Walmart prep: afordability vs quality

[strm_trpr]

So, I am working on my prepping, it is slow going and due to financial times it is hard to drop money on preping, however, I find I can throw a few things in the car at every walmart/sams trip. Where do you guys draw the line on what to buy at walmart. I can't see my self buying a tent there but I need a smaller one (all we have is a huge car camping tent 10+ person size) I am also trying to decided if their sleeping bags are good enough. I usually get extra canned goods, beans, rice, and similar. Last week a got a camping pad (self inflating, will have to test this one for durability on a camping trip this month), small mess kit, chemical water treatment, a single burner propaine stove, and a few other odds and ins. Anyways that is my ramble.

[Tater Raider]

I spend maybe $25/year at Wal-Mart and resent spending that much. K-Mart and Target are all of about 3 cents more per item on cost and customer service at my local Target is vastly superior.

[Merovech]

I am with Tater.

I can't walk into my local Wal-Mart with out getting genuinely upset at the poor level of customer service from employees that would be out on the street if I ran the place.

I go out of my way to avoid Wal-Mart, I end up in there once every 6 months or less. But I am at Target at least twice a month.

There are certain things that Target is WAY higher on though... I just don't buy those things.

[duodecima]

I hit garage sales for a lot of this stuff, so my sleeping bags of questionable quality at least didn't cost me more than $5, ditto my butane stove and my single propane burner ($5 each). Battery lantern and propane lantern, ditto. 3 mess kits, and one big aluminum pot with plastic plates that fit in it - no more than $3 each. (Ok, so I have 4 people to feed - still working on it!) Got a bigish (5 person) Eureka 3-season (car camping type) tent off Craigslist for $80, since we didn't already have a tent at all. Smaller tents should be even easier to find. My self inflating sleeping bag pads don't match, and one of them is... odd... but they all work, and were only a couple bucks. For bug in stuff, I got my dehydrator ($15 for a good one) at a church sale, and found an old vacuum sealer ($10) there, and a grain mill and kelly kettle off ebay. Someday I'd LOVE to have a sleek, hi-quality BOB set up. But since you bug out with the bag you have, not the one you wish you had, I figured it was better to have something, and upgrade as able.

Check out the thrift store finds thread for inspiration... viewtopic.php?f=34&t=87444
Also The Poor Man's Prepping thread... viewtopic.php?f=100&t=84987

I've also told my family that we're starting to camp more - Grandma likes to spoil her grandkids, so the kids have REI bags and self inflating pads from the last few years birthdays & Christmas as a result - if you're lucky enough to have family that can do that, I find they're very happy to give what they know is a quality gift that will be used (and is better than what Mom would have provided. ).

Water purification tabs, obviously I got those new. Magnesium fire starters are even cheaper (last I looked) at Harbor Freight, and work fine when I test them.

Food I get where it's cheapest, which is frequently Aldi's, but there's a couple items I stock that are cheapest at Walmart. (Black beans, pinto beans, lentils, 50# rice bags at Sam's...) I started out just grabbing whatever extra canned goods or dry beans I could. I just updated my inventory today and ed at how many pounds of rice & beans I do have.

Customer service - I've never had issues most places, but I find that no one place has the best price/deal for stuff, Walmart's not always cheapest. (Tho if you do your research and bring it in they will match prices, to save you the trips around town...) I don't go to Walmart often - but I started out prepping grabbing a few camping things at the Meijer close to my house when I got groceries, and went from there.

Welcome to the beginning of a fun and ever-changing journey...

[TacAir]

Craigslist is often a good place to find high quality camping gear at a good price point - if you know what you are looking for.

I have found/picked up a SVEA 123 stove for 45 USD. A bit of cleaning and it looks and works as well as a new one.
Picked up a Coleman 200A lantern, new in box for 40 USD, the guy had a new in box Coleman two burner - again for 40 USD. The stove sells new for 120 USD, the lantern is a collectors item, but works the champ. Knowing what the current price point is allowed me to recognize a good deal when it popped up.

We have a local "army surplus' store that has current issue gear at very good price points. Other outlets, like Sportsman's Guide often has fantastic sales. The classic European mess kits 5 for 20 USD comes to mind.

