Comments on: Dangers and Benefits of Dollar Stores http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Tue, 29 May 2012 02:26:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: threadbndr http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117876 threadbndr Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:49:26 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117876 kitchen gear and everyday dishes & glassware, body wash and shampoos, cleaning supplies, papergoods and party supplies (wrapping paper, gift bags, cards, etc), baby clothes, towels for camping use. I tend to stay away from the food at all but one of the local stores. That one has some name and regional brands that are good, but you have to watch the stale dates. kitchen gear and everyday dishes & glassware, body wash and shampoos, cleaning supplies, papergoods and party supplies (wrapping paper, gift bags, cards, etc), baby clothes, towels for camping use.

I tend to stay away from the food at all but one of the local stores. That one has some name and regional brands that are good, but you have to watch the stale dates.

]]> By: J at IHB and HFF http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117669 J at IHB and HFF Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:14:51 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117669 Hello. Most cheap electronics at any store use dubiously lightweight components (that is partly why they are inexpensive) but might still meet the UL standard and many do the job as well as anything else. Hello. Most cheap electronics at any store use dubiously lightweight components (that is partly why they are inexpensive) but might still meet the UL standard and many do the job as well as anything else.

]]> By: Dani @ Living Behind the Curve http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117641 Dani @ Living Behind the Curve Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:18:27 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117641 Kitchen serving ware (platters, bowls, etc) - I used to do feasts in the SCA, and almost all of the local group's servingware came from dollar stores. This past Christmas, one of our local dollar stores had a huge selection of full-sized scented bubble baths, lotions, body washes, etc. I made a number of large baskets (also from the dollar store) and gave them to cousins, aunts, etc. They were all impressed, and it was so much cheaper than it would have been at a place like Bath and Body Works. ($1/bottle vs. $7!) Kitchen serving ware (platters, bowls, etc) – I used to do feasts in the SCA, and almost all of the local group’s servingware came from dollar stores.

This past Christmas, one of our local dollar stores had a huge selection of full-sized scented bubble baths, lotions, body washes, etc. I made a number of large baskets (also from the dollar store) and gave them to cousins, aunts, etc. They were all impressed, and it was so much cheaper than it would have been at a place like Bath and Body Works. ($1/bottle vs. $7!)

]]> By: Lise http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117629 Lise Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:05:35 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117629 The real danger with dollar stores, I think, is the siren call of "I don't really need this... but it's cheap!" Somehow I ended up with two bright yellow dusting cloths and a scrapbooking paper crimper this way (nevermind that I don't scrapbook or dust). Our dollar store also offers the 25' rolls of name-brand aluminum foil. I checked the grocery store price, and found I was saving 17 cents, but I'm not sure it's a real bargain if you look at the unit price of the larger rolls. That said, I have had good experiences with kitchen tools purchased from dollar stores. The real danger with dollar stores, I think, is the siren call of “I don’t really need this… but it’s cheap!” Somehow I ended up with two bright yellow dusting cloths and a scrapbooking paper crimper this way (nevermind that I don’t scrapbook or dust).

Our dollar store also offers the 25′ rolls of name-brand aluminum foil. I checked the grocery store price, and found I was saving 17 cents, but I’m not sure it’s a real bargain if you look at the unit price of the larger rolls.

That said, I have had good experiences with kitchen tools purchased from dollar stores.

]]> By: Isaac http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117626 Isaac Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:08:44 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117626 About a year ago I was buying Belkin USB 2.0 cables at the 99 cent only Stores and then reselling them to my computer repair clients for $5 which they thought was a great price compared to what Best Buy or Circuit City was charging. About a year ago I was buying Belkin USB 2.0 cables at the 99 cent only Stores and then reselling them to my computer repair clients for $5 which they thought was a great price compared to what Best Buy or Circuit City was charging.

]]> By: Chris http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-117624 Chris Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:25:03 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/30/dangers-and-benefits-of-dollar-stores/#comment-117624 I only buy sunglasses at the dollar stores. They typically sell the same glasses that Walgreens and department stores sell for $12-$17, for a buck. With the rate I lose/break sunglasses, the dollar store is gold. I only buy sunglasses at the dollar stores. They typically sell the same glasses that Walgreens and department stores sell for $12-$17, for a buck. With the rate I lose/break sunglasses, the dollar store is gold.

]]>