Shopping At A Dollar Store

Yesterday I was wanting to buy a "grabber" [a long handled thingie to grab paper and other items off the floor]. The medical supply store was charging $18.00 for a cheap plastic one. An identical one at a discount store was $7.00 but a sturdier one was only $3.00 at the dollar store. You got that right .. bought it at the dollar store.

It’s true that dollar stores have improved greatly in recent years. Dollar stores now carry name brand items in some cases, and you can find a wider selection of grocery-type items.

However, just because dollar stores have improved their offerings there are some items that it’s best not to buy at a dollar store. If you are looking to save a few bucks, the dollar store can be a good place to start. However, you do need to be careful. You’re not always getting the best value, no matter how cheap something is.

Greeting cards, wrapping paper, gift bags & boxes are a great bargain. Scratch pads, envelopes and other items of this nature are also good buys.

One of the biggest things you have to worry about is safety. While it’s true that you can find some good deals at the dollar store, not all the items have been properly vetted, and not all of them are safe.

• Electrical products: You need to be careful. Not all have been tested for safety.
  [*]Toys: Lead in toys is still a concern, and there might be other toxic materials involved.
  [*]Food: Double check expiration dates before you buy.
  [*]Vitamins: Watch out when it comes to vitamins and health supplements. You need to make sure that they are properly identified, and that they are legitimate. If they aren’t you might find yourself buying something useless — or worse, harmful.
  

What is your opinion of dollar stores?

 

Much the same although been in the UK they are Pound Stores, But I think the above applies here, although here I would extend the vitamins to all Pharmaceuticals, but for DIY tools, parties, gifts for "those people" and generally where price is more important than Quality they are the first place I look.

But here in the UK, the retail industry is very competitive and shopping around pays, also the strength of the pound is beneficial to us, although buying electrical items from abroad you have to pay attention to the 110v, 240v compatibility of power supplies

 

I agree Snoopy. When my wife and I shop, we usually go to the grocery store first to buy our main food products. We then go to a Dollar store where EVERYTHING is $1.00!! We have found on certain occasions, certain "brand name" products have costed the same at a grocery store (like Walmart) but the Dollar store sells a smaller can of the product so really not much savings there. Dollar stores have come a long way as you say, now carrying dairy and frozen products. You make a good point regarding the expiration dates. We almost bought a package of hamburger buns at the Dollar store that had expired the previous day!!!

 

I never felt much of a savings there.
hug

 

Oh gracious, the Dollar stores often contain 'treasures' simply waiting to be found.

As Snoopy mentioned, even high quality wrapping paper are ribbons are a fraction of the cost anywhere else and here, although everything is no longer a single dollar, things like those fuzzy things on a handle that grip dust are such a deal. (And how would we ever clean the top of those televisions on our walls without them - grin).



I never buy food items in ours, though - only because I don't recognize most of the manufacturers and am a bit leery of safety/quality control (I think in the Dollar stores in the States and Britain carry name brand food and candy items, though?) ... but in our house (which, as of two weeks ago, now has 5 kids) which is filled with toys/electronics that require batteries - wow, even brand name batteries are a pittance compared to elsewhere.

 

Mara, 5 kids in one house ?? I would be at the Dollar Store looking for some discount nerve pills, LOL. Anyway, we use the Dollar Store mainly for those things you didn't realize you didn't have, like sugar, foil, cooking oil, paper towels, etc. you know , those "quick I need this now", things.

 

Aah yes, a 'sudden invasion' of children - huge smile even if it will take a tad of going used to.

How odd I've never thought of looking for things like tin foil and paper towel at a dollar store, Claw ... must add them to my list and also see about getting Windex or something similar there (far too many windows in this house - grin) ... hmmm, wonder if they sell chamois!

 

Actually i went to the dollar store for a quick pick up of nabisco honey maid grahams.

walmart was cheaper.
kr

 

Suspect it's similar to Costco ... while that massive 'box' store is cheaper for a lot of things, certainly not all .

I drove myself a tad nuts for exactly one month as I was determined to keep track of sales and where items were the cheapest (but only items that I actually use and/or we eat) ... and yipes, I swear I spent more on gas zipping around to the various stores during each weeks sale than if I'd paid full price at only one store).

Maybe I need more storage space so can stock up on basic like bathroom tissue, paper towel, tin foil, etc. Or maybe I need a teeny tiny car that has great gas mileage. Hmmm.

 

Mara, you should she my wife shop,,anywhere. She walks in armed with her coupon case and it's war. I've seen her buy $225.00 of goods for$102.00. I swear to you, that is the truth. It's amazing to see her work those double coupons. LOL.

 

You're so lucky in the States, Claw ... here there simply isn't any 'double' coupons - never, ever - sob!

And when you and others go shopping, no matter the prices just remind yourself that our Canadian prices for food and pretty much everything average 40% higher than in the States - another sob.

Glad your wife can do the double coupons, though - gosh, she's often saving half and can only image what that would add up to over a year, especially if one had a gaggle of kids at home!

 

I use to save all those coupons.
with all the time wasted , gas used,
etc.etc.etc
i found it,
exhausting.
kr