I live near a somewhat declasse strip mall which has among its tenants both a Family Dollar and a Dollar Tree, a discount supermarket as well as one of those check cashing joints. While my neighborhood has become more integrated since we moved in in 1988, it remains solidly middle class. In fact, the neighborhood elementary school that services it attains some of the best test scores in the Lehigh Valley, bettering those of far more affluent surrounding school districts.

Anyway, these business establishments enjoy a steady stream of traffic and many of their customers are clearly less affluent than my neighbors. So, why do they shop there?

Simple. This strip mall is located right along a well-traveled bus route. Public transportation and not the fact that these stores are less overwhelming may have much to do with their success. In the Lehigh Valley the Wal-Marts are miles out of town in the suburbs. You need a car to get to them. If you don't have a car, they just might as well be located on Pluto as far as the working poor is concerned. That, and the fact that many of the staff at the Dollar stores are Hispanic, which means that somone whose English skills are limited has a better chance of getting help.

Oh, and lest you think I'm too good to shop at these stores, I walk to them quite often. They're great for things like underwear, cleaning supplies and minor household goods. In fact, I can go there to get my haircut, buy some necessities and get a bagel with cream cheese and lox.

They're great for things like underwear? Really? I must admit, I never considered shopping for underwear at Dollar General. Actually, come to think of it, I never shop for underwear at all. I leave it to my mother. She's got this whole "nurturing" thing that she can't seem to let go of, so I consider it a harmless indulgence.

Those stores are good for two things

1: people who don't have much money and settle for overstock \ factory seconds.

2: people who don't have transportation to anywhere else which is directly related to 1

Yes... they do serve a purpose and probably even more so now

for a buck! PTL..... ;)

Dollar stores are also great for when you go to the movies and want to spend 1 dollar on a bag of skittles instead of 5. People should go to dollar stores just to look around at all the stuff. It's good times, and you might find something you want too. =)

I don't just go into a store to look around.

Normally when I go shopping, it's for something specific that I want or need.

The last thing I need to do is go into a dollar store and end up impulse buying a cupie doll or an ink pen shaped like a tad pole thats just going to sit around collecting dust.

It drives me crazy when I walk into someones house and they have every corner packed with two dollar items that say " made in china " on them

dont_jones_for_nothing:

It drives me crazy when I walk into someones house and they have every corner packed with two dollar items that say " made in china " on them

Why does that drive you crazy? You don't sound like a very polite guest.

I make good money.

I shop at my local dollar star (may be a .99 cent store, maybe a DG, not sure) because I don't see why I should pay:

1) $2.35 for 50 styrofoam bowls/plates instead of $1.00.

2) $2.65 for a roll of paper towels instead of a $1.00

3) $5.89 for shampoo instead of $1.00

There are a few items over $1 that are still much less expensive (laundry soap).

The results seem to be the same.

MSN did an interesting slide show that compares the best dollar store buys and the worst dollar store buys. Shampoo (which I always buy at the dollar store) is one of the best buys. <link>

Just kidding.

[I think.]

We have a dollar general about two blocks away from my house. It's good for quick buys and is cheaper than going to a drug store and is really the only place for random stuff (dish soap, cleaners, salt, sharpies, etc.) that's within walking distance.

Though, for some items it's been my experience that's not worth going cheap with -- underwear and toilet paper come immediately to mind. I've also been very wary of off lot toothpaste since the scare last summer.