Deal or no deal? The expansion of Dollar Stores
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- It's the latest struggle between Main Street and corporate America: Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar have opened tens of thousands of retail outlets across the U.S., and in many rural areas they are the only game in town. Grocers say these stores have effectively forced them out of business, thereby reducing options for fresh food and produce for miles around. Experts say it is having negative effects on public health, but according to Dollar General it is up to consumers to decide where to shop and what to eat. Special Contributor Allison Aubrey, of National Public Radio, reports.
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We don't give people raises anymore. Instead, we just keep searching for lower and lower prices on goods to offset the loss of buying power.
very well said..
our country is in a race to the bottom.
Thank you... Everything in rural America is a lot more expensive as well.
Finally someone said it.
Good observation.
The spokesperson is always a professional good looking person who wouldn’t be caught dead shopping in these stores.
What's that have to do with anything?
John Brattan everything, she is talking up the store that she wouldn’t shop in herself.
Tank Mac yep! We’re educated, we look good, and get paid well. Now please go back to your all day gaming and eating Little Debbie’s.
Cavalier James as I write this I’m in the Dollar General buying Little Debbies,
85577alarm you obviously missed the point.
Dollar general isn’t a dollar store. Dollar tree is a dollar store.
Neither is Family dollar.
I was wondering why they had it in the thumbnail too. They‘re expensive
Agreed...
PhaseSkater They have a lot of $1 items. Mostly candy and sodas.
@@Nocomment1 Which are a 1.00 anywhere
How bad would you feel if you recognized your body when they showed "fat" people but left off the heads.
I'd feel like eating me some fried food.
WickedWood04 Seinfeld did a bit on that lol
🤣😂🤟⚰
Oh man... Lol
Would my head still be able to eat junk food?
Dumb locals turned their backs on local businesses and paid the price
Easy buddy. I work in rural America, the prices at these grocery stores is a lot more than in cities. Also, the process food is a lot more expensive as well.
When I lived near Calera, Alabama the only grocery store actually added %10 to the bill. I preferred to drive 20 minutes to Walmart.
If those small town stores didn’t charge $2+ more for every item then they would have kept a strong customer base. Unfortunately, people in small towns feel ripped off by their local grocery stores, so as soon as a cheap store comes in THAT’S WHERE THEIR MONEY GETS SPENT.
True. Anti business politicians who tax mom and pop business heavily.
SHAWN MICHAEL Duncan we all get taxed equally based on tax brackets we fit in and there are incentives from the government by providing jobs like Amazon that’s capitalism that’s America you have to want to succeed to make it in this country and if you don’t grow to expand your business to offset the costs vs profit and charge more for the same product why would I want to buy from you? In the end it’s the ones who do have a better business plan who do have better locations the ones who succeed. If you want to drive a 2003 Camry don’t complain when I pass you in the left lane in my 2020 Corvette because I WORKED FOR IT, I LEARNED ABOUT TAXES, I CHOOSE THAT LIFESTYLE!!
I don't really see the problem being the dollar stores I see it being there's too many people in this country with low income.
So true. Dollar store to the rescue. But no salary increase....more dollar stores, no salary increase and rent is expensive......rents is going up higher by the year🥴
People not making their lives better.
These people live in ares with too low of a population density.
Cash is King trucking This is true. But what is compounding the problem is when there aren't alternatives.
Yes ... everyone should make the same amount and Joe should decide what that amount is, right?
I hope Chet's stays open
Let's patronize his store...I live 1200 miles away so it's gonna be an expensive loaf of bread 😀
@@bilbobaggins4710 It's worth it. I'm eating a stick of "Chets Butter" and It's heaven
This is capitalism...what's wrong with it?
@John Rencheck so dollar general gets punished for having a better store?
@@tonywalton1052 what's Chet's i've never heard of them? I've seen Ollie's though.
I bet the lady being interviewed doesn’t shop at dollar general!😂
@TGood Dukes Are both you and mike m idiots?
Does it matter where she shops?
She said that their target market is people who make 40k a year or less, or to that effect. I’m sure she makes more than 40k a year. She’s not their targeted demographic.
@@Robert-bg4hr I think the point that they are trying to make is that if you are the spokeswoman for a store, and you believe in the quality of the goods of that store. Wouldn't you shop there. If not, that's very telling about what you really think about whats sold there.
Jeff Bray I get that but I’m take it more as she’s a upper-class lady who would never personally set foot in a store like that.
I don’t recall her saying she didn’t believe in the products. Is Coca-Cola different at a DG than at a Whole Foods? It’s not known weather she shops there or not nor is it known how she truly feels about the products it sells.
