Then you are telling me that the quality of the pans at Walmart are less than what your standard is." The rep emphasized, they are not lesser quality, they are just a different specification (basically cheaper).
She said there is no way they could sell the pans that are ordered directly from the company for the same prices as Walmart.
I have also been told by two reputable individuals in the vitamin industry that Walmart's vitamins and supplements are not the full strength and on some of the products, you can compare the ingredients which reflects differences.
March 22, 2007 3:01 AM
Today I talked to a Tramontina, a maufacturer of cookware (pans) I had purchased. The purchase price was $79.97 for a 10 pc. stainless steel set.
I was familiar with this brand of cookware because I had an old set from this same manufacturer. In researching the web to see if I got a good price and consumer feedback about this product, I could not find this particular set. So, I called the manufacturer and YES, I discovered that this set is manufacturered to WALMART'S mandated specifications. They were manufactured with a lower gage of steel (pans were lighter), the bottom is a separate bottom that is triple plied clad vs the more expensive pans with an all-clad bottom (made in one solid mold).
I was told if I bought a comparable set directly from Tramontina, it would cost about $100 more, but it would be made with the higher specifications. I re-stated to the Tramontina customer service representative, "Then you are telling me that the quality of the pans at Walmart are less than what your standard is." The rep emphasized, they are not lesser quality, they are just a different specification (basically cheaper).
She said there is no way they could sell the pans that are ordered directly from the company for the same prices as Walmart.
I have also been told by two reputable individuals in the vitamin industry that Walmart's vitamins and supplements are not the full strength and on some of the products, you can compare the ingredients which reflects differences.
Feb 17th 2014, 5:35 pm
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
there are, however, some electronics that are sold specifically to Wally World and have a different model number. Some of these may have less features or even exactly the same as alternate stores, but cannot be price-matched because of the variance in SKU. Usually, these are low-end products to start with!
Then there are the pickles... http://www.fastcompany.com/47593/wal-mart-you-dont-know (old but worth repeating)
Feb 17th 2014, 5:46 pm
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: WalMart Food and Drink
A lot of the Costco electronics are rebadged with different model numbers. Quite often at great deals compared to the regular model as sold by other retailers.