Dollar Tree Shoppers Should Pay Closer Attention To The Chain's Labels. Here's Why

Dollar Tree has been a staple of thrifty shopping for decades, pretty much since the first location opened in 1953. Although not exactly known for being the very best quality, Dollar Tree's kitchenware items, toys, groceries, and other household goods are popular for one simