6 Walmart Clothing Items That Are Wastes of Money

Walmart is filled with good deals on clothing, but some of it is actually cheap. Other apparel might seem competitively priced, but is actually more cost-effective to buy elsewhere.

If you’re not a regular Walmart shopper, you might be surprised to find the retail giant is more fashionable than you think. Sure, you can purchase apparel from the George line — the retailer’s own clothing brand — but you can also find clothing from brands like Reebok, Chaps, Madden NYC, Wrangler and U.S. Polo Assn.

No matter what your strategy when shopping for clothing at Walmart, it’s almost inevitable that you’re not trying to waste money. Whether you only purchase the more well-known national brands or opt to focus on those exclusive to the retailer, not feeling like you got your money’s worth can be unsettling.

Therefore, it’s always wise to conduct a bit of research before making a purchase decision. This might involve doing a quick online price comparison or taking time to read customer reviews on items that don’t have particularly high ratings.

Many people incorrectly assume a piece of clothing priced well is an automatic good deal, but that definitely isn’t the case. Being in the know can keep you from purchasing an item that seems like a steal, but in reality, has a low price for a good reason: It’s poor quality.

It’s time to refine your Walmart clothes shopping strategy. To get you started, here’s a look at six types of items sold by the retailer that aren’t worth your money.

“You can find big brand names at Walmart, but the thing to remember is that they’re often cheaper than buying elsewhere or buying direct,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews. “That might sound like a good deal, but it’s worth asking yourself why these items are cheaper, especially if they’re name brands that tend to cost far more usually, like Levi’s.”

While the Walmart price might offer decent savings, she said you may be trading quality for price, which can mean you’ll need to replace these items sooner.

“There’s nothing wrong with Puma socks — especially the CoolMax no show variety — but shopping these at Walmart will ensure you pay more than if you were to add them to your cart elsewhere,” Ramhold said. “First, you may not be able to find them in your local Walmart store, which means you’ll have to order them online and have them shipped to you, which will only increase the price.”

Additionally, if you have a warehouse club membership, she said you might be able to find Puma socks cheaper at stores like Costco.

“Not only can you get the same item for less, but you can often pick them up in the warehouse, so you don’t have to worry about building a bigger order than you need,” she said.

Since swimwear items often cost less than $10 at Walmart, Ramhold said it can be tempting to buy a new one each year, then toss it at the end of the season when it wears out. Of course, if you spend all summer at the beach or pool, she said a low-quality swimsuit might not even last the entire summer, making the value not as great.

“Another thing to consider is that these suits are created for those that aren’t picky about fit or silhouette, so if you’re looking for something flattering and long-lasting, Walmart isn’t going to be the place to go,” she said. “They can be absolutely fine for suits for kids and even last-minute purchases.”

However, if you’re looking for long-term wear and a better fit, she said you’re better off shopping elsewhere.

Walmart sells items from The Children’s Place. If this is a brand you like, you might be tempted to buy from Walmart instead of the retailer itself — but don’t, said Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert at MySavings.com.

“You’ll get a better deal buying The Children’s Place apparel direct on their own website,” she said. “They have better prices, as well as frequent sales and coupons.”

She said shopping directly on the retailer’s website will also grant you access to more styles, colors and sizes.

Getting a bit more specific, this Vista women’s dress isn’t a hit. Nearly 200 reviewers have weighed in on this $14.99 dress, giving it an average rating of 2.9 stars out of 5.

Approximately 70 reviewers rated this dress just one star, and more than 25 reviewers only gave it two stars. The myriad complaints include claims of sheer fabric, sizing that runs small and an overall poorly-made dress that doesn’t fit the product description.

If you’re in the market for a new Hawaiian shirt, you’ll probably want to steer clear of this one by Mchoice. Rated 2.8 out of five stars by nearly 30 reviewers, this shirt is apparently not even worth its $4.99 price tag.

Nearly 15 reviewers rated this shirt one star, with nearly all claiming the sizing runs very small. Multiple people also complained of a long shipping time, which they found frustrating.