The Best (and Worst) Big Box Stores

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Picture this: You're standing in a shopping center packed with big discount retailers like Sears, Costco, Kohl's and Wal-Mart, and you've got a shopping list that includes a new blender, some groceries and a warm sweater. Which store do you walk into?

The answer might surprise you.

Consumer Reports has published their detailed review of the best and worst big box retailers to shop. Based on facets like quality, selection, value, checkout, service and layout, the list finely parses the experience of shopping both online and in the store, scoring the stores on a 100-point scale.

We know, we know, we all have warm fuzzies about certain retailers (starts with "T", ends with "arget"). But when it's come to cold, hard data on which store will give you the best bang for your buck, we'll trust these rankings.

Click on the pictures below to see the best and worst retailers:

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Krystal-Maier/100002681695275 Krystal Maier

    I totally agree that WalMart should come in last place. I thought it was just my local WalMart that was offering such a bad shopping experience, but I guess not. Customer service stinks NEARLY all the time. Employees stocking the frozen food department are the only ones that ask me if I need help with anything.. Most other employees don’t even know where to find products in the store, or even if they have them. To be honest, by now I only go there because I have to if it is the middle of the night or I need something that one of the groceries in the area doesn’t carry. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/veggiemommie Melissa White Camoirano

       WalMart is pretty terrible and I avoid going as much as possible, the only exception is if I have a giftcard and I’m pretty desperate for groceries.

  • http://www.facebook.com/veggiemommie Melissa White Camoirano

    Was BJ’s part of this evaluation?

    • Phoebe

       I wish because there is no Costco near me and I shop at BJ’s.  I still use my regular grocery store for some of my food staples.  But for my pet food, fruits and vegetables (which I consume a lot of) I rather buy in bulk from there.  I’ve even got some really good steaks from there.  I confess to still shopping at Wal Mart for my facial cleansers and I get some of my baking/decorating supplies there when I’m in a pinch and have a last minute order and no time to order supplies online.

  • Nancy

    Walmart is the closest grocery store to me but I very seldom shop there.  It used to be a “regular” Walmart across the street, when it had a good stock of housewares, drugstore items, etc.  With the move it became a bad Walmart AND a bad grocery store.  It doesn’t matter WHEN you go, the lines are long enough to melt any frozen foods (which I have learned not to buy there) and their prices are NOT that good – my favorite local grocery store, HEB, beats them on almost everything.