@@Robert-bg4hr Yes it is different, the only cola's at Whole foods are made with stevia instead of fattening high fructose corn syrup
People seem to blame businesses for the choices people make. The reason why there is so little vegetables in the store is because hardly anyone is buying them.
Not everything is cheaper or avail in dollar general.
Why do folks shop at the Dollar Store, because their wages adjusted for inflation, have remained flat for forty years. How do working class folks get by without some low cost options. I live in a rural isolated area, we have two good grocery stores, and, a terrific organic food coop. I shop at all of them, and, i buy a lot of household essentials, and, coffee from Target. I also get my dog food from Chewy. I like to be able to use all of these resources. I have shopped at the Dollar Store, for, some cheap rugs, but, if i had to try to feed a family on what working people make now, i would definitely include them in the mix. It's all about the money and the income inequality in this country.
Thanks Obama.
but when a company offers higher wages all you attack it saying it must be a scam cause they offering more than you get paid and no one gets paid more than you and no company can afford higher wages than yours.
@@themrttttoo490 - Trumps tax breaks for the super wealthy will surely help all those folks living on 30k a year.
@@ArtBQ Which tax breaks are you talking about? Not just MSNBC talking points or "everybody knows" please. Which tax cuts?
@@themrttttoo490 The tax cuts Trump passed in 2017, you idiot. The only tax bill Trump passed. You know, the one that's increasing the US deficit by 800 billion a year. And gave a 35% cut to corporate America, you idiot.You know, the one Trump and Mnuchin and clowns said "would pay for itself." I can't believe how stupid you people are.
Who is going to dollar stores for groceries? You go there for cleaning supplies, detergent, stuff that's more expensive at Walmart and grocery stores. These people are just mad because people are getting smarter about where they shop and saving money.
These stuck up snobs don’t wanna talk about when Dollar General puts stores where nobody else will so country folks will have a place to get what they need.BTW you can buy good stuff or junk anywhere you shop-your choice.
AMEN !!!! Joe, I couldn't agree more !!!!
They offer you a unhealthy life and early death for less money. No. It's not a choice. They could offer nothing but healthy food for less but they don't because there's more profit in junk. Poor people want healthy options. There were three different bags of unhealthy fries, one bag of chicken. They're pushing profits over people.
They are also a rip off - the chicken breast comes out to like 13 a pound. The ground beef is mostly water the “steaks” also. Appearance of low cost is only appearance, they are mathematically ripping people off.
Yes...at the very least shop at Walmart if you have to go cheapest of the cheap. I prefer actual grocery stores...I mean if I absolutely had to shop at a dollar store for groceries...I think I'd just make the hour drive to a grocery store and buy in bulk...I've done it before when I lived out in the Everglades; the drive in the Everglades was an hour and 30 minutes every week. I will get my publix lol.
@@shootermcgavin7777 Stupidest comment ever posted on UA-cam.
They don't rip you off on non food items like small town grocery stores.
AMEN !
Dollar General is willing to do what nobody else does. They take a chance on communities that have few or no other stories nearby. Even my rural community that is a over ten miles from the nearest small town! And for taking a chance on our community, we reward them with our business. This is how it's supposed to work. DG may indeed force out some higher-priced competitors in places, but in most cases, they're going into places where nobody else will.
Newsflash! Every grocery store sells unhealthy, processed foods...and wiping crappy stores like Dollar General off the map won't change a thing.
"our stores do offer healthy options"
*opens the freezer*
Hilarious 😂
Riiiiiigggghhhhtt!!!! Dollar Stores, the healthy place To shop! Lol.. you are a comedian! .
There’s no healthy options at our small Dollar General store. I know better than to even go there for quick items! All you can get is pizza and Hot Pockets!!
You can put this comment at a regular grocery stores. The frozen aisle is the BUSIEST area of grocery stores.
This video is loaded with several hot topics. Great conversation to have.
5.47 SPACE MARSHALL GLASSES
NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE
UGLY TOO
Such a good report. Glad we can discuss these issues that matter to us.
@@ekop1778 I logged in just to find a comment about this.
They're horrendous.
One thing these three retailers have in common is that none of them advertise on television.
@@nghtwtchmn129 That's true.
If the town chooses not to shop at the local grocery store and it closes, let the town live with the consequences of their choices.
I was raised by my mother on a fixed income and the dollar store in our town saved us from going to bed hungry many a nights. People go where their money can stretch. Most of the grocery stores in small towns were some of the most price gouging owners around. I grew up in one so I know.