Perhaps after you have finished your planning and have a good idea of what is needed to fill your plans, keep a list of hardware at hand - with a price for a known quality dealer - will allow you to recognize a real bargain when found.

As for wallyworld. We have shopped there as a matter of necessity - Anchorage has a limited selection of retail outlets. I do agree, their customer service can be very lacking at times. I take that in stride due to how they advertise themselves...

We do what we can for helping our adult children prepare as best we can, Christmas gifting - and camping trips for fun (and training) are all part of a bigger effort.

Good luck - being prepared is more a journey rather than a destination.

[MacAttack]

Once you have the basics from the cheap as possible box store then you can start trading out for some of the better name brand stuff.


Keep the cheap stuff or use it to practice. You can trade it off to someone who is just starting out or do like I did and just make gift bags out of them.


I've got a rubbermaid tote of small stuff from yard sales and dollar stores. Dollar knives, space blankets, cheap tarps, tea lights, busted taper candles, just stuff that could be used but is not my best.

[AZMedic]

I don't know if you mean just food or camping gear also.

I use Sams Club or Costco....find a friend with a card and use them. So what if they ask why you are buying 4 50 pound bags of flour that cost $60 total....or 2 bags of rice that cost $20 total.

Get food grade buckets off of craigslist...I pay $3 with lid.

[JesterODX]

Here's the deal, you shop at WalMart to save money. If you need that money your saving, then you do what you need to do. I like to shop else where but my morals will bend to pay $30 for two pairs of shoes instead of $60 for one pair of shoes. Size 14's aint cheap and most places just dont sell them. I hated to break my streak of over a year but last month was new shoe time.

Half the stuff I bought, non food wise, I got at Big Lots. All my big tupperware type bins I got there. Tarps, Tape, tools... You really aint gotta buy top dollar on most things. I mean if its something your life may depend on, then quality has to be taken into account...

[majorhavoc]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with buying prep-related items from Walmart, Target or any other big box/discount store. Many of us have families to feed, lives to enjoy and feel that putting money away as savings is one of the very best disaster preps you can make.

As long as you're comfortable with whatever compromises you're making to save money, I think you can do a fine job preparing for emergencies doing your shopping at Walmart.

I probably wouldn't buy a tent of any size at any big box store, but that's based on some bad personal experiences and a general understanding that with tents, the value equation extends beyond the typical "you get what you pay for" proviso. I can accept that the Winchester multi tool I bought at Wallyworld isn't as nice as a Leatherman or a SOG, but one wet night in a cheap tent bought there is the night before you take that tent and throw it in the trash.

There are some smart buys at Walmart. My advice is to look for those smart deals, haunt the "Bug Out Deals" and the "Poor man's prepping" threads here at ZS and you can save a lot of money.

[closingresponse]

Everytime I went to wally world I would grab a dual pack of propane. It was a bit under 5 dollars if I remember right.
Their ammo prices were always decent compared to other places in town.
Imo, canned food from walmart is going to last just as long as it would if it was from whole foods.
I ish moved to Oregon three months ago, and still haven't seen a walmart .
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

[OTTB]

I buy a few things from walmart as things present themselves, water proof camping boxes for FAK's, freeze dried camping food, water bottles, I tend to stay away from their ammo, Anything beyond just general items I go to places like Gander Mountain, Dick's Sporting goods, and a local "tacticool" gun store. However if you are on a budget and can find the good deals hidden amongst the cheap stuff I actually encourage shopping at places like Walmart and Target.

[NamelessStain]

I buy plenty of stuff at wally world. Mostly dried food stuff like beans. I look in the camping stuff from time to time to see if anything catches my eye.

[strm_trpr]

Thanks Guys, I worked for WalMart in the past and totaly agree with you on customer service and 3rd world products. But It is where i can get it cheap. I am going to focus on my food related prep only there for now on after looking at craigs list deals and also looking at rei outlet deals after my member discount are good for tents and sleeping bags.

[Shay_Adams]

Thanks Guys, I worked for WalMart in the past and totaly agree with you on customer service and 3rd world products. But It is where i can get it cheap. I am going to focus on my food related prep only there for now on after looking at craigs list deals and also looking at rei outlet deals after my member discount are good for tents and sleeping bags.

