I worked at Dollar Tree and can attest they treat their employees like crap and do nothing for them. The 2 managers, the only full-time employees there, were both on food stamps. And worked 40-60 hr weeks. Not to mention, we weren't allowed to ban people for assaulting or threatening staff only for theft. And we were harassed and screamed at by some of the worst people in town. Bottom line, there is way more stuff wrong with dollar tree as a company than what they listed.
When Dollar Tree increased its prices to $1.25 it also added new lines of $3 and $5 items, such as storage totes and kitchenware. Shoppers no longer can expect everything on the shelves to be the same price and now need to check price-tags to avoid a shock at the register when several of the things they thought were $1.25 are $5 each.
Exactly, they said in the first minuite of video this struggle started happening in past 2 years,, and what you outlined is what happened the past 2 years. They took there record profits during pandemic and told themselves, hey, we can make even more money with higher priced items, and now they are no longer "dollar" stores, just lesser 5 belows. Common sense as always lost to "journalists"
@@Cuteanimalandtravelshortsnot at my local store. They’ll have one item in the entire row that has a tiny $5 tag on the shelf under it, that is otherwise surrounded by $1.25 tags and priced items. It’s pretty deceptive imo. If youre in a rush you wouldn’t notice.
Prices went up and the stores are filthy. I tolerated the gross stores when everything was actually $1 at dollar tree. But when they increased prices, I couldn’t justify the cost. Might as well drive to Walmart or Target if I’m going to post the same price, get a better product and have a cleaner experience. This is a no brainer 🙄
Some how they missed that. From 2011 to 2018? Dollar store was quick to get in and out and much less than Walmart and small sizes are great for one or two person households. 2020+? prices went way up relative to Walmart which was cheaper.
@@pcofranc More like Walmart is able to keep prices down in an inflationary environment because it's such a behemoth, whereas the Dollar stores could not. It's like McDonalds bringing back the Dollar menu every time there's a recession, Walmart decided to keep prices down and that put many Dollar stores out of business.
A lot of these stores don’t even hire enough employees to put the merchandise on the shelves. The pay is horrible. I remember working and trying to motivate my employees to focus on making the store look presentable and customers noticed.
My family own a a couple of dollar stores, yes we are indian decend... not those Indian indian from america but indian indian like the CEO of google and those places when you get curries before or after your night out in the bars. We make good profits, we buy items/food that cost 80-90 cents and sells them for $1 or more. We wont make profits like Tesla or facebook but its easy money.
Our store was half empty shelves, many times the location is near a lot of homeless I see literally filling up their backpacks and leaving. This kind of model is probably set to fail if like that.
Typical in small stores. Corporate overbuys items because they can only get stuff in bulk and then expect the stores to handle it. Items are usually bundled together, so a lot of stuff never sells but is necessary in order to get the stuff that does.
As a disabled person these crappy wages are more than likely lifesaving for ssdi ppl that can’t make alot of money ($1400) outside our monthly deposits.
@@cowboydelnorte3078 Yeah, it’s an okay option if you only need a little bit of something. But it’s often more expensive per ounce than at Walmart or Target. I’ll sometimes go to one if I just need one or two of something instead having to buy a whole package at a big-box store.
Also, like 99 Cent stores the produce department is disgusting, with 🐜 bugs usually knats. And, customer service is sh@t along with their inventory management. Not to mention brick and mortar stores are dying except for the select few big box stores who are beginning to implement AI and robots to get some of more repetitive jobs done. They should look at Trader Joe’s model, be good at what YOU do, stay in your lane for the most part. Make sure your employees care by paying them decently and provide your customer with above par experience in your store. They aren’t perfect but close. Almost every employee is nice and will go the extra mile to help you. And, quality is amazing and prices are in most cases less, except for some of their fresh meat.
Agreed.... Well all the stores were jacking up their prices to try to get back their COVID money losses people flocked to these stores for so many items and then they turn around and jack the prices up on us when the reality was that more people were going to come to these stores as the other stores jacked up prices have they just held the line
I don't mind it but I refuse to buy anything higher than $1.25 from Dollar Tree. They are off their rockers selling items for $3, and $5 and blah blah blah.
Any business that can't meet minimum standards in workplace safety, employee treatment and compensation, customer service, and competitive pricing, it doesn't deserve to remain in business.
@@KameraShy Cluttered aisles for one thing. Unopened and opened boxes of product strewn in the aisles) I' am sure that doesn't meet fire code regulations. And not hiring an adequate number of employees tends to lead to overwork and unsafe working conditions. Plus I would imagine that security isn't up to par in some locations.
@@saibata750 Well, as American consumers we are a party to that problem. If we didn't buy products from those companies, maybe they wouldn't be in business. But that is the choice we made over 40 years ago when retailers like Walmart took over the suburban landscape.
It used to be that psychology of "everything is a dollar". Then, they went to $1.25 and I think that screwed them because now you're thinking, "I can get this cheaper at (wherever)." Then, they added more expensive items, sometimes creating a bait 'n switch. I've cut down going to Dollar Tree because they'll put $5 items on the $1.25 shelf, then you go to check out and get the surprise. I think that they believe you'll just be like, "Oh, I'll take it anyway." No, you can't be further from the truth.
Walmart is CHEAPER than dollar general. DG is a RIPOFF. Dollar tree also sells canned goods and tuna pouches at $1.25 when most canned goods and tuna pouches are 88 cents at Walmart
Nearest Walmart is about 45mins to an hour away. Dollar General on the other hand, have 2 within 15 mins of me, and a third within 20 mins. What you save at Walmart is wiped out on gas and time.
@@mgsdrp Yeah I imagine people in rural areas shop at Dollar General for the same reason people in Urban areas shop at CVS or 7/11 even though both are much more expensive than Walmart.
Spend your money wisely-invest in quality where it counts, for it often outlasts the cost of cheapness. Yet, remember that sometimes the simplest, least expensive option is the real gem in disguise.
I hope we all know that it doesn't matter who is in the 'top job' because this is a systemic problem -- greed. We have allowed many of our economic sectors, to take advantage of the American people. It's disgusting and frightening for the future of our country. My wife and I will be retiring in the next two years n another country. We are absolutely worried that SSI will no longer be funded. we'll have to rely on his pension, a 403 (b) and a very prolific Investment account with my Stephanie Janis Stiefel my FA. Our national debt is bloating and expanding every month. Our government needs to get spending under control and cut the federal budget.
I went through some rough financial times some years back and DT really kept me afloat. My finances have improved and I now buy things in bulk at other places. I will still go there for some items. Some batteries, vases, candle holders, candles, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc. Been known to buy frozen sandwiches for work. Same brand is more expensive at grocery stores. But I mostly cook at home and take food to work. Count yourself as privileged if you have never HAD to rely on dollar stores.
People hate Dollar General around here because they keep cutting staff so the stores are dirty and a mess. They used to be a decent place to go and Walmart is a long ways away but they quit caring so locals have quit going.
Dollar General has also been accused and sued in several states of cheating customers on pricing. They'll increase the prices in their system that you get charged at checkout but not fix the shelf lable. When called out, they use their overworked labor issues as an excuse but it's been found that they deliberately do this. I've also experienced this first hand.
Yup, same here. Plus, their supposed money saving app with coupons never ever works. So you are then stuck at the register paying full price. It's a scam for sure.
3 things left out of video: 1) The rise of online shopping at Temu and Shein 2) Walmart dropping the price on the same things Dollar store has so that the same items are cheaper than $1.25 and 3) The underestimation of higher income people that shop in dollar stores.
Dollar tree raised their prices, got rid of a lot, and then replaced it with $3-5 stuff that you can get at the grocery store or Five Below for cheaper or better quality.
If you can avoid shopping at either, please do. I worked at the DG home office in Goodlettsville, TN. The corporate office is so disconnected from what's going on at the stores, and are indifferent to what they do know. They save money by overworking employees but also cutting their hours.
I can attest to this! 2015 I worked in HR because they give free daycare. The pay was great! The job great! But they were clueless to what DGs image was, customer base was, how bad it was in the stores, the isles impassable, employee turnover over, etc etc etc ! I was dumbfounded. I moved away from Nashville in 2016 so I had to quit. But the ONLY stores looking great are NEW BUILDS. The old ones are absolutely disgusting
@@ArizonaY2K If were in HR at the SSC in Goodlettsville in 2015, I am almost positive I would know who you were. :D I was in desktop support, but under Genpact, not DG. IIRC October of 2015 is when they laid off those 130ish SSC employees.
@ small world! I lived over in gallatin. I loved the job and the bennys were amazing. I just couldn’t do that area anymore lol had to go small town! I hope you are doing well 😊
Love how these experts all say the job market is still very strong, yet people are making less money all the time and everybody is losing their jobs to corporate downsizing, while record profits to realized.