Long money Larry I wish we would have had a dollar store when I was growing up, I did go to bed hungry to many times.
@@heknows5418 both of you so correct.
Dollar General is way better than Family Dollar. By the way Dollar Store wasn't meant to be a Grocery Store its really a Convenience Store People need to take Responsibility on what they eat
flysociety People need to stop blaming the dollar stores for their poor health because they’re too lazy to cook.
5:45 the irony is that it looks like she got her glasses at a dollar store lol.
LMAO needed that.
Mixtli Escobedo or wish for $1
Hahaha!!!!!🙈
Or a elton john garage sale..
Drive 30 minutes to Dollar Store, drive 3 hours to a near by hospital, and drive six feet underground.
I understand the concern but two greeting cards for $1.00?? They got me hooked
Agree !....Hey, they sell good quality Tyson's frozen wings ;)
My husband has a full-time job because of Dollar General, so I have no complaints. If people don't know enough to buy healthy food, that's their own fault.
Mz, that's a fairly ignorant perspective. Those stores are knowingly exploiting human nature to make profit
Not everyone has the ability to spend the time and/or money to travel significant distances to get fresh food at a grocery store.
@Bo Hunter I don't need to be "rolling in dough." We have enough to support ourselves, put money in his 401k (which DG matches) and then some. That's why we donate to charity. What have YOU ever done in your life to help others?
@@hojo70 In what way are they "exploiting human nature?"
@@funnyfarm299 They don't have friends or family they could ask to take them to the store? Public transportation? Cab companies (local, not just Uber or Lyft)? Wake up.
Nobody is forcing people to buy those items.
You clearly do not understand human nature
People who can not afford the time and money to drive long distances for fresh produce are foced by their pocketbooks.
Nobody is talking about the multitude of fast food places that contribute to poor health among low income people. This piece is quite misleading and singles out a single segment of retailers. Nonsense
@@hojo70 I am human and my nature is to at least buy the canned/frozen veggies. You can put together a nutritious meal at the dollar store.
@@RonnieGreher Lots of people talk about it, and there have been highly popular documentaries about it.
This video just happens to be about "Dollar" stores.
Salaries do not keep pace with the rising cost of goods and the dollar stores help the working class and poor make ends meet.
I buy non food items.
You don't want to do your grocery shopping at a dollar store obviously.
Exactly
Right, these places isn't a grocery store. Very great items on households items cleaning supplies etc. Dollar Tree is my go to store with no shame💚
P-Impmon Understandable but vegetables better off buying them at the grocery store, Whole foods stores, or grow your own is the best. Lunchable are packed artificial foods. Artificial isn't real. Not healthy for us at all.
I would never buy groceries at a Dollar Store or a Dollar General, but I have noticed more and more people do. That's why their lines R so long.
The only good I'll buy at a dollar store is eggs or something if I need them bad
Walmart sells all the same stuff too.
Wal-Mart also sells fresh meat and produce in every store.
The stores buy wholesale from China and distribute in smaller bags than walmart does.... and small stores require less overhead cost so you pass cheaper expense onto customers.. not the other way around like loser shopkeepers do when prices go up, they dont work and shop more.. they just keep buying and upping the price
@@dertythegrower The reality is that Walmart's prices are cheaper because they have a better system of logistics: all the transportation costs associated with moving product from the warehouse to the customer. Walmart can do it cheaper because it can buy in bigger volumes, and can also have it's own logistics network (whereas local grocers have to rely on vendors and 3rd party distributors more, which increases costs). Groceries are a volume business: small stores will always struggle in areas where the locals are apathetic to local business (which apparently is the case in this town). That's a cultural failure, not a failure of business.
Homestead Homie it’s literally the exact same business model.
You're right, as does Target. But Target is a bourgeoisie safe space, so it doesn't receive the same scrutiny.
I live in a small village in Ohio. the only store we have is Dollar General, aside from 2 gas stations. otherwise, you have to drive at least 20 to 30 minutes to find grocery stores.
We utilize Dollar General every week for things that we need on a regular basis such as bread. It’s quick, convenient, and for the most part, reasonably priced.
If we did have a grocery store, they would be way overpriced because they would know they are the only store within 20 to 30 minutes, (ie. the whole demand/cost thing) And no one would shop there because they would rather save money, even if they had to drive farther.
Look at the times, the middle class is quickly becoming poor too, while the top 2 to 3% keep getting richer and richer. everyone, including middle class, is seeking the best prices, period!
Why don't they just open a fresh food market? A smaller store with meat and veg.
