Posted on 10/15/2021 12:40:06 PM PDT by Hojczyk
However, in spite of unpredictable swings in the economy and prices, one store has remained consistent throughout it all. Dollar Tree has long been known for being the last true “dollar store” which spans the whole US. For the last 35 years, when you walked into the Dollar Tree, you knew you wouldn’t spend more than one dollar per product.
All of that is changing, however. After 35 years, the Dollar Tree has announced they’ll begin to carry products with a price over one dollar. This invites two important questions: how was the store able to keep prices low for so long, and what is changing now?
Dollar Tree and the Art of Shrinkflation
To figure out why the Dollar Tree has decided to raise prices now, it’s important to consider why and how they’ve gone without changing prices for so long. As any bargain shopper knows, the Dollar Tree isn’t really the cheapest option out there. Buying large quantities in bulk is going to get you the best per unit money price every time. So if the Dollar Tree isn’t offering the cheapest per unit price, what’s the draw?
In a word: consistency.
Consumers like consistent prices and product availability.
Another way the Dollar Tree can keep their prices low is by shrinking the size of a product. Is the dollar 5 percent less valuable this year compared to last year? Easy fix—make your shampoo bottles hold 5 percent less shampoo. Economists call the practice of reducing the quantity or quality of a good while keeping its price the same shrinkflation.
Shrinkflation is a form of inflation because you’d have to spend more money to get the same quantity or quality as you did in a previous year. The prices have remained the same, but the products are worse.
(Excerpt) Read more at fee.org ...
That is going to hurt.
Maybe they can change it to Two Dollar Tree
or
Let’s go Brandon!
OMG, you made me spit coffee out my nose!
Let’s Go, Brandon! has become my husband’s favorite meme and every day he come’s home to show me new ones.
I just remarked to a cashier at Dollar Tree yesterday that she never has to ask for a price check and she laughed!..............
It’s been amazing they’ve been able to hold on for as long as they have...CPI has more than doubled in that time.
My day is complete now. I can go to the shop and be secure that I have done my part.
I bought scallions the other day. Same 50 cents per rubber banded bunch but I could swear the bunches looked skinnier. First thought was shrinflation.
Does anyone remember going to a “5 & 10”? They were stores where stuff costed 5 or 10 cents. Guess what? They will be back soon.
The solution is simple and covers them for the future:
Dollar Tree changed to Dollars Tree.
Your scallions were Obamasized.
In before the “Shrinkage” jokes.
Remember Motel 6? Yep 6 dollars for a bed for the night, they sill call it motel6...
Super 8 same, 8 bucks for a night horrendous.
However a 1oz gold coin today still buys a 3 piece mens suit as it did 100 years ago... Buy AU and AG.
CD.
“Does anyone remember going to a “5 & 10”? “
Oh yes...Woolworths! And the lunch counter! And Santa in his chair in the back of the store at Christmas.
Good old days.
“It shrinks?”
“Like a frightened turtle”
“Man I don’t know how you guys walk around with those things”
George....”I was in the pool! I was in the pool!”
Biden’s inflation is out of control.
They will be back soon alright, but will charge $5 and $10 in inflated currency.
Woolworth’s had great grilled cheese sandwiches. Used to love going there as a child.
The local store here in Maine sells birthday cards and other greeting cards for fifty cents each.
Some better quality cards are $1.00 each....for now, anyway.
Yep! Back when bread was about 40¢.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.