Best dollar store – SES Global

Dollar Tree vs. Dollar General: Which Is Better

Stacking coupons, cash back app rewards, and in-store discounts can be an amazing way to score big savings. Check the small print and the store’s rules as you can’t always use, say, a coupon and a cash back bonus for the same product. But when you can, it means more money in your bank account for other things.

Which Dollar Store Should You Really Be Shopping At?

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After 35 years, Dollar Tree raised its prices for all products to $1.25.
Dollar General offers a wider variety of products, but prices range from $3 to $10.
Family Dollar was purchased by Dollar Tree in 2015, and the majority of its products are $3 to $5.

There’s no denying that dollar stores can be a great spot for budget-friendly shopping. In fact, according to a report by the Institute For Local Self-Reliance, in 2021, almost half of all new stores opened in the U.S. were chain dollar stores. There are now over 35,000 dollar stores, more than the combined total of all McDonalds, Starbucks, Target, and Walmart locations.

There is a reason why dollar stores are popping up all over the nation. Whether you’re looking for household items, party supplies, or snacks, dollar stores offer a wide range of products at incredibly affordable prices. But with so many, it can be difficult to determine which one is actually the best to shop at and get the best bang for your buck.

The two largest players in the U.S. dollar store market are Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which purchased Family Dollar in 2015. We’ll take a closer look at these three dollar stores and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision for where to shop.

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is one of the biggest and most well-known dollar stores in the country. As its name suggests, for 35 years, everything at Dollar Tree was $1. However, with inflation hitting 40-year highs, in November 2021 Dollar Tree announced that all of its merchandise would be raised to $1.25, a 25% increase in prices.

The company announced that as a result of the increase, it would reintroduce items that were constrained by the $1 price point and “materially expand its offerings, introduce new products and sizes, and provide families with more of their daily essentials.”

Even with the price increase, Dollar Tree’s 2022 revenue grew by 9% from the previous year and it opened over 460 new stores. Dollar Tree plans to open 650 more stores this year. Demand for Dollar Tree products remains high. This includes everything from cleaning supplies to snacks to holiday decorations.

One of the biggest perks of shopping at Dollar Tree is that you never have to question the price of anything you pick up. However, it is important to note that while the prices are still incredibly affordable, the quality of some items may not be quite as high and the availability of items is unpredictable.

Dollar General

Dollar General is another popular dollar store chain. Unlike Dollar Tree, not everything at Dollar General is one set price. For example, two different Schick Classic 3-blade, 3-count products are available for $5.35, which is a higher price than you might expect from a dollar store. Prices typically range from $3 to $10 for its products.

That being said, you can still find some great deals at this store. Even with more brand name products being introduced at Dollar General, the company advertises that over 2,000 items are still available for $1 or less. Dollar General is particularly known for its wide selection of household and cleaning products.

The store also offers a range of grocery items, including both name-brand and generic products. Based on your location, many stores also have coupons and deals for certain products.

Dollar General’s net sales grew by over 10% and it opened 1,000 new stores in 2022. This year it plans to open 1,050 new stores, remodel another 2,000, and relocate 120 other stores. Dollar General is the largest dollar store with more than 19,000 locations.

Dollar General also has an app that offers significant discounts every week. One downside of shopping at Dollar General is that its prices can vary, making it a less predictable budget shopping destination.

Family Dollar

Family Dollar was bought by Dollar Tree in 2015. Together, both Dollar Tree and Family Dollar have over 16,000 locations. Unlike Dollar Tree, not everything at Family Dollar costs just $1.25. Prices for its items range between $1 to $10, with most items typically costing from $3 to $5. However, you can still find plenty of great deals on a variety of household and grocery items.

Family Dollar is known for its wide selection of snacks and packaged foods. Additionally, the store often runs sales and promotions that can help you save even more money. Family Dollar’s net sales grew by almost 6% in 2022.

When it comes to picking a dollar store, there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer. Each chain has its own pros and cons. The type of product varies at each store based on season, location, and availability. The best store will be based on your shopping preferences, as well as the quality and quantity you want.

Remember, just because something is cheap doesn’t necessarily mean you are getting a good deal. Dollar stores are able to offer lower prices because many of their products are smaller in size. You will want to compare the price per unit to be able to compare apples to apples. While Dollar Tree is a great option if you want everything to cost just $1.25, the quality and variety of products may not be as high as what you would find at other stores. Dollar General and Family Dollar both offer a wider range of items and may have more sales and promotions, but their prices can vary. It is best to take the time to compare prices and selections at each of these stores to determine which one is truly the best fit for your budget and shopping needs.