I would say it's to expensive to open a fresh food store. Profits are things and if not sold your products go bad becoming worthless. That's why the healthy options are frozen. Most products sold there are shelf stable.
I think that in rural areas farmers should get with a restarunt and open a farm to table restarunt. It would take off really well. Also most of the people in those rural areas have some sort of garden at least in Iowa where my parents live.
A lot of people are just so out of touch that "why don't you just...." easily rolls off the tongue as if it's an original idea.
Because most people don't know how to cook anymore, they reheat, sorry thats not cooking.
staffed at 2 employes, open from 8 am to 8 pm 6 days a week is 144 labor hours at $ 16 an hour. $2300 in labor a week. Add rent, utilities, lawn and snow , professional fees (tax, payroll ,etc. ), Insurance, theft loses, spoilage, Remember, you are selling to the portion of people in a town of 1500 that you can persuede to buy from you. And nearby farmers and rural households. Take your money, choose a town in Iowa, and try it.
It's simple supply and demand. Some neighborhoods dictate lower price options...and that's where these stores fill a need.
But there's a DEMAND for produce and DG isn't SUPPLYing it.
So you mean these stores target poor people just like loan sharks?
kAt H 👈🏻 this person gets it.
I grew up just outside of Moville, it’s so crazy seeing my hometown. I remember going to that grocer all the time as a kid, when the Dollar General store came in it was a huge deal! 🤷♀️
The sad truth is that a lot of the products at dollar stores are NOT cheaper. They seem cheaper because the price on the shelf is lower but often you don't realize the quantity in the package is lower... and the better deal may be in the bigger package. So, you may be paying way more over the long haul by shopping dollar stores.
Sounds like that town could support a greengrocer.
Manwalkerinpark Moville is ONLY 30 min to Sioux City - I guarantee you many were going to Sioux City regularly for fresh food BEFOE Dollar General. Its part of living rural. Next, have a garden!! The locals CHOOSE to eat what they sell - yuk to me but they choose.
we grow some stuff.. tomatos and lettuce and some herbs but still, it would be nice to have a proper grocery store. We are semi luck y because there is a Big Krogers 15 mnutes away
Coast 2 Coast listeners:
“The government is killing us with bad reprocessed foods!”
....shops at Dollar stores😑
Corporate America not the government.The government is a facilitator! It's all about the Money.
Sometimes I can only afford those dollar stores
@@joefox9765 It is called Capitalism !!! If you don't like it, go to Cuba or Venezuela. So what if it is all about money? I am a small investor and live in a small town. So you want the Govt. to feed you and direct you and your family where to shop? Don't be a fool !
I took my 17 year old son to the back woods of Pine bluff, Arkansas to see my 90 year old grandfather for the first time. He said ain't nothing here but woods, trees, PRICES ( our family last name) and dollar general. I looked around 😏like "damn he's right"😂😂😂😂
It infuriates me that the "county commissioner" associates the county's health crisis with these dollar stores. Hey....NO ONE is forcing the customers to buy that food.
They're forced by circumstances. It's what's available.
They need to learn how to cook.
Your correct no one is being forced per say. When that is the only option you to choose from ..then they are kinda Forced.
"Your killing America just to get richer" sounds like he is talking about big pharma.
{{{{{big pharma}}}}
Openyoureyes39......EXACTLY!! Its all hypocricy in this country.
Or the firearm industry.
@@FirstHillSeattle what????What's wrong with guns???? Mexico had 30,000 murders last year ...Half of what America had despite having 10x the population... Brazil had 60,000
@@FirstHillSeattle If the police are allowed to have guns then so should we
5:53 that woman stole The old guy from six flags glasses. 😂
The I dont want attention but "GIVE ME ALL OF YOUR ATTENTION" glasses
America deserves what they get. Loyalty has left us.
Dollar General opened a full grocery store in Troutville Va and it is very comparable to Walmart.
I'm confused - why not just sell what dollar general doesn't? Meats fruits etc? (at least according to the video)
The grocers can’t make a decent profit only selling fresh foods. And my hunch is, even if they sold fresh chicken, the people in these communities would buy the frozen fried chicken from Dollar General.
I see you have a brain. Exactly my point.
No one goes to dollar stores to eat healthy
Dennis Snider mostly. When I was in college I would buy frozen berries, cashews, Triscuits, oats, and ground cinnamon there.
You missed the point. Dollar General is the closest thing to a grocery store in many areas (food deserts). You don't necessarily have a choice.
I don't know about the food but if you are just making it and you have three or four or more kids- What a treat it is to take them to Dollar Tree , to the toy section and say "O K kids,Everyone gets one toy each...." They love that and you know it will cost you only three or four bucks....
