Thank you, as always, for rounding up this information. Embarrassed to admit, I've been known to shop at Dollar Tree - at least until they raised prices by a full quarter last year! But goodness, I had no idea they were like fungus spreading in the dark! Dollar General has always p*ssed me off. I've stepped into one a few times and never bought anything b/c what I was looking for was price-gauging, could honestly get it cheaper at the grocery store. Didn't realize it had merged with Dollar Store - that explains a lot. In a lot of places, Dollar Stores now carry fresh and frozen food. That's quite the allure for folks on a limited budget, especially in places where large grocery chains refuse to open stores (low income neighborhoods). Not sure how to combat this. Yes, I can stop patronizing this store but many other folks cannot. Sometimes it's their only option. :/ Predatory? of course.
I just returned from shopping at Target today, and they're doing some price gouging, too. Mentally, I am nearing the breaking point with the enormous, across-the-board increase in prices..., not to mention my wallet! I just can't believe the continued price jumps are necessary to cover costs, which is the larger issue, I suppose. As you mentioned, my concern with Dollar Stores is their rapid proliferation ("a fungus spreading in the dark" good!).
The problem with little mom and pop stores is that they are almost never reasonably priced, low volume and high prices....I'm all for dirt roads however!
Yes they have junk, but so does Target and Walmart; I get dry floor cloths for my swifter duster, duster refills for my swifter hand dusters and those are fairly costly even at Target, but the 24 0z body washes are a real steal. Dove charges so much for their body wash they should be ashamed.
It's not the placement of one Dollar Store that causes smaller, local businesses to go under, it is the huge and fairly recent expansion of these particular companies and their sheer number that cause it, collectively, just like Walmart did. The larger issue is that they've copied Walmart's business model which overall hurts their workers through understaffing, low wages and offering only part-time work. One small upside is that they are much smaller stores than either Walmart or Target, so they can squeeze into existing strip malls, rather than tale sup acres of land with store and parking lot.
While we’re on dirt roads- how about solid regional planning that keeps subdivisions out of rural places, preserves local shops and makes small farming operations profitable.
In my view, that would be the best of all possible worlds, Jane. It seems that individuals in small communities banding together and fighting for what they want and don't want in their communities can be quite powerful.
Actually Dollar Stores, now $1.25 stores here in Seattle anyway, have some surprisingly great stuff.
I buy body wash there; I mean why pay the ridiculous body wash prices of name brands? I also purchase dish sponges, and other items that are useful and hold up well. They sell wrapping paper and gift boxes and so many items that folks actually use and don't need to pay full price for. At least in west Seattle, the Dollar Store location I go to is not a spot that put out another business.
You are very lucky Renee where I live in Bethlehem PA the dollar stores around me have nothing but junk and there are about 15 within a five mile radius and some of them are not $1 they are whatever they want to charge for the stuff. Less expensive than a target or Walmart but still way more than a dollar.
I walked into one once by accident (I was lost and needed directions —they're everywhere!) and was kinda horrified —it really looked like all junk to me. I tend to buy the store brands for lower priced products rather than national, name brands when possible, Like with Target, I use their "Up &Up" store brand, but it depends on the products whether they are good quality or not. Same with Kroger or other grocery store brands.
When I saw the proliferation of dollar stores I knew this country was becoming as they use to call undeveloped countries “third world” countries. So sad what retail has become.
I tend to agree, Lisa. But as my sister noted above, though, she finds lower-priced brands accessible there. I I do think proximity of lower-priced stores is helpful. I think their incredible expansion is what is particularly scary about Dollar Stores and would much rather see little "Mom and Pop" stores local to the community rather than gargantuan chains.
Insightful work here and appreciated also :)
Thank you, David.
Thank you, as always, for rounding up this information. Embarrassed to admit, I've been known to shop at Dollar Tree - at least until they raised prices by a full quarter last year! But goodness, I had no idea they were like fungus spreading in the dark! Dollar General has always p*ssed me off. I've stepped into one a few times and never bought anything b/c what I was looking for was price-gauging, could honestly get it cheaper at the grocery store. Didn't realize it had merged with Dollar Store - that explains a lot. In a lot of places, Dollar Stores now carry fresh and frozen food. That's quite the allure for folks on a limited budget, especially in places where large grocery chains refuse to open stores (low income neighborhoods). Not sure how to combat this. Yes, I can stop patronizing this store but many other folks cannot. Sometimes it's their only option. :/ Predatory? of course.
I just returned from shopping at Target today, and they're doing some price gouging, too. Mentally, I am nearing the breaking point with the enormous, across-the-board increase in prices..., not to mention my wallet! I just can't believe the continued price jumps are necessary to cover costs, which is the larger issue, I suppose. As you mentioned, my concern with Dollar Stores is their rapid proliferation ("a fungus spreading in the dark" good!).
Actually the minimum wage in Seattle increased to $18.69/hr as of Jan 1.
We have a minimum wage here in Seattle of $15/hr; it should apply to part time work so I assume that is what they are getting paid.
The problem with little mom and pop stores is that they are almost never reasonably priced, low volume and high prices....I'm all for dirt roads however!
Yes they have junk, but so does Target and Walmart; I get dry floor cloths for my swifter duster, duster refills for my swifter hand dusters and those are fairly costly even at Target, but the 24 0z body washes are a real steal. Dove charges so much for their body wash they should be ashamed.
It's not the placement of one Dollar Store that causes smaller, local businesses to go under, it is the huge and fairly recent expansion of these particular companies and their sheer number that cause it, collectively, just like Walmart did. The larger issue is that they've copied Walmart's business model which overall hurts their workers through understaffing, low wages and offering only part-time work. One small upside is that they are much smaller stores than either Walmart or Target, so they can squeeze into existing strip malls, rather than tale sup acres of land with store and parking lot.
While we’re on dirt roads- how about solid regional planning that keeps subdivisions out of rural places, preserves local shops and makes small farming operations profitable.
In my view, that would be the best of all possible worlds, Jane. It seems that individuals in small communities banding together and fighting for what they want and don't want in their communities can be quite powerful.
Yes me 2 but that’s not what’s happening and across all genres of stores mom and pop have been unable to compete.
Actually Dollar Stores, now $1.25 stores here in Seattle anyway, have some surprisingly great stuff.
I buy body wash there; I mean why pay the ridiculous body wash prices of name brands? I also purchase dish sponges, and other items that are useful and hold up well. They sell wrapping paper and gift boxes and so many items that folks actually use and don't need to pay full price for. At least in west Seattle, the Dollar Store location I go to is not a spot that put out another business.
You are very lucky Renee where I live in Bethlehem PA the dollar stores around me have nothing but junk and there are about 15 within a five mile radius and some of them are not $1 they are whatever they want to charge for the stuff. Less expensive than a target or Walmart but still way more than a dollar.
I walked into one once by accident (I was lost and needed directions —they're everywhere!) and was kinda horrified —it really looked like all junk to me. I tend to buy the store brands for lower priced products rather than national, name brands when possible, Like with Target, I use their "Up &Up" store brand, but it depends on the products whether they are good quality or not. Same with Kroger or other grocery store brands.
When I saw the proliferation of dollar stores I knew this country was becoming as they use to call undeveloped countries “third world” countries. So sad what retail has become.
I tend to agree, Lisa. But as my sister noted above, though, she finds lower-priced brands accessible there. I I do think proximity of lower-priced stores is helpful. I think their incredible expansion is what is particularly scary about Dollar Stores and would much rather see little "Mom and Pop" stores local to the community rather than gargantuan chains.