As a frugal person, I rarely shop at the dollar store because the shit there is so low-quality it's a poor value even at that price.
this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2023
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Yep, their business model is basically to sell smaller packages for a low upfront price, taking advantage of customers that either don't have the money to buy the big package or have limited transport options.
It's another one of those things that illustrate that it's expensive to be poor.
Imo, it's absolutely fantastic for things like cards and gift bags.
People only look at a card for like 30 seconds and then forget about it. It makes more sense to get one at 1/6 of the price of a regular one. Same thing with gift bags.
For most other things, everything in it is shit. But it has its niche cases where it's superior like that.
Don't even buy cards, waste of money. Blank paper, draw some terrible picture related to the thing, fold it and use that.
It's custom, much cheaper, people laugh at your crappy art and everyone's happy, if not happier then some hallmark junk
This...people tell me to go there all the time but I refuse u less I want junk food or something I know I will throw away after a use or two.
You will always spend more in the end if you shop there
Dollar stores have cheap brand name chocolate, it's my go to place for kitchen sponges, they have decent holiday decor, storage solutions, and a surprising place to find decent videogames, books and comic books.
I wouldn't go to a dollar store for an item that requires use in an emergency or an item that requires dependability such as a toilet plunger.
You shop at the dollar store because you are cheap. I shop at the dollar store because it is the closest store. We may be the same idk.
Why are you hating on poor people? Do you think punching down makes good comedy?
I'm cheap BECAUSE I'm poor
I remember watching a YouTube video where dollar store would run local businesses out and would sell low quality products at a higher price once there is no competition.
This one by Wendover?
Yeah looks about right. I guess Walmart does similar tactics
Jokes on you, I’m poor and cheap.
Look, I'm frugal.
But paying more for something is dumb.
The dollar store destroys communities, it's their fucking business model. Fuck the dollar store
How so?
In short, local stores cannot stay afloat anymore when 30% of their customers disappear.
Local stores that were profiting off their customers and not giving back to the community lose 30% of their customers who weren't benefiting in any way from a local store to more affordable options when available? Wow
I get what you're saying, but the profits going to locals is objectively better for the community than them going to large corporations.
That's the point though. The profits don't go to locals, they stay within the owner's for their second cottage and new boat. Very rarely do local stores actually benefit anybody other than themselves.
You're almost there. Now what if the owner was a local? And he's paying loans to the local bank? And his cottage is up the hill? It used to be like that. Hell, in my town many stores are like that... And they're competing against DG.
It used to be like that
You're right, about 100 years ago it did used to be like that. Local banks aren't a thing anymore. While Co-op banking institutions are better for the local community, they're also investing in options outside the local community, further depleting the resources of the 30% of customers who shop at more affordable locations
You make a good point... But it's also not black and white 100% or nothing. I can't rely on a small shop to funnel money back into my town, no, however it might provide just a little bit more. Again, the owner's boat and house has to go somewhere. If its here or nearby thats better than across the country.
In the news today a big box store is giving some money to some local environmental fund or something. The big box store probably broke a union if they're trying to garner good news though.
You don't know many small town shop owners do you?
They're infinitely more likely to indirectly get back to the locals than if they were to go directly to a corporation on the other side of the country.
It's also a question of food availability. Perhaps food deserts don't matter to you and I doubt you'd care but when businesses get pushed out by dollar stores the selection and variety of fresh produce goes down while the quantity and variety of prepackaged & shelf stable garbage goes up.
Yeah it's a weird flex, bragging about supporting an exploitative business that price gouges essentials and kills small business all while shaming the people who are trapped by the very system.
See this vid from Wendover for more info
This is exactly my issue with the dollar stores
Frugal <> Cheap.
Remember when goodwill started raising prices because non poor people started shopping there?
Maybe don't ruin the few stores that poor people can already barely afford.
Is this blaming customers who can afford increased pricing at Goodwill or is it blaming Goodwill for milking their customers once they realized they could get away with it?
It can be both. People don't realize how much the way they spend their money has a lot to do with why things are the way they are nowadays.
The first time a company raised prices with a bullshit reason they should've gone bankrupt by lack of customers. But they didn't because people have proven they'll shell out money regardless of the price.
It's blaming people that go into thrift stores looking for items to immediately flip for profit online, depriving the community of needed material resources at an affordable price.
Frugal gang unite!
THUG LIFE.
Being cheap where it counts and spend your money on the stuff that matters is just being money-savvy.
If you cheap, you poor. Embrace your friend!
Cheap and poor are the same thing.
No. Being cheap is a choice, being poor usually isn't
Nonsense. I grew up around a few VERY wealthy kids, and they were fucking dicks. I stopped hanging out with them when they would refuse to ever tip servers or throw their pocket change on the table. Father made obscene money, mother was incredibly giving, and their kids bring their own soft drink into a restaurant.