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[nexus73]

Guess I need to go copy and paste my comment in the Sears thread in this one.

I like Dollar Tree for a number of things. And yes, I bought one of the Dollar Tree $1 3 oz. ribeyes, ate it, and survived. It was a little tough but not too bad. Dollar Tree recently bought out Family Dollar, and existing Family Dollar stores are being remodeled to include "Dollar Tree dollar spots" where you can find some decent buys, although Family Dollar already had a decent section of $1 merchandise.

They are hit and miss, though. I've been in some really nice, clean ones with a decent selection of merchandise. And some look like they're in perpetual tornado cleanup mode.

Try slow cooking tougher meats.  You can also use a tenderizing hammer on a piece so long as it is not frozen.  After that I would be interested in your take on something which could be tougher than a $2 Texas steak.  In Oregon we ate a lot of venison back in the day.  You want a tough meat?  There ya' go!  Properly cooked it smooths right out though. 

Rick

[txstateends]

And some look like they're in perpetual tornado cleanup mode.

That's one thing I have about dollar stores, messy, scattered, don't look like they care or feel it.  It wouldn't take a whole lot to re-planogram (if the store shelves/items are off kilter at all) or renovate (if it's in worse shape), but I guess that would take a combo-meal of the company putting more $$$ into their stores (might or might not happen) and the store employees making sure everything is stocked and faced well and properly (considering the employees care or are paid more than pocket change).  But judging from what I've seen in my few retail jobs, much of either situation could be a toss-up if the customers don't care and shop (and sample?) like they're rude tornados.

[US71]

And some look like they're in perpetual tornado cleanup mode.

That's one thing I have about dollar stores, messy, scattered, don't look like they care or feel it.  It wouldn't take a whole lot to re-planogram (if the store shelves/items are off kilter at all) or renovate (if it's in worse shape), but I guess that would take a combo-meal of the company putting more $$$ into their stores (might or might not happen) and the store employees making sure everything is stocked and faced well and properly (considering the employees care or are paid more than pocket change).  But judging from what I've seen in my few retail jobs, much of either situation could be a toss-up if the customers don't care and shop (and sample?) like they're rude tornados.

Most have a planogram, but it changes frequently. Of course, the whole idea is to keep you wandering the store looking for more crap to buy.
But they also run on limited help, so there's probably no one to clean things up until the end of the day. I always see boxes left in the middle of an aisle because the stocker had to run the cash register.  It's like 3 people trying to do the work of 8

[cjk374]

We had a Family Dollar open in my hometown across from the school back in September. It is grocery-heavy compared to other F.D. stores. This is extremely convenient in case I need something small. It saves me a trip to Grambling (more dollar stores), Arcadia, or Ruston (major grocery stores).

Y'all have some fancy dollar stores if steaks are in their freezers.

[US71]

We had a Family Dollar open in my hometown across from the school back in September. It is grocery-heavy compared to other F.D. stores. This is extremely convenient in case I need something small. It saves me a trip to Grambling (more dollar stores), Arcadia, or Ruston (major grocery stores).

Y'all have some fancy dollar stores if steaks are in their freezers.

If you can call them steaks. I've seen pancakes thicker than their steaks.

[LM117]

With the exception of one store (Dollar General Market), the DG stores near me are a disaster. Carts with empty cardboard boxes are blocking aisles instead of being kept in the stock room while everything is disorganized with very narrow aisles to boot. Trying to walk through is like running an obstacle course. One of them has seen plenty of managers come and go, all of them claiming they would clean it up, but they never do. Oh, and you better not be in a hurry since there will only be one register open with a long ass line while the other two employees behind the counter are goofing off and scratching their asses.

The Family Dollar stores on the other hand, are clean and neat and will actually have more than one register open when needed. Just be sure to check the expiration dates if you buy groceries since, chances are, they’re either expired or fixing to expire.

As for Dollar Tree, if the shitty parking lot layout doesn’t raise your blood pressure, the store will. My comments about DG apply here, only it’s usually crowded like it’s Black Friday, so twice the fun!

[Buck87]

With the exception of one store (Dollar General Market), the DG stores near me are a disaster. Carts with empty cardboard boxes are blocking aisles instead of being kept in the stock room while everything is disorganized with very narrow aisles to boot. Trying to walk through is like running an obstacle course. One of them has seen plenty of managers come and go, all of them claiming they would clean it up, but they never do. Oh, and you better not be in a hurry since there will only be one register open with a long ass line while the other two employees behind the counter are goofing off and scratching their asses.

This pretty accurately describes my town's store, which is a location that dates back to the late 90's early 00's. The newer ones that have popped up in smaller towns in the surrounding area within the past 5 or so years are much better.

[inkyatari]

I've seen steaks in the freezers at Dollar Tree for $1! I would love to hear from someone who ate one and survived!

[abefroman329]

I've seen steaks in the freezers at Dollar Tree for $1! I would love to hear from someone who ate one and survived!

At least he has the good sense not to call it a “Philly cheesesteak.” Also, what kind of food blogger doesn’t own a bread knife? I’m sure they also sell those at Dollar Tree.

