Family Dollar and Dollar General have the word ‘dollar’ in them, but on the whole, items there are not really cheaper than anywhere. Packaged cookies, shampoo, bread, makeup, potato chips - I’ve found Walmart and even the regular grocery stores have the same item for less. There are lots of less expensive items mixed in, so it LOOKS like shopping there will save you money, but look at those prices carefully and you will be surprised. These stores are very convenient, however, and certainly better price-wise than getting ripped off by Rite Aid or a gas station convenience store.
I have a panty story, too. Left the house one hot summer day in a hurry (sans undies, all in the laundry) and I just couldn’t bear it, I stopped at Big Lots and bought a package of three cotton bikini panties (name brand, yes, my regular size) and put a pair on in the car. When I got to my destination, got out of the car and took three steps and they slid down to my knees! Got back in the car, removed them, and went uncomfortably about my day commando, having stuffed the whole package in a nearby trash can…
Oh, I see…so by the word “gross”, you meant to refer to the large *quantities *of feminine products made by prisoners in China?
Wait, what?
Seriously, you tried to make a joke (I guess) and it fell flat. We’ve all done that. Leave it be. Stop digging, 'cause you’re starting to come off as really weird.
I’m not so much worried about the flavor of food at Dollar Tree as I am the quality. As in wondering if this particular lot of food exceeded the USDA limit for rodent hair & feces and was on its way to being destroyed or shipped to Haiti when a Dollar Tree buyer snapped it up.
I’m pretty sure (someone correct me if I’m wrong) that any dollar store goods still have to meet all the pertinent rules and regulations that every other retail outlet has to meet, like say, a grocery store.
The thing is, there aren’t apparently regulations concerning items without shelf lives. In other words, the “Best by” dates don’t hold legal water- they’re just suggestions by the manufacturer, meaning that the product won’t actually spoil in any reasonable length of time, but will quit being tasty in a relatively short period of time, or won’t smell good, etc…
That’s what dollar stores (and Big Lots) sell a lot of- check the dates on stuff you buy. Chances are a lot of it is either past the “Best by” dates or very near to it. Which is impressive for things like canned goods, which typically have “Best By” dates that are years away from the date of manufacture.
My general feeling about the dollar stores is that most of their stuff is adequate, but that’s about it. Their soap will clean you, but may be harsh and not smell great. Their knives may cut, sort of, but they won’t hold an edge. Their shoe polish gets sort of shiny.
For things where the bar is just set low (toilet cleaner, shower curtains to use as drop cloths, etc…) I have no problem getting dollar store versions. I’m unlikely to buy dollar store knives or anything where performance is an issue though.
My friend bought a package of cookies without looking at the expiration date, and found a coupon inside, for another box…dated three years ago. I scored an armful of Thai noodle soup packets at the Christmas Tree Shop, and much to my surprise, at the checkout, they said they couldn’t sell them to me because right there at the register, it showed they were all beyond the expiration date.
I generally use Dollar (well 99c in the store’s name is more common) for things I don’t expect to last long - one use items; example, a number of tmes I ran a decent sized singles dance for a group (to remain nameless), and brought cheap knives, ladles, scoops etc - not plasticware like spoons and forks which grocery stores usually had cheaper in bulk, but the serving stuff - it only needed to last for the night of the dance, which it did, and then was unceremoniously dumped in the trash.
Also purchased things like Christmas decorations for use on wreaths at gravesites, since the wreaths would get trashed after the holdiday season was over - I know my dearly departed, frugle relatives would understand…
I buy only rawhide marked “Made in the United States”; others often are treated with formaldehyde, lead, mercury, and arsenic. And read the fine print, too – sometimes they’ll say “Made in America” meaning North America, meaning Mexico or Central America.
Target sells an acceptable product at a reasonable price, but Wholesome Hide is the best.
Regarding underwear - I don’t know about other dollar stores, but I usually go to Dollar General and they carry regular Haines. I don’t think the price is any lower than Wal-mart but I can get in and out of the store in the time it would take me to get from Wal-mart’s parking lot to their front door.
Is that a bad thing in shoe polish?