If you’ve shopped online in the last 10-20 years, then you know Amazon is the place to go for almost anything.
They have millions of products in tons of categories, including books, toys, electronics, clothes, groceries, and more. You can even buy completely random things, like a nickel that sells for 100x what it’s worth.
Amazon is a bit of an eCommerce unicorn: They’re cheap, fast, and reliable, the trifecta of online shopping. I mean seriously, where else can you get free shipping and free video/movie streaming for just $10/month? You’ll pay close to that every month for Netflix, and you won’t get nearly the same value.
But, believe it or not, Amazon isn’t actually the best place to buy everything. That’s right, there are some things you’re just better of buying elsewhere, like at a local store.
I know, I know, if you’re an Amazon fanatic you really don’t want to hear that, but it’s true. Not everything Amazon sells and advertises is good to buy through the online retail giant.
So here are 7 items you’ll be better off buying someplace other than Amazon.
You may not have realized this, but you can buy food on Amazon. That doesn’t mean you should though. Amazon’s Prime Pantry is one way you can buy food on Amazon, and as others have seen, Amazon doesn’t always offer the lowest prices when compared to Walmart, Costco, and Sam’s Club.
If you simply want to skip the lines at larger retail stores and supermarkets, Amazon might be worth the extra money, but when it comes to price, Amazon can be beat on groceries.
Again, clothes are one of those categories you might automatically think Amazon is cheaper to buy from, but that’s not always the case. Take shoes for instance. A pair of Clark’s desert boots cost around $68 on Amazon (and that’s supposedly over 30% off already), but the same boots are around $64 on 6pm. 6pm is owned by Zappos, which is owned by Amazon, so you’re getting the same shoes for a little bit cheaper, and the customer service is likely similar.
When it comes to paper products, you’re almost guaranteed to save money by shopping at your local supermarket and using either manufacturer coupons or store coupons. A 12 pack of Bounty Giant Paper Towels from Amazon is $25.99 (you might be able to find them cheaper, but both 12 packs I saw were around the same price), while the same item is $18.98 at Walmart. That doesn’t make you a fool for buying paper towels from Amazon, you’re just probably going to pay more. After all, there’s something to be said for the convenience.
We’ve talked before about how pet food isn’t a good dollar store purchase, and the same usually goes for Amazon as well. If you really want to save money on dog food, try going to a warehouse club like Sam’s Club or Costco. A 44 lb. bag of Beneful Healthy Weight Adult Dog Food at Sam’s Club costs around $34, while the same bag costs around $58 on Amazon.
Smaller bags tend to have better prices on Amazon, but when it comes to pet food (especially dog food), you’re typically better off buying slightly larger bags at warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club.
It may be tempting to skip the lines and traffic at just buy back-to-school items on Amazon, but you’ll almost always find better prices at retail stores like Walmart during their back-to-school sales. See our article on how to save money on back to school items.
When it comes to power tools like drills and saws, it’s best to look for a sale on older models at your local Home Depot or Lowe's. A Makita XT505 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, 5 Piece on Amazon costs around $397, while the same kit on Special Buy at Home Depot costs $379.
Amazon tends to have less than stellar prices on new electronics such as laptops and televisions when compared to sale prices at stores like Walmart and Best Buy. For example, one particular MacBook Pro at Best Buy cost around $1,199 on sale, while the same laptop costs $1,279 on Amazon. The same laptop is also $1,199 at B&H, and they don’t charge tax or shipping for most states.
That might not be a huge difference, but hey, $80 is $80.
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