Yes!!! Here it was announced property taxes up 40% come 2025 so there goes rents up 40--50--60%. To cover this, be a renter, buying your home or own there is that! Plus increased groceries. Gas, cars plus upkeep,or transportation overall! There is NO BREAK ! Sadly the concept/ reality of only have say a $10 or $20 then it's laundry day, need to go to a laundry mat ...partial dry, bring wet clothes home, hang about the house to finish drying .. or hand wash, machine wáh at home, take to dry , maybe!! Yes, about going down to the river!! These CEOs , gov officials really know or don't but don't hear or listen either!!
Went to dollar tree for the first time in a year or so. It was dirty, aisles blocked, and carried nothing but cheap garbage. I felt like even $1.25 was overpriced for their items and walked out empty handed. To me, it’s poetic justice for these corporations with how they sucked lower income communities dry by running out small businesses and paying inadequate wages.
I am so happy to hear this. Watching DG stores pop up in these "food deserts", only 5 miles down the road from another DG, makes me nauseous. Theyre understaffed, manned by stressed and overworked employees, and filled with boxes... always filled with boxes. If half the stores closed tomorrow, how much grief would it cause? Not much.
Had a friend who was a distribution manager at a Dollar General, they treated him like crap, the workers there like crap, and he left because he had no support.
Honestly, when they increased their cost from one dollar to $1.25, and now they mix in $3 and $5 items in with everything else, I shop there probably about 1/10 of the time and I buy about 1/10 of the things I used to. It’s a confusing shopping experience to echo the person in the video. And I’d rather have a simple easy experience. Dollar Tree is now like Dollar General (which I hate) and I can go to a bigger, better stocked store down the road with more selection to do my shopping and walk out happier.
I used to shop at JC Penny and Kohl's. When i couldn't afford that any more, i shopped at Target. When i couldn't afford thst, i shopped at Walmart. When i couldnt afford that, i shopped at dollar stores. I can't afford that any more so i dont shop anywhere.
I don't think the customer service aspect can be over-emphasized. One of the differences between Aldi and the dollar-type stores is that: at Aldi there are always enough people working to get the job done right. If shoppers are backing up, they open up a new checkout, the shelves are always well-stocked and cliffed. Another factor is that Aldi serves a range of customers; those on a budget can come away with bargains, but they also have nice meats, cheeses, etc. This draws a variety of people into their stores.
Aldi pays really well for a grocery store. My daughter worked there in college and actually struggled to find a job with her degree that paid as well as Aldi. They promote from within, are big on employee safety, and give occasional bonuses for the store performing well. All the things companies should be doing to create a desired work environment. Happy employees equals happy customers
If companies focused on the needs and satisfaction of their customers, instead of putting profits ahead of all else, they would ironically make 2 or 3 times the profit they do now, and everybody would be less stressed and much happier
Someone said that it's time to be concerned when you start to see individuals shoplifting groceries rather than big-screen televisions, and i agree.it's a sign that things are getting tough.Soaring inflation and rising living costs are taking a toll. Interestingly, despite the market struggles, some individuals still earn impressive incomes - over $365,000! I can't help but wish for financial stability like that.
At the most basic level, it's simple. When they moved from "Everything's a Dollar" to "Everything's $1.25 and Up" half of their inventory got priced out by Walmart. People will spend an extra $2.00 in gas to save $0.25... even me. I know, I know.
So true, and for an avid price watcher like me that’s not easily fooled, this was happening before the pandemic. I started noticing some of their toiletries, household products, and food were not the steal they made them out to be. Something that was a dollar would be 88 cents at Walmart. I still find their prices for gift wrap and stationary to be pretty competitive, so I’ll go there for that only….that is, if I have the patience to wait in line for 20 minutes.
I remember reading a news article about Dollar Tree and their raising prices to $1.25. The board voted unanimously to raise prices then gave the CEO a huge raise.
DG merchandise is also lower quality than the same branded stuff at bigger stores. Saw a comparison video for products between Walmart and DG and it's pretty appalling the difference in quality and size for the "same" product.
These dollar stores were NEVER a deal to begin with. As it was stated in the video the better deals were always to be had at your traditional stores. The simple fact is if you are shopping solely based on end price you are losing money. I realize that there are people who either live in food deserts or are down to their last few dollars so these stores help them in a time of need. However the truly economically aware person looks at price per (pound, ounce or whatever) instead of end price.
What really irked me was that they didn't just raise prices to $1.25 (I get it, its needed) but they SHRUNK a lot of the products that they are now charging that $1.25.
Dollar Tree made the worst decision when they decided to buy Family Dollar. Clearly nobody learned anything when Kmart acquired Sears. We saw how well that worked.
@@captiannemo1587 I don't think any have "reopened". There are only nine stores left in the US and one in Puerto Rico. I suspect in five years we will look up and see there are no Sears stores left.
to be fair 12 years ago family dollar and dollar general stores were thriving because the national low income retail grocers weren't offering cheaper goods and commodities. in recent years dollar stores have pitted themselves where there's too many liabilities and risks.
@ Family Dollar was struggling at the the time while Dollar Tree was doing well. There was a lot of criticism of the acquisition. Hindsight is 20/20 but it can be argued that the money DT used for the acquisition could have been better spent on upgrades and investment in technology.
I went to a dollar tree recently. Bought a balloon, a 2L Coke, and a battery. The balloon was $1.5, Coke was $2, and batter was $3…. The magic was gone…
Dollar Tree used to be a go-to for anyone on a tight budget, offering straightforward prices that kept it simple: everything was a dollar. But now? Greed has taken over. Dollar Tree decided to squeeze more out of their loyal, often underprivileged customers by raising prices and adding $3, $5, and even higher price tags to their shelves. What was once a reliable place for affordable essentials has become a frustrating experience, where items cost more than their value and deals are hard to find. Dollar Tree may have thought they could take advantage of people with fewer options, but shoppers aren’t fooled. Those who know real savings will take their business elsewhere. The greed driving these changes is pushing away customers who came for simplicity and affordable prices. When a brand loses sight of its roots, it’s only a matter of time before people find better options and leave it behind.
Inflation has pushed up costs. Why do you think there are no nickel and dime stores left? This is the modern equivalent. Not much wholesale that you can get for 1$.
I used to work for Dollar Tree in the stores heydey. It is a scam. They used to have good products, lots of name brands and sporadic closeout items. They use the workers who are not allowed to have more than 25 hours without permission from their district manager. The truck driver is expected to unload the trailer. Only one employee in the store gets a real wage and they must work 45-60 hours a week with no overtime pay.
@@Tryp-j9d they are truck drivers with years of training to drive dock and then drive back they should not do 15 a hour jobs like stocking they are paid to drive thats it
@@jasonleatherwood2172 not every truck driver has a load that goes to a single store. Drivers with loads for multiple different stores are responsible for unloading. merchandise
People have run out of money to buy "crap". Most people I know are eliminating snack food due to cost. They aren't buying unnecessary things like decorations, cutesy, etc. We also learned to keep an eye on price per ounce. Often other vendors are cheaper! And why use the example of dryer sheets? Most people struggle to just buy detergent! Nevermind unnecessary things like dryer sheets.
Buying seasonal decorations is a waste of money. No one needs new seasonal decor. Bought a big pumpkin it rotted & threw it out did not get another. Everyone must have Christmas decor. Don't buy more.
I do this! 😂😂 One stretch we passed 8 in 50 miles! It's crazy how prevalent they are in rural areas. When I vacation in Kentucky we do a lot of DG shopping because the Walmart is an hour away!
I also buy holiday cards or cards for birthdays and whatnot. The price of greeting cards is absolutely ridiculous so for $1.25 it's worth it to go there for cards.
Dollarama in Canada is really thriving. They manage to compete with Walmart on price. We also have Dollar Tree here, but Dollarama offers better value. The key is that Dollarama sells items priced up to $5, which allows them to offer products in larger sizes, delivering better value. Another benefit of Dollarama's model is that they don't carry perishable foods, which helps them keep prices low and their inventory efficient.
I usually get the Irish spring bar soap, Shampoo and conditioner, razors, and cleaning supplies. All of these items cost 1.25 and last me nearly a month so they are a good deal. Thier food isn’t great deal unless you are just buying rice and beans
Right, but the reason why they've succeeded for so many years is that they went into areas that even WalMart wouldn't go. So imagine if you live in a location and you can walk to a Dollar Tree. An 8 minute drive would get you to a real supermarket with much better unit prices, but you don't own a car. That's the customer Dollar Tree wants. Basically a captive consumer.
In the late summer I was at a Dollar Tree when I learned that the employees apparently do not have access to control the A/C. The employees told me that the temperature was controlled at a remote location, and the A/C was actually cooler in the back for protecting the boxed inventory.
They have run Dollar tree into the ground. That used to be one of my favorite stores. Now it's just another family Dollar. Very sad what they did to the Dollar tree.
Once dollar tree raised their prices they stopped selling a lot of foods and other items. So, now there is not as much items worth buying there. Also the extra .25 means i have to get less because instead of $20 for 20 item's I'm paying about $30 now.
