Dollar stores are everywhere. That's
a problem for poor Americans
CNN Business,
by
Nathaniel Meyersohn
Original Article
Posted By: NorthernDog,
7/20/2019 8:53:27 AM
As dollar stores sweep across America, they are facing growing scrutiny from opponents who argue that discount chains stifle local competition and limit poor communities' access to healthy food. Dollar stores have never been more popular. Yet a wave of cities and towns have passed laws curbing the expansion of Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which bought Family Dollar in 2015. The companies are the two largest dollar store operators in the country, combining for more than 30,000 stores throughout the United States, up from under 20,000 a decade ago. By comparison, Walmart, America's largest retailer, has 4,700 US stores.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
bgarrett 7/20/2019 9:01:04 AM (No. 128849)
I went to a Dollar store once. It was raining, I had time to kill before my appointment and I was curious. A bath mat got my attention so I bought it. As I drove away, I went straight to Walmart. Walmart had the same bathmat. Same color, same pattern, same price. Except the Walmart mat was twice as big.
7 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
jacksin5 7/20/2019 9:03:30 AM (No. 128850)
For the elderly these stores are a godsend. They are able to purchase nutritious food cheaply, in single serving portions. For those on a fixed income, it can mean the difference between eating and not eating, as most of their disposable income is eaten up by Medicare co-pays.
22 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
janjan 7/20/2019 9:09:18 AM (No. 128854)
Watch out when nanny state liberals start trying to manage the market. It always lead to disaster. It would never occur to them in a million years that where people shop, what they buy or what they eat is none of their business.
37 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Texas Tillie 7/20/2019 9:11:09 AM (No. 128855)
#1, the clue to dollar stores is knowing what they sell and what Walmart sells. Yes, your experience is true for that item and some others. Often you need to know the size of a container and figure the per ounce cost of the product in the 16 ounce container at Walmart vs. the 12 ounce container at Dollar Tree. I contend that the dollar stores have their place in every socioeconomic community. By the way, the 2 greeting cards for a dollar are a great bargain!!
27 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
BillW. 7/20/2019 9:15:57 AM (No. 128863)
FTA: Dollar stores see an opportunity to grow even more in America. Dollar General and Dollar Tree have plans to open a combined additional 24,000 locations. But lawmakers around the country are pushing back.
Thank God for that. Where would we be without them? And thanks to media giant CNN for scooping this story.
MAGA
6 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
jalo1951 7/20/2019 9:17:50 AM (No. 128865)
I went to a Dollar Tree this week. Got some paper goods, bath powder, hand soap and a few other items. Spent less than $20 and was happy with my purchases. Go about once a month. Yes, there are cookies, candy and chips but I find it hard to think they are preventing a grocery from opening. There was a VERY limited supply of frozen items. I don't see anyone choosing Dollar Tree for their heavy duty grocery shopping. There was also a presence of security at the door and in the actual store. This was a store I have never shopped at before. It was in a poorer community where I had my car serviced. I believe that studies show that the reason grocery stores do not want to open in these areas is because they are robbed blind. Sometimes the truth hurts. Yes, it is a shame that the poorer but good people in those communities cannot have access to a grocery but these stores can only absorb so much shoplifting.
29 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Rama41 7/20/2019 9:25:37 AM (No. 128870)
I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday for my granddaughter's birthday card. (When's the last time you bought any greeting card for a dollar?) I've seen these stores as a boon for those stretching the dollar and appreciate that they can get household products, gifts for the kids, and other sundries without busting the budget. On the other hand, I see the point. While our area is surrounded by Giants, Weises, and Wegmans, the prices are out of reach for many, especially when it comes to fresh produce, which DTs and Dollar Generals lack. Lack of access to fresh foods leads to poor diets, obesity, and other health problems among the poor. Grocery stores in cities have lower profit margins due to security, training, and other issues not seen in the suburbs. These are serious issues, but I'm always wary whenever government steps in to eliminate someone else's competition.
8 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
voxpopuli 7/20/2019 9:34:12 AM (No. 128879)
i started going to Dollar TREE a few years ago..
