# The truth about 99¢ Only Stores **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884 "2009-07-13T18:39:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/21 "2009-07-13T21:08:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Years ago I needed some rubber gloves for a home project. I went to the 99¢ and found a pair. They were 99¢. > > Each. Had you the ingenuity of, say, a Michael Jackson, you could have made do with one, saved the better part of a dollar, and retired rich. Or dead, as the case may be. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/22 "2009-07-13T22:23:34Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > After all, who’s to say they won’t raise it even more, to 999/1000 of a cent extra, extending the parabolic curve of their pricing ever closer to the forbidden dollar? They were thinking of raising prices on some items to _over_ $1 [around this time last year](http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stores-prices-store-2124866-going-customers). The 99/100th of a cent raise was the solution they came up with in [September '08](http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-09-08-99-cents-stores-raises-prices_N.htm) so they could stick with their name and slogan. It’s slightly weaselly but still basically retains the spirit of the brand name. It’s amazing they’ve even been able to keep their business model for so long. I can’t imagine it lasting much longer before they have to become the $1.50 store. To those saying they haven’t heard of a 99-cent store, but they have heard of dollar stores: we are talking about a specific chain. It’s called “99 Cents Only” and is very common in California and the southwest (specifically, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas are where they have locations). ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/23 "2009-07-13T22:26:59Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > But look more closely at the receipt when you leave the store. Or you could just read the big-ass sign that’s been on the door since last September, when they announced the price hike. > [@guizot](#): > > Shouldn’t we take some kind of action on this? Why shouldn’t we stand firm in the checkout lane and demand that the total charge \ be recalculated at the advertised price? The 99.99 **is** the advertised price, as you can see if you take a look at a [flyer](http://www.99only.com/stores/ads.htm) And they do round down if you buy enough. Last month, they got ahold of the discontinued Ben and Jerry’s flavor Vermonty Python. Those little chocolate cows are soooo goood. It’s better than frozen crack to me, and I bought 60 pints. (When it’s gone, it’s gone). Only cost me $59.99. And I’ve only got 23 pints left. And there’s none left in any of the stores. What do I do next month? I need my Vermonty Python, dammit!!! ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/24 "2009-07-13T22:30:49Z")
And we have many 99p and £1 stores in the UK. In mainland Europe I have seen quite a few €1 stores, including Hungary where they don’t even use the Euro. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/25 "2009-07-13T22:46:36Z")
[This guy](http://the99centchef.blogspot.com/) shows you how to cook with stuff from 99¢ Only stores…with mixed results. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/26 "2009-07-14T00:09:35Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > There is a store here in NYC called 99 Cents or Less or More. That is truth in advertising, right there. There’s a CD store here which has ‘bargain bins’, that often have the sign on top saying “From UNDER $5!”. That sure covers a lot of ground 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/27 "2009-07-14T00:22:20Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I saw a tupperware booth at the Springfield mall in VA. We just bought a container at our County Fair. Tupperware itself doesn’t have stores, but it is okay for reps to set up booths. Discovery Toys, which worked on a similar model, were sometimes sold at booths like this also. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/28 "2009-07-14T01:20:04Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > … there’s a “dollar” store in Elizabeth, NJ … [HIJACK] Ya know … I come here to escape my reality, not be reminded of it! The “99¢ DEPOT” directly across from the “DUNKIN’ DONUTS” from which I have literally bought thousands of cups of coffee, across the street and two blocks away from the “SUBWAY” where I spent way, way, way, too many nights helping close the store and above which I lived for 2+ years. There is no escape from the past. [/HIJACK] CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/29 "2009-07-14T04:01:35Z")
> [@Rayne\_Man](#): > > And we have many 99p and £1 stores in the UK. In mainland Europe I have seen quite a few €1 stores, including Hungary where they don’t even use the Euro. I heard they have 100-yen stores in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/30 "2009-07-14T05:33:40Z")