They don’t pay their employees enough and it shows. It’s like being in a store run by a 7-year old. And all the plastics! The place is a nightmare. Close them.
I conveniently buy what i want when i want in small quantities at both General and Tree. Most people including myself only buy the frozen meals. I rarely ever see anyone buying canned or boxed foodstuffs. I shop 3 different Trees and 3 different Generals. I buy the mini ben & jerry's. What good is value in quantity if you don't want to be fat
This is my opportunity to share my story. In the winter of 2021, Houston tx had a once a century winter event which did a number on my house including pipes freezing and busting. I had to go somewhere to go to the bathroom other than my home. I went into a FAMILY DOLLAR and explained the situation that I needed to use the restroom and they refused to let me use there facilities when I had been to other family dollar stores when I lived in Longview tx. And never a problem. The lady was rude saying sarcastic that it's for employees only with a sneer. I called the headquarters and left a message with the complaint depth. And never received as much as a phone call back from them. I will NEVER EVER purchase anything from family dollar ever again!!!
Stores tend to not let the public use bathrooms that are meant for workers only as the standards are very different and so might be really nasty and so to avoid getting sued by the public it can be a really hard set rule - no public use. In some cases if the insurance company of the store finds out customers are using their employee only bathroom they can lose their coverage which is a disaster as the store has to close down without insurance.
Even Dollar General is expensive to go to. They advertise a price reduction on an item, only to find it hasn't. Why so much for Cola products? Things are much more affordable at ALDI's.
I love Aldis but they're crapping the bed lately too. Too many locations and stock outs more frequent. We've also noticed a drop-in quality of some of their offerings. mostly produce. They need to slow down, fix a few glaring issues and get the non-food crap out of there - Aisle of Shame I'm looking at you - and go back to their roots.
We have gone through this “failure” cycle before. Back when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, there were 79 and $0.99 stores. Both of them were the effects of open trade with extremely inexpensive when opened but about a decade or so later, the costs for those businesses were such that they first tried to increase prices, then later failed (because the premise was no longer true).
They're way understaffed and pay horribly. As a result, their stores are a mess. Stuffs are all over the floor and shelves are unorganized. It's miserable to shop there. Compared to Asian budget stores like Daiso, it's night and day. Daiso is clean and organized, easy to find what i want.
2:47 there is your awnser. Greed. They are doing AMAZING last 4 years but they want that growth to NEVER STOP is the issue. Stockholders want 30% growth every year forever. Just be happy that you have a thriving company.
Only fast growing Tech companies target things like 30% growth. Most normal mainstream companies aim for 10% to 25% - Dollar Tree grew in the last 1 year by 15.5% but not all of that is from selling items - the December 2024 report shows that the stores grew in sales by 1.6% so that is really weak, for Walmart it was 5.6% but walmart is playing a totally different game.
@@MrMastrsushiyou’d be a fool to think that. People aren’t the sharpest but they aren’t that stupid to realize the size in a lot of their products reduced when they increased prices to 1.25. I was an avid dollar store shopper but I rarely go there now. May as well go to one of the giants.
@@MrMastrsushi In many communities people are becoming wise to how dollar stores push out local grocery and convenience stores, turning places into food deserts where only fast food and dollar stores are left.
Dollar tree took over a vacant 99 cent store. They did not even bother to refurnish or fix up anything. Grand opening the floors looked dirty. Just added a bunch of shelves and setup inventory. I honestly found 99 cent had better selection.
Also they are not supposed to block the emergency exit in the back - that is a violation. The reason stores are messy is that they don't have enough employees to stock the shelves
My perspective as a russian tourist, who visited US on a budget this summer. These stores are nothing special, they are not cheap, choice is limited and overall atmosphere is poor. You can always find a Walmart or other better grocery store nearby. Tried all of main dollar chains one time each, and have been skipping them after for the whole trip through USA.
I used to hate Walmart-until they were the only big retailer that fed thousands of Americans hot food, water, and ice in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Now I try to buy something from Walmart each week.
I used to shop at Dollar Tree a lot but recently, I find it hard to always find items in stock. I am disabled, so getting in and out of a car is painful but I get out and about to stay active but lately, I have been ordering online from Amazon (cost more) but I items are always in stock, and I can have them delivered. Another reason I have stopped shopping in any stores is, CUSTOMER SERVICE! Employees over the years have become rude and show attitudes they do not want to help you. I was in the check-out and Walmart, again due to my disability, there are times when I am in a lot of pain and want to get in and out of the store, I was trying to do a produce items and couldn't find the 4-digit code and while looking the item up it kept adding to many items. A young lady was standing right there (on her phone) and when I asked for her assistance, she just looked at me and didn't move for a few seconds, I have to ask twice. Had it been a good day, I would have asked for the manager but no worries, Walmart lost me as a customer when they have just showed me how they feel about my kind as customers...BYE!
Very simple...the staff are often rude...the stores are understaffed... most stores are out of carts...the aisles are junky with boxes of inventory in the way...lines are ridiculous...they added prices over a dollar so you have to be careful to not fall in love with a $3 vs $1.25 candle and lastly you can go to walmart and still get .88-$1.00 items now overpriced at Dollar Tree. I shopped at Dollar Tree to avoid Family Dollar and Walmart. Most Dollar Trees are empty now because they killed their brand😢
I live in a rural small town but growing rapidly since moving there in 83’. We have 5X Dollar General and 1X Family Dollar/Dollar Tree. I go there when I don’t want to drive 20 min. to Walmart. 1 register is open if lucky now because of self check out. I can’t imagine their loss prevention now since customers are now operating off the honor system. I’m a teacher in industry and talk to alot of ex-employee’s telling me that they are the worst place to work you could ever imagine after working there a few months they are handed the keys and told you are managing now “Without” the pay! Same story every time from each person I’ve talked to.
4 items at DT were always (!) $4, you weren't supposed to think about it. Just buy the dollar product and move on. Now that half of the items in DT are more than the already upticked 1.25, we all stop and think about each item we put in the cart. And when you start to think about it more, you start to grasp at how much you the consumer are being played. And a lot of consumers do not want to play that game anymore. The way the question is framed makes us believe the customers are the ones that determine if a business succeeds or fails. Not to mention the insulting irony of the name DOLLAR tree, the logo with ONE DOLLAR on it, and as of right now there's not a single item in any of its stores worth one dollar.
Dollar Tree used to be one of my fav places to get toys and games when I was a kid.. but wow.. reading about how they treat employees is depressing. The older I get the more depressed I get seeing the world and what the world is like :((
I shop for specific products at Dollar Tree such as necessities like toiletries, hair accessories, freezer bags. These items are usually a good value compared with other stores including Walmart. It’s the lack of supply of these items that has driven me to shop elsewhere for those same items, despite the higher price. I don’t have time to go to Dollar Tree 6-10 times to buy these items.
The dollar is literally being destroyed / debased / devalued. The best performing asset in the history of the world is BITCOIN. It is by far the best store of value. 10 years from now you’ll be thankful for every dollar you put into it.. My two cents.
Regretting missing out on earlier Bitcoin investments, I kept funds in a HYSA. Now, with $200k to invest, I aim to avoid FOMO and buying at the peak. What's the best approach for a newbie to navigate the market?
I do agree, Investing has gotten difficult especially after pandemic, hence why I decided to use the expertise of an advisor, my spouse kicked against the idea initially, but oh well guess who's best buddies with our advisor now .
Thank you for sharing, I must say, Annette appears to be quite knowledgeable. After coming across her web page, I went through her resume and it was quite impressive. I reached out and scheduled a call.
I work at family dollar and employees (regular guys like me) don't even get PTO its crazy to think they want us to work constantly while managers get PTO.
We have "dollar" in the UK, pound shops we call them, ours have now become the £1.25 shop. You get good brands at decent prices but since the extra 25p went on, the products aren't the same, seem to be even cheaper quality. They're good for cleaning stuff and stationery and that's it now.
No one wants to work there for $11 an hour Where they can get another job that pays $15 and up an hour People are not spending like they used to sales are way down I wouldn't be surprised if they went bankrupt.
