Items To Avoid Buying At The Dollar Store (Tree)
By DB
@dgobucks226 (34586)
September 5, 2019 8:10am CST
I'm a big fan of the Dollar Tree. Hey, items for only a dollar, what's not to like? But it seems some products are better purchased elsewhere.
Here is a short list of items to avoid:
1. Batteries- (although I do buy them there)They’re stocking old stuff taken from other stores’ shelves which might have been there years. Batteries do have expiration dates.
2. Kitchen cutting knives- they don't slice as well and are duller than a name brand.
3. Tools- Craftsman brands they are not and are cheaply made susceptible to breaking.
4. Fresh Food- grocery stores re-stock more regularly and offer higher quality brands.
5. Meds- sometimes they are near the exp date.
Are there any other items you've had problems with and would not recommend purchasing at a Dollar Store (Tree)?
Any favorite items you buy at the Dollar Store (Tree)?
Source- smartliving.com
Photo-Kiplinger.com
17 people like this
24 responses
@Hannihar (129979)
• Israel
6 Sep 19
@dgobucks226
We do not have dollar stores here in Jerusalem. We do have some cheap stores here.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129979)
• Israel
8 Sep 19
@dgobucks226
We deal with shekels and not dollars. We do have some cheap stores here too.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
6 Sep 19
They now have a store here called "Five Below." All items for sale for $5 or less. Any stores like that in Jerusalem?
2 people like this
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
5 Sep 19
I only shop at the dollar store for storage stuff like new contains when I’m organized. Our kids craft stuff because you know they are just going to forget to put caps back on or break them anyways.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
They have a nice aisle of craft items and toys for kids. For only a dollar if they break the toys it's not a huge loss of money. I've bought puzzles and coloring books for my niece there.
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
8 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 yep! We get crayons and stuff like that for the winter from the dollar store
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
1 Nov 19
There are very good basic storage items there,and you don't have to worry about your kids desytrtoying expensive accessories,because they only cost a dollar!
1 person likes this
@tammys85 (29974)
• Baltimore, Maryland
6 Sep 19
I've bought batteries and cold meds from the Dollar Tree, and I've never had a problem with them. Maybe it depends on the store itself, I'm not sure.
As for my favorite things to buy there, probably stuff like snacks, socks, hair bands, Christmas cards, etc.
2 people like this
@tammys85 (29974)
• Baltimore, Maryland
13 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 I'll buy shampoo/conditioner as needed, but I mainly pick up hair bands. I have thick, wavy hair, so I need to re-stock every few months because what I have gets stretched out. I've gotten stuff like that from the Dollar Tree as well. I'll stock up on my healthy, and non-healthy, snacks lol.
2 people like this
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
2 Nov 19
@dgobucks226 I must say I have noticed the snacks have gotten noticeably smaller at Dollar Tree,do to increased manufacturing costs.But still, if you only want to spend a dollar,there are still some good ones.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I've bought batteries there too and they seem to last long enough. That's a nice list of items. I will buy certain snacks there to like cheese doodles or peanut butter cups. There is Not a wide variety of Hair products and shampoos or beauty products that are available at the Dollar Store. I do like buying cotton balls, comet, kitchen spices, greeting cards, reading glasses, liquid soap, snacks and peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
1 Nov 19
Look at the picture .That is what the front of the store looks like..Do you have any deep discount stores in Switzerland?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (461823)
• Switzerland
2 Nov 19
@Aquitaine24 Yes, we have discount stores in Switzerland but NOT the Dollar tree. Do you have the "2 Franchi stores" in your country? I am sure NOT. Not everything that exist in the USA exist in Europe we can do with our own stores.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
2 Nov 19
@LadyDuck I agree with that.I do not believe we have 2 Franchi stores in the United States.We do have other stores that don't origunate here,like Daiso Japan.
@Tampa_girl7 (49371)
• United States
6 Sep 19
I mostly buy greeting cards and cleaning supplies at them.
2 people like this
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
1 Nov 19
@dgobucks226 I have found very nice greeting cards there..
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49371)
• United States
9 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 the prices are fabulous.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
Those are 2 items I also buy. The greeting cards are not on the level of Hallmarks but I'm always able to find one with a nice message to it. A few other items I've gotten there are cotton balls, comet, kitchen spices and peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43267)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Sep 19
You can always check the expiration date on stuff before you get it. I've bought batteries there before from great brands and they worked well. Never bought knives there but I bet you can just sharper them, if they are not as sharp. I sometimes get Bumble Bee chunk light tuna there. It's the brand I eat and expiration date is always far away. Never had issues. Also love the (frozen) Texas Toast they sell there. I had no idea you can get meds there. Good to know.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43267)
• Staten Island, New York
7 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 I've never bought bath stuff there. And don't wear makeup so for me what they have doesn't really matter. I did buy softsoap there a few times as I use that.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43267)
• Staten Island, New York
7 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 Supermarkets sometimes have stuff that is pretty darn close to expiration or has even expired already.
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@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I've also bought batteries there and they seemed to last long enough. Yes, checking the dates on products is important. Even supermarkets sell items close to their exp date.
Another item recommended not to buy are Makeup The ingredients are cheaper and you skin may react to them.
I've also noticed beauty products like soap, hair products and shampoo offer a limited selection with names I'm not very familiar with...