EVERYTHING is a dollar or less..
not like the other "dollar" stores..
you can get the same brands, in some cases, as at Target, Walmart or major grocery chains..
if you don't know what the price should be, don't buy it..
in the minneapolis area, you can get a FRESH loaf of packaged bread for a dollar
if you by a similar loaf at Byerlys it is about three bucks.. and.. it has a better "use by" date..
you want beer nuts? try it..
you want a cloth to dry your car.. a buck..
apparently cnn thinks REAL people want fresh artichokes..
9 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
DVC 7/20/2019 9:35:44 AM (No. 128881)
CNN? Nah, not going to bother with their insanity.
5 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
BillW. 7/20/2019 9:38:01 AM (No. 128886)
Friends I forwarded this article to replied:
I work with the poor 24-7, people who are crushed by debt. God bless Dollar Stores!
I wish I'd bought DG stock ten years ago.
MAGA
10 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Northcross 7/20/2019 9:43:33 AM (No. 128897)
Thanks for the great story CNN. We certainly can't have the free market decide where stores should be built, where people shop, what products the stores carry, what they charge, what people buy, and what people eat. No sir! The all-knowing all-powerful government needs to control all of that.
19 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
OK state mom 7/20/2019 10:09:48 AM (No. 128925)
Tishomingo, OK has a Dollar General Market. It is a full fledged grocery store with fresh produce and meats along with traditional Dollar General ware. The store is better kept than my neighborhood Dollar General. It is also in the vicinity of the Chickasaw Nation’s administrative building, Fitness Center, Healthcare Clinic, Day Care, Community Center, Senior Citizen Building and Nutrition Site giving it great traffic. There is another Grocery Store in town part of a small chain that has been in business for decades.
5 people like this.
FTA: ""While the economy is doing very well, our core customer continues to struggle," Dollar General chief executive Todd Vasos told analysts last year. The company's core customers earn around $40,000 a year or below, $20,000 below the median income."
What? $40,000/year income is not shabby, and it isn't poverty.
I love Dollar Tree, and if I had kids, it's a great place to buy cheap little toys, coloring books, crayons, etc. I love scrounging around stores like this. I buy many things there, from wrapping bags/paper to toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, etc. Their 20-pack "Swiffer" type cleaning cloths are such a bargain, much, much cheaper than in regular stores. I try to shop economically as much as possible. And their .50 greeting cards have saved me so much money. The money I save allows me to save money so that I can splurge on other things once in awhile. You don't have to be poor to enjoy it.
17 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
poliposter 7/20/2019 10:26:21 AM (No. 128942)
#14, I live in the northeast and $40,000 is poverty level around here. Starting wages for a college educated young adult is $45,000- $62,000. Rent on a two bedroom is roughly $2500. A single bedroom is $1800. Most have student loans and high income taxes. $40,000 salary is meaningless without context.
3 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
MMC 7/20/2019 10:29:19 AM (No. 128944)
I love Dollar Tree! Oh- you can have fun on a dollar! The party supplies are fabulous! I love getting dishes- use them for giving a plate of goodies away!
They have some name brand food items.. I stay away from food products of China... otherwise, you can budget stretch at Dollar Tree!!!
Reading glasses!! Buy a handful!!!
5 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
GillyO 7/20/2019 10:35:00 AM (No. 128951)
I live in a rural area. Our town has two convenience stores, a Dollar General, a Dollar Tree, a Grocery Outlet, and a local chain grocery store.
Our Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet share a small strip mall, as they do in a lot of rural communities in our state. I'm in them at least twice a week. Grocery Outlet is a full service grocery store with dairy, fresh meat, and fresh produce, all at great prices. They sell overstock and close-dated products from name brand manufacturers. It's always packed with customers.
We also have farmstands, and most of us grow our own vegetables. Our local chain store is outrageously expensive and I refuse to shop there, particularly when I found out they jack up their prices because most of their sales are paid for with food stamps and people don't care how much they have to pay when the taxpayer is paying for it. Frankly, those are the kinds of stores CNN should be investigating.
14 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 7/20/2019 10:36:40 AM (No. 128952)
The problem I see in my general area ( the top half of the Mitten) , is that so many small towns do not have a grocery store that stocks fresh meat ,vegetables , etc.. Dollar Stores take over ( takes them about a week to build a store) as they have great prices. This is a result of their buying power and locations as well as their ability to ship.