The Dollar Tree near me, they put lockers in by the entryway and the ever-present "guards" at the door enforced that backpacks go in those lockers prior to further entry. I told him the store would close within months before walking out and that's about what happened. And it's not the first time I made those predictions which came true when refusing to part with my backpack and leaving with total disappointment over these stubborn orders. People who shoplift, when I witness them caught, it's often a purse and sometimes pockets filled without backpacks on, staff or "guards" check before taking them to the back rooms. I have not yet seen someone with a backpack nabbed where those are allowed in. And I am quite sure, when shoplifters do have backpacks, it's still their purses and or pockets filled, removing and manipulating backpacks to load them is obvious and too awkward or even not doable if not taken off to load them. I tried hard one time (at home) to shoplift my own belongings using my backpack as discreetly as possible, like trying to hide the action from people and cctv cameras, nope, it's just not a tool for that and I am an average person for flexibility. So when store staff order me to take my backpack off, I ask if I should put my pockets there too. They won't order for purses to be taken off because those are seen as personal even if they are huge. And they obviously can't order for pockets to be taken off. Oh, and socks, fanny packs, waistbands, hats, parkas, high-top boots, hooded sweaters, mittens, ah those stay on. But I can easily load up on my belongings in all of those, I tried them too. About getting caught, yes real shoplifters do get caught, but I'm sure some don't, as long as they stay away from loading something on their backs, they can be stealthy about it. When pushing for backpack lockups, there's the risk of customers forgetting them and going back. Over night in lockers they can be checked and possibly stolen from and held in the office. Ordered to leave them in the standing space of tills, easily forgotten and possibly stolen from by dishonest staff. If ordered to leave near the entrances without lockers, alongside possibly forgotten, thieves can go to these stores and get more interesting things the store likely won't have on stock with easier access and quick escapes happening right there and with no security tags where those and sensors are used. I do believe treating people like potential shoplifters has a bottom line impact. I've seen big stores close shop where this backpack order is made despite others of their chains and franchises staying open and I have seen small stores close soon after. Where I live, there's a big push now to combat shoplifting from external sources such as police and law changes. I do hope store managers can lighten up now, let shoppers do our thing while shoplifters find something else more friendly to do. Maybe then our stores will get more customers back and won't need to continue unethical practices of weeding out some of their customer base. I don't know how many Dollar Tree store did that nor how many of those stayed open or closed. But every time customers are unwelcomed, that's a financial crush and has to lead to bigger losses when any store closes regardless of the cause.
Dollar general i noticed started raising their prices also. So i would have to limit what i get compared to what i got before. .50 to .75 more may not seem much, but it does add up. And sometimes they be over taxing.
Yes!!! I’ve been complaining for years about how cluttered, dirty, and understaffed my local Dollar Tree stores are. Never even get a “thank you for your input” letter. I only go if I need a gift bag, helium balloon, or greeting card. I’ll go brave Walmart or pay a bit more at CVS or Walgreens.
I worked at a D.G. for a brief period of time. It was mainly me and a supervisor running a store during an 8 hr period. With such a lean staff, think of how tricky it would be to take in new inventory from a truck, put product on the shelf, keeping all the aisles straight, while trying to provided customer service and run a register. Easy for the employees to be overwhelmed and how frustrating it must be for the customers.
I have been s so broke that I could only afford the higher per dollar per unit cost of the items at the dollar treee. Evn Dollar General and Family Dollar were too expensive than Dollar Tree. This show is so true that you if your entire budget is ten dollars and youhave nine or ten items to buy, you are FORCED to fo to the Dollar Tree ! However, NOW< Dollar Tree has gotten SO GREEDY that THEY have raised their prices and are no longer as competitive as they once were. COPORATE GREED CORPORATE GREED CORPORATE GREED.
Your sales model of exploiting the poor tends to break down when you eliminate your one economic gimmick of everything being a dollar. I call it the inflation store.
"Lean labor"
Translation: Overworked employees , 1 person expected to do the work of 3 people. They call it "multitasking"
More like one employee running the entire store!
They use words like "fast paced" "likes to be told what to do" 😂
Will go to the point: Private Equity Firms. They earn money by destroying companies
Hey, at least the investors are bleeding the company dry.
And getting pay for one job while doing three. 😮
I worked at Dollar Tree and can attest they treat their employees like crap and do nothing for them.
The 2 managers, the only full-time employees there, were both on food stamps. And worked 40-60 hr weeks.
Not to mention, we weren't allowed to ban people for assaulting or threatening staff only for theft. And we were harassed and screamed at by some of the worst people in town.
Bottom line, there is way more stuff wrong with dollar tree as a company than what they listed.
Truth!!
Everything you say is true. I use to work with a former Dollar Tree manager. She basically told me everything what's stated and some.
boycott, people need to come togher and take back their country.
DT runs things terribly. Management sucked even for us managers.
I love dollar tree. Their stores are just poorly managed and always trashed
When Dollar Tree increased its prices to $1.25 it also added new lines of $3 and $5 items, such as storage totes and kitchenware. Shoppers no longer can expect everything on the shelves to be the same price and now need to check price-tags to avoid a shock at the register when several of the things they thought were $1.25 are $5 each.
Exactly, they said in the first minuite of video this struggle started happening in past 2 years,, and what you outlined is what happened the past 2 years. They took there record profits during pandemic and told themselves, hey, we can make even more money with higher priced items, and now they are no longer "dollar" stores, just lesser 5 belows. Common sense as always lost to "journalists"
You have to watch all their prices now. I went into DT to get toothpaste. It used to cost $1.25, it's now $5. It's cheaper at my local supermarket.
The five dollar areas clearly in dollar tree so are the three dollar areas mark clearly also clearly
@@Cuteanimalandtravelshortsnot at my local store. They’ll have one item in the entire row that has a tiny $5 tag on the shelf under it, that is otherwise surrounded by $1.25 tags and priced items. It’s pretty deceptive imo. If youre in a rush you wouldn’t notice.
My local Dollar Tree has added self-serve price checking scanners
Dollar General shouldn't even be considered a dollar store. It's expensive as hell
Yeah, it's just a poor man's WalMart. Not a dollar store.
Right I just go to Walmart at least you know they have what you need unlike dollar general who can’t keep shelves stocked
poor services you right not enough staff dirty stinks Dollarama is the same
@@gwcrispisame with the pound shops in the u.k, many items are such more then £1
They rebrand their name to "dollar relative specific"
Prices went up and the stores are filthy. I tolerated the gross stores when everything was actually $1 at dollar tree. But when they increased prices, I couldn’t justify the cost. Might as well drive to Walmart or Target if I’m going to post the same price, get a better product and have a cleaner experience. This is a no brainer 🙄
I dont believe you. I dony believe you avoid dol stores
Target 🎯 is the best and Walmart is not as bad and second best
🤣 Walmart be clean.
I totally agree with u
The one liner is: they’re struggling because they’re more expensive and crappier quality than mainstream boys like even Walmart and Amazon.
Some how they missed that. From 2011 to 2018? Dollar store was quick to get in and out and much less than Walmart and small sizes are great for one or two person households. 2020+? prices went way up relative to Walmart which was cheaper.
@@pcofrancBetter value to buy the full size items.
Thanks! I can now skip the video.
@@pcofranc More like Walmart is able to keep prices down in an inflationary environment because it's such a behemoth, whereas the Dollar stores could not.
It's like McDonalds bringing back the Dollar menu every time there's a recession, Walmart decided to keep prices down and that put many Dollar stores out of business.
Idk, man. The dollar tree company is alot more better company than the anti union walfart and assazon
A lot of these stores don’t even hire enough employees to put the merchandise on the shelves. The pay is horrible. I remember working and trying to motivate my employees to focus on making the store look presentable and customers noticed.
My family own a a couple of dollar stores, yes we are indian decend... not those Indian indian from america but indian indian like the CEO of google and those places when you get curries before or after your night out in the bars. We make good profits, we buy items/food that cost 80-90 cents and sells them for $1 or more. We wont make profits like Tesla or facebook but its easy money.
@@ghosthdel3098 east indian = "indian american"
Our store was half empty shelves, many times the location is near a lot of homeless I see literally filling up their backpacks and leaving. This kind of model is probably set to fail if like that.
Typical in small stores. Corporate overbuys items because they can only get stuff in bulk and then expect the stores to handle it. Items are usually bundled together, so a lot of stuff never sells but is necessary in order to get the stuff that does.
As a disabled person these crappy wages are more than likely lifesaving for ssdi ppl that can’t make alot of money ($1400) outside our monthly deposits.
High prices, low quality, low wages… a tale as old as time.
That's just how convienence stores work. They don't have the ludicrous economies of scale that Walmart has
boycott .
With Trump administration I foresee it getting worse
Some Dollar Trees are packed. People don’t care about the $1.25 price it’s still cheaper than Target and Walmart.
@@cowboydelnorte3078 Yeah, it’s an okay option if you only need a little bit of something. But it’s often more expensive per ounce than at Walmart or Target.
I’ll sometimes go to one if I just need one or two of something instead having to buy a whole package at a big-box store.
“Why are dollar stores failing?”
*BECAUSE ITS NOT A DOLLAR ANYMORE*
And stuff is smaller/less amount of pieces. I use to get a snickers 10 pack "fun size" bars for $1. Now it's $1.25 for a 6 pack...
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
PERIOD ‼️
Simple. I think we all knew that increasing their prices would be their downfall, I don’t see how they didn’t.
Also, like 99 Cent stores the produce department is disgusting, with 🐜 bugs usually knats. And, customer service is sh@t along with their inventory management. Not to mention brick and mortar stores are dying except for the select few big box stores who are beginning to implement AI and robots to get some of more repetitive jobs done. They should look at Trader Joe’s model, be good at what YOU do, stay in your lane for the most part. Make sure your employees care by paying them decently and provide your customer with above par experience in your store. They aren’t perfect but close. Almost every employee is nice and will go the extra mile to help you. And, quality is amazing and prices are in most cases less, except for some of their fresh meat.
