5 Target Items You Shouldn’t Buy This Christmas
Written by
Seychelle Thomas
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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Target may be a one-stop shop for gifts, decor and groceries, but not everything on those red-tagged shelves is worth tossing in your cart this Christmas. It’s not always easy to pick out the best deals while you’re in the middle of shopping, which could mean inflated prices and poor quality sneaking their way into your basket.
Instead of buying these items from Target, you can find better deals elsewhere.
Best Choice Products Prelit Christmas Tree
- Price: $30.14 (regularly $66.99)
Although this prelit artificial Christmas tree is 55% off the original price, you still may not want to take advantage of this deal. Reviewers describe this tree as “flimsy” and disappointing, giving this product an overall rating of 2.7 out of five stars. It stands at only 4 feet, which is small compared with a standard Christmas tree. Several customers also mentioned that the lights were battery-operated instead of plug-in. The reviews for this tree consist of 41% one-star ratings and just 25% five-star ratings.
Best Choice Products Electric Ride-On Car Ford Mustang
- Price: $179.99 (regularly $357.99)
A ride-on car is a classic kid’s Christmas present, bringing joy to them and you as they zoom around the cul-de-sac in a new ride. However, this Best Choice Products Ford Mustang ride-on car might feel like a waste of money even with the discount. Unfortunately, some parents bought this as a present for their kids last year and were sorely disappointed when it stopped working after a few months.
One reviewer shared this feedback: “Bought this as a Christmas present, and after just a few times the car wouldn’t hold a charge. No way to contact the company to try and make it right.”
Certified International Set of 4 Winters Joy Mugs
- Price: $37.49
As beautiful as this set of winter mugs is, you can likely find an option that doesn’t cost nearly $40. Get holiday-themed mugs for much less at Dollar Tree. For example, these red and green plaid mugs from Dollar Tree are only $1.50 each. That makes a set of four just $6, which saves you nearly $32 compared with Target’s version. That’s extra money you could put toward presents, hosting or food.
Cable-Knit Christmas Stocking
- Price: $20.00
If you love the look of this cable-knit Christmas stocking but don’t want to pay $20 for seasonal decor, try scoping out the Dollar Tree instead. These sweater-knit Christmas stockings from Dollar Tree are $1.50 each, which is much kinder to your wallet. Of course, you’ll notice that the Dollar Tree version isn’t as plush, but it still achieves the cable-knit look you’ve been eyeing for your mantel.
Christmas Children’s Embroidered Cooking Apron
- Price: $18.39
Planning to bake up some holiday memories with your kids or grandkids? You may think of grabbing this children’s embroidered cooking apron from Target, but then you’d be spending way more than you have to. This Christmas apron from Dollar Tree is less than half the price and has great reviews compared with the one from Target.
Target’s got plenty of wins this holiday season, but these five items aren’t among them. Save your money and your time by skipping deals that are too good to be true and shopping smarter somewhere else when you need to.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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