Do you shop at dollar stores?

[moshquerade]

Question inspired by this article:

What's to love -- and not -- about dollar stores
Posted Mar 29 2008, 03:38 PM by Karen Datko

If you track the blogosphere, it seems that the popularity of the humble dollar store is soaring, and that these stores aren't as humble as they used to be.

Imagine this: The extremely picky "Mrs. Badger" at Lipstick is my Crack has even switched from body wash to bar soap because she found soaps she loves at the dollar store.

"Yeah! It's not all Irish Spring and Lifebuoy up in there anymore, y'all! And it's not all no-name generic soaps made out of battery acid and bacon grease (I just made that up; don't e-mail me) anymore, either," she writes.

In fact, the august New York Times, which caters to a crowd that can hardly be called frugal, featured writer Henry Alford's experiment to incorporate items from 99-cent stores into his cooking, culminating with a dinner featuring only such fare. It sounded delicious.

But not everyone is thrilled with the food and other common dollar store products.

FIRE Finance recently gushed about 10 top dollar store buys, but added, "We are suspicious about the quality of food, and the alloys as well as silicones of the kitchenware sold at these stores. So as a policy we never purchase edible stuff or anything that has to do with cooking or food from them." To this, we add, make sure you check the date on each food package.

Consumer Reports warned against buying certain products from dollar stores, some because of safety concerns: electrical items like extension cords and Christmas lights, vitamin supplements, brands that sound like known brands but aren't, vinyl lunch boxes, and toddlers' toys.

Questions about the quality and source of the products, as well as the pay of dollar store employees, has prompted lots of discussion on a message board thread at MSN Money. A reader named "StillOnTheRoad" summed up many people's comments: "I'm guessing that if you're concerned with a store being 'socially responsible,' not many chain stores will meet your criteria."

Our partner blogger Donna Freedman wrote in a post here at Smart Spending: "Some people point out that a lot of dollar store merchandise is manufactured in countries paying criminally low wages. That's true. But that's a systemwide problem."

She added, "Right now, plenty of people can't afford to have ethics. They're increasingly squeezed by the rising costs of housing, food, child care and medical coverage" -- not to mention gas.

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn....out-dollar-stores.aspx

 

[waffleironhead]

I love the sign in the local dollar store.

"We know the food products are past their"Best if used by date", if you have a problem with that, then dont buy it."

 

[l0cke]

Does dealextreme.com count as a dollar store?

 

[aceO07]

I don't go there for anything related to food/hygiene. Trash bins, containers, broom..

Dollar stores have their uses. Bigger stores stock various simple items and overcharge for them.

 

[Anubis]

rarley, but they are great places for bulk candy, paper plates, plastic knives and forks, and random party/gathering junk

 

[meltdown75]

i'm too broke - even for the dollar store

 

[kyzen]

I'll go there for tools I expect to break/lose, cheap dishware for camping or parties, most cleaning supplies, and general party entertainment ($4 spent on 12 of those big punching balloons was the best party investment ever), but yeah, I don't typically shop there for food or hygiene products.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i'm too broke - even for the dollar store

you've seen better days. you've been the star of many plays.

 

[mugs]

There are very few things I'll buy in a dollar store, because the quality of the stuff they sell is usually what you'd expect for the price. I buy disposable aluminum foil pans there though.

 

[KeithTalent]

No because most of them smell weird.

KT

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i'm too broke - even for the dollar store

you've seen better days. you've been the star of many plays.

my dog just left me, and my wife just shit on the carpet

 

[insect9]

Yes, they have cheaper cleaning/household products than the grocery store, and I like to avoid going into *Mart whenever I can.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: mugs
There are very few things I'll buy in a dollar store, because the quality of the stuff they sell is usually what you'd expect for the price. I buy disposable aluminum foil pans there though.

three words:

Christmas Tree Shop.

 

[Svnla]

I do not buy these from dollar stores: cleanning supplies, food, electronics, batteries

I do buy these: cooking supplies such as alum foil, paper towel, gift bags, gift wraps,

 

[SuperjetMatt]

Good source for bulk beef.

 

[hanoverphist]

i take my kids in there and let them get toys on occasion. the princess weekend was one of the more memorable trips, my oldest (13yrs old) and 4 of her friends all got tiaras and tutus, wands and gaudy kids make up and proceeded to act like royalty for 2 days in public places. it was very funny. for the most part, thats about all we buy there. ill get them hair care stuff too, like pony tail holders and brushes, and sometimes ill get cleaning supplies but dollar stores arent on the weekly list of places to go.

 

[maddogchen]

I buy birthday cards from there all the time. But there are no dollar stores nearby. Only dollar fifty stores. Or $2 stores.

 

[Miramonti]

Absolutely, I get what I can, altho just because they are $1 doesn't automatically make them a bargain. Too often 'you get what you pay for.'

I love shopping at Goodwill as well.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I get birthday cards there just because $3 for a card that someone's gonna read once and throw away is a waste. Also, you can get some candy cheap, like discontinued lines and stuff. Just recently I picked up some 24oz cans of Rockstar Juiced for $0.99. Only place that comes close is Costco with 16oz cans for $18/case. Stores are all $2/16oz can.

 

[amdhunter]

lol, funny they should mention extension cords. I once bought a (decently thickish) extension cord from a local 99 cent store, hooked it up to my microwave, and within a few minutes the plastic was melting and smoking.

It was pretty frikken lol. I ended up ripping it apart and used it as speaker wire for a small amp I had in my room.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
No because most of them smell weird.

KT

yes, not unlike "soup whiff" smell that you smell in apartment hallways. with just a smidgen of curry and body odor thrown in for good measure.

I understand the curry and the BO, but WHY THE SOUP? WHO IS COOKING SOUP IN A DOLLAR STORE

 

[theknight571]

We've bought all kinds of stuff from dollar stores... we always check the dates on food items, and only buy name brands we recognize.

Some of the stuff is cheap and never get's bought again... others are now an everyday item.

 

[eplebnista]

Yes, infrequently

 

[dandruff]

Originally posted by: eplebnista
Yes, infrequently

good source for coloring books for kids ... some good gift bags/ winebags / gloves etc ...

 

[xanis]

The dollar store is great for college students like myself. I get stuff like dish soap, sponges and paper plates there.