Are you really saving money by going to the dollar store?

Someof my best deal at the dollar store have been in the make-up section. Companies like covergirl and maybelline and almay all do their yearly change overs, discontinuing certain lines of products, retiring certain shades of make up etc. at the begining of the summer, so that they can make room for all their new product lines (i know this because i work as a manager at a store that carries these products) When they bring in all the new products, most of the old ones get sent off to discount stores, such as Dollar stores to be sold at obviously reduced price, even though these products are no where near their expiration dates (as a lot of makeups have VERY long shelf lives, particularly if they haven't been opened yet) but the companies just are not going to be marketing them any more. I once went into a dollar tree and was able to purchase six tubes of my favorite shade of covergirl outlast lip color for a dollar a piece, instead of paying almost ten dollars a package for them at a regular store. As i am not opening them all at once, they will definately keep me stoked upin my favorite lip shade for a very long time!! Though once i go through them all, i will be sad, since covergirl is not making this shade anymore and i will have to find a new one i like just as much.

The Dollar Store and the 99 Cent Store are great! But you do have to be careful about what you buy because some things are not a good deal, not even for one dollar. But our 99 Cent Store has a lot of fresh produce that is delicious and it is only 99 cents. That is one of my favorite finds there. I like to buy some things there to add to the kids Christmas stockings, just little things to fluff out their gifts and make it look like more. They like quantity, rather than quality, at least in some instances.

I love the dollar stores! (Here they're called 2 Euro shops.) Yeah as you said some stuff really is junk, but there is some branded stuff, for example the shampoo I would normally buy anyway, that are generally in the 2 Euro shops. I also buy a lot of art and craft supplies for my daughter - paints, crayons, paper etc. I've had two disappointing episodes recently with buys from the 2 euro shop - one was a can opener that doesn't work, and the other were batteries that went flat almost immediately. They were actually branded batteries (Duracell or something), but I think they may have been pirate goods.

I think dollar stores have some great bargans sometimes. You need to look carefully at the goods though and make sure they are well made. Sometimes you find deals that really can;t be beat. I love Dollar Tree. That is one of my favorite stores. I would shop there even if I could afford not to.

I can't actually say that I think the dollar store is the greatest American invention ever, but I really do like to go there to get things. I've picked up great deals on children's cough syrup because it was only a couple months away from reaching it's expiration date. We needed it then or else I wouldn't have bought it. I also homeschooled my daughter for preschool and I was always able to go to the dollar store and pick up workbooks for her. Ironically some of the same workbooks that I'd had to pay five dollars or more for through a book club. The best tip for buying things at the dollar store is to really pay attention to what you buy and you will ultimately find that you save money.

The dollar store do come in handy when you need 'em... there are stuff that you can get there cheap but of good quality...you just have to know which items to buy...and should know how to look..it is easy to determine the qulaity of the product. When I go to Target...the packaging tape costs $4.99... I went to the dollar store and got almost the same item for just a fraction of the price...

My experience of dollar stores (or poundshops in the UK) is that the quality of the goods varies massively. Most stuff is made in China, and I think standards have improved greatly with many things being very good quality. However, you do need to be very careful because it can be a false ecomony to buy cheap goods. I've found that things like batteries tend to be a bad buy but other household items can be great value. Tools are probably best avoided as its very hard to make good quality tools at a cheap price without compromising on quality. I've got no problem going into a dollar store, nothing wrong with wanting to get a good deal in exchange for your hard earned money.

Hi. richiemogwai. Welcome to myLot! I will raise my hand proud and straight up on this! I believe that I am saving money as I go to the Dollar Store. I can buy hair accessories, shampoo and toothpaste at this store. It is usually $1.00. I love shopping at the Dollar Store and I don't think that it is a waste of my time at all.

When my boyfriends kids were younger, I used to use the dollar store as a treat. When they had a good week at school or had accomplished a goal we had set they could go to the dollar store and pick out a couple of things. This worked great they loved going shopping and they thought it was great they could buy 2 or 3 things and I was only spending a few dollars. Now that they are teenagers they have gotten wise to the dollar store and that doesn't work anymore.

Most of the time, you do not get value for money goods at such stores. I believe such stores would be good if you want to buy every day use items like clothe pegs, stationery,and other household items like floor brushes and even markers. I would not trust them with facial lotions or anything that is applied to my body. Remember these USD1 shops get their goods from first time manufacturer on a 'customized basis' and the volume that they buy on a chain store basis will allow the goods to be sold cheap as potential loss leaders. Such shops also carry reject items. These items are perfectly normal except that they were rejected by buyers because of contract reasons or because they are out of seasonal demand. No, these stores are not the American dream!

We love the Dollar Store around the corner from us! I agree though, you can sometimes end up spending more there. Sometimes there is a product that you think 'thats cheap' because its in the Dollar Store when in factyou can get it cheaper elsewhere - and often I will go in for something on which I DO save money, like laundry detergent, and end up buying a load of other stuff I wouldn't otherwise have bought! I think, as others have said, the savings for me are deoderant and things like shower gel and shampoo, laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent - in a bigger one near us there are also some frozen foods which can be good on a tight budget week! There is also a medication for sinus problems which my husband uses which we get there, which is way cheaper than the brand name equivalent and has the same ingredients and dosage. So, on the whole, I love it, especially on those weeks when money is scarce!

The dollar stores are fun, and a great way to pick up some items you need at a low price and avoid the crowds at larger chain stores. I like them.

raises hand) the dollar store is a great invention but the only thing that bothers me with them would be the snacks.they dont have any expiration dates so that stuff could be as old as my granny.but the other stuff besides food are good.

I think dollar stores, well pound stores for me since I'm in the UK, are pretty good really. I know there are some things they sell that are just smaller versions so you're not actually selling anything, but the brand names that they just can't shift such as hair products are pretty good.

I do shop at dollar store. But I only but wares and detergent for dishes. I won't buy shampoo, conditioner or deodorant. I already used specific brands for those for years. I don't plan to change them. What I like the most in dollar store are the containers. You can get one at a very decent price.

More or less everything in those shops are only worth $1, so your not really saving anything