Dollar tree ruined themselves by going to $1.25.
Agreed.... Well all the stores were jacking up their prices to try to get back their COVID money losses people flocked to these stores for so many items and then they turn around and jack the prices up on us when the reality was that more people were going to come to these stores as the other stores jacked up prices have they just held the line
But yet we still in there in groves.
I don't mind it but I refuse to buy anything higher than $1.25 from Dollar Tree. They are off their rockers selling items for $3, and $5 and blah blah blah.
@@AJ-gz6qddroves *
And yes. It’s sad how little people revolt
I only buy calendars 📅 but they went up 🆙 to a buck fifty
Any business that can't meet minimum standards in workplace safety, employee treatment and compensation, customer service, and competitive pricing, it doesn't deserve to remain in business.
Tell that to overseas manufacturers that make everything we buy in the US
@@saibata750ur reply has absolutely nothing to do with the comment ur replying to😭😭🤡
So what exactly are the workplace safety hazards present in a dollar store? These things are just empty clickbait and not reality.
@@KameraShy Cluttered aisles for one thing. Unopened and opened boxes of product strewn in the aisles) I' am sure that doesn't meet fire code regulations. And not hiring an adequate number of employees tends to lead to overwork and unsafe working conditions. Plus I would imagine that security isn't up to par in some locations.
@@saibata750 Well, as American consumers we are a party to that problem. If we didn't buy products from those companies, maybe they wouldn't be in business. But that is the choice we made over 40 years ago when retailers like Walmart took over the suburban landscape.
People are finally figuring out that paying even a dollar for a *tiny* amount or size of something is actually much more expensive.
Well, their revenue is at an all time high
@@Me97202 We’ve had UNIT PRICING since the EARLY 70s!!!
It used to be that psychology of "everything is a dollar". Then, they went to $1.25 and I think that screwed them because now you're thinking, "I can get this cheaper at (wherever)." Then, they added more expensive items, sometimes creating a bait 'n switch. I've cut down going to Dollar Tree because they'll put $5 items on the $1.25 shelf, then you go to check out and get the surprise. I think that they believe you'll just be like, "Oh, I'll take it anyway." No, you can't be further from the truth.
People don't understand that stocks are different than revenue 😂@@AyjayAlleyway
You can get full canned food meals for a dollar in there lol easy two servings.
Walmart is CHEAPER than dollar general. DG is a RIPOFF. Dollar tree also sells canned goods and tuna pouches at $1.25 when most canned goods and tuna pouches are 88 cents at Walmart
Nearest Walmart is about 45mins to an hour away. Dollar General on the other hand, have 2 within 15 mins of me, and a third within 20 mins. What you save at Walmart is wiped out on gas and time.
@@mgsdrp Yeah I imagine people in rural areas shop at Dollar General for the same reason people in Urban areas shop at CVS or 7/11 even though both are much more expensive than Walmart.
@@mgsdrp Bingo! That's the DG strategy. Go into poor towns, where they know most people don't have a car. Captive consumers are DG's target.
Rip off is a bit of an exaggeration.
Walmart will raise prices once everyone else it put out of business. They have to, they're publicly traded.
Spend your money wisely-invest in quality where it counts, for it often outlasts the cost of cheapness. Yet, remember that sometimes the simplest, least expensive option is the real gem in disguise.
Great advice and I live by it as well. I have wasted too much money and time on cheap garbage
I hope we all know that it doesn't matter who is in the 'top job' because this is a systemic problem -- greed. We have allowed many of our economic sectors, to take advantage of the American people. It's disgusting and frightening for the future of our country. My wife and I will be retiring in the next two years n another country.
We are absolutely worried that SSI will no longer be funded. we'll have to rely on his pension, a 403 (b) and a very prolific Investment account with my Stephanie Janis Stiefel my FA. Our national debt is bloating and expanding every month. Our government needs to get spending under control and cut the federal budget.
@@OsamahMocoWhat country you moving too?!'m headed to Thailand or the Philippines in 4 years.
Exactly well said.. spread the wisdom
@@OsamahMocoI would really love to know how much work you did to put in to get this stage
I went through some rough financial times some years back and DT really kept me afloat. My finances have improved and I now buy things in bulk at other places. I will still go there for some items. Some batteries, vases, candle holders, candles, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc. Been known to buy frozen sandwiches for work. Same brand is more expensive at grocery stores. But I mostly cook at home and take food to work.
Count yourself as privileged if you have never HAD to rely on dollar stores.
It doesn’t help that they treat their employees like garbage either.
And they will treat their customers like garbage
People hate Dollar General around here because they keep cutting staff so the stores are dirty and a mess. They used to be a decent place to go and Walmart is a long ways away but they quit caring so locals have quit going.
i once went to the bathroom in a DG… worst mistake of my life
Same thing with family dollar , some of them only have 2 people running them
because when they do find good staff they work you like a dog and wonder why people quit working.
I used to work at the corporate office. That's exactly what would happen. That's how they would save money on the back end.
@@charlevoix2their profit margin is like 3.5% BTW. Good luck sustaining higher wages.
Dollar General has also been accused and sued in several states of cheating customers on pricing. They'll increase the prices in their system that you get charged at checkout but not fix the shelf lable. When called out, they use their overworked labor issues as an excuse but it's been found that they deliberately do this. I've also experienced this first hand.
That is why I stopped shopping at dg several years ago, and will never go back.
I experienced the same issue, it’s BS.
Yup, same here. Plus, their supposed money saving app with coupons never ever works. So you are then stuck at the register paying full price. It's a scam for sure.
3 things left out of video: 1) The rise of online shopping at Temu and Shein 2) Walmart dropping the price on the same things Dollar store has so that the same items are cheaper than $1.25 and 3) The underestimation of higher income people that shop in dollar stores.
Dollar tree raised their prices, got rid of a lot, and then replaced it with $3-5 stuff that you can get at the grocery store or
Five Below for cheaper or better quality.
A few months ago I was hiking out in the woods and walked right up on a Dollar General
Must be in Oregon 😂🤣
😂
I totally believe this story.
Same here. I thought I was lost with my kid in a city park and guess what , I landed out in the back parking lot of Dollar tree !! Mentor OH. 😝
This is believable and funny
If you can avoid shopping at either, please do. I worked at the DG home office in Goodlettsville, TN. The corporate office is so disconnected from what's going on at the stores, and are indifferent to what they do know. They save money by overworking employees but also cutting their hours.
I can attest to this! 2015 I worked in HR because they give free daycare. The pay was great! The job great! But they were clueless to what DGs image was, customer base was, how bad it was in the stores, the isles impassable, employee turnover over, etc etc etc ! I was dumbfounded. I moved away from Nashville in 2016 so I had to quit. But the ONLY stores looking great are NEW BUILDS. The old ones are absolutely disgusting
@@ArizonaY2K If were in HR at the SSC in Goodlettsville in 2015, I am almost positive I would know who you were. :D I was in desktop support, but under Genpact, not DG. IIRC October of 2015 is when they laid off those 130ish SSC employees.
@ small world! I lived over in gallatin. I loved the job and the bennys were amazing. I just couldn’t do that area anymore lol had to go small town! I hope you are doing well 😊
Love how these experts all say the job market is still very strong, yet people are making less money all the time and everybody is losing their jobs to corporate downsizing, while record profits to realized.
Yes!!! Here it was announced property taxes up 40% come 2025 so there goes rents up 40--50--60%. To cover this, be a renter, buying your home or own there is that! Plus increased groceries. Gas, cars plus upkeep,or transportation overall! There is NO BREAK ! Sadly the concept/ reality of only have say a $10 or $20 then it's laundry day, need to go to a laundry mat ...partial dry, bring wet clothes home, hang about the house to finish drying .. or hand wash, machine wáh at home, take to dry , maybe!! Yes, about going down to the river!! These CEOs , gov officials really know or don't but don't hear or listen either!!
I'm on welfare because I make $10.50/hour.
When Dollar Tree upped their prices to $1.25, I stopped going as often as I used to. Some items were now cheaper at Wal-Mart!
They increased it again to $1.50
Went to dollar tree for the first time in a year or so. It was dirty, aisles blocked, and carried nothing but cheap garbage. I felt like even $1.25 was overpriced for their items and walked out empty handed.
To me, it’s poetic justice for these corporations with how they sucked lower income communities dry by running out small businesses and paying inadequate wages.
I am so happy to hear this. Watching DG stores pop up in these "food deserts", only 5 miles down the road from another DG, makes me nauseous. Theyre understaffed, manned by stressed and overworked employees, and filled with boxes... always filled with boxes. If half the stores closed tomorrow, how much grief would it cause? Not much.
