Do you know what the worst Dollar Store products are to avoid?
Did somebody notice that most of the prices from Dollar Stores increased from $1 to $1.25? I know that you’ll probably be tempted to say, “But it isn’t a fortune!”. While this is 100% true, everything adds up in the shopping basket, and when you get to the cashier, you pay a ton of money for low-quality products.
I just made another trip to Dollar Tree shops, where everything is priced at $1.25 or less, and I was itching to take another peek at everything on the shelves. And what can I say? One of the things I recommend from the bottom of my heart is to carefully compare the pricing and packaging of the products with those from other stores.
With the help of financial experts, I made a list of some of the worst Dollar Store products. Let’s take a look together:
1. Tools
One of the worst dollar store products to avoid is tools. Why? Because no matter if you’re a handyman or a DIY lover, you’d still like a set of tools you can put your trust in. The savings on a socket wrench, for example, will quickly vanish if a tool failure makes a repair more difficult. Additionally, professional shoppers advise us to avoid the tools area of the dollar store. The tools found in dollar stores are often of inferior quality and have a short lifespan.
Paint brushes, screwdrivers, and tape measures are just some of the tools that you should purchase from other stores. It will cost a bit more, but it will be worth it in the long run.
2. Liquid detergents
With all these skyrocketing prices, finding reasonable laundry products price-wise has been hard. But that doesn’t mean you have to hurry up to the Dollar Stores to purchase them from there. Liquid detergents should be avoided unless they have an expiration date. Since most of them lose their effectiveness with time, a product that has been on the shelf for more than a year won’t work as well.
3. Batteries
Batteries that cost $1 might sound like a great bargain but in reality, batteries are some of the worst Dollar Store products. For a long time, frugal websites and experts in dollar stores have cautioned customers against purchasing batteries, particularly carbon-zinc batteries. In addition to having a shorter lifespan than alkaline batteries, carbon-zinc batteries can harm electronics if they leak.
On my last trip to the Dollar Tree stores, I discovered $1.25 packs of “heavy duty” batteries. They were labeled “Use for low-drain devices,” including clock radios and remote controls, and were manufactured under the e-Circuit and Panasonic brands. I’d personally recommend you check out the price at Costco, Kirkland, or even Amazon. They might cost a bit more, but you will definitely save more money in the long run.
I bought this 8-pack of Duracell batteries a couple of days ago from Amazon for just $14.99. At the moment of writing the article, the price was still the same.
4. Plastic storage
It’s not that plastic containers aren’t good for the environment, but the ones from Dollar Stores aren’t exactly good for your food either. Experts say that heating these containers—whether we cook in them or use them in the dishwasher or microwave—can cause some plastics to emit toxins.
I would steer clear of these products unless you intend to use the plastics for storing non-food things, as it is doubtful that you would find BPA-free or other “safe” plastics at the dollar shop.
5. Paper towels and toilet paper
These are two of the worst Dollar Store products, mainly because of the poor quality of the paper. I think you’re probably overpaying if you’re purchasing paper towels at dollar stores. Additionally, if you’re not spending too much, the quality can be even worse. When calculating your shopping budget, it could sound like a smart idea, but you won’t be saving money or time if you have to use extra paper towels to wipe up spills.
Regarding toilet paper, if you want to buy it from a dollar store, it may indeed be cheaper, but the quality will also be cheap. One possibility is that you’ll have to purchase off-brand toilet paper, which may be one-ply, have fewer fibers, or both. This means you will end up using more TP than usual, and both you and your wallet will be losing in this scenario.
Sheesh, God forbid if you have some guests over when you have this sandpaper of TP in your bathroom. A big NO!
6. Beach towels
If you’re looking to pay as little as possible for your beach supplies, please don’t stop at Dollar Stores! Although it might seem like a bargain, these towels are of such low quality. You won’t be able to dry off after returning from your hour-long swim with them since they’re so fragile and they don’t absorb the water properly. For greater quality, check out Costco or Amazon for beach towels.
7. Charger cords and electronics
When it comes to devices from the dollar shop, don’t expect too much. You get what you pay for, just as you always have. The Dollar Shop has a ton of power cables, headphones, and other gadget devices.
Although the price tag would be tempting and you would want to grab some from the shelves, it’s unclear whether these products are manufactured to a high standard. Why take a chance and buy low-quality charger cords when you’ll be connecting them to your cherished tablet or smartphone?
A couple of months ago, when I was in a hurry and I needed a phone charger ASAP because the original one broke, I stopped by the Dollar Store and bought one. Guess what? After one week of using it, it broke. I guess you get what you pay for!
8. Toys
If you want to bring a smile to your kid’s face, buying a toy might be the best choice. But don’t go shopping for toys at the Dollar Store. Since we all know how kids play with toys, even if brand-name toys are typically more expensive than others, at least you can be sure they won’t break too quickly.
Consider spending a few more dollars at a toy store where the quality will be superior and you won’t have to listen to your children crying for hours on end over broken toys. Furthermore, toys from the Dollar Store may also be shoddily constructed, and there may be safety risks, like little pieces that might break off and be ingested or battery-operated toys that could overheat.
9. Perishable and non-perishable food
Oh, and we’re finally at the end of our list of some of the worst Dollar Store products that we all must avoid. Can you hear those munchies and cheap eats calling your name from the shelves? Put on some earphones and try to ignore it because, unless the item is in a can (in which case it has a longer shelf life than other packaging alternatives), I would approach it cautiously while handling perishable and packaged foods (including beverages and candies) as their freshness and quality might be uncertain.
Instead of falling into the trap of buying non-perishable food from the Dollar Store, opt for supermarkets or even small stores in your neighborhood. Even if they are definitely more expensive than $1, the quality will speak for itself.
That’s a wrap! Now, can you tell me what the worst Dollar Store products are, in your opinion? See you in the comments section down below.
Are you a fan of shopping at Costco? Then you might be interested in reading about their membership: Costco Membership: 9 Free Things You Are Not Utilizing.