(Something to think about): I've decided that the next time I go to Walmart, I am going to purchase myself a hammock from the camping section. I feel like that would be the safest way to sleep outdoors during a zombie apocalypse. (Get up high so you can see them coming from a distance and have a decent shot if they're coming close.) Plus, they're dirt cheap!

[Kevin108]

Just because things are okay now, don't forget what you're putting things away for. This is about survival. If the zombie apocalypse starts and your righteous indignation is fully charged but you don't have the supplies you need, you'll probably wish you'd made that extra trip or two to Walmart.

[Evan the Diplomat]

When it comes to the big four (backpack, sleeping bag, tent and footwear) never go cheap. These items are the core to your mobility and body temperature control.

Now that my boys are old enough to be transitioning from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts I've been researching gear choices for 11 year olds and I've come across the Backpackng Light for for Boy Scouts. They know that many parents are hesitant to make big investments on gear that kids might outgrow or lose interest in Scouting.

What an eye opener. I feel like a chump for buying a 6.5 pound 75 liter pack for myself a few years ago. They also have a Make Your Own Gear (MYOG) section where I've been inspired to make a Tyvek bivy bag to cover my sleeping bag with.

You can learn more here http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/display_forum.html?forum=54

[benja455]

I spend maybe $25/year at Wal-Mart and resent spending that much. K-Mart and Target are all of about 3 cents more per item on cost and customer service at my local Target is vastly superior.

Same here. Also CL is where you'll find the real deals to save money.

[duodecima]

I spend maybe $25/year at Wal-Mart and resent spending that much. K-Mart and Target are all of about 3 cents more per item on cost and customer service at my local Target is vastly superior.

Same here. Also CL is where you'll find the real deals to save money.

What's "CL"? (Since who doesn't like deals?)

[Almighty]

What's "CL"? (Since who doesn't like deals?)

Craig's List

or craigslist

[bacpacjac]

Once you have the basics from the cheap as possible box store then you can start trading out for some of the better name brand stuff.


Keep the cheap stuff or use it to practice. You can trade it off to someone who is just starting out or do like I did and just make gift bags out of them.


I've got a rubbermaid tote of small stuff from yard sales and dollar stores. Dollar knives, space blankets, cheap tarps, tea lights, busted taper candles, just stuff that could be used but is not my best.

I agree with Mac. A disaster isn't going to wait for your bank account to be able to afford all the top line gear you're like. I'd rather grqb a frugal bag that's complete than a top quality one that's missing key components. My strategy is to start, get our bases covered as best we can for what we can afford NOW and then upgrade as we go LATER.

[duodecima]

What's "CL"? (Since who doesn't like deals?)

Craig's List

or craigslist

Doh. Of course.

Also - complete agreement to what Mac & bacpacjac said.

[cbr900]

I cant stand walmart there is never anyone near the ammo case......now I just simply pick up the phone and page them myself.....then at the checkout you have a sea of registers but only 3 are open at any given time......so you head to self checkout which is even more of a headache as most walmart shoppers lack cognitive ability to correctly operate the you scan system.

[Tommy Tinker]

Walmart customer service sucks. I've got several of them in my area, and some are worse than others. But for the prices, I often find it worth the hassle.
I think Walmart is great for consumables: canned and dried goods, ammo, cleaning supplies, medicine, containers, cloth, etc. They also sell a lot of name-brand stuff less than other stores do. For tools, they've got Stanley & B&D brands which are generally acceptable (though I think Craftsman is usually a better deal). I tend not to buy clothes there (especially shoes), or furniture, or fresh meat, and I'm very cautious about any no-name Chinese made stuff (but not totally avoidant). As far as outdoor / camping supplies go... only if I have researched the product(s) carefully beforehand, which I almost always do no matter where I buy from.

[OTTB]

I try and get things from brands I know such as coleman, my walmart carries a lot of stuff from them. I got lucky at the ammo counter and found someone there, picked up two small boxes of buckshot and two boxes of pistol ammo for something around 45$. I think the key to the ammo counter is to go early. They and the automotive department are way in the back of my local store so they are smart enough to just sneak off.