17 Things to Never Buy at the Dollar Store (According to Reddit Users)
Find out what dollar store items to avoid buying, either because they are of low quality or because you can find a better deal elsewhere.
17 Things to Never Buy at the Dollar Store (According to Reddit Users)
Wondering what things you should never buy at the dollar store?
Reddit users are sharing items that aren’t worth purchasing at the dollar store so you can save your hard-earned money.
Garbage Bags (Store-Brand/Off-Brand)
“Don’t buy their garbage bags – you’ll end up having to double bag and you’re not saving anything. They also don’t stop odors due to being so thin.”
—u/Gufurblebits
This Reddit user is most likely referring to off-brand or dollar store brand garbage bags.
If available, buy name-brand garbage bags at the dollar store and avoid the off-brand. Dollar Tree carries Hefty, a good brand that won’t break.
Clothing
“I don’t get any of their other clothing – it doesn’t last long enough. I can find way better quality at the 2nd hand stores for the same price or less.”
—u/Gufurblebits
Toilet Brushes
“Toilet brush. Lasted about 3 times before the brush head snapped off.”
Kid’s Paint
“Paper sure, but please don’t give children paint from the dollar store. It’s basically clear snot with a tiny bit of pigment in it. They will not be able to make any satisfying picture with that.”
—u/jdith123
While many Reddit users cited the horrible quality of dollar store kids’ paint, this Redditor definitely gets points for the most creative description.
Paper Towels and Toilet Paper
“Paper towels and toilet paper (the price is good, but the quality suffers).”
—u/DaCrazyJamez
Pillowcases
“The pillowcase literally disintegrated when I washed it. Terrible.”
Oven Mitts and Pot Holders
“One time I bought an oven mitt there, and I hurt my hand when I used it. So, don’t buy an oven mitt.”
—u/Zelpad
Cereal (Store Brand/Off Brand)
“I also refuse to buy the store brand cereal except for maybe the Cocoa Krispies. The Toasted Oats taste like you’re eating air or cardboard, and they don’t have as many vitamins or minerals like name brands do. “
—u/Zeni-chan
Pens
“And the pens are often just awful. Which is fine if you’re giving them away, but cruddy if you care about pens.”
—u/sanityjanity
Plastic Wrap
“It just turns into a horrible tangled mess, and then doesn’t cling to anything but itself.”
—u/Moojoo0
Cheese
“Don’t buy the cheese product from dollar stores. It’s real bad. It doesn’t melt like cheese, it doesn’t taste like cheese, it’s a very strange product.”
So many Reddit users in different subreddits expressed their dislike for dollar store cheese and also mentioned how it didn’t melt.
Can Openers
“I moved into a new apartment and realized we had no can opener. Found one at the nearby dollar store. It opened exactly one can before it broke.”
—u/Lowly_Peon
If your local dollar store carries name-brand cereal, you’re better off sticking to that than off-brand.
Body Wash (Store-Brand/Off-Brand)
“You need to use so much that you can go through a bottle in a week vs name brands that can last you a month.”
—u/PrincessRuri
If your dollar store carries name-brand body wash, opt for that over off-brand.
Canned Food and Prepared Meal Kits (Sometimes)
Former Dollar Tree employee u/unraveledflyer said, “The canned goods are overpriced compared to places like Aldi.”
They also mentioned, “Avoid prepared meal kits like Hamburger Helper and Suddenly Salad unless you find a bonus box as the others are usually the small boxes a lot of stores have for cheaper.”
(Sometimes canned food at Dollar Tree is more expensive than other stores, while other times it’s the cheaper option. Be sure to compare prices.)
Cell Phone Chargers
“The worst might be their chargers for cell phones.”
Other Redditors also felt cell phone chargers weren’t worth buying because they didn’t last long and, in some cases, didn’t work right out of the box.
Dollar Store Items Actually Worth Buying
Now that you know some dollar store items to avoid, find out what 21 items Reddit users are saying you should always buy at the dollar store.