3:56 thanks to these type of stores I’ve saved a lot of $ I buy cleaning items and pet food at family dollar, some food can items but not all can’t beat a 2lb bag of rice for $1.00 anywhere. I go to Food For Less and Neighborhood stores for my meats and fresh produce. Maybe neighborhood stores should lower their prices they think because it’s local and some ppl that don’t have cars a way to get there are going to pay for what they ask for nope! Ppl are going to go shopping where they can get more for their $ and the best deals.
Also I have seen dozens and dozens of american shops who are lazy or just ignorant at how to buy low and sell high..
they call the same place for the same order and pass any up chsrges on.. instead of making deals to be the cheapest guy in town. I see a lot of whiner shops complaining but their candy and drinks are almost 150 percent cost of safeway, or walmart or dollar store... like gas station shell, you go there and candy is 1.69 for a hersheys. kick rocks, thats enough for 2 bars at any normal shop.. i dont mind paying 10 or even 15 percent more for local shops.. but when its almost 2x the price as walmart, thats just lazyness at the shop buying too high
It keeps me out of WalMart where I really end up spending to much money
Guarantee, that you are not buying quality pet food at such a price. Why have pets if you cannot afford them?
Love Food 4 Less.
SANDY MILLER yesss!
Small towns: we need more income, jobs etc.
Chain stores: *moves in
Also small towns: You ruined our town, we wish you never came!
I'm from the south, small town Texas. We're doing just fine.
Papaya Salad
Small towns are very prevalent in the south. I grew up in one I couldn’t wait to graduate high school to get away to the nearest large city which is Charlotte.
Gerrit Deatherage Texas needs to get over itself, lol. I’ve been there and honestly it’s like everywhere else in the south except the people are full of themselves and the only thing to eat is Mexican food.
I'm from a small town near Cleveland Ohio. We're doing just fine, close knit community, bustling downtown area of ONLY locally owned businesses. We have a family dollar on the outskirts of town, a drug mart, and a locally owned grocery store. That's it. We have a population of about 9,000, when dollar general tried to open a store here, they were met with 7,500 signatures to keep it from happening.
@Papaya Salad I think you're thinking of farming communities more so than small towns. There are plenty of places that aren't a large city, nor suburban area, that aren't going anywhere.
In that entire freezer she was able to pick out three bags of veggies and a bag of mediocre grilled chicken 😂
About 15 years ago I bought stocks in dollar general. I'm very happy with the purchase. Thank you America.
Dollar Tree is my go to store for so much.
It use to be Walmart that the grocery chains were afraid of, now its the Dollar Store subsidiaries. It will always be that way in America!
I live in Iowa and I love The Dollar Tree. I do not buy my groceries at a Dollar store!!! This is ridiculous!
Nancie Blackburn it seemed a little slanted
I go to the dollar store for cleaning items . I get greeting cards 2 for $1.00. I live in the city, so I do have access to supermarkets, but we have produce junction stores that sell bags of fruits and vegetables for $1 or $2. I do miss the mom and pop stores that I grew up with. The economy is suppose to be doing well, but things are still tight for many people.
Yup your right I just retired and I'm finding out I might have to get a part time job can't afford food AND pay bills.
@@49lucky But Trump says this is the best economy EVER!!
I wonder if she got those FUGLY glasses at the dolla store? 05:47
It's like a mini truck windshield. Lol
Weding goggles.
Good Gawd Almighty.
She Looks like a FREAk w those 👓.
Never bought any food related item at a dollar store
Have you ever had $1.00 in your account?
Sonya Berry yea, and I go to Walmart to get the safe .88 cent version
do you want a gold star? i feel like most people buy from these places because they come from low income neighborhoods. i don't think most people dont really want to be shopping at these places.
It's corporations cutting out the little man. The government doesn't do anything to encourage small business start ups because they know there isn't a lot of tax money out of it in comparison to a billion dollar company.
Insightful
Spot on!!!
I'm glad Dave Chappelle is weighing in on this tough issue
If Trump gets his Chinese tariffs, they'll soon after be $1.99 stores.
@Jada,,, Yeah, TRUMP 2020 and 2024.
So true.
How about somebody open a Farmer's Market next to every dollar store??? ♥️
ritaperdue I thought the same thing. Or perhaps a community garden operation and the local extension service give classes on healthy eating and growing your own food.
Dollar store sells those kiddy pools.. 9.99.. you can use them for flower beds or raise fish on them
@@maureenfernandes5966 Power to health.