> [@Junior\_Spaceman](#): > > There’s a CD store here which has ‘bargain bins’, that often have the sign on top saying “From UNDER $5!”. That sure covers a lot of ground 😃 LOL That is too funny. I love the un-clarity of it. It reminds me of \*the Simpsons \*when Bart reads a book called _Don’t Do What Danny Dont Does_. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/31 "2009-07-14T05:59:00Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > As far as I know, you can’t buy Tupperware at a store. Perhaps you’re thinking of Rubbermaid or some other brand. Tupperware is sold at home parties only, last I heard. I don’t think that’s true anymore. I think they sell it at Target now. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/32 "2009-07-14T06:44:40Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > And I’ve only got 23 pints left. And there’s none left in any of the stores. What do I do next month? I need my Vermonty Python, dammit!!! You’ll go through 23 pints in a month? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/33 "2009-07-14T14:05:05Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > [HIJACK] Ya know … I come here to escape my reality, not be reminded of it! > > The “99¢ DEPOT” directly across from the “DUNKIN’ DONUTS” from which I have literally bought thousands of cups of coffee, across the street and two blocks away from the “SUBWAY” where I spent way, way, way, too many nights helping close the store and above which I lived for 2+ years. > > There is no escape from the past. [/HIJACK] > > CMC fnord! Funny, I go by there all the time. The White Castle a block over is my regular after-drinking spot. I grew up on the bagels from Snoopy’s. I don’t usually go into the DD, but I did a couple of months ago. This hot Polish girl behind the counter was wearing a “I Hate Starbucks” shirt, which I offered to buy from her. She told me she would just give it to me once the promotion was over. I still have to go back there and ask her for it. Apologies to everyone for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/34 "2009-07-14T14:21:04Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > LOL That is too funny. I love the un-clarity of it. It reminds me of \*the Simpsons \*when Bart reads a book called _Don’t Do What Danny Dont Does_. > [@](#): > > The Simpsons featured a 99 Cent store, followed by a 66 Cent and 33 Cent Store in episode S10E23 (Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo). Also, in Simpsons Tall Tales, after an 1850s’ Bart and Nelson buy tobacco, whiskey and extra strength opium from an 1850s’ Apu they are astonished at the “outrageous” price of 2 cents. Apu informs them that if they don’t like his prices they can go the 99 cent store across the street, which, due to the effect of pre-inflation currency, is selling luxury goods like grand pianos and crystal chandeliers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety\_store](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety_store) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/35 "2009-07-14T15:17:37Z")
If it doesnt’ say “Everything for a dollar” it’s not. We have a 99 cent City here that charges everything to the .99 - i.e., $4.99, or whatever. Gotta be careful. > [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > It was the plot of all of them. The actual crime took place at area box offices. I didn’t want to let this gem go by unremarked on. So - very nice! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/36 "2009-07-14T15:27:16Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Everything’s a $1 (which I call “Everything’s a one dollar”) You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/37 "2009-07-14T16:37:13Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > This hot Polish girl behind the counter was wearing a “I Hate Starbucks” shirt, which I offered to buy from her. She told me she would just give it to me once the promotion was over. You didn’t actually think it’d be that easy, did you? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/38 "2009-07-14T20:10:51Z")
There is no law linking the price of merchandise to the name of the store. That darn Penny’s store is such a fraud don’t you know. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/39 "2009-07-15T03:44:33Z")
I thought the truth about 99 cent stores was that they charge you 99 cents for a can of beans you could buy at Ralph’s for 49 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884/40 "2009-07-15T03:45:50Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > I heard they have 100-yen stores in Japan. I saw a store in China called “A Yuan or Two”. That was, at the time, 12 cents or 24 cents. I bought a basket for kids to place their homework assignments. It broke the next day. I wish, wish, wish, I had taken a photo of the store sign. Oh, and stop whining about the extra penny! Read up on Uganda or Darfur and \*then \*complain! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-99-only-stores/502884.md?page=3)