Comments on: Trip to the 99-Cent Store

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:43:02 +0000

As #8 noted, the “99 cents” store now charges ONE DOLLAR for most items – others are multiples of ten cents. At least one store now charges 3 cents per plastic bag at checkout.

As for food: some of you are simply wrong. Brands sold in chain supermarkets can be found, along with the “what?” names. Always check the expiration date. Many food items are dumped at these stores precisely because the expiration dates are coming up.

By: sharon

sharon — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:42:42 +0000

I’d just like to say that if not for these stores. I would be in deep trouble. (I am unemployed and struggling.) The stores are now full of fresh vegatables in regular size package’s like Vons or anywhere else.
They carry fresh bread, milk,butter, yes real butter, eggs, yogurt, tons of snacks for lunches single servvings of fish, lunch meat. They don’t always have every single thing every single time but there alwys is a subsitute for the smart shopper. Almost everything you can imagine. Anyone who hasn’t checked them out by this time is a little foolish.

By: Amber

Amber — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:48:52 +0000

I love to buy my dishwashing soap (Ajax or Palmolive) at the 99 cents only store. It feels a whole lot better to buy a bottle of soap for a buck than it does to pay $3 for the same thing.

I typically just get housewares at my store. Sometimes I pick up some Swansons chicken broth and some star-shaped pasta if I want to make Chicken and Stars soup (the pasta is at least twenty-five cents less than at my grocery store).

Usually when I go the produce is either non-existant or very picked over, but that’s because I usually don’t get a chance to go until late in the afternoon.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:01:37 +0000

You made several good points in your article Amy. The experience I had with my first 99 cent store went the same way. They are definately an effective money saver despite how the quality of the items may appear to be lesser of that which you can find in the mainstream stores. Great article all around Amy, nice work.

By: Lyn Clarke

Lyn Clarke — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:09:39 +0000

I live in the midwest so we do not have 99¢ stores, but we do have Deals and Dollar Tree. Deals has recently reorganized so that not all products are $1 but there are still some good deals. When I go to a party, I run to Deals to buy party dishes. I would much rather not get my 41 dishes back after a party then my good pieces. Often these stores will have surprising things like sweaters, children’s grade level workbooks, or casserole dishes’ carriers. I have bought all of those in the past. I routinely buy items like fat free salad dressing, greeting cards (50¢), reader glasses, fig newtons, and bagels. Before a trip, I buy items which I leave at the other end like umbrellas or flip flops. No, I do not buy the bulk of my shopping at a dollar store, but I certainly would miss not having one near me.

By: Texas Girl

Texas Girl — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:52:04 +0000

ICK ~ you can HAVE your .99 store food! I do shop there if I have to run in and buy a bottle of windex or something NON edible to avoid walking 10 miles through Super WalMart to get one thing and then stand in their long lines, but I have been duped into buying the cheap wine glasses which shattered in the dishwashwer on the first use, the 99 placemats that were *REALLY* cute and literally shredded in the washer the first time I washed them, and a can of corn I bought for a casserole that had chunks of something black and hard throughout….makes you wonder if they canned it right there in the fields of Mexico??

I will *NEVER* buy food or re-usable goods there. Cleaning products, yes. Plastic shoe storage boxes, yes. That’s about it.

By: Panda Bear

Panda Bear — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:50:52 +0000

Think about this: How can they sell things so cheap and still make enough of a profit to stay in business?
I went to the local 99.cents store and I found the answer to the above question; they had some name brands such as Campbells’ Spaghetti-O’s, Ravioli, etc., HOWEVER they were outdated by over a year~GROSS! (and I live in a large metropolitan area on the west coast, by the way, so don’t think that I’m a hick from the hills!)
The heads of lettuce were OOZING some kind of dark, foamy, thick liquid and had definitely seen better days~GROSS!
In a recent article mentioned “CHEAP TOYS”- I’m sure it read it- well, talk about CHEAP TOYS! All from CHINA and you know what that says.
No, you can have your .99-cents stores. I’m still fulfilling my fantasies about spending the day at Wally World! They may carry items that are cheaply produced and from China as well, BUT at least you have the choice of buying MADE IN USA from Sam! .99-cents stores are just GROSS!

By: Nadine

Nadine — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:40:47 +0000

Thank you for sharing your shopping experience at the 99-cents store. I would like to share with readers that not all 99 Cents stores are made equal. The original 99 cents store was opened in Los Angeles, CA by Dave Gold, founder of the 99 Cents Only Stores based out out of City of Commerce, CA. These stores are the ones with the green “only” on logo and where nothing in the store is over 99.99¢, basically nothing over $1. You can find them in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. It is no big surprise that love these stores! They always have something new and of great value, which always results in purchasing more things than I intended when I walked into store – but I have never had any regrets!
I encourage everyone to visit one and check out for yourself what the buzz is about – I guarantee that you will be pleasantly surprised. You’ll find name brand items as well as food and beverage including produce, fresh baked goods, wine (at some stores), pasta and a variety of condiments to compliment your cooking recipes. To find out the store nearest you go to http://www.99only.com. There slogan is “Shop us First” – I tried that once and realized that I can get many of my day-to-day items that are priced significantly higher at other stores. All the best.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:20:58 +0000

One time I put together some children’s gift bags for a friend’s wedding – the markers, crayons, etc., that I found for my goody bags were an absolute steal at the dollar store.

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:43:57 +0000

Always check in at our local Dollar Tree. Over the years I have come across some incredible bargains