Excellent idea. That will benefit the community. Alot of low income areas need farmer markets.
@@sparkyvee in the U.S. I guess. I buy vegetables for a cheap price outside of the 🇺🇸.
In Southern California we have the 99 cents stores, they have fresh produce in all their stores
Thomas Klein They're probably not that fresh. The farmers market is your best bet, even if it's not organic.
Does that offset over $5 gallon gas prices, traffic, homelessness, power prices, set power outages, people crapping on the streets, rents at over $2,000 for a one bedroom not to mention the Democrats?
@@SarahAnnBellham why do you think we have 99 cent stores...to save cash
@@ag-bk5wf well you should save yourself and get out of Dodge before it's too late.
California is a dystopia. It's a pipe dream for others.
When I got to live in the countryside of Tennessee I was shock, people just can't live like this. I'm from Mexico and food deserts is something that you don't expect to find in the most powerful country in the world.
At Dollar Tree all items (with a few exceptions) are no longer one dollare but rather $1.25.
If you choose to live in the middle of nowhere, you'll have to travel or order delivery of things like fresh food, and other things as well. In cities there are various delivery services, plus farmers markets, for fresh produce and food. Even living in NYC, I often drive out to the suburbs once a week to buy prepared food and some produce at reasonable prices, because these places cannot afford to operate in city limits or minority neighborhoods. This kind of thing has been happening for a long time.
dmiller 1000. You can't be serious.
It's common for folks in rural America to make regular monthly all day drives into the "big city" to stock up at Costco or what not. It's part of life. I'm not talking about someone living in the outskirts of a bedroom community either, but folks living 4-6 hours away, one way, from a large city.
Such a one sided story. You can go to any retail store and see when the store offers healthy food and sweets people out of habit choose the sweets. They are attacking Dollar Store for having sweets. Even if they had fresh vegetables people would still buy more sweets than health food!!
99 Cent Stores in California, AZ and TX is the best of the discount stores.
They have fresh produce too.
True
In Nevada they are called "99 Cent Only" stores. They have a good selection of fresh produce. BTW they are not really 99 cents only.
Yes!!!! I love the 99cent only stores!!! I was there last night. Were blessed to have them here California. And Nevada of course Texas and Arizona.😀💛
@@someguy2135 Yes same chain. 99 Cent Only stores. Use to be owned by the Gold family. It was public and now its a private company.
Gotta love people who live in the middle of FARM country, driving 30 miles to get some damn lettuce: you know we use to grow that stuff on our own....in a garden. This is America in a nutshell: we're too damn lazy to even grow lettuce anymore, would rather drive all across the country (putting tons of wear and tear on our poor cars) just for produce grown by someone else. Wow!!
i drove down a farm road in texas, i saw a doller store every 5 miles on that road...
i kid you not, i drove for like 30 min. down that road and i saw lik 6 dollar stores.
Ultimately people will shop where it’s cheaper
That guy has probably been ripping people off for decades. He's just mad that another business is breaking up his monopoly
I agree
T Abel Yep. The town folks knew that that’s why they jumped ship ASAP. If he had been good to them, they would have been loyal to him and continued to patronize his store.
@@yl7495 True. Probably refused to take any returns, yelled at folks flipping through magazines, and only held sales on damaged near-expired food products.
In a small town he probably struggled to keep the doors open. In closing, he probably lost the tens of thousands $ invested in the store.
Local stores are always overpriced monopolies.
I only shop for things like shampoo, conditioner and other toiletry items at these places. I usually go there when I need a few things I need, and I don't feel like going through a Wal-Mart. I'm thankful my area has an ALDI, and I'm hearing that we may be getting a LidL in our area, as well.
Dollar general will build a staff a store in small towns that other companies pass over!
_FM3 so true! We were without a grocery store for years and Dollar General was there for the quick items (milk, eggs, cheese) when you didn’t feel like driving to the grocery store.
Ask her if she shops and feeds her family there. She doesn’t, and she wouldn’t.
They probably need to shop at Dollar General because they're saddled with massive student debt.
Perhaps we could use a similar ”shame on your argument” against the professor? Shame on you getting rich off your tenure system, where academics convince impressionable kids to take hundreds of thousands in loans, for marginal degrees that will keep them in debt, preventing them from getting married and buying fresh produce.
Some smart local farmers should set up a farm stand or CSA to fill this need. I live in Lancaster County, PA. We’ve got Dollar stores all over the place, but the Amish also run produce stands. They make more selling directly to the public. Everyone else gets great produce at amazing prices. In this model, it's the locals cutting the middleman out.
Smart ideas. Props.