Slave labor 😢
Well I guess it's good in case someone can't drive for whatever reason to get to normal stores but it is what it is.
Had a friend who was a distribution manager at a Dollar General, they treated him like crap, the workers there like crap, and he left because he had no support.
No union, no support
That's the American way, just admit it for 90% of workforce. Greed and profits over everything!
How much did your friend get paid? $70k?
Yea every time I walk into a dollar general there’s always piles of stuff everywhere and I NEVER see more than one employee!
@@jaschan2006yes
Honestly, when they increased their cost from one dollar to $1.25, and now they mix in $3 and $5 items in with everything else, I shop there probably about 1/10 of the time and I buy about 1/10 of the things I used to. It’s a confusing shopping experience to echo the person in the video. And I’d rather have a simple easy experience. Dollar Tree is now like Dollar General (which I hate) and I can go to a bigger, better stocked store down the road with more selection to do my shopping and walk out happier.
Remember when dollar stores were…
A dollar? 😂
What's so confusing about $1.25 I don't understand what you're babbling about?
With inflation if they didn’t increase the cost then the products would’ve had to keep getting worse and worse
These stores make me sad, and I don't like feeling sad, so I avoid them.
Which stores do you like? I think Walmarts look like prisons,despise Walmart.
I used to shop at JC Penny and Kohl's. When i couldn't afford that any more, i shopped at Target. When i couldn't afford thst, i shopped at Walmart. When i couldnt afford that, i shopped at dollar stores. I can't afford that any more so i dont shop anywhere.
Cool story bro
😅😅
Dollar stores forgot why we dealt with their low quality slop and now they are paying the price shocker
Facts!
I don't think the customer service aspect can be over-emphasized. One of the differences between Aldi and the dollar-type stores is that: at Aldi there are always enough people working to get the job done right. If shoppers are backing up, they open up a new checkout, the shelves are always well-stocked and cliffed. Another factor is that Aldi serves a range of customers; those on a budget can come away with bargains, but they also have nice meats, cheeses, etc. This draws a variety of people into their stores.
Aldi pays a decent wage as well.
Aldi pays really well for a grocery store. My daughter worked there in college and actually struggled to find a job with her degree that paid as well as Aldi. They promote from within, are big on employee safety, and give occasional bonuses for the store performing well. All the things companies should be doing to create a desired work environment. Happy employees equals happy customers
@@Creativehotdoggo figure Aldi isn't an American store🤦♀️. & their cashier's get 2 sit down!
Aldi one of my favorite stores
Germans are process and detail oriented
If companies focused on the needs and satisfaction of their customers, instead of putting profits ahead of all else, they would ironically make 2 or 3 times the profit they do now, and everybody would be less stressed and much happier
That's literally exactly what they're not even vaguely interested in.
A good portion of American companies are built on cheating Americans/customers.
Their profit margin is around 3.5% good luck with that mindset
Dollar tree died when it stopped being a dollar per item store. There are other better options for better quality items.
Someone said that it's time to be concerned when you start to see individuals shoplifting groceries rather than big-screen televisions, and i agree.it's a sign that things are getting tough.Soaring inflation and rising living costs are taking a toll. Interestingly, despite the market struggles, some individuals still earn impressive incomes - over $365,000! I can't help but wish for financial stability like that.
Even in a weak market, opportunities exist for experienced investors. Speak with a financial advisor to capitalize on them.
How to save a company:
stop public trading, infinite growth for shareholders is the cancer of the economy, greed.
At the most basic level, it's simple. When they moved from "Everything's a Dollar" to "Everything's $1.25 and Up" half of their inventory got priced out by Walmart.
People will spend an extra $2.00 in gas to save $0.25... even me. I know, I know.
So true, and for an avid price watcher like me that’s not easily fooled, this was happening before the pandemic. I started noticing some of their toiletries, household products, and food were not the steal they made them out to be. Something that was a dollar would be 88 cents at Walmart. I still find their prices for gift wrap and stationary to be pretty competitive, so I’ll go there for that only….that is, if I have the patience to wait in line for 20 minutes.
I remember reading a news article about Dollar Tree and their raising prices to $1.25. The board voted unanimously to raise prices then gave the CEO a huge raise.
DG merchandise is also lower quality than the same branded stuff at bigger stores. Saw a comparison video for products between Walmart and DG and it's pretty appalling the difference in quality and size for the "same" product.
These dollar stores were NEVER a deal to begin with. As it was stated in the video the better deals were always to be had at your traditional stores. The simple fact is if you are shopping solely based on end price you are losing money. I realize that there are people who either live in food deserts or are down to their last few dollars so these stores help them in a time of need. However the truly economically aware person looks at price per (pound, ounce or whatever) instead of end price.
What really irked me was that they didn't just raise prices to $1.25 (I get it, its needed) but they SHRUNK a lot of the products that they are now charging that $1.25.
Dollar Tree made the worst decision when they decided to buy Family Dollar.
Clearly nobody learned anything when Kmart acquired Sears. We saw how well that worked.
Very true! Is Sears official closed? I haven’t seen one in Chicago in years
I think a few Sears reopened a year or so back.
@@captiannemo1587 I don't think any have "reopened". There are only nine stores left in the US and one in Puerto Rico. I suspect in five years we will look up and see there are no Sears stores left.
to be fair 12 years ago family dollar and dollar general stores were thriving because the national low income retail grocers weren't offering cheaper goods and commodities. in recent years dollar stores have pitted themselves where there's too many liabilities and risks.
@ Family Dollar was struggling at the the time while Dollar Tree was doing well. There was a lot of criticism of the acquisition. Hindsight is 20/20 but it can be argued that the money DT used for the acquisition could have been better spent on upgrades and investment in technology.
I stopped going when it was no longer a dollar in my area, with items bring basically the same prices as other stores, with much worse quality.
They don't respect their customers enough to clean up and hire adequate help. It is insulting.
I went to a dollar tree recently. Bought a balloon, a 2L Coke, and a battery. The balloon was $1.5, Coke was $2, and batter was $3…. The magic was gone…
@@mehrrepairz $3 for ONE battery? I HOPE it was a CAR battery!!
Dollar Tree used to be a go-to for anyone on a tight budget, offering straightforward prices that kept it simple: everything was a dollar. But now? Greed has taken over. Dollar Tree decided to squeeze more out of their loyal, often underprivileged customers by raising prices and adding $3, $5, and even higher price tags to their shelves. What was once a reliable place for affordable essentials has become a frustrating experience, where items cost more than their value and deals are hard to find.
Dollar Tree may have thought they could take advantage of people with fewer options, but shoppers aren’t fooled. Those who know real savings will take their business elsewhere. The greed driving these changes is pushing away customers who came for simplicity and affordable prices. When a brand loses sight of its roots, it’s only a matter of time before people find better options and leave it behind.
There aren't that many things that can be sold for a dollar anymore. Inflation.
Inflation has pushed up costs. Why do you think there are no nickel and dime stores left? This is the modern equivalent. Not much wholesale that you can get for 1$.
I used to work for Dollar Tree in the stores heydey. It is a scam. They used to have good products, lots of name brands and sporadic closeout items. They use the workers who are not allowed to have more than 25 hours without permission from their district manager. The truck driver is expected to unload the trailer. Only one employee in the store gets a real wage and they must work 45-60 hours a week with no overtime pay.
Bro most those store managers work 70-80 hours least i did
Why SHOULDN’T a driver unload the truck???
@@Tryp-j9d they are truck drivers with years of training to drive dock and then drive back they should not do 15 a hour jobs like stocking they are paid to drive thats it
@@Tryp-j9d would you pay a doctor to do a nurses job same difference makes no sense
@@jasonleatherwood2172 not every truck driver has a load that goes to a single store. Drivers with loads for multiple different stores are responsible for unloading. merchandise
Dollar general always has boxes and Gotdamn Carts blocking the aisle 😢😂
I try to avoid dollar 💵 tree 🌲 all together
People have run out of money to buy "crap". Most people I know are eliminating snack food due to cost. They aren't buying unnecessary things like decorations, cutesy, etc. We also learned to keep an eye on price per ounce. Often other vendors are cheaper! And why use the example of dryer sheets? Most people struggle to just buy detergent! Nevermind unnecessary things like dryer sheets.
Buying seasonal decorations is a waste of money. No one needs new seasonal decor. Bought a big pumpkin it rotted & threw it out did not get another. Everyone must have Christmas decor. Don't buy more.
Fun road trip game while driving in rural America is call out every dollar general you get a point.
I pass four on my 20 minute drive home
Good thing it's not a drinking game lol
I do this! 😂😂 One stretch we passed 8 in 50 miles! It's crazy how prevalent they are in rural areas. When I vacation in Kentucky we do a lot of DG shopping because the Walmart is an hour away!
I think it's actually more Family Dollars nationwide vs DG's. Just fyi lol.
From TX to TN I counted over 100 last summer
Dollar Tree is good for inexpensive seasonal or party decor, perhaps some storage or kitchen items like plastic wrap or foil. It depends on the item.