[abefroman329]

With the exception of one store (Dollar General Market), the DG stores near me are a disaster. Carts with empty cardboard boxes are blocking aisles instead of being kept in the stock room while everything is disorganized with very narrow aisles to boot. Trying to walk through is like running an obstacle course. One of them has seen plenty of managers come and go, all of them claiming they would clean it up, but they never do. Oh, and you better not be in a hurry since there will only be one register open with a long ass line while the other two employees behind the counter are goofing off and scratching their asses.

This pretty accurately describes my town's store, which is a location that dates back to the late 90's early 00's. The newer ones that have popped up in smaller towns in the surrounding area within the past 5 or so years are much better.

Every dollar store I’ve ever set foot in has been two steps from anarchy, regardless of its name.

[epzik8]

I like Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Not really Family Dollar though.

[LM117]

With the exception of one store (Dollar General Market), the DG stores near me are a disaster. Carts with empty cardboard boxes are blocking aisles instead of being kept in the stock room while everything is disorganized with very narrow aisles to boot. Trying to walk through is like running an obstacle course. One of them has seen plenty of managers come and go, all of them claiming they would clean it up, but they never do. Oh, and you better not be in a hurry since there will only be one register open with a long ass line while the other two employees behind the counter are goofing off and scratching their asses.

This pretty accurately describes my town's store, which is a location that dates back to the late 90's early 00's. The newer ones that have popped up in smaller towns in the surrounding area within the past 5 or so years are much better.

Oddly enough, I’ve encountered the opposite. The older DG stores I’ve been in tend to be more organized with wider aisles, which makes navigating the store easier. The worst ones I’ve seen were built within the last 6 years.

In the town I grew up, Fremont NC, the DG there was built in 2003 and it had a nice layout. When I was in town last year, I stopped by DG for the first time since 2007 and it now has the same problems mentioned earlier. The only thing that stayed the same was the old store logo. Pikeville, 3 miles south of Fremont, got a pretty good upgrade when DG moved into the former Walmart Express building. They even sell cheap gas. Their old location was in an old Piggly Wiggly building, which has seen better days. That building is now a hardware store.

[hbelkins]

For years around here, DG was in leased space and the store layout was subject to the whims of what space was available. Lately, DG has been building standalone stores. And even some of the newer standalone stores have had their floor plans changed a couple of times.

[texaskdog]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

[US71]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

I bought batteries at Dollar Tree once: they were dead. I was offered an exchange for new batteries, also dead.

[ErmineNotyours]

I think I'll just leave this here:

[abefroman329]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

I bought batteries at Dollar Tree once: they were dead. I was offered an exchange for new batteries, also dead.

One time I bought a boatload of AA batteries from a guy selling them at an intersection in DC, must’ve been 5 20-packs for $5 or $10. Most of them were oxidized. I learned an important lesson that day about buying goods that can’t be returned or exchanged; fortunately I learned it cheaply.

[formulanone]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

I bought batteries at Dollar Tree once: they were dead. I was offered an exchange for new batteries, also dead.

I've had slightly better success with batteries at Harbor Freight Tools; they work, but usually last about one-third as long as Rayovac, Duracell, Energizer, Eveready, et al. I avoid the temptation to stock up on those "Thunderbolts" unless they're just stupid cheap or even free in some of their clear-out or sidewalk sales. When the kids were little, I used to use them around the holidays because there was the chance they'd never play with some of the toys for long.

(Side note, how do those odd-named third-party battery companies work? It seems they only exist in toys, but I guess being able to sell directly to the manufacturer saves millions in advertising and promotion.)

[abefroman329]

Side note, how do those odd-named third-party battery companies work?

As far as I can tell, as well as name-brand batteries. I can’t remember a time when I’ve had to replace the batteries that came with a device faster than I’ve had to replace name-brand batteries. One of my old housemates was a bit of a shutterbug and swore IKEA batteries lasted longer than others, but I couldn’t say either way.

[US71]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

I bought batteries at Dollar Tree once: they were dead. I was offered an exchange for new batteries, also dead.

I've had slightly better success with batteries at Harbor Freight Tools; they work, but usually last about one-third as long as Rayovac, Duracell, Energizer, Eveready, et al. I avoid the temptation to stock up on those "Thunderbolts" unless they're just stupid cheap or even free in some of their clear-out or sidewalk sales. When the kids were little, I used to use them around the holidays because there was the chance they'd never play with some of the toys for long.

(Side note, how do those odd-named third-party battery companies work? It seems they only exist in toys, but I guess being able to sell directly to the manufacturer saves millions in advertising and promotion.)

My portable CD player had 3rd party batteries when I bought it. They worked OK for what I used it for.

[texaskdog]

Again why are we comparing the fake dollar stores to dollar tree?  Recently bought some bowls & cups there.  I always go there for batteries and pens and cards, stuff like that, reading glasses & sunglasses too.

I bought batteries at Dollar Tree once: they were dead. I was offered an exchange for new batteries, also dead.

sucks, i get batteries there all the time and they work great