Hundreds of thousands in debt? Go to community college, then state and then if you are good enough, you will be asked to go to grad school almost for free. The rest is a choice for debt.
Are you writing satire? You really think that impoverished rural and urban areas are impoverished because they spent their money on education? If they did they (likely) wouldn't be stuck without a stable income in a bad area to live. A degree over a lifetime is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars profit, even after expensive loans. Education almost always lifts people out of poverty or at least offers better opportunities
Dollar general is still pricey and sometimes more expensive than Walmart which is kinda wild
The Dollar Stores are The Successors of The 5 & 10 Stores of Old. They are The Woolworth's, Ben Franklin's, McCrory's, S.H. Kess, S.S. Kresge, and W.T.Grant's.
Yeah but back then it was made in America not this cheap crap from China that contains lead and only one store per neighborhood maybe
I hadn't thought about Ben Franklin's in years, but the town I grew up in had one and a local grocery store (David's Grocery) and a small department store (Big M). Now they're all gone, but there is a Dollar General and a Family Dollar. If you want fresh produce, you have to drive 20-30 minutes to a Food City or Grant's. If you want good beer, you gotta drive even further!
Those were also gathering places that gave back to their community. They sponsored local little league teams, and donated to the cub scouts. The local franchisee lived in town and was invested in it.
The new chain we are getting around here is 5Below where everything is $5 or less.
Holy glasses at 5:45.
Anthony reminds me of Seinfeld “The Gum”
She got them from a Elton john garage sale..
Every small town I’ve seen has a dollar general. It’s an eyesoar.
Thanks Barry Popkin. Great input. There are other options in these communities, but the prices on “fresh foods” are high.
I have a love/hate relationship w/Dollar General & Family Dollar in my Iowan town. Majority of my pet supplies, hygiene, over counter meds, cleaning supplies & snack items are purchased there. That's b/c those items are decent & cheaper than purchasing them at my local Wal-Mart or Hy-Vee. I rarely shop at Walmart b/c never liked their stores. Hy-Vee grocery offers better quality of food & the staff are less 'cultish' in the sense that they are friendlier & quickly pick up on the needs of their regular shoppers. Plus, I enjoy picking my meat & deli items from the counter and have them freshly wrapped. These cheap dime stores are popping up everywhere & was shocked upon discovering a new one in a tiny town 30 miles south of where I'm at. This story is correct by saying some areas are a food desert. Especially in rural communities. I'm lucky because my particular town has a population of 12-15K and provides a better opportunity for choice. We do have a seasonal Farmer's Market that allows us to support our local farmers. Personally, I purchase large jars of honey & various fruit preserves to last the year. I do wish Dollar General offers fresh produce. It would certainly be healthier for those who shop due to income disparity or convenience. Casey's gas station in town offers more fresh produce than Dollar General & it's a damn shame. These stores serve a purpose but flooding the market with them chokes local 'mom & pop' shops that have been in business for generations.
This happened in my small town. Our One grocery store that’s been in this town forever, just closed. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good thing and an asset but no produce or fresh meat when you need something in a pinch hurts. We are 20 miles from the nearest grocery store.
I travel and see a lot of stores poorly run.. horrible prices almost double to walmart. And then when you avoid they complain it is the cheaper store.. no, it truly is bad purchasing and buying low to sell higher price. Lots of American shop keepers in the midwest(i bet 50 bucks youre midwest or texas) are lazy... they live off others work and just sit and dont shop to ssve their own store. Thats why walpmart wins, they buy Low and sell high. thats how retail works lol
@@dertythegrower you are correct I'm a long haul trucker and when I need something I try to give locals my business but the prices are sky high and the store is dirty no thanks.
@@dertythegrower Walmart buys in bulk...grocers can't compete.
That's the price you pay for living in a remote area: 20 miles is a lot when you live in a city, but in rural America (I live in Indiana, that's about all we have in most counties!), that's probably a 25-30 minutes drive for you. Canned goods will likely be more common at that point, and frozen foods (especially frozen produce).
Carol Howard i try to be organized that way too.
lmao was that lady wearing dollar store glasses?
Choices, we all make them!
Rhonda Traywick: Good food choices will extend your life hopefully.
@@indiald3373 I agree. Excess salt, oild and sugar is part of the health crisis in this country. Food deserts reduce our choices, or force those who can to drive further for healthy produce.
Rhonda Traywick. Good. Don't vote for Trump.
