You get what you pay for, but don't expect perfection at rock-bottom prices

I was surprised to write a review about a retail chain that's not exactly my cup of tea.

Fix Price is more aimed at people who like decorative stuff. But what about someone like me who's not into that?

As it turns out, I did find some interesting things, and even some things to complain about. But they're just everyday stuff.

One thing that caught my eye is how all Fix Price stores look the same. I've got three of them in my area, and each one is basically a typical retail space. The one that stands out to me is the one opposite the sex shop – it's a pretty cool neighborhood.

The turnstiles, the shelves, the cash registers... everything is standard issue, just like everywhere else. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that some of our local stores started installing self-service kiosks – I hate using them. But the Fix Price store on the photo above seems to be an exception.

The customer service is consistently good everywhere. No surprises, no scandals, no fights over salad bowls or arguments with the staff.

I can say that one thing that's always a problem is that the cashiers never have change, so I end up paying with a card more often. A few months ago, I saw a sign in one store that said they only accepted cash – I guess it was due to some internet issues.

One thing I'd like to mention is that the price tags are often scattered randomly. It's hard to tell which one belongs to the item you're looking for, or if it's even available.

The stores are often worn out, and the flooring is peeling:

Another thing that's really annoying is that they often restock items only to discontinue them soon after. It's like they're playing a cruel trick on customers – you find something you like, and then it's gone for good.

I found this example with some nice-looking paper towels. I managed to grab a pack, but they're nowhere to be found now:

I still have the package at home, and I have no idea how long it's been there. They smelled like Fanta soda, and they were really cool. But now they're nowhere to be found in Fix Price, and I'm not sure if they still exist.

One thing I do like about Fix Price is the wide selection of household items. They have a lot of things that you need for everyday life, but can't find in other stores. And when you've exhausted all the other options, Fix Price is usually your last hope – and sometimes it pays off.

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What I'm buying now: essentials and occasional items.

In the past, I used to buy a lot of body care products, hair masks, shampoos, and scrubs (FitoKosmetics' big bottles). But now my interest in the cosmetics section at Fix Price has narrowed down to wet wipes and daily sanitary pads.

✅Daily socks are the only ones I buy - the ones on the photo. Ola is a fan. I used to buy Ola with green tea, but I'm sad they don't restock it anymore. They stick well to the clothes, withstand wear and tear, and come off without leaving any residue.

✅Wipes in small packs are my go-to - I buy them frequently. They're well-moisturized, pleasantly scented. But wipes in the large blue pack from the same brand aren't my cup of tea - they smell like gasoline. Plus, the more you buy, the stickier and less absorbent they get.

✅ Hangers. I've tried a few different brands, but I only buy these occasionally. Occasionally, because the old ones haven't broken yet, and I don't have too much extra clothing. Of course, wooden hangers would be more aesthetically pleasing, but they have a metal hook - when you move the clothes in the closet, it's annoyingly creaky, so I've stuck with plastic.

But even these hangers have a drawback. They have little ridges, so I don't hang delicate, thin items on them.

⚕ I'd never buy these hangers again:

They look nice in the store, with a non-slip effect. But they don't look as great when they're dirty - they attract every speck of dust and look terrible:

And the non-slip effect is a bit too... effective. It's uncomfortable to take off the clothes, like they're stuck to the hanger.

✅Pouches. I've tried different brands, but I've settled on these. They're more expensive than others, but they're thicker and more durable. Plus, the material feels nicer to the touch. I buy them frequently.

I use them to store bones for broth and meat. And I wrap up all sorts of small things in them. They're easy to work with.

✅ Chair covers. The cushions are soft, the material is good, dense. I'd say they're a one-time purchase, they wear slowly and last a long time.

I remember buying a similar slipcover for my computer chair at a different store - it looked the same, but was much thinner when I touched it... I'd buy this one at Fix Price, where it's significantly cheaper than anywhere else. Unfortunately, they don't have chair covers that fit my chair.

✅ Storage bags. Perfect for storing clothes you don't want to get rid of, but don't need right now. I'll probably only buy them once.

✅ Slippers. I recently bought slippers with a slight heel for the foot, and they were super comfy. Unfortunately, they've worn out now, so I'll look for something else next time.

✅ Sunglasses cases. I've noticed the selection varies between stores. I got the beige one for 174 rubles, which turned out to be a bit too big for my glasses, but the soft cloth fits perfectly.

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Most other categories didn't interest me, or I only buy them rarely.

Household chemicals seem to be diluted, so I buy them at other stores for regular prices.

Cookies, candies, and other snacks don't seem to be any better or more valuable than elsewhere. To be honest, I get a bit queasy just looking at those displays, reading the ingredients, and realizing it's not worth the money, no matter how low the price is.