Strength in numbers. Sign of the times.
1 person likes this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
WV.Hillbilly 7/20/2019 10:41:08 AM (No. 128955)
Dollar General often locates stores in places where there are no other stores. They have name brand canned goods which Walmart and other big grocery stores have stopped carrying. Their milk is cheaper than Walmart's and Kroger's.
If it threatens mom and pop stores, it's because those mom and pops have held the communities they're in hostage for years. Dirty stores, high prices and old, limited stock. Stores like that put themselves out of business. Consumers vote with their wallets.
12 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
BigGeorgeTX 7/20/2019 10:41:41 AM (No. 128957)
Once again, Liberal elitists making decisions based on their limited world view. Dollar Store's main income is derived from servicing communities where supermarkets are not feasible, i.e. small towns and rural areas. They have these things called Farmer's Markets for their fresh produce or grow it themselves. Without them, many in these communities would have to travel 50 miles or more to have access to a supermarket.
8 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
mc squared 7/20/2019 10:43:04 AM (No. 128959)
OP is right. If dollar stores didn't exist the Dems would be screaming there are no low cost stores in poor neighborhoods.
Remember when the DC city council wanted to levy higher taxes on (only) new Walmart stores then being built? Walmart pulled out, not unlike Amazon in New York City when Cortez blasted them.
Never let any Democrats near a business.
17 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
trackman999 7/20/2019 10:44:14 AM (No. 128964)
Foil pans of every size and shape. Why pay more than a dollar?
6 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
Lucky5 7/20/2019 10:48:24 AM (No. 128973)
One of the Dollar stores near me has the nicest holiday bags and gift boxes, no one else has. We do gift boxes of bakes goods for our neighbors and service people each year, and we love the dollar store for the containers we can get from there. I also have found them to be great on David and Sons pumpkin seeds, and lots of choices on SF candy. Also I like small packaging for certain items. With only two of us in the house, we do not need Costco size at all. Democrats ruin everything they touch.
12 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Scrubber 7/20/2019 11:03:08 AM (No. 128990)
I, uh. I, uh. Is this a joke?
4 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
qr4j 7/20/2019 11:08:14 AM (No. 128996)
Years ago (early- to mid-1990s), my parents lived in a small town in East Central Illinois, population 1,200. It had an IGA (that's a grocery store). Occasionally my family visits that town as we still have friends there. The IGA has been gone quite awhile now. However, on the edge of town Dollar General has moved in. For the folks that live there and do not have the means to get to the next town with a grocery store (13 miles away), I should imagine the Dollar General is a godsend. It is certainly better than a convenient store in terms of price and selection.
I don't think these "dollar stores" are pushing others out. I don't think other stores would be there at all -- whether "there" is a small town in Central Illinois or a poorer neighborhood in the City of Chicago.
The nanny state libs seem to get their knickers in a twist over every last frickin' thing to control people.
10 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
Corndoggies 7/20/2019 11:45:50 AM (No. 129031)
I decided to try Prime Pantry this week on Prime Day. I too, live in a rural area, and do my grocery shopping at an IGA. The closest WalMart is 40 miles away so I’ve always figured what I spend on higher IGA prices is offset by gas and time. What I purchased from Prime pantry was so cheap compared to the IGA prices. It’ll only be meat, dairy and produce locally from now on.
2 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
Franz 7/20/2019 11:55:32 AM (No. 129043)
If the "dollar" stores are put out of business, poor people will have to travel farther and pay more for items they need. Walmart did a lot to reduce prices, but opted for fewer stores to increase selection. Both Dollar stores and Walmart have come under attack because many of the other store chains don't like the competition. But, to those on low incomes, they have been a blessing.
7 people like this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
earlybird 7/20/2019 12:02:10 PM (No. 129050)
The supermarket companies appear to be pulling back in many neighborhoods. Ours is not a poor neighborhood, but a lovely Ralph’s (Kroger) shut down a few years ago, with consolidation intended at another nearby market. Meanwhile Aldi has come in, amid skepticism (its brands are mostly its own) and is doing a thriving business. Good pricing and the quality of its produce outstrips the majors…
I have never shopped a Dollar store, but we have 99cent stores that are always busy. Off my radar, but they have always had fresh produce.