@1hopefulman (45121)
• Canada
5 Sep 19
I don't buy much there but I do go there for Greeting Cards or Thank You cards.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45121)
• Canada
8 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 Yes, some items are really a good deal.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41996)
• United States
5 Sep 19
I always check expiration date on the medicines. But i don’t mind their “own brand” for Ibuprofen or allergy meds- the ingredients are the same as the big box meds, so i don’t see the difference. I would also add MAKEUP to this list. I have never seen fresh food at Dollar Tree but I might be sort of skeptical if I did!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
Good suggestion on the makeup! That was another item considered not the best to purchase 
I check the ingredients and exp dates too. I think you just need to be careful purchasing suntan lotion, meds, and other items which come with a date to use on them. I think it just comes down to keeping a watchful eye out and personal preferences in items you buy.
I check the ingredients and exp dates too. I think you just need to be careful purchasing suntan lotion, meds, and other items which come with a date to use on them. I think it just comes down to keeping a watchful eye out and personal preferences in items you buy. @Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
2 Nov 19
I likethat they have books there.Much cheaper than the bookstore.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74599)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Sep 19
I do not get to the Dollar Tree too often but I can say that it is not worth it to purchase anything there. It is best to go to our big seller Dollar General.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I've been to both and some items at Dollar Tree I find reasonable. Some examples are cotton balls, comet, kitchen spices, greeting cards, reading glasses, liquid soap, snacks and peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
The packaged cereal is not the best quality and may have subpar taste so these and refrigerated food items I definitely avoid.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
19 Nov 19
I don’t buy canned foods at dollar stores.
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@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
22 Nov 19
I agree with that. I'm suspicious of food products in a variety store except for snacks.
@JohnRoberts (109848)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Sep 19
Dollar Tree is a good place for stationary items.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
20 Sep 19
Yes, they have a good selection of items. The one I go to actually put in a back to school area.
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@thislittlepennyearns (58645)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
5 Sep 19
I dont know why you assume that the meds are close to exp date. I worked at a Dollar Tree for a year plus and all our medicine came directly from the hub and was never close to exp date. They have a lot of good stuff.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
First off, this is not my opinion. The information came from an article from smart living.com. If you re-read the first sentence of my post it states "I am a big fan of the Dollar Tree." I have purchased cheaply made items there which broke but that can happen. Especially with items sold for one dollar. Anyway, I agree that their is a lot of good items to buy there. The post was just a warning of items smart living considered not the best to purchase. Basically saying keep a watchful eye before you buy.
@Bensen32 (27572)
• United States
5 Sep 19
The only things I get there it like cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. They are the same name brands at any other store and they are cheaper here. I wouldn't buy food or anything I actually expect to be of quality craftsmanship. A lot of things there are cheap in price and quality. But there are a lot of things there that wouldn't matter.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
Exactly! The post was just a warning of items smart living considered not the best to purchase. Basically saying keep a watchful eye before you buy. I have bought comet there which is cheaper than other stores. One just has to be selective, compare prices and quantity. Some items are a great bargain others not so much.
2 people like this
@Bensen32 (27572)
• United States
9 Sep 19
@dgobucks226 Yea, always trying to find those better prices.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (171963)
• United States
5 Sep 19
I would rather take a chance with their batteries, then spend 3x as much for others. They seem to be OK. Ours doesn't really offer fresh food per se, unless you count bread..and I don't tend to buy that there unless I see rye. Most expiration dates on meds are a fallacy..I don't really think anyone shops at DT thinking they are getting the quality you would get from a brand name. They do it to save money. Thanks for the article though!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I agree with you about the batteries. I buy them there myself. They seem to last long enough for me and there much cheaper than other stores. There are items like bread whose brand I've not heard of but then again they also carry brand names too. Usually these items come in a smaller quantity which is perfect for someone who does not have family to buy for. And the price works out to be less than grocery store items. Other items I buy there which I think are reasonable are greeting cards, liquid soap, cotton balls, toothpaste, candy, chips, and kitchen spices. I even buy peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I've read school supplies are not the best. Other stores also offer greater quantities and the price works out to be cheaper. I have bought marking pens, index cards and file folders there. No problems with those.
@LovingMyBabies (85125)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Sep 19
The batteries don't last as long as other stores but they work in a pinch and we have bought them before. =)
We buy ibuprofen from there and they work just as good-that's the only medicine I can speak of though.
I can't think of anything I wouldn't buy there, I really have been lucky with the things from there. The Lord knows we have needed inexpensive items with this big family of mine! Lol.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104630)
• United States
5 Sep 19
I don't ever buy meds at the dollar tree.
Just went there yesterday and bought a mixing bowl for my bath and beauty making stuff and also a screen cleaning kit.
They also have those vacuum seal bags which I think is a great buy.
I do not ever buy the food from there, and I won't buy hair ties either. I've bought some before and they break very easily.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
I didn't know they had vacuum seal bags. That definitely sounds like a great deal! I agree about some of the food items. Grocery stores re-stock more regularly which keeps them fresh and offer higher quality brands.
The packaged cereal is not the best quality and may have subpar taste. One must be careful of cheaply made items that will easily break.
I've bought some plastic containers and kitchen scissors which have held up nicely
@1creekgirl (40772)
• United States
5 Sep 19
I never buy the things you mentioned, but I do like the greeting cards, party plates and cups, plastic containers, and things like that.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
Yes, the greeting cards are a great buy and I buy there paper plates and also cups. I usually compare prices with my local supermarket to see if it is worth the purchase. I have also purchased cotton balls, comet, kitchen spices, greeting cards, reading glasses, liquid soap, snacks and peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
7 Sep 19
Sure! But it's always fun when you can find a bargain. I find reasonable buy there. Some examples are cotton balls, comet, kitchen spices, greeting cards, reading glasses, liquid soap, snacks and peanuts to feed the birds. The Cardinals love them!
