The Box and The Buck – Part 2: The Buck
Turning to Dollar Stores, I wrote in The Plan:
“Finally, there are the Dollar Stores. Don’t laugh! Some serious studies have explored them lately, and they do a steady business. Like supermarkets, they are usually chains, and also like supermarkets, the type and quality of the majority of the merchandize remains consistent within the chain, but the stores are franchises and often vary due to management.
Different dollar chains seem to have widely different target markets. Some are mini- emporiums selling appliances, clothing even furniture, almost none of it for the quoted “Dollar” price. In fact, a bag of chips may cost more than in a regular market. Others are more like boutiques, concentrating on flowers, small gift or decorative items, all within the quoted price. Both types of chains usually include food products other than candy, snacks and quick pick-up items, but some have freezers stocked with vegetables, cold cuts, even chicken parts and fish fillets.
Upon investigating dollar stores, I found some amazing buys in name brand gourmet crackers, cookies, imported jams, sauces, condiments and in the stores that were equipped, frozen foods, especially the vegetables, with good expiration dates. I also found the baked goods to be fresh, and the English Muffins were better than most from the supermarket.
In conclusion, I can only say that some dollar stores are worth visiting on a regular basis, but not others, and the only way to tell the difference is by on site determination in your area. They can be wonderful aids to food budgeting, but once again, only if you put on the blinders and ignore temptation. Remember, the whole point of these stores existence and their names is to lure the customers in, on the assumption that once in, they won’t be able to resist other items. One clerk told me that she went days between ringing up a sale for $1.00.
Another point to bear in mind is that these stores may maintain a continuity of types of stock, but not always the same brands, or same items, because they buy odd lots. It would be unwise to rely on a dollar store as a regular source of any specific thing. So by all means, explore this avenue of saving, just remember that they are to be used as just that, another way to save and don’t be distracted by the bait.”
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I don’t need to revise what I wrote, except for the last paragraph, but I will elaborate on it and on the recommendations of the Consumer Savings Experts as well. They advise buying gift wrappings, greeting cards, condiments, spices, bottled and packaged goods, detergents and soda in dollar stores. First, let me stipulate that, from the photo on their website, I surmised that the experts’ data was based on observing a Dollar Tree. Though I studied several dollar stores, my main focus was on a Dollar Tree as well, for several reasons. It keeps its slogan promise; “Where Everything’s a Dollar” in fact, there are no price tags. It’s an international chain, large enough to have its own suppliers, collectively called Greenbrier International, assuring consistency of products and quality, so, with thousands of stores over a vast area, and with uniformity of merchandize, any discussion could be informative for a great number of readers.
My first encounter with a Dollar Tree was in search of gift wrappings but my curiosity was aroused when I saw they sold my favorite brands and sizes of potato chips and table water crackers for far less than I had been paying. This was a few years ago, before the chain had its own label lines, and inventory was still a bit spotty. Now, I have no hesitation in agreeing, from experience, with the Experts’ recommendations of products to buy from this dollar store chain. In fact, I will add to their list. Although my focus is food, I can report that the cleaning supplies, small kitchen utensils, toiletries, plastic containers, some pet supplies, like rawhide bones and toys, artificial flora, photo frames, seasonal garden supplies and plastic ware, are excellent buys at the Dollar Tree stores. My chief reason for shopping there lately, though, is for the frozen vegetables. The recent influx of “steam-in-bag” vegetable packaging forces me to pay more for a smaller quantity and is not geared to small families. The Dollar Tree still sells 16oz. bags for $1.00.
The Dollar Tree merchandize is of a good quality and every so often surprises pop up. I bought a 12oz. tube of Dermasil, exp. 6/2015, the other day. However, these stores are independent franchises and, evidently, some product options are left to the management, so they aren’t mirror images. The only other warning I would offer is to check the yield or net weight on the packaged items. They aren’t mislabeled, but some of the boxes are slightly smaller than conventionally expected, and if you need a specific amount, double check the content information. Likewise, some packages of meat at $1.00 each average out to more per pound than a supermarket sale. Just take time to stop, think and do some calculating. Of course, wherever you buy food products, remember to check the ingredients too.
Dollar Trees don’t carry apparel, household furnishings, toys or games, other than party favors, electronics or automotive items. This type of merchandize is left to other dollar stores, some of them chains as well, but, obviously, the very nature of these products explains why they are not truly “dollar stores”. They can’t be. Moreover, many items in their food sections have prices competitive with the supermarkets’. A friend was buying microwave meals each morning to lunch at his desk, and then found them actually cheaper in the supermarket. Hence, I termed this type of dollar stores “Mini-Emporiums”. Not that “buys” can’t be found there, but do your homework so you can recognize them.
There are, of course, many other dollar stores, some independent, some small local or regional chains, that are very reliable, and fill a definite need in the community. It’s easy to rate them. Simply keep your eyes open and look around at the prices, concentrating on a few familiar items. You may even discover one of them stocks something you use on a regular basis, and want to make a note of it. The point is, no matter what your budget, there’s no reason, at today’s prices, not to take advantage of what the dollar stores have to offer. They are great supplemental sources of supplies. So give one a try.
