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I agree also, I buy gift bags, greeting cards, platters, bowls, etc. that I'm taking somewhere and don't have to worry about getting back. (Also bought a bunch of "old folks" stuff as gag gifts for a friends' 60th b/d party)
Some one I know lucked out last spring, and found racks of small children's new, but past-season colorful jackets on sale for $2 apiece at the Family Dollar Store. She bought them out and shipped them off to a charity serving a special needs orphanage for ages three to seven in Eastern Europe. Even with postage, it was quite a deal, as she spent around $200 total and wound up with merchandise originally priced at over $1,000 - and the kids now have much-needed jackets. It was even a better deal than sending the same money to be spent in-country!
The recipient, who delivered the jackets to the orphanage, reported back that the little ones said "See! How I am beautiful!" when they donned their new coats (that probably would be more like "Look at me! I look cute!" in English).
So if you're at the right dollar store at the right time and know what can be done with what they have on sale, you can luck out - and can pass the "luck" along.
I am a dollar store shopper. We have two in our town...lots of decent products at our chain. Hey, you get what you pay for. Don't like em, don't go there....not sure where the bashing comes in.
Buy cards, gift wrap, balloons, some cleaners and yes candy never had a problem with it. Do not buy the stickers there, I teach preschool and bought a bunch of cute Xmas stickers for the kids to decorate a paper tree. None of them stuck we ended up having to glue them on which defeated the purpose of a quick craft.
I do a LOT of shopping at the dollar store. There are some items I use that I won't buy anywhere else.
The OP's article listed as the first item on the 'don't buy' list - batteries. I totally disagree. Yes, batteries from the dollar store aren't as strong as name brand. Yes, they don't last as long. Yes, you aren't getting value for your money. But, when my kids were toddlers with lots of obnoxiously loud toys, I would only use dollar store batteries for them. They weren't as strong - meant the toys weren't as loud and bright. They didn't last as long - meant the toys had more downtime than uptime, which was a good thing in my book. I didn't get value for my money, but I did get more quiet, which was well worth the extra pennies!
Sometimes it's not getting value, it's not getting quality, it's getting the right product for your immediate need.
I discovered a soap at the Dollar Tree that I just love. It's a big bar called Skin Milk and it has a subtle smell of vanilla. It's very creamy and reminds me of what Dove soap used to be like. And it appears to be lasting a long time. Not knowing how long it will be on the shelf, I went back and bought two more bars.
I purchase Double Q canned salmon at dollar gen. that I make salmon patties from, it's Alaska salmon and good. I also purchase canned mushrooms as long as it's not from China, and we buy our candles, toilet paper, paper towels, and some dog treats too.
Some things from dollar stores are ok, but some of their stuff I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
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