16 of the Worst Things to Buy at a Dollar Store

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exasperated mom shopping with daughter for toys
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Dollar stores can be great places to pick up cheap wares, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Rather than a bargain, you could end up with something worthless — or, even worse, something dangerous.

Following are things we think you should avoid buying at a dollar store.

1. Pet food

pets chow dinner food
By Chendongshan / Shutterstock.com

My dollar store sells 12-ounce bags of cat food and 16-ounce bags of dog food for $1. But if you are going for the cheapest food possible, you’re better off with a bigger bag from the supermarket. The store-brand dog food in my area is priced at $14.99 for an 18.5-pound bag. That’s about 81 cents a pound and cheaper than the dollar store. Cat food prices are similar.

However, price isn’t the only reason to skip dollar store pet food. Unless you have the tiniest of dogs, 16 ounces of food won’t last long. For convenience’s sake, buy a bigger bag elsewhere — such as at one of the retailers we cite in “8 Ways to Save Money on Pet Food.”

2. Oven mitts

Woman baking
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While washcloths and dish towels are a best buy at the dollar store, steer clear of the oven mitts. Made with thinner material, these may be a burn just waiting to happen.

3. Tools

Man holding tools
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If you don’t expect to use a tool much, you might be able to make do with the low-quality options you’re likely to find at a dollar store.

Otherwise, your best bet is to buy quality tools. Look for trusted brand names and make sure your purchase can be returned if it is faulty.

If you want to save money without sacrificing quality, consider buying used. We cite tools in both “17 Things You Should Buy at Thrift Stores” and “12 Things I Always Buy at Estate Sales.”

4. Garbage bags

Garbage in a trash can outside a home
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Oven mitts aren’t the only things that are thin at the dollar store. Off-brand garbage bags may be made of flimsy plastic that could rip on the way out the door. They may work for carrying light items to the curb, but for kitchen waste and heavier trash, invest in better bags from the supermarket or your wholesale club.

5. School supplies

back-to-school shopping
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Once we pass the midpoint of summer, office supply stores and big-box retailers start practically giving away school supplies to get shoppers in the door. These deeply discounted items can be brand names too, rather than generic, dollar-store equivalents that often don’t work as well.

Bottom line: Skip the dollar store for school supplies and wait for the sales at other retailers.

6. Soda

Glass of soda
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Dollar Tree sells massive 2.75-liter bottles of store-brand soda for $1.25. That sounds like a deal, but the reviews online are mixed. So, try one bottle before stocking your fridge.

Brand-name soda may also be available at the dollar store, but these often come in smaller sizes. If you are particular to a specific brand, you may be better off stocking up when there is a deal at the supermarket. My local store usually has deep discounts on 2-liter bottles around events such as the Super Bowl and Fourth of July. Prices generally work out to less than $1 each.

7. Over-the-counter medicine

Woman taking a pill
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In theory, all over-the-counter medications must meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards. But the reality is that some stores have received products from foreign manufacturers that are potentially unsafe.

For instance, in 2019, the FDA sent a warning letter to Dollar Tree that said the manufacturers of products received by the retailer “show a pattern of serious violations of the law, such as not testing raw materials or finished drugs for pathogens and quality.”

8. Vitamins

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Just as over-the-counter medicines sold at dollar stores can be of questionable quality, so too can vitamins. Past testing at Consumer Reports has shown that off-brand vitamins sold at some discount stores didn’t contain the level of nutrients claimed on the label.

9. Gifts

Upset women opening a bad gift
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Are you really buying a gift for someone at the dollar store? Party favors and items for white-elephant exchanges are one thing, but getting a dollar store gift for someone you love seems, um, tacky.

If you truly can’t afford to spend more than a couple of bucks, get a greeting card from the dollar store, write a heartfelt note and maybe slip in an instant lottery ticket if your state sells them and your recipient isn’t opposed to gambling.

10. Shampoo and beauty products

Iakov Filiminov / Shutterstock.com
Iakov Filiminov / Shutterstock.com

Opinions seem to be mixed on dollar store shampoo and beauty products, but they get a thumbs down from us. Not because of any safety concern, but because they often don’t provide great value.

We find that many dollar stores stock itty-bitty bottles compared with what you get elsewhere. So you may not be paying a lot, but you’re not getting a lot either. You might find a better value by buying beauty products elsewhere and taking advantage of coupons and sales.

11. Paper goods

Gavran333 / Shutterstock.com
Gavran333 / Shutterstock.com

You’re welcome to try dollar-store toilet paper, but we don’t recommend it. Often having fewer fibers than other brands, no-name paper can make for a less than ideal outcome. We won’t elaborate.

As for the brand-name toilet paper, tissues and paper towels at dollar stores, you may find the same problem we discovered with shampoo. Small sizes and fewer sheets mean the dollar store price isn’t much of a bargain.

Try checking your warehouse club or otherwise buying in bulk to get the best quality for the lowest per-unit price. Paper goods are one of the bargains in “The 15 Best Things to Buy at Warehouse Clubs.”

12. Electrical cords and other electrical devices

CHAILUK CHALATHAI / Shutterstock.com
CHAILUK CHALATHAI / Shutterstock.com

If you would rather not reduce your home to smoldering embers, we suggest steering clear of cords and electrical devices from dollar stores.

That may sound dramatic, but dollar stores don’t have a great track record of quality control when it comes to cords and electronics.

As far back as 1999, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned about faulty, low-priced, made-in-China power strips, extension cords and surge protectors sold by discount stores and small retailers.

13. Toys

Father playing with his child
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The problem, to be blunt, is that dollar store toys are trash.

We’re talking about stuff that breaks if you look at it wrong. The wheels fall off, the batteries won’t work or your 3-year-old will snap it in two before you’ve even hit the parking lot. Then, you’ll be left a buck or two poorer with a broken toy and an upset child.

What’s more, safety can be an issue. Dollar store toys have a history of recalls because they contain lead or have parts that can break off and present a choking hazard. You can search for recalls on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

We suggest that you’re better off paying a little more and steering clear of the tears, frustration and potential danger that comes with cheaply made toys.

14. Canned and boxed foods

HeinzTeh / Shutterstock.com
HeinzTeh / Shutterstock.com

Most dollar stores carry a selection of canned, boxed and bagged foods that may include many brand names. Some stores may even have a grocery section complete with meat and produce.

While the dollar pricing may seem like a bargain, you could also find many of these items on sale at your grocery store for less. In particular, grocery supercenters such as Walmart seem to win the price war for canned and boxed foods.

15. Kitchen knives

woman chopping vegetables
Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com

Quality concerns also get kitchen knives placed on the do-not-buy list.

Dollar store knives can be flimsy and dull. Both are bad when you’re trying to cut your food and not your fingers.

16. Batteries

Jose Angel Astor Rocha / Shutterstock.com
Jose Angel Astor Rocha / Shutterstock.com

In a pinch, dollar store batteries will work just fine but don’t expect them to perform like the brand names.

Dollar store batteries may be made of zinc-carbon rather than longer-lasting alkaline. Plus, they may store less energy and be prone to leaking.

If they’re super cheap, they still may be worth the tradeoff. However, for high-use items, a better battery may be more convenient since it won’t have to be replaced as often.

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