Never Buy These Things at Target

With its sparkling aisles, no-fuss returns, and abundant selection, Target has it all. The retail giant is the perfect one-stop shop for home goods, groceries, and everyday necessities, making it tempting to visit the store for all your needs. But while the chain is a lifesaver for customers who don’t have the time to shop around, some of these advantages come at a cost. Smart shoppers take note — here are six products that you should think twice about before buying at Target. 

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Pet Supplies

You might want to reconsider grabbing pet essentials on your next Target run. While occasional one-off purchases are fine when you’re in a rush, Target has a limited selection of pet supplies for much higher prices than pet store retailers. Instead, try buying pet food in bulk from a bulk retailer like Costco, set up an automatic subscription with the online pet store Chewy, or try shopping at a dedicated pet retailer like Petco.

Bulk Items

You can buy batteries at Target, but they will cost you — and so will laundry supplies, toiletries, and other items with big prices for a small package. These purchases are better made at big box stores like Costco and Sam's Club, where you can buy bulk items for a steeper discount. If buying batteries in bulk doesn’t make sense for your short-term needs, visit the dollar store, where name-brand batteries are nearly four times cheaper than your local discount store.

Electronics

While Target offers heavily discounted electronics around the holiday season, you’ll pay way more for televisions, video games, and other electronics the rest of the year. Before making a large purchase at Target, check out the prices at electronic stores like Best Buy. Electronic stores also have employees who are more knowledgeable about the options available, helping you choose an affordable and high-quality product.

Name-Brand Medications

Think Tylenol is more affordable at Target? Guess again. After CVS purchased the pharmacy section of Target in 2015, name-brand medication prices have become much more expensive. If you buy your meds at Target, stick to cheaper generic brands. Otherwise, you might find better pricing options at chain pharmacies, through state-licensed online pharmacies, or by using a prescription discount service like GoodRx.

Greeting Cards

Many of Target’s mass-produced greeting cards are far more expensive than the paper they’re printed on. Instead of paying $5 to $10 per card at Target, consider shopping elsewhere for cheaper cards of the same quality. Dollar stores sell great cards for 50 cents to $1, and your giftee will never notice the difference. Better yet, you can pre-purchase cards for upcoming events throughout the year, from birthdays to holidays, so you’re never unprepared for a celebration.

Decorative Pillows

Consumers have access to everything they’d ever need with Target’s home and bath collection — well, almost everything. While Target’s Universal Thread throw pillows are beautiful, many do not have zippers, making cleaning covers or changing inserts difficult. There also isn’t a large selection, which can make your home look very similar to everyone else who finds themselves browsing the home decor section at Target. You can find a much wider selection of unique decorative pillows at stores like Home Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Rifle Paper Co., where you can shop by size, print, and texture.

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