Dollar Tree vs. Dollar General: Which Is Better?

Dollar Tree held on to its $1 pricing for much longer than Dollar General, but it’s now experimenting with other price points.
Dollar General has a stronger online presence with an easy-to-use website and plenty of digital deals.
Both chains are working to give customers more fresh produce in more stores.

Dollar stores have exploded in popularity in recent years as hard-up shoppers look for ways to shave their grocery bills in the face of skyrocketing prices. We compared two of the biggest names in dollar store shopping, Dollar General and Dollar Tree (which includes Dollar Tree and Family Dollar). Read on to find out which one came out on top.

Dollar Tree: More items that cost around $1

The dollar store concept started in the 1950s with a premise that no item would cost more than $1. Even before the sky-high inflation of recent years, that idea had started to become unfeasible — Dollar General pulled away from the $1 price point decades ago. This means it now has a wider range of products at budget prices, even though things often cost more than $1.

In contrast, Dollar Tree stuck to its guns and only pushed its prices up to $1.25 at the end of 2021. It’s now experimenting with other prices. This includes taking some items back to $1 while also selling products at $3, $4, and $5. In time, the higher price points will mean it can expand its range, but it’s not there yet.

Here’s the thing. Just because something costs $1 (or $1.25), it doesn’t automatically make it a good value. Sometimes it is, but you’ll only know if you look at the price per ounce or per fluid ounce. For example, Dollar Tree’s 8 fluid ounce bottle of Tide laundry detergent costs $1.25, which is $0.16 per fluid ounce. Dollar General sells a 115 fluid ounce bottle at $15.95, which is $0.14 per fluid ounce. It’s a different story if you only have $1 to spend, but often a bigger package works out cheaper in the long run.

Dollar General: Partnership with Ibotta

Most dollar stores accept coupons and you can also use cash back apps to get rewards on your spending, though the specifics vary from store to store. For sure, you can use Ibotta at both Dollar General and Dollar Tree. But Dollar General now has a specific partnership with Ibotta that lets customers earn cash back in their Dollar General Wallet.

Stacking coupons, cash back app rewards, and in-store discounts can be an amazing way to score big savings. Check the small print and the store’s rules as you can’t always use, say, a coupon and a cash back bonus for the same product. But when you can, it means more money in your bank account for other things.

Dollar Tree: More stores selling fresh produce

Dollar stores don’t have a great reputation when it comes to selling fresh produce, but that is starting to change. Being able to buy fresh produce in a dollar store is a big deal if that’s the only store you’re able to get to easily. As such, it’s great to see both Dollar Tree and Dollar General expanding their fruit and vegetable options.

Dollar General introduced its DG Fresh program in 2019 and has continued to expand its fruit and vegetable offerings since then. Dollar Tree piloted fresh produce a few years later, and has been aggressively growing its frozen and refrigerated options in recent years. In its most recent earnings call, Dollar Tree said its frozen and refrigerated product ranges — which include fresh produce — are now available in nearly 5,600 stores, which is about a third of the total number of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores combined.

Dollar General currently sells fresh produce in about 20% of its stores and its website says it has plans to significantly increase this number. Right now, about 3,900 Dollar General stores sell produce such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, and potatoes. In the next few years it plans to make produce available in as many as 10,000 stores.

Dollar General: Excellent online experience

When it comes to shopping online, Dollar General is far superior to Dollar Tree. It has a broad range of products, digital coupons, and the site is super easy to use. In contrast, when you shop with Dollar Tree online, you often have to buy a whole box or case. That might mean buying 12 jars of peanut butter or 24 tins of ground black pepper. It’s possible to buy some items in smaller quantities, but on the whole you’re stuck with boxes.

Ultimately, bulk-buying does not make sense at Dollar Tree. If we go back to the example of 8 fluid ounce bottles of Tide laundry detergent, a case of 12 would set you back $15. You’d get 96 fluid ounces in total. For $15.95, you could get one big 115 fluid ounce bottle at Dollar General, which would be better for the environment and your wallet.

Bottom line: Dollar General is better than Dollar Tree

A lot depends on your shopping habits and, in some cases, which store is closest. But, for me, Dollar General’s wider range of products combined with a much stronger online store put it ahead of Dollar Tree. Whichever one you shop at, be sure to carefully compare prices and use coupons and apps for extra savings. Having “dollar” in the store name doesn’t always make it the lowest-cost option.

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