So here’s the deal, I needed helium for some party balloons, like pronto. Everyone buys those little tanks at party stores, but I was near Walmart and figured, why not try there? Saves a trip.
The Hunt at Walmart
I walked into Walmart feeling pretty confident. Easy find, right? Wrong. Headed straight to the party section. Scanned the aisles – bags of balloons, streamers, paper plates… but no helium tanks. Not a single one. Huh. Maybe seasonal? Tried the craft area nearby. Nope, just yarn and paint.
Alright, time to ask someone. Flagged down an employee stocking shelves. “Excuse me, where do you keep the helium tanks? For balloons?” He blinked for a second. “Oh yeah, balloons. Umm… actually, they’re not back here.” He paused, thinking. “You gotta check over near customer service, like where they handle the outdoor stuff and propane exchanges? Sometimes they keep ’em there on the floor.”
Off I trudged, past the registers. Found the weird zone near customer service with car batteries, propane tank exchanges on a cage… and boom! There they were! Tucked kinda low on the bottom shelf near the flooring, almost hidden. Not by balloons at all. Why are they over here?
Choosing & Checking Out
They had a few options. Small tanks and medium tanks. Looked like one you’d get at Party City. Key thing spotted: the small tank was rated for up to 30 balloons (depending on balloon size, obvs), and the medium one for 50. Price wise? The small one was around $25-$30, the medium $35-$40. Balloon time-wise, small tank = maybe one party bag worth? Medium tank = a couple bags. Seemed pricey for what you get, but less than a special trip elsewhere sometimes.
Grabbed the medium one. Felt like it. Had those plastic nozzles attached already. Important note: The package clearly said NON-REFILLABLE. You use it, you toss it. Don’t try to be a hero and refill it yourself.
Checkout was smooth. Cashier just scanned it like any other item. No ID needed, no special rules. Threw it in the cart and headed out. Easiest part.
Got home. Unboxing was simple. Tank, a green nozzle thing screwed on top, and a few warning leaflets. Safety stuff: use in ventilated area (duh), don’t smoke near it, store upright. Followed the instructions. Screwed the nozzle on tight. Attached a balloon nozzle tip. Pushed a balloon onto that little nipple. Held the balloon neck. Pressed down the main handle. PSSSSHHHT. Bam! Balloon inflates instantly. Works exactly like the ones you rent at stores. Filled up about 40 party-sized balloons before it petered out. Still had a tiny bit left, felt wasteful. Balloons floated nice for a day+.
The Takeaways
- Location is Weird: Not party section! Check near the propane tank exchange area / customer service. Bottom shelf, easy to miss.
- Options & Price: Usually just 2 sizes: small (30 balloons-ish), medium (50 balloons-ish). Price ~$25-$40. Not dirt cheap, convenient if you’re already there.
- Non-Refillable: Big label. Don’t try to mess with it. Use it, finish it, recycle responsibly (check your area).
- Buying is Easy: Just grab it, scan it, pay. No extra hoops like with propane.
- Works Fine: Simple setup. Does what it says. Balloons floated well.
Bottom line: It worked! If you need helium fast and you’re at Walmart already, you can get it. Just know exactly where to look and don’t expect a bargain. Took me longer to find them than to fill all the balloons!