Are the savings real at dollar stores? Here's what you need to know
Are the savings real at dollar stores? Here's what you need to know
QUANECIA: REMEMBER THAT OLD JOKE, THAT THERE鈥橲 A STARBUCKS ON EVE CRYORNER? THESE DAYS, YOU MIGHT BE SEEING MORE DOLLAR STORES THAN COFFEE STOR.ES >> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, DOLLAR STORES OUTNUMBER STARBUCKS AND MCDONALD鈥橲 COMBINED, AND MORE ARE CONGMI IN FACT, FOUR OF 10 STEOR OPENINGS THIS YEAR ARE EXPECTED TO BE DOLLAR STORES. QUANECIA: AND CONSUMERS ARE TNO SHYING AWAY. ACCORDING TO A RECENT CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY, 88% OF AMERINSCA SHOP AT DOLLAR STORES AT LEAST SOMETIMES. THE MOST COMMON REASON? THEY鈥橰E INEXPENSIVE AND CONVENIENT. BUT ARE THE SAVINGS RE?AL CR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER BRIAN VINES SAYS YES, BUT THERE鈥橲 A CAVEAT. >> IN OUR INVESTIGATION, THE DOLLAR STORES, WHEN COMPARED TO NEARBY GCERORY STORES, WERE INDEED CHEAPEST FOR AN ENTIRE PURCHASE FOR EACH OF OUR SHOPPE.RS THEN YOU MIGHT SAVE MORE MONEY AT A DOLLAR STORE, BUT THE SELECTIONS FOR EACH ITEM COULD BE LIMITED. QUANECIA: BECAUSE OF THOSE LIMITED OPTIONS, CR SAYS, DON鈥橳 BOTHER WITH A SHOPPING LIST WHEN YOU GO TO A DOLLAR STORE. INSTEAD, GO IN WITH A STRATEGY, AND BE FLEXIBLE. >> NOT MANY DOLLAR STORES CARRY FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABL, ESBUT THEY OFTEN STOCK FROZEN VERSIONS OF EACH, WHICH CAN BE AS NUTRITIOUS. QUANEC: IAIF YOU鈥橰E IN NEED OF SOME OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINE, SKIP THE NAME BRANDS, LIKE ADVIL AND TYLENOL, AND OPT FHEOR T GENERICS, WHICH ARE CHEMICALLY IDENTICAL AND OFTEN MUCH CHEAPER. AND ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU SH.OP IT鈥橲 IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET MANY OF THE ITESEMS CHEAPER IN BULK AT BIG BOX STORES, BUT IN AN EMERGENCY, OR IF YOU JUST NEED A LITTLE, DOLLAR STORE OFFERINGS ARE USUALLY A GOOD BET. FOR CONSUMER REPORTSI',鈥橫 QUANECIA FRASER.
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Are the savings real at dollar stores? Here's what you need to know
Remember that old joke that there's a Starbucks on every corner? These days you might be seeing more dollar stores than coffee shops. "Believe it or not, dollar stores outnumber Starbucks and McDonald鈥檚 combined 鈥� and more are coming. Four of 10 store openings this year are expected to be dollar stores," said sister station KETV Consumer Reports Investigative Reporter Brian Vines.And consumers are not shying away. According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, 88% of Americans shop at dollar stores at least sometimes. The most common reason? They're inexpensive and convenient.Are the savings real? Yes, but there's a caveat.Watch the video above for the full story.
Remember that old joke that there's a Starbucks on every corner? These days you might be seeing more dollar stores than coffee shops.
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"Believe it or not, dollar stores outnumber Starbucks and McDonald鈥檚 combined 鈥� and more are coming. Four of 10 store openings this year are expected to be dollar stores," said sister station KETV Consumer Reports Investigative Reporter Brian Vines.
And consumers are not shying away. According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, 88% of Americans shop at dollar stores at least sometimes. The most common reason? They're inexpensive and convenient.
Are the savings real? Yes, but there's a caveat.
Watch the video above for the full story.