I shop at a dollar store occasionally but not food items. The one I go to does not have any healthy options for fresh produce but even if they did I would be cautious of the quality at that price. You get what you pay for. I am in a lower income bracket but one thing I don’t skimp on is food
This is stupid no one buys groceries at dollar stores. Try lowing your prices on food. An 8 pack of batteries cost almost 10 dollars but in a dollar store, it's one dollar.
I used to when I was on welfare, until an Aldi store opened.
I spend most of my time driving a truck in Minnesota. Here, there's a gas station chain out of Wisconsin, that not only sells gas, but a lot of grocery items that dollar stores don't sell. We need more of them in rural areas and food deserts.
Did anyone else see the avocados for .95 each?!? That is no bargain.
Rural America grocery stores are extremely expensive.
@@robbanks4356 really? I would hate living in middle of nowhere America. It seems like they get the short end of the stick. Few job opportunities, high prices, isolation, long drives, etc
What is the appeal exactly???
It’s difficult cause I’m from a small town less than 1000 people. My family went to the groceries once a week and we usually made a little outing of it. We would go to the nearest big town/city usually 30-60 min away and buy clothes, go to the mall, watch a movie, go out to eat, then get the groceries and come back home. Being from a small town with nothing to do we relished the opportunity to get out and do stuff even though there were closer grocery stores we went further to buy them cause we had more to choose from in bigger towns and more to do. The local dollar store is for the little things we need every day like milk or bread, a soda or candy, deodorant, shampoo. I suspect it’s like this for most of small town Americans.
the japanese govt cares more about there people than ours. they have some fast foods, but they have real cooked foods easily available.
ron fazer move to Japan what's the problem.
The nearest store in rural areas is at least 1/2 hour away, and Dollar General is near by to pick up milk, etc that you forgot in your weekly shop to the grocery store. Most people shop both. You can't get everything at a Dollar General.
I never buy food at dollar stores. I usually get greeting cards and school supplies.
I wish we had those small independent grocery stores back in Chicagoland. I miss them
What this story fails to mention is that the Dollar stores were really born from the EBT and SNAP programs.
I work at a dollar store and and the amount paid with snap is about 200-500 while both cash and debit are 3,000 each .
DesertDigger1 A few years ago I heard that 30% of Walmart’s revenue came from SNAP/EBT/WIC programs.
Dollar Stores are retail cancer. Imagine living in a tiny town and relying on one grocery store for your fresh produce needs and then a Dollar Store appears putting your fresh produce grocery store out of business and the Dollar Store doesn't even sell fresh produce. You have no choice but to drive to the next town or have your own vegetable garden/fruit orchard and have to can food for the winter. Sounds like a huge inconvenience to me and it's happening all over as was mentioned in the video.
This comment...by far the best!
The $ Store doesn't put the fresh produce grocery store out of business. People look at their finances, make choices & act accordingly. You can't force peoples to shop at certain stores.
I don't blame the dollar stores at all. I blame the person who buys items at those stores and not at their local grocery store. Consumers vote with their money and when they buy stuff at Dollar stores instead of local stores, they are putting those local stores out of business.
Dollar tree is my favorite place to go. I don’t like going to dollar general or family dollar, I prefer to go to Target👍🏼.
I don’t get what’s the point Target having a grocery section now these days. It’s always dead. Food down the trash.
This is what unfettered Capitalism looks like. Monopolies win, everyone else looses. Wage stagnation or loss since the 1970s.
Tyson's Chicken is not all natural it is the most harmful chicken to eat in the United States
DOLLAR STORES , AT THE TIME OF THIS ' NEW DEPRESSION ' , ARE A MIRACLE ! MANY PEOPLE COULDN'T SHOP WITHOUT THEM ! ( the better economy is a myth ) PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOPPING THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO , IT'S BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO SHOP ANYWHERE ELSE ! ! THEY NOT ONLY SELL FOOD , BUT MANY OTHER THINGS THAT MANY PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD WITHOUT THEM ! you can buy things for a child's birthday party , to household Staples ! THEY GIVE HOPE , BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS POOR BEFORE ! someone can work two jobs and not be able to pay for rent or heat ! GOD BLESS THE DOLLAR STORES !
Ever heard of The Great Depression? People have been this poor before and even poorer.
@@nickrogers241 , NOT TRUE ! before at least people had their ' time ' - now people work 24/7 and still have nothing ! and since the world has changed so much , they usually don't even have a family ! people have become , or are becoming SLAVES !
The entire town stopped going to the local grocery store to support a dollar store?!
Lol.. let them and every other town like that die out
I totally agree. As much as I like to drop into the dollar stories I certainly would not want to do my food shopping for the week there!! Sad for small rural groceries 😢