I also buy holiday cards or cards for birthdays and whatnot. The price of greeting cards is absolutely ridiculous so for $1.25 it's worth it to go there for cards.
Yes!!!! Hallmark beautiful greeting cards - some two for a dollar STIL - keeps me going back to dollar tree!
It’s more expensive than Walmart and they don’t have a lot of variety.
100% right dollar stores are hit and miss in my area. Never can expect them to have the same thing besides like basic TP and Soap type goods.
My Dollar Tree has some really good stuff now. Some real good deals too. Oz for Oz, My Dollar Tree is cheaper than Walmart and other grocery stores.
Dollarama in Canada is really thriving. They manage to compete with Walmart on price. We also have Dollar Tree here, but Dollarama offers better value. The key is that Dollarama sells items priced up to $5, which allows them to offer products in larger sizes, delivering better value. Another benefit of Dollarama's model is that they don't carry perishable foods, which helps them keep prices low and their inventory efficient.
I usually get the Irish spring bar soap, Shampoo and conditioner, razors, and cleaning supplies. All of these items cost 1.25 and last me nearly a month so they are a good deal. Thier food isn’t great deal unless you are just buying rice and beans
Right, but the reason why they've succeeded for so many years is that they went into areas that even WalMart wouldn't go. So imagine if you live in a location and you can walk to a Dollar Tree. An 8 minute drive would get you to a real supermarket with much better unit prices, but you don't own a car. That's the customer Dollar Tree wants. Basically a captive consumer.
In the late summer I was at a Dollar Tree when I learned that the employees apparently do not have access to control the A/C.
The employees told me that the temperature was controlled at a remote location, and the A/C was actually cooler in the back for protecting the boxed inventory.
Worked for a $1 Store for 2 days, an quit, not that I wanted to, just was never told the correct schedule to show up, so no point in going back.
Lean labor model? Dont sugar coat it, its called overworked employees
They have run Dollar tree into the ground. That used to be one of my favorite stores. Now it's just another family Dollar.
Very sad what they did to the Dollar tree.
My husband manages a Dollar store. Even employees hate the new Family Dollar/Dollar Tree combo stores.
What a crock. Its because even the dollar store is too expensive for people right now.
Once dollar tree raised their prices they stopped selling a lot of foods and other items. So, now there is not as much items worth buying there. Also the extra .25 means i have to get less because instead of $20 for 20 item's I'm paying about $30 now.
Glad they are mentioning Aldi's. It's a healthier choice alternative to the dollar store foods.
They don’t pay their employees enough and it shows. It’s like being in a store run by a 7-year old. And all the plastics! The place is a nightmare. Close them.
Completely agree with all the plastics. It’s horrible… I walk in there and all I see is single use or very cheaply made (even for the price) garbage.
They want to price gouge like everyone else the past four years. Doesn't work at the dollar tree. It's based on everything priced at a dollar.
I conveniently buy what i want when i want in small quantities at both General and Tree. Most people including myself only buy the frozen meals. I rarely ever see anyone buying canned or boxed foodstuffs. I shop 3 different Trees and 3 different Generals. I buy the mini ben & jerry's. What good is value in quantity if you don't want to be fat
This is my opportunity to share my story. In the winter of 2021, Houston tx had a once a century winter event which did a number on my house including pipes freezing and busting. I had to go somewhere to go to the bathroom other than my home. I went into a FAMILY DOLLAR and explained the situation that I needed to use the restroom and they refused to let me use there facilities when I had been to other family dollar stores when I lived in Longview tx. And never a problem. The lady was rude saying sarcastic that it's for employees only with a sneer. I called the headquarters and left a message with the complaint depth. And never received as much as a phone call back from them. I will NEVER EVER purchase anything from family dollar ever again!!!
Stores tend to not let the public use bathrooms that are meant for workers only as the standards are very different and so might be really nasty and so to avoid getting sued by the public it can be a really hard set rule - no public use. In some cases if the insurance company of the store finds out customers are using their employee only bathroom they can lose their coverage which is a disaster as the store has to close down without insurance.
Even Dollar General is expensive to go to. They advertise a price reduction on an item, only to find it hasn't. Why so much for Cola products? Things are much more affordable at ALDI's.
ALDI's nutz
Remember when DG had Clover Valley, their own generic brand of pop at about half the cost of brand names? I loved the root beer.
I love Aldis but they're crapping the bed lately too. Too many locations and stock outs more frequent. We've also noticed a drop-in quality of some of their offerings. mostly produce. They need to slow down, fix a few glaring issues and get the non-food crap out of there - Aisle of Shame I'm looking at you - and go back to their roots.
We have gone through this “failure” cycle before. Back when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, there were 79 and $0.99 stores. Both of them were the effects of open trade with extremely inexpensive when opened but about a decade or so later, the costs for those businesses were such that they first tried to increase prices, then later failed (because the premise was no longer true).
And people are too stupid to learn from history!!👎
They're way understaffed and pay horribly. As a result, their stores are a mess. Stuffs are all over the floor and shelves are unorganized. It's miserable to shop there.
Compared to Asian budget stores like Daiso, it's night and day. Daiso is clean and organized, easy to find what i want.
But try and find a Diaso outside of NYC/NJ or CA
@johns80schick there are many Daiso stores in TX.
@@johns80schickthere's like 5 now in my town here in south Texas. They're rapidly expanding thankfully.
@@kevink1575 Are the items made in China or made by Diaso themselves? The Diaso's in japan make the majority of the products they sell.
You’re Asian, your bias opinion doesn’t count KONG
they are struggling because the prices aren't 1 dollar and under anymore. Either rebrand and get rid of the 1 dollar thing or start dropping prices.
2:47 there is your awnser. Greed. They are doing AMAZING last 4 years but they want that growth to NEVER STOP is the issue. Stockholders want 30% growth every year forever. Just be happy that you have a thriving company.
Only fast growing Tech companies target things like 30% growth. Most normal mainstream companies aim for 10% to 25% - Dollar Tree grew in the last 1 year by 15.5% but not all of that is from selling items - the December 2024 report shows that the stores grew in sales by 1.6% so that is really weak, for Walmart it was 5.6% but walmart is playing a totally different game.
Probably because people are finally catching on to their shady practices and stealing from their customers.
The average dollar store shopper isn't thinking of ethical practices lol.
@@MrMastrsushiyou’d be a fool to think that. People aren’t the sharpest but they aren’t that stupid to realize the size in a lot of their products reduced when they increased prices to 1.25. I was an avid dollar store shopper but I rarely go there now. May as well go to one of the giants.
Along with people realizing that they treat their employees like absolute 💩
@@MrMastrsushi In many communities people are becoming wise to how dollar stores push out local grocery and convenience stores, turning places into food deserts where only fast food and dollar stores are left.
Yep!
Dollar tree took over a vacant 99 cent store. They did not even bother to refurnish or fix up anything. Grand opening the floors looked dirty. Just added a bunch of shelves and setup inventory. I honestly found 99 cent had better selection.
The fake dollar tree 99 cent store near me is very depressing. I miss the 99 cent store
Also they are not supposed to block the emergency exit in the back - that is a violation. The reason stores are messy is that they don't have enough employees to stock the shelves
Or they pay so little the employees don't work as fast as they could if paid a proper wage.
My perspective as a russian tourist, who visited US on a budget this summer. These stores are nothing special, they are not cheap, choice is limited and overall atmosphere is poor. You can always find a Walmart or other better grocery store nearby. Tried all of main dollar chains one time each, and have been skipping them after for the whole trip through USA.
You can get cheaper better quality things at Walmart then they have the nerves to raise prices to 1.25
Praying for this company and there employees ❤❤❤
I used to shop at dollar store at least once a week. Once price went up by 25% I decrease my visits to 1 time a month and buy in bulk from Walmart
The reason why I don't shop at "dollar stores" is because their prices are more expensive than my local Walmart.
And the local Walmart is usually pretty close by, the DG in town is like, a mile, vs Walmart which is 6 miles in the next town over.
I used to hate Walmart-until they were the only big retailer that fed thousands of Americans hot food, water, and ice in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Now I try to buy something from Walmart each week.
I used to shop at Dollar Tree a lot but recently, I find it hard to always find items in stock. I am disabled, so getting in and out of a car is painful but I get out and about to stay active but lately, I have been ordering online from Amazon (cost more) but I items are always in stock, and I can have them delivered. Another reason I have stopped shopping in any stores is, CUSTOMER SERVICE! Employees over the years have become rude and show attitudes they do not want to help you. I was in the check-out and Walmart, again due to my disability, there are times when I am in a lot of pain and want to get in and out of the store, I was trying to do a produce items and couldn't find the 4-digit code and while looking the item up it kept adding to many items. A young lady was standing right there (on her phone) and when I asked for her assistance, she just looked at me and didn't move for a few seconds, I have to ask twice. Had it been a good day, I would have asked for the manager but no worries, Walmart lost me as a customer when they have just showed me how they feel about my kind as customers...BYE!