Dishes eventually lose their quality. I have most of my Fixer dishes from previous years. Nowadays, there's not much to choose from, except for Lumina's opal glass products – they're always top-notch.

I don't buy mugs or cups anymore because I've noticed they've gotten worse in quality everywhere. Specifically, Fixer's dishes feel rough to the touch, like they've been sanded with sandpaper. And the designs are hit-or-miss – none of them really resonate with me. The mug shapes are weird, too, like they're not anatomically correct or something. I'd rather not talk about the double-walled mugs that are prone to cracking – I've read plenty of reviews about that, and it's just not safe.

Clothing isn't really my thing. I sometimes buy summer socks, but it's pointless to buy warm socks because they're all terrible at airflow – my feet get sweaty.

I bought gloves a couple of times, but compared them to ones from another store, and Fixer's didn't measure up. I also bought a sherry-colored cardigan with a black-and-white check pattern, but it's faded horribly – I gave it away. I'll talk about the exception in my next review.

The tools and repair section isn't for me. I've heard from others that the quality is bad, and I don't want to find out the hard way. I also avoid anything with electricity.

Decor for Airy. People often buy random knick-knacks, figurines, candles, and they're really abundant. Sometimes you find some really beautiful items. But when you take them home, they end up being junk.

Why do they need such big candles?))These panel things, on the other hand, I'd totally buy. They'd look awesome with a full-spectrum photo lamp. The cool part is that they're textured.

Stationery. I bought a notebook with a binder, and it seemed pretty normal. They've got a stationery paradise for kids, no wonder there are always crowds at Fixie. I really like this binder with ringed pages - it's got convenient tear-out sheets.

Literature - and what a trash section! It's one of those cases where cheap doesn't mean good. At the time of my visit, they'd even blocked off access to the literature section - and I didn't even get to take a photo of the mediocrity 😂

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Previous purchases that are no longer in stock.

Pottery. One of the most common topics for reviews here)

✅ Deep bowl with a lid with a 13.5 cm diameter, it's been with me for ages - exactly 6 years. I've never seen a design like this on any other bowl. It cost 55 rubles.

I'm amazed the lid has survived this long - the plastic is pretty sturdy.

I mostly use it for soups:

✅ But the bigger bowl I bought later didn't fare so well - the lid broke. It's still a decent bowl, but it's not as convenient to use without a lid. I usually put salads and cereals in it. It's 16 cm in diameter.

✅Two awesome round bowls with lids, 11 cm in diameter (inner), 3 mm thick walls, I bought them 3 years ago. They cost 100 rubles each. They had square ones too, but they sold out really quickly - I didn't get a chance to buy them. The glass is really thick and cool. Unfortunately, they're no longer restocking them((

I usually store muesli, yogurt, and ice cream in them, something sweet. It's super convenient to store homemade pâtés in them like that.

Unfortunately, one of the lids cracked. And there's no replacement for it.

As you've already figured out, I love dishes with lids) But it's really convenient. To store leftovers, put breakfast in the fridge, and in the morning just grab and reheat.

✅ That big grey plate with a diameter of 19 cm - it was the only one with streaks on the bottom. All the others were spotless, apparently, it was a paint defect. So I took it) And no one else has one like it.

Now in the store, I've seen plates in a light green color, sometimes blue. But not this grey one.Good dishware. It's convenient to eat food in a hunched-over style 😄

⚕ Last but not least, silicone ice cube tray. The quality is poor, it's been sitting idle for a long time. It's hard to get the ice cubes out of it.

For some reason, water sticks to it, and when it hardens, I have to hold it over a hot kettle to push out the ice cube shape.

✅Palate cloth-palantin, that's the only exception from the clothing section. It used to be sold in red, grey, and beige colors. Unfortunately, they no longer import this model to the store, may not sell it anymore either((

The cloth is great, soft on the skin. It's been with me for 7 years.

✅ A bit of decor for Airek. Well, not really decor, but photo frames. My photos from the profile:

The left panel (board?) is grey with black design, solid, can stand on its own.

The rest is thin thermosalvage paper. If you get the hang of it, they can stand without support too.

I don't see these items in the store anymore.

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Verdict

I haven't scratched the surface of this store's potential in this review - I haven't mentioned their discount card or website, for instance. To be honest, I don't use those features, so I didn't see a need to bring them up.

I just wanted to share what I've found useful so far.

Fix Price stands out from its competitors in a decent way, and honestly, it's not much different from other stores of this type - their shopping areas often feel like warehouses. Still, Fix Price looks a bit more presentable compared to something like Svetofor. Be cautious, though - you get what you pay for.

I'd recommend Fix Price, but don't feel like you need to buy everything they have.