One market thriving in this economy are dollar stores. They were doing well before but now I've seen them first hand "explode". I used to work at one called Dollar Tree when I was in High School, it was a medium size store in our local mall. We did good business around $1000 a day - Christmas all bets were off.
During my last visit home (a week ago) I saw my little mall store had moved to it's on building right in front of Kohl's near Meijer and Walmart. The parking lot was full, even up against the "big boys". Even here in my home town, our little Dollar Tree moved to it's own bigger independent store in front of Target across from Walmart. And trying to get a parking spot there is crazy!
Once your in a dollar store you can figure out why they are doing well, they have almost everything! From toys, to food, car care, laundry and cleaning supplies, cooking, health care and more. It's pretty easy to fill your cart, after all it's all only a dollar. By the time I get out I easily spent 20 - 30 dollars.
But with all these choices I wonder is there anything you won't buy at a dollar store?
For me - I would NEVER buy condoms at a dollar store. These are an item I am willing to pay more for assured quality. I mean it's not like if it fails all you get are blue stains on your clothes (true story cheap laundry soap stained my clothes blue), if they fail you can get baby! There is no taking that to the store and demanding they take care of it.
We all expect Dollar Store items to preform but not at the quality level of items you buy at Target or Kohls. I see them as cheap do what you gotta do items, many of them preform perfectly for the tasks at had with a price tag to fit. But one value I am going to warn you on is wrapping paper and health care.
Sometimes the price tag is lower but so are the units!
My first example is Pepto Bissmol - Dollar Tree had their brand for $1 sounds like a good price so I pick it up. While over at target I see their store brand $1.34, I think ha I saved 34 cents, until I notice the size of the bottle. It was double the size of the Dollar Tree bottle - so in fact I could have got two bottle for 34 cents more. Might not sound like much but if you take all your Shampoo, body wash ect and add it up - you'll see the true cost.
My final example is Wrapping Paper - this is by far the most overpriced item at the dollar store (next to gum). You think hey roll of wrapping for a $1 sold! You get it home it wraps one gift! Most dollar store rolls are 10 - 25 sq foot of paper. I have found 50 but they normally the solid colors no one pays attention to. I was at Target last week and there was a 250 sq roll for 3 - 5. That's a little over 83 - 50 sq feet per dollar. Clearly the better deal, and it was pretty paper. *as an added bonus less waste, this took up one cardboard tube where the dollar store ones would take up at least 5 to get you the same amount of paper.*
So here we go - What wouldn't you buy at a dollar store? What do your feel is overpriced/poor value at them?
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Comments: 37
I've also noticed items like soup cost a dollar there but are cheaper at the grocery stores.
We really do not go in there a whole lot.
This store here are "outsiders", we like to go to the stores who help our economy here, the dollar store does not do this.
We were in there some time ago for..... cant remember now!! I love the candles they have ! I will go back for them!!
I also go to other stores for other things. I haven't really thought about what I would-not buy at a Dollar store.
sometimes when money is tight i'll buy juice at the dollar store, but you really have to check the date on the juice, they really carry food items that are 1-2 expired already...
But mostly, I will buy ALOT of stuff at the dollar store. I go to our local one all the time and they even have milk/bread now. It's nice to just pop in when you just have to grab a couple of items.
It's the only cheap product I've ever found that will cut that greasy dust that accumulates on the cabinets over the stove, and the fan hood over the stove.
I stay away from medicines, toothpaste, most of that stuff.
I have purcahased from Dollar Tree
Candy, cookies, chips frozen pizza, little debbie snack cakes.
Paper party goods, decorations, reusable bags (pack of two & three), balloons.
There is also a huge store, took over a Albertson's store, it became a store that has 1.00, 2.00. 3.00 4.00 & 5.00 nothing higher than 5.00 but it is ALL name branded brand new merhcnndise. No clothing, toys, personal care, over the counter meds., food, huge party section, huge gift wrap sections - gift bag combo packs. All quality goods. we go there once or twice a month. It is super busy.
We don't buy medicine, toothpaste, or cleaning supplies at the Dollar Tree (well, we do buy sponges sometimes, but no actual cleaning solutions). Mostly what we do buy is craft things for Elliott, his workbooks, coloring books, books, and a few toys. Most of the stocking stuffers for the whole family are coming from there this year.
I won't buy hair dye there. I dye my hair semi-regularly, and have had experience with cheap dye that nearly fried my hair. I won't even test the dollar store stuff.