When I went, there was a long line and one cashier. I just ended up leaving my things and walking out. You might want to fix that.
Very simple...the staff are often rude...the stores are understaffed... most stores are out of carts...the aisles are junky with boxes of inventory in the way...lines are ridiculous...they added prices over a dollar so you have to be careful to not fall in love with a $3 vs $1.25 candle and lastly you can go to walmart and still get .88-$1.00 items now overpriced at Dollar Tree. I shopped at Dollar Tree to avoid Family Dollar and Walmart. Most Dollar Trees are empty now because they killed their brand😢
A store that relies on paper-thin margins and has to answer to investors has a big problem.
🎯
I live in a rural small town but growing rapidly since moving there in 83’. We have 5X Dollar General and 1X Family Dollar/Dollar Tree. I go there when I don’t want to drive 20 min. to Walmart. 1 register is open if lucky now because of self check out. I can’t imagine their loss prevention now since customers are now operating off the honor system. I’m a teacher in industry and talk to alot of ex-employee’s telling me that they are the worst place to work you could ever imagine after working there a few months they are handed the keys and told you are managing now “Without” the pay! Same story every time from each person I’ve talked to.
4 items at DT were always (!) $4, you weren't supposed to think about it. Just buy the dollar product and move on. Now that half of the items in DT are more than the already upticked 1.25, we all stop and think about each item we put in the cart. And when you start to think about it more, you start to grasp at how much you the consumer are being played. And a lot of consumers do not want to play that game anymore.
The way the question is framed makes us believe the customers are the ones that determine if a business succeeds or fails.
Not to mention the insulting irony of the name DOLLAR tree, the logo with ONE DOLLAR on it, and as of right now there's not a single item in any of its stores worth one dollar.
Dollar Tree used to be one of my fav places to get toys and games when I was a kid.. but wow.. reading about how they treat employees is depressing. The older I get the more depressed I get seeing the world and what the world is like :((
Dollar stores are more expensive than Wal Mart and their shady business on charging debit/credit cards extra transactions doesn't help either.
I shop for specific products at Dollar Tree such as necessities like toiletries, hair accessories, freezer bags. These items are usually a good value compared with other stores including Walmart. It’s the lack of supply of these items that has driven me to shop elsewhere for those same items, despite the higher price. I don’t have time to go to Dollar Tree 6-10 times to buy these items.
The dollar is literally being destroyed / debased / devalued. The best performing asset in the history of the world is BITCOIN. It is by far the best store of value. 10 years from now you’ll be thankful for every dollar you put into it.. My two cents.
Regretting missing out on earlier Bitcoin investments, I kept funds in a HYSA. Now, with $200k to invest, I aim to avoid FOMO and buying at the peak. What's the best approach for a newbie to navigate the market?
I do agree, Investing has gotten difficult especially after pandemic, hence why I decided to use the expertise of an advisor, my spouse kicked against the idea initially, but oh well guess who's best buddies with our advisor now .
Hello, I'm curious to give this a try. Please who is your advisor and how do I get in touch?
The popular lady Annette Christine Conte comes to mind. You'd find her basic info. on the web to set up appointment as she offers free consultations.
Thank you for sharing, I must say, Annette appears to be quite knowledgeable. After coming across her web page, I went through her resume and it was quite impressive. I reached out and scheduled a call.
AA batterys at my local dollar tree store are now 3$ after ebing 1$ for a long time. the AAA batterys are still 1$
I work at family dollar and employees (regular guys like me) don't even get PTO its crazy to think they want us to work constantly while managers get PTO.
Just wait until Trump's tariffs absolutely decimate these types of stores that rural Republicans depend on.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
i doubt trump will go through with tarrifs sounds like his whole speech on medicare
@@roadkillgravy5168 Ignorance truly is bliss until it affects you.
@@therolando608blah blah he had 4 years didn't do nothin
Not everyone in rural America are republicans.
We have "dollar" in the UK, pound shops we call them, ours have now become the £1.25 shop. You get good brands at decent prices but since the extra 25p went on, the products aren't the same, seem to be even cheaper quality. They're good for cleaning stuff and stationery and that's it now.
The Dollarama in Canada is great. And the stock price is way, way up. Probably overdone now, tho. Canada can only support so many dollar stores.
"Dollar General" is NOT a dollar store.
This video should be used internationally for educational purposes
Having recently been at a Dollar Tree they need to hire more cashiers having one person working the register is just ignorant.
The stores are minimally sized so they can build them anywhere. It's the first world equivalent to a street vendor
Dollar tree is always understaffed, every time I’m there I see folks leave their baskets when they get tired waiting in line
No one wants to work there for $11 an hour
Where they can get another job that pays $15 and up an hour
People are not spending like they used to sales are way down I wouldn't be surprised if they went bankrupt.
@@Lakemountainview they do pay $15 an hour they just decide not to hire
Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving business
The Dollar Tree near me, they put lockers in by the entryway and the ever-present "guards" at the door enforced that backpacks go in those lockers prior to further entry. I told him the store would close within months before walking out and that's about what happened. And it's not the first time I made those predictions which came true when refusing to part with my backpack and leaving with total disappointment over these stubborn orders.
People who shoplift, when I witness them caught, it's often a purse and sometimes pockets filled without backpacks on, staff or "guards" check before taking them to the back rooms. I have not yet seen someone with a backpack nabbed where those are allowed in. And I am quite sure, when shoplifters do have backpacks, it's still their purses and or pockets filled, removing and manipulating backpacks to load them is obvious and too awkward or even not doable if not taken off to load them. I tried hard one time (at home) to shoplift my own belongings using my backpack as discreetly as possible, like trying to hide the action from people and cctv cameras, nope, it's just not a tool for that and I am an average person for flexibility. So when store staff order me to take my backpack off, I ask if I should put my pockets there too. They won't order for purses to be taken off because those are seen as personal even if they are huge. And they obviously can't order for pockets to be taken off. Oh, and socks, fanny packs, waistbands, hats, parkas, high-top boots, hooded sweaters, mittens, ah those stay on. But I can easily load up on my belongings in all of those, I tried them too. About getting caught, yes real shoplifters do get caught, but I'm sure some don't, as long as they stay away from loading something on their backs, they can be stealthy about it.
When pushing for backpack lockups, there's the risk of customers forgetting them and going back. Over night in lockers they can be checked and possibly stolen from and held in the office. Ordered to leave them in the standing space of tills, easily forgotten and possibly stolen from by dishonest staff. If ordered to leave near the entrances without lockers, alongside possibly forgotten, thieves can go to these stores and get more interesting things the store likely won't have on stock with easier access and quick escapes happening right there and with no security tags where those and sensors are used.
I do believe treating people like potential shoplifters has a bottom line impact. I've seen big stores close shop where this backpack order is made despite others of their chains and franchises staying open and I have seen small stores close soon after.
Where I live, there's a big push now to combat shoplifting from external sources such as police and law changes. I do hope store managers can lighten up now, let shoppers do our thing while shoplifters find something else more friendly to do. Maybe then our stores will get more customers back and won't need to continue unethical practices of weeding out some of their customer base.
I don't know how many Dollar Tree store did that nor how many of those stayed open or closed. But every time customers are unwelcomed, that's a financial crush and has to lead to bigger losses when any store closes regardless of the cause.
Dollar general i noticed started raising their prices also. So i would have to limit what i get compared to what i got before. .50 to .75 more may not seem much, but it does add up. And sometimes they be over taxing.
These dollar stores are not one dollar, and one employee is doing most of the work
Yes!!! I’ve been complaining for years about how cluttered, dirty, and understaffed my local Dollar Tree stores are. Never even get a “thank you for your input” letter. I only go if I need a gift bag, helium balloon, or greeting card. I’ll go brave Walmart or pay a bit more at CVS or Walgreens.
@@jusadude7162 um….you pay a TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MORE at a CVS or Walgreens!!!
I worked at a D.G. for a brief period of time. It was mainly me and a supervisor running a store during an 8 hr period. With such a lean staff, think of how tricky it would be to take in new inventory from a truck, put product on the shelf, keeping all the aisles straight, while trying to provided customer service and run a register. Easy for the employees to be overwhelmed and how frustrating it must be for the customers.
is it ok if i shoplift some stuff?
Thats nuts
I have been s so broke that I could only afford the higher per dollar per unit cost of the items at the dollar treee. Evn Dollar General and Family Dollar were too expensive than Dollar Tree. This show is so true that you if your entire budget is ten dollars and youhave nine or ten items to buy, you are FORCED to fo to the Dollar Tree ! However, NOW< Dollar Tree has gotten SO GREEDY that THEY have raised their prices and are no longer as competitive as they once were. COPORATE GREED CORPORATE GREED CORPORATE GREED.
Your sales model of exploiting the poor tends to break down when you eliminate your one economic gimmick of everything being a dollar. I call it the inflation store.