Dollar Store deals real?

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - Dollar Tree is the largest chain of its type, claiming to sell everything in the store for $1.

The store carries a variety of items: tools, health and beauty aides, toys, groceries, party goods and school supplies. But customers beware: Although stores such as Dollar Tree offer great deals on some items, it is not always the best place to shop.

24 Hour News 8 priced 63 items at Dollar Tree in Kentwood, compared to the same or similar items from discount powerhouse Walmart.

Of the 63 items, Dollar Tree prices beat Walmart's on 38 items.

On 18 items, there was no price difference and on 10 items, Walmart was the price leader. 24 Hour News 8 could not find equal comparison on three of the items, such as $1 Mylar balloons.

The best Dollar Tree deals were on household supplies and health and beauty aids.

In the health and beauty aides department, 24 Hour News 8 found several steals: rubberback hair brushes, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, name brand toothbrushes and cotton swabs.

In the tool department, there was a 25-foot tape measure. The least expensive one at Wal-Mart was $4.94. Other good deals at Dollar Tree were: light bulbs, packaging and masking tape, aluminum pans and mesh laundry bags.

Sara Kadwell shops at Dollar Tree a couple of times each month with her son.

"I just think it's a good deal and I really enjoy coming," Kadwell said. "He likes toys. And it doesn't matter the quality, and most of it's fine, anyway."

Off-brand items are common at dollar stores. Name-brand things are hit or miss. Sometimes the stores will offer close-out items, which big stores are trying to discontinue.

But dollar and discount stores can be a pitfall for some customers, said David Treul, an instructor at the MSU/Kent County Extension Office. He teaches a money management course called Dollar Sense.

"Just because something's a dollar doesn't make it a good purchase," he said. "You can go broke one buck at a time.

"You can go into these stores for one thing, and indeed, it might be the best price in town, but once you're there, everything's only a buck."

Dollar Tree's typical customer is not necessarily a budget shopper, but someone with discretionary cash who enjoys the thrill of hunting for a bargain, a store employee said.

But keep in mind: if you spend more than $20 per week in a dollar or discount store, that totals more than $1,000 each year.

One of the problems with dollar stores is quantity. In order to sell merchandise for $1, sometimes, the quantity suffers. When it comes to frequently used items, do the math to ensure you are actually getting a good deal.

For example, purchasing Reynolds Wrap at Dollar Tree is not a good deal, considering value. The Reynolds Wrap sold for $1, but there was only 25 feet.

Buying the product in a larger quantity from Walmart was a better deal.

To avoid overspending at discount stores, stick to a budget. Select items dollar stores usually have in stock, and buy those things only.

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Dollar Store vs Walmart comparison