I think they will grow, but like you said, what is the quality? I have recently ordered some bulbs from an online source, and now I can see why people talk about the quality of certain vendors versus big box stores.

While the price is still a factor to me, but by ordering (a particular variety) of the same kind of bulbs I could pick up locally at some store, I can see the difference.

Having said that, if we can take care of our plants, we may still be able to turn some cheap finds into great specimens.

I bought gladiolus bulbs last year at my local dollar store. They did great, but I am certain the quality varies greatly. For $2, I got some great cheap summer color.

I have purchaed the white lilly and the gladiolus bulbs. I understand the bulbs seem somewhat looking like dead when you look at them. But All of my lillys came up and they were awesome and bloomed all late summer. They were short about 12" tall. I am hoping they come up again this summer. The glads have come up for the past 2 years. They are not stunners but they come up and survive. Hey, you can't beat it for a dollar and a much better deal than Wally World!