5 things you're better off buying in a traditional store

Vacant storefronts in American malls have reached a 10-year high. Losing out to online shopping sites as well as stand-alone retailers, stores in many malls are just as likely to feature a For Rent sign as a Sale Today sign. While online sales continue to grow, there are some products you're still better off buying in a brick-and-mortar store. Here are five products from Sears, Best Buy, Lowe's and Home Depot that have done well in our tests.

1. Exterior paint from Lowe's: Valspar Duramax Flat exterior paint has a built-in primer, which is a huge money-saver. Among the top performers in our exterior paint tests, this paint is still looking very good after the equivalent of 9 years in our demanding outdoor tests. It costs about $33 per gallon.

2. Refrigerator from Best Buy: In our refrigerator tests, the Frigidaire Gallery FGHT1834K top-freezer was very good for temperature control, keeping temperatures even through the refrigerator and freezer compartments. It also did well in our energy-efficiency tests and is on sale now for $520.

3. Grill from Sears: The Kenmore 16649, $800, a large-size grill, got top marks in our low temperature performance test and indirect cooking. Medium-sized and small Kenmore grills also did well in our tests and cost hundreds less.

4. Interior paint from Home Depot: Behr Premium Plus Ultra interior paint, the Home Depot house brand, continues to top our tough tests for interior paints. And like the Valspar, has a built-in primer, saving you time and money. The price ranges from $30 to $34 per gallon, depending on the sheen.

5. Lawn mower from Sears: Self-propelled gasoline-powered mowers are the kind most Americans buy. The Craftsman 37108, about $400, was among our top performers, with impressive mulching, bagging, and side-discharge for a relatively low-price.

Our recent report on Where To Buy Appliances features appliance store Ratings based on reader feedback, and includes strategies for getting the most for your money. For more on the shrinking mall, read 10 Things Shopping Malls Won't Tell You from SmartMoney.

—Maggie Shader