Walmart has taken over every aspect of our shopping lives. They have locations all over the world, and most people in the United States are within a 20 minute drive of a store. Additionally, they stock nearly every type of food, clothing, and supplies that a normal family could desire. With the exception of shopping on Amazon, few stores can compete with this giant. In fact, Walmart does sell sparklers around the 4th of July in most locations, too. So, since you are already going to be there, why wouldn’t you make your purchase there?
There are a variety of reasons that you should avoid shopping at Walmart for niche-specific items like sparklers. I’ll admit, they have pretty great prices; but there is usually a reason for that. Here is a breakdown of what you should know before you buy.
Reasons to Avoid the Sparklers Sold at Walmart
First off, I am not one of those people who hates on a company just because of their size. Personally, I shop at Walmart all the time for food and supplies. However, some of their products are notoriously low quality, and should be avoided. In my opinion, sparklers are one of those items. Here is why.
Low Quality
Sadly, everything comes down to cost for a huge chain retailer such as Walmart. There is little emphasis placed on quality or value, so you end up getting whatever they can acquire for the cheapest price. Unfortunately, when it comes to sparklers; the lowest quality options are nearly unusable. They are often made so poorly, that they crumble in your hand as you use them. By choosing a better place to buy your sparklers, you will get a higher quality item and a better experience.
Time of Year
Additionally, Walmart will only sell sparklers during the summer months. Traditionally, they have displays at the front of the store from early June through mid July. Since most sparkler-related events take place in the summer months, this may not be a problem for you. However, if you are planning to use them for New Year’s Eve, a birthday, or a wedding, you may b e out of luck.
Not Available Everywhere
Lastly, certain states prohibit the sale of sparklers all together. In those areas, Walmart will not sell them. However, since the federal laws specifically permit them, you can order them via mail. Finding a specialty store such as ourselves is ultimately your only option in this type of scenario.
Benefits of Buying Sparklers at Walmart
Now that you understand the drawbacks, it’s only fair to point out some of the benefits of buying sparklers at Walmart. We are all guilty of trying to get a good deal no matter what our common sense tells us, and this isn’t any different. Here are the areas that they get things right.
Price
The best factor that they have going for them is the cheapest prices. If quality isn’t a big concern, you won’t find better prices for sparklers than you do at Walmart. Again, there is certainly a reason that they have them for so cheap; but you can get a bunch of them for next to nothing.
Easy Transaction
Shopping at Walmart is about as easy as it comes. All you have to do is go to the store, bring your items to the front, and pay. There no need to go through an online ordering process or tracking a package for days on end. If you like the idea of getting them in your hands right this second, they are a great choice.
One-Stop Shopping
Lastly, most people make a trip to Walmart at least once a month. Since you will be there already, shopping for your sparklers there is an obvious choice. There’s no reason to make an extra trip to a specialty shop or spend your whole evening browsing through websites. When the items you want are an arm’s length away, it’s easy to make that choice.
Types of Sparklers They Don’t Sell at Walmart
Unfortunately, Walmart doesn’t sell sparklers for every type of occasion. Typically, they will only stock generic styles so they can keep prices low. However, many people want specialty items such as wedding sparklers and must shop elsewhere. Stores like this simply can’t cater to everyone and every niche; it simply isn’t profitable enough. Here is a short list of versions you won’t see at their stores.
- Wedding Sparklers
- Color Sparklers
- Cake Sparklers
- Heart or Number Shaped Sparklers
- LED Sparklers
- Bottle Sparklers
Luckily, about 90% of people are looking for traditional versions; and that is exactly what you’ll find in their stores. Does Walmart sell sparklers for every occasion? No. However, they offer the most popular version and that caters to the bulk of their customers.
In the end, you will always get what you pay for. If you want something that will perform correctly, you’ll need to shop from a reputable store. However, for many people you can absolutely get away with purchasing them from Walmart.
