These are the best buys at Kmart, according to experts, and the things you shouldn’t waste your money on
The experts from Australian consumer organization CHOICE have listed the best and worst products from the Kmart catalogue.
Dozens of Anko products have been put to the ultimate test to determine whether they are worth buying or not.
From vacuum cleaners to air fryers, baby products, luggage and kitchen gadgets, some exceeded expectations, others disappointed.
“While some Anko purchases deliver premium performance at low prices, others aren’t really worth the (admittedly small) price,” a spokesperson said. CHOICE expert said.
YES – WORTH buying
Steam mops
The product that topped the list was the 1300W Steam Mop, priced at just $49.
‘This is a device that Kmart got right!’ the experts revealed.
The affordable cleaning product convinced the professionals because it is easy to use and leaves little water after cleaning the floor.
Dozens of Kmart Anko products have been put to the ultimate test to determine whether it’s worth buying or not
Microwaves
Kmart microwaves also received the approval of experts with an excellent rating for cooking performance.
The 20-quart microwave, priced at $49, received perfect scores for cooking vegetables and defrosting ground beef.
‘If you’re looking for a compact basic microwave that heats up well and can cook and defrost well, then the Anko 20-litre model is all you need,’ says kitchen expert Fiona Mair of CHOICE.
‘However, it is only a 700W microwave, so heat-up times will be a little slower than a 900W or 1000W microwave.’
Clothing streamers
Both the $39 Hand Held Garment Steamer and the $55 Garment Steamer performed solidly in tests, but didn’t really get a recommendation from experts.
“They do have some wrinkles that need ironing out, but the wearable model struggled to steam out the wrinkles in cotton, linen and polycotton, while the full-size model did well on linen,” the experts said.
‘The portable version doesn’t have an automatic shut-off and the small reservoir means you’ll have to run back and forth to the sink to fill it when you need to steam a big pile of clothes.’
Luggage
If you’re looking for affordable luggage, the $40 4-Wheel Carry-On scores strongly compared to other expensive brands.
“You could buy the Kmart carry-on plus $40 return flights from Sydney to Melbourne, and you still wouldn’t have spent as much as the most expensive suitcases in our test,” said luggage tester Matthew Tung.
The $99 Anko Premium Hard Case with 8 Wheels (72cm) is also a suitable carry-on option, which also received rave reviews.
Although the Kmart slow cooker is as premium as the more expensive purchases on the market, it performed well (3L slow cooker pictured)
Slow cookers
While the Kmart slow cooker isn’t that great compared to other expensive purchases on the market, it performed well.
But experts noted that the products lack certain features.
Nevertheless, the experts recommended the $29 3-quart slow cooker and the $45 6.5-quart digital slow cooker.
NO – NOT WORTH buying
Vacuum cleaners
Anko vacuum cleaners are the one type of product that customers should avoid at all costs.
While it is tempting to purchase a cheap vacuum cleaner for a fraction of the cost compared to other brands, the experts strongly recommend against doing so due to its poor performance.
All Anko vacuum cleaners tested scored poorly overall, with the highest performance score being 67 percent.
Customers should also avoid purchasing Anko vacuum cleaners and cribs
Cradle
When it comes to buying baby products, there’s one merchandise parents shouldn’t skimp on: cribs.
The $159 Kmart Anko Crib with Canopy scored only 49 percent in the test due to a “lack of continuous breathable zones around the edge of the crib.”
There is currently no Australian safety standard for cribs, so CHOICE had to create safety tests based on established Australian standards for cribs and portacots.
Bench mixer
Major brand stand mixers can cost hundreds of dollars, while Kmart sells one for as little as $75. However, it’s not worth it.
“Unfortunately, you get what you pay for with this $75 tabletop mixer,” the experts said.
The product simply underperformed compared to versions costing $300 or more.
Major brand stand mixers can cost hundreds of dollars, while Kmart sells one for as little as $75. However, it’s not worth it. Kmart’s Anko toasters also didn’t make the cut
Bicycle
Customers looking to buy a new bike should resist the Kmart options, according to experts.
When tested, the bikes were “poorly assembled, rusted quickly, had defective parts, needed more replacement parts more quickly, and required more frequent maintenance.”
“If you add up the maintenance costs of a cheap Kmart bike, it quickly becomes a much more expensive ride,” the experts said.
Over time, the maintenance costs of a Kmart bike will add up quickly, so customers are better off opting for high-end versions.
Toasters
Kmart’s Anko toasters also didn’t make the cut and ended up on the ‘not worth buying’ list.
CHOICE tested more than ten Kmart toasters, but none impressed experts and could burn your toast.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a good toaster, but you will get a better product if you shop elsewhere,” the experts said.