4 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
earlybird 7/20/2019 12:07:28 PM (No. 129055)
(hit submit too soon)
When I lived near a 99 cent store, I bought Christmas bags, plasticware, kitchen things…a variety of items
I was interested to read #17. We live in a suburban area where there really are market choices. Trader Joe’s has three stores within easy drives from us. Sprout’s, a fine store that specializes in good meat and produce, along with health food, good bakery, etc., has two outlets near us. And so on. We have an abundance of choices.
3 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
TrueBlueWfan 7/20/2019 12:22:46 PM (No. 129070)
I like dollar stores. I just wonder if the tariffs on China are going to affect these stores because most of the merchandise is made there.
Screw liberals that want to control every aspect of our lives.
4 people like this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
stablemoney 7/20/2019 12:27:39 PM (No. 129073)
Dollar stores bring products closer to people in rural areas throughout America, who would otherwise have nothing. It provides a job where there were none. Dollar stores are the new convenience store and they are very successful, and will continue to expand. I looked up Dollar General, which is more profitable than the pharmacy chains. The left hates everything, which is why I despise the left, and their misery. Please leave me alone to enjoy the happiness of our great economy, and visiting a dollar store when I need to.
4 people like this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
BillW. 7/20/2019 12:28:23 PM (No. 129074)
I'm glad to see this article hit home for so many. It's something even once-normal Dems can appreciate, and which demonstrates what elite progressives are doing to their party and America; more so than our going on and on about the lunatics among them.
MAGA
3 people like this.
I go regularly to my local Dollar Tree for the bargains. It's in the same strip mall as a Winn-Dixie supermarket and both are thriving, so I question the premise that Dollar Trees put supermarkets out of business.
I haven't bought laundry detergent from a supermarket in years (35 loads for $1 ... nope, I won't pay premium for those Fling Things). And helium balloons for a dollar?! No brainer. The supermarket charges $5.99 for the exact same thing. As others said: aluminum foil bakeware, kitchen utensils, can't beat the price. You do have to be cautious on the grocery food items, because they often aren't really a bargain.
But bought a lot of grocery food items there for my 95-year-old mother --- she needed the smaller size, and a small mayonnaise that you would buy at Publix for $3.99, you bought for a $1.
But I still also shop at the supermarket. I buy there the items that are price competitive with the Dollar General. Any grocery owner who can't figure that out, deserves to go out of business. They shouldn't be protected by a government agency. If their business model isn't competitive, then get out.
4 people like this.
Reply 33 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 7/20/2019 12:38:20 PM (No. 129087)
Nathaniel Meyersohn is unclear on economic facts. He has no idea what a franchise is, nor how a franchise operates. Most ''Dollar'' stores are locally owned by one family or perhaps two. This operates like many fast food franchises operate. In the area where I live, one national chain has headquarters and training facilities for franchisees who need it. That means that local families are doing well. Now the liberals are loading their pellet guns at dollar stores like they did Walmart, K-Mart and Target. You'll notice that Target never got the crap thrown at it like the other two did. Target is owned by one of the biggest Democrat Party donors on earth.
4 people like this.
Reply 34 - Posted by:
franq 7/20/2019 12:50:38 PM (No. 129100)
Typical fault finding, from lib CNN. If it was a government program, they would love it.
3 people like this.
Reply 35 - Posted by:
snakeoil 7/20/2019 1:36:50 PM (No. 129135)
Never been to a Dollar Store (Dollar General Store?) But my cousin has. He went there to buy a fly swatter for me. Couldn't find one at the bigger stores. So if you want to introduce bugs to Newton's Laws of Motion go to a Dollar General Store. At least when you go to a Dollar Store you won't have trouble finding a parking place.
2 people like this.
Reply 36 - Posted by:
Chuzzles 7/20/2019 1:47:59 PM (No. 129148)
Depends on what I am looking for. Cooking tools like food storage containers, spatulas and rubber scrapers are great, and I can stock up on them. Their paper products for kid parties, and a number of other aisles are also useful. But unless I am familiar with the brand, I don't buy food there, simply because there are too many problems with recalls on a lot of those made in China food items. It isn't the Dollar Stores responsibility to help those other stores. It is up to the other stores to play smarter if they want to successfully compete.
