8 Things You Didn't Know About Shopping at the Dollar Store

Make the most out of your next trip to the dollar store.

October 24, 2022

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Photo by: SOPA Images/Getty Images

SOPA Images/Getty Images

Dollar stores like Dollar Tree, 99 Cents Only, and Family Dollar offer name-brand and store-brand products at vastly discounted prices, typically right around one dollar. Not unlike big box bulk stores like Costco, dollar stores source their product from other stores or brands looking to sell off merchandise in a hurry, either because they want to make room for new product, or because the items weren’t as popular as the purchaser thought they would be. Either way, it’s a great place to find everyday essentials and fun treats at a fraction of the regular price. Whether you’re a dollar store newbie, or you make an appearance every week, there’s bound to be a few things that you might not know about these great discount stores.

The Original Dollar Store Was a Five-And-Ten

Long before stores like Dollar Tree were raising their prices to $1.25 per item, there were five-and-ten stores where everything in the store was either a nickel or a dime. Before the industrial revolution, mass-produced items were very uncommon and most items were made by hand by an artisan. Once certain items were able to be made cheaply, demand exploded and stores that advertised themselves by instituting an upper-price limit became all the rage. Many of these items were small household goods, often made of tin or another cheap material.

Some Stores Are Now Actually Pricing Items at $1.25

Just like the five-and-ten stores of old, nothing is safe from inflation. That make it tough for a brand that has based their entire business model around selling items at a specific price. Some stores have started offering a mix of products around one dollar, with some things priced a bit higher and some lower. Others, like Dollar Tree, have permanently moved the price of everything in their stores up to $1.25, prompting the anger of more than a few of their customers.

You Can Get Name-Brand Groceries

It’s no secret that dollar stores stock a wide variety of groceries, but what may be surprising is that not all of it is knock-off or store brand items. Name-brand groceries like Wonder Bread, Doritos, V8, and even Evian products have popped up at dollar stores nationwide. It can vary from store to store depending on local availability, but thrifty consumers can get their hands on top-quality stuff at rock-bottom prices if they know where to look.

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Photo by: SDI Productions/Getty Images

SDI Productions/Getty Images

You Can Shop Online (with Free Shipping)

Dollar Tree offers online shopping with a free ship-to-store option. There are the same great prices as you would find in stores ($1.25, in this case) on thousands of items from holiday decor to school supplies. Shopping online is a great option for busy parents or anyone looking to cut down on time spent on errands. Yes, you still have to go pick up the items from the store, but it sure beats wandering the aisles hoping to find what you’re looking for.

They Aren’t Always Cheaper

It’s always a good idea to read the fine print. It may seem like you’re always getting a deal at a dollar store, but sometimes that isn’t the case. Certain products are available at that price because they come in a smaller container. In fact, certain items may even be more expensive pound-for-pound at a dollar store than they would be at a big-box store. Typically that’s how these stores make their money back from selling things at a much slimmer margin.

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Photo by: FREDERIC J. BROWN/Getty Images

FREDERIC J. BROWN/Getty Images

Dollar Stores Accept Food Stamps

Most dollar stores that sell groceries accept EBT cards as a form of payment. All Dollar Tree locations accept EBT for SNAP-approved items, which includes fresh produce, meat, dairy, breads, snack foods, and non-alcoholic beverages. In certain low-income areas, dollar stores may be the only stores that even sell food. This is a problem if the only store available for miles is a dollar store that doesn’t have fresh fruit and vegetables. In some states (like Oklahoma), there have been bans on new discount stores opening in some areas unless a certain square footage is dedicated to fresh food.

Their Popularity Is Increasing

As inflation grows, more people are looking to shop at discount stores than ever before. Many stores across the country are closing their doors, while Dollar General added 436 stores to their brand, while Dollar Tree Inc. added another 70. This level of growth has been rarely seen in the American consumer landscape, especially after coming off the pandemic when so many sectors are still struggling to keep product in stock.

It’s Not Just For Low-Income Shoppers

According to CNN Business, Dollar General has seen an increase in shoppers at their stores whose household income is between $75,000 and $100,000 a year. Even though their core customer base is still the group making less than $40,000 a year, this growth in the higher-earning bracket is likely due to the squeeze from the pandemic and inflation, coupled with new marketing campaigns and an increasingly wide range of products.

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