Can someone please tell me, which Dollar stores Really are dollar stores?

**crazylegs** · February-11-13, 10:09 AM

I find the name Dollar store can be quite misleading. I don't mind if they have a few things over a dollar, though I've gone to some where everything in the store is over a dollar...
Thanks in advance!

**Hermod** · February-11-13, 10:22 AM

Family Dollar and Dollar General are discount stores along the line of the old "five and dimes". Dollar Stores are genuine every thing a buck stores. Dollar Plus have most things a buck with some items higher.

**jackie5275** · February-11-13, 10:28 AM

Dollar Tree is a true dollar store. Nothing is over a dollar, although some things may be less than a dollar.

**compn** · February-11-13, 11:23 PM

i like dollar general, get some stuff there that kroger charges 2x the price for the exact same brand/item. cant shop at kroger anymore, its too expensive.

big lots is fun. lots of discontinued experimental flavors that didnt make it to a nationwide release.

**Meddle** · February-12-13, 07:15 AM

Aside from Dollar Tree [[which is usually OK), you have to be careful at true 'dollar' stores, most of which are independents. Some may be OK, while other are just plain junk stores where the stuff isn't even worth a buck.

Even with Dollar Tree, you have to watch the packaging sizes, especially in the food areas. Some items aren't full size packages, maybe 8 or 10 ounces instead of 15 or 16. I've seen packages of hot dogs with 4 or 6 instead of 8 or 10. The end result may be more expensive than other stores on a per unit basis.

**Big Dog** · February-12-13, 08:56 AM

I like Dollar Tree, and think it the best of the dollar stores.

**mallory** · February-12-13, 08:59 AM

It should be a law that you can't have the word "dollar" in the name of your store if you are not a dollar store. Dollar General and Family Dollar are anything but dollar stores. I've paid less for some items that they feature at Meijer.

I once went to a store that was called "everything 99 cents," but told them they would have to wait until I got a truck to haul everything. Can't figure out how they can make money if the whole entire store is just 99 cents. <smart ass>

**Hermod** · February-12-13, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by mallory

It should be a law that you can't have the word "dollar" in the name of your store if you are not a dollar store. Dollar General and Family Dollar are anything but dollar stores. I've paid less for some items that they feature at Meijer.

I once went to a store that was called "everything 99 cents," but told them they would have to wait until I got a truck to haul everything. Can't figure out how they can make money if the whole entire store is just 99 cents. <smart ass>

In fairness, neither Family Dollar nor Dollar General have ever advertised their stores as being "dollar stores". The Kresge, Woolworth, and Neissner "dime stores" still said 5 cents and 10 cents on their signs long after the prices had increased and their wares were more like the Dollar General and Family Dollar.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-12-13, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by mallory

It should be a law that you can't have the word "dollar" in the name of your store if you are not a dollar store. Dollar General and Family Dollar are anything but dollar stores. I've paid less for some items that they feature at Meijer.

In general these stores remain competitive. With stores like Meijer you have a longer trip and longer check-out waits. You may save a few pennies on some items, but you will blow your money on gas and a lot of your time. I would much rather have the stop on the way home and minimal wait/travel time. Time is one commodity that you can never have enough of.

**Gistok** · February-12-13, 12:49 PM

The best value at the Dollar store are the Kleenex [[make sure you get the 150+ count)... toilet paper and paper napkins. I never buy paper towels there... because at the Aldi's next door it's only 69cents. Also cleaning and soap products can be very cheap at the Dollar store. All of these are USA made. One thing I am very careful about is food items at the dollar stores... much of the time the products are made in China, Vietnam or other Asian countries. With all the safety issues coming out of Asia, I never buy food items from there.

The only cheap food items I will buy are at Aldi's, the majority of which are American and European. Some folks equate Aldi's with a dollar store type of quality... but they're a large German foodstore chain that keeps prices down with quality products that don't have famous names to them [[Del Monte, Betty Crocker, Kraft).. but are very reasonably priced. Their frozen foods are excellent, especially their Deutsche Küche [[German Kitchen) frozen cakes and pastries. Aldi's keeps costs down with their "warehouse" style aisles.

**Honky Tonk** · February-12-13, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

The best value at the Dollar store are the Kleenex [[make sure you get the 150+ count)... toilet paper and paper napkins. I never buy paper towels there... because at the Aldi's next door it's only 69cents. Also cleaning and soap products can be very cheap at the Dollar store. All of these are USA made. One thing I am very careful about is food items at the dollar stores... much of the time the products are made in China, Vietnam or other Asian countries. With all the safety issues coming out of Asia, I never buy food items from there.

The only cheap food items I will buy are at Aldi's, the majority of which are American and European. Some folks equate Aldi's with a dollar store type of quality... but they're a large German foodstore chain that keeps prices down with quality products that don't have famous names to them [[Del Monte, Betty Crocker, Kraft).. but are very reasonably priced. Their frozen foods are excellent, especially their Deutsche Küche [[German Kitchen) frozen cakes and pastries. Aldi's keeps costs down with their "warehouse" style aisles.

I've been told that Aldi's owns Trader Joes. [[or vice-versa).

**mwilbert** · February-12-13, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I've been told that Aldi's owns Trader Joes. [[or vice-versa).

They don't, at least not really. Two separate branches of the Albrecht family own the two chains. The US operations are completely separate. However, Aldi and Trader Joe's are just parts of the families' international holding companies and the two families have some weird interlocked corporate entities that make the holding companies not entirely separate.

**Honky Tonk** · February-12-13, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

They don't, at least not really. Two separate branches of the Albrecht family own the two chains. The US operations are completely separate. However, Aldi and Trader Joe's are just parts of the families' international holding companies and the two families have some weird interlocked corporate entities that make the holding companies not entirely separate.

Like the Ilitch's. Mike owns a sporting franchise, his wife, a casino. Maybe the Albrecht family does it for buying power? I've never seen exact Trader Joe's items in Aldi's, but "similar" items.

**Chinman** · February-13-13, 09:04 PM

family dolllar at jefferson and jos. compos is a true $1.00 store, but you get you pay for for.
just saying...they are always busy when i go there.

**Chinman** · February-13-13, 09:09 PM

wikipedia ALDI and be willing to be amazed. brothers who took each part to make them a global company.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-13-13, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

The only cheap food items I will buy are at Aldi's, the majority of which are American and European. Some folks equate Aldi's with a dollar store type of quality... but they're a large German foodstore chain that keeps prices down with quality products that don't have famous names to them [[Del Monte, Betty Crocker, Kraft).. but are very reasonably priced. Their frozen foods are excellent, especially their Deutsche Küche [[German Kitchen) frozen cakes and pastries. Aldi's keeps costs down with their "warehouse" style aisles.

Gistock, ya sound a little horse....

"In 2013 Aldi was criticized for spying on its own staff.,^[27] in the same year it was also caught up in the horse meat contamination scandal along with Tesco and others^[28]. On February 8th 2013, the store group admitted that some of its lasagne and Spaghetti bolognese products contained 100% horse meat rather than the advertised beef."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi

**Gistok** · February-13-13, 09:46 PM

Aldi's has a pretty good employee benefits package... it pays employees holidays and quite liberal vacation time... not to mention a full medical/dental plan.

**Gistok** · February-13-13, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Gistock, ya sound a little horse....

"In 2013 Aldi was criticized for spying on its own staff.,^[27] in the same year it was also caught up in the horse meat contamination scandal along with Tesco and others^[28]. On February 8th 2013, the store group admitted that some of its lasagne and Spaghetti bolognese products contained 100% horse meat rather than the advertised beef."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi

I guess you haven't traveled to Europe that often...

"These UK products originated from Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods in Ireland and Dalepak Hambilton food processing plant in the United Kingdom. Trace amounts of horse DNA was also found in raw ingredients shipped imported from Spain and the Netherlands."

Also... horsemeat is considered a delicacy in some countries in Europe and elsewhere [[watch what you eat in Mexico!)... Italy and France among them. Although horsemeat sausage is available in Germany [[my father and cousin once had a sandwich in my presence... making me ill)... it is rarely consumed there....

Although I would never eat horse meat... I've been told by my European relatives that a horse is a cleaner animal than a cow or a pig... but that means nothing to me... I'd rather have a steak or a pork chop any day....

**Honky Tonk** · February-13-13, 10:26 PM

Horsemeat may be the world's most powerful aphrodisiac and have the ability to grow hair on a billiard ball, but I take issue with the fact that a product is telling me it contains one thing but totally contains another. France is a big proponent of horsemeat, and yes, it's supposed to be better for you then beef. But then, they ARE trying to sell you horsemeat.

**Gistok** · February-14-13, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Horsemeat may be the world's most powerful aphrodisiac and have the ability to grow hair on a billiard ball, but I take issue with the fact that a product is telling me it contains one thing but totally contains another. France is a big proponent of horsemeat, and yes, it's supposed to be better for you then beef. But then, they ARE trying to sell you horsemeat.

That is true... however... this problem was in Britain, with UK suppliers. I wouldn't be real happy if I were a Brit either... but when you look at all the antibiotics they pump into American meat animals... it's no less a comforting thought.

And then of course we have spinach and strawberries that make people sick, and other contaminated products that have killed people, sold in the USA.

Generally speaking it's not Aldi's food I would tend to avoid... but the dollar store items grown in Asia and 3rd world countries... As with everything we consume... we do so at our own peril... since the FDA seems to be spread pretty thin...

**Hermod** · February-14-13, 11:59 AM

Or possibly this:

Attachment 18278

**Gistok** · February-14-13, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

Or possibly this:

Attachment 18278

LMAO.... that sort of confirms my theory that the Chinese word "Kung Pao" really means "tastes like"....

**Honky Tonk** · February-14-13, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

since the FDA seems to be spread pretty thin...

How else would the AMA make a living?

**DetroitPlanner** · February-14-13, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

That is true... however... this problem was in Britain, with UK suppliers. I wouldn't be real happy if I were a Brit either... but when you look at all the antibiotics they pump into American meat animals... it's no less a comforting thought.

And then of course we have spinach and strawberries that make people sick, and other contaminated products that have killed people, sold in the USA.

Generally speaking it's not Aldi's food I would tend to avoid... but the dollar store items grown in Asia and 3rd world countries... As with everything we consume... we do so at our own peril... since the FDA seems to be spread pretty thin...

So you are saying Britain is a third world country?