Posted on 02/19/2009 2:16:48 PM PST by JoeProBono
The struggling economy has brought more dollars to dollar stores. As other companies head into the red, these national chains say they're seeing increased amounts of green.Shopper Sebrina Slade hasn't just changed product brands."We've never done the shopping here like we do now," Slade said.She's swapped stores. "I used to have a negative connotation about shopping at thrifty places, but that's a thing of the past," Slade said.Because of the current recession, Slade heads to the South Knoxville Family Dollar store at least once a month to try and save, just in case."I know FedEx has had some layoffs so that concerns my husband being a UPS driver," Slade said.National Family Dollar revenues for the fourth quarter fiscal year haven't been released yet. But, store managers says more shoppers, like Slade, are looking for "what a dollar will buy.""I would say we have an increase...because there are some days when I'm like ‘where are all these people coming from?’" manager Kim Huskey said.Family Dollars is not the only dollar chain cashing in. Dollar General's nationwide 2008 fourth quarter sales, which ended January 30th, 2009, jumped 11 percent from the previous year. Total sales for the 2008 fiscal year increased just more than 10 percent.Dollar Tree saw a nearly seven percent increase for its fourth quarter, which ended January 31st, 2009. Its total sales for the 2008 fiscal year jumped 9.5 percent.Shoppers say dollar stores used to be their one time quick stop spot. But now shoppers are hitting every aisle. And they're buying everything from food to toilet paper.Other shoppers have sought out bargains at other stores. Tammy Wright's looking for even cheaper deals. She searches Goodwill's aisles now more often than ever, at least once a week."We probably would at one time go to Target or Wal-Mart and even the mall. But you can't go to those places as much as you once did," Wright said. That's why Slade says dollar stores make sense in her budget.
Shopping at these dollar stores are just propping up CHINA and putting more money in our enemy’s hands.
You need to watch your dollar value, though. Is paying $1 for a small box of dryer sheets really worth it? Or is the Winn-Dixie down the street having a weekly sale in which you get twice as many sheets of the same product for $1.79?
How does a $1 for an 8 ounce bottle of dish soap compare to a grocery store price of $3.79 for a 2 liter bottle of the same product?
You need to be aware of the different prices per ounce/pound/etc. to know if you are really getting value for your dollar.
Hey, everything they sell doesn’t come from China. And besides, Eric Holder says you’re a coward for thinking that way.
So is shopping almost anywhere else.
At least there I’m putting less in their pockets so they may only buy half the bullets to shoot at me!
You’re right, there are some things from Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey and Canada there too. I think the potato chips are from the US , though.
Dollar Tree Ping!
Now we have to fend off the ‘Dollar Tree Koolaide Drinkers’ along with the ‘I Hate Wal-Mart’ crowd, LOL!
“Shopping at these dollar stores are just propping up CHINA and putting more money in our enemy’s hands.”
Really? Everything I buy there is Made in the USA. Do they make it here, ship it to China, then send it back to the stores? *SNORT*
Let me guess...you don’t like Wal-Mart, either because you can’t read a product label and chose what to buy and what to leave on the shelf?
I’m more than happy to share my bi-weekly Wal-Mart shopping list with you, complete with American manufacturers, and I could do one up for The Dollar Store for you, too. :)
Wal-mart has American-made dog snacks now. Our dog was disappointed when they turned up on the shelf (only days after the bad reports about Chinese-made dog snacks), because we bought her real bacon for about a week!
Salem, SC has a Dollar General that stays busy most of the day. It’s closer to me than the closest Wal Mart, doesn’t sell ammo and camping supplies but has cheap dog food and canned goods without the damned crowds.
My only criticism of the local dollar store is the people who work there who aren’t smart enough to run the cash register. I go in there nearly every day, but there’s one checker who drives me crazy.
Where else can you get Squishy Maggot-Filled Skulls for $1.
I agree. Seriously, the 99Cent stores almost closed down here in Texas, but there was such an uproar, somebody bought them and they’re staying. Of course, they are now the 99.99 cent store, so they’re essentially a dollar store, but they are even better than the Dollar Tree. My 99 cent store sells fresh produce, frozen foods, even milk (which is $2.50 but that’s the only thing not a dollar).
I love it. Sorry if I buy a few things from China. Sue me.
I always felt kind of weird going to the dollar store with a Duncan Hunter sticker on my car.
But I can’t give up the store or the sticker.
Love the dollar stores. Especially Dollar General Supermarket. And no, it’s not all Chinese food either except maybe the mushrooms.
That is such BS! Every store you shop in carries products made in China not just the dollar stores and WalMart!
“Shopping at these dollar stores are just propping up CHINA and putting more money in our enemy’s hands.”
YUP!! Ya got that right.
We ended up with a box of “bandaids” from a Dollar store. Heh.
They had no adhesive........wouldn’t stick.
LOL!
Those are Ouchless Bandaids. Should have cost more.
Heheheheh.
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