4 people like this.
Reply 37 - Posted by:
Philipsonh 7/20/2019 2:16:15 PM (No. 129169)
When we go shopping , we pass two 'Dollar' type stores, but we still shop at two nearby supermarkets, and a more distant Wal-Mart, where we can obtain all we need. I think it is nonsense to blackball certain types of stores. In our locale, it isn't these' 'Dollar' types stores that are outlawed, it is the Wal_ Marts, as town officials try to protect local merchants.
1 person likes this.
Reply 38 - Posted by:
thewarden 7/20/2019 2:54:06 PM (No. 129198)
I get my reading glasses there, 10 pair at a time. $10. I step on them, lose them...I keep a pair in my car, in my purse, a pair upstairs at the desk, 2 pair downstairs, etc. They work just fine. Can’t beat it. But that’s all I buy there—here the Dollar Stores are full of illegals so I try to avoid it...
1 person likes this.
Reply 39 - Posted by:
ladydawgfan 7/20/2019 3:33:16 PM (No. 129222)
I shop at Dollar Tree for spices and kitchen stuff. And their Awesome brand cleaner is absolutely amazing for removing permanent marker and grime from hard surfaces. Also, their holiday stuff is nice and varied, and as others have mentioned, cards and stationery items are a fantastic buy there. This is also where I have been able to find gluten-free chicken and beef stock in 32oz containers. And the Dollar Trees around here have a nice selection of fridge and freezer goods.
I also shop at Aldi for my gluten-free bagels, wraps and cake mixes, although Walmart is cheaper on some items. I finish my shopping at Walmart, rarely shopping at our local chain stores in order to save money.
It's called capitalism, baby!!
2 people like this.
Reply 40 - Posted by:
SnowQueen 7/20/2019 4:01:29 PM (No. 129240)
No one has mentioned the remaindered books at Dollar Tree! I usually buy 10 or 20 at a time. They're current hardbacks, straight off the shelves of other stores where they sell for $20 apiece.
1 person likes this.
Reply 41 - Posted by:
Jack44 7/20/2019 10:00:38 PM (No. 129416)
Don't touch my Ding-Dongs or Twinkies.
0 people like this.
Reply 42 - Posted by:
anniebc 7/20/2019 11:25:45 PM (No. 129447)
My head hurts. What is this article about? Stores for the poor are a problem. Leftists are nuts!
0 people like this.
Competition is a good thing. Is Walmart putting the pressure on because it's competition? In a five mile radius there is a Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar, a Target, Walmart, Big Lots, and several grocery stores and a meat market. The only thing I don't like about DT is food from China and other foreign countries. I think the coffee comes from Viet Nam. I will not put an American farmer out of business by buying frozen strawberries (or steak) from China. The only problem is our Dollar General and Family Dollar are really run down. They, along with some of the others, have homeless with back packs stealing. They will not call the police. With all of these stores in a five mile radius, they are all busy. Lot of Mexicans shop them.
1 person likes this.
Reply 44 - Posted by:
Southron 10/5/2021 2:47:32 PM (No. 936139)
For years and years my Number One store for necessities like food and eye glasses and non-necessities. That's the deal. They hook you. - Holiday time is a joy! Also, I always end up spending a few dollars more than I intended to and that is another reason they make Big Bucks.. They don't need for customers. Only thing is that you have to close your eyes to the fact that everything is Made in China.
Final Point: Goodbye Dollar Tree. I'm going to boycott it and ask friends to. I'll buy American and spend more money but darned if I'm going to give them business. Goodbye Dollar Tree!
1 person likes this.
Reply 45 - Posted by:
Penney 10/5/2021 5:10:42 PM (No. 936266)
Years ago some towns shunned having Walmart build there for the same reasons. Now these are the same towns where dollar stores are taking over. They are no different than little Walmarts as the other once thriving small businesses have vanished. Shopping isn't as much fun nor friendly as it was before.
0 people like this.
Comments:
It's hard to make liberals happy. Dollar stores often operate where there are no other stores around. But are now called 'predatory'. And I don't see customer clamoring for Avocado toast or quinoa salads. Chips, Ding-Dongs, and candy bars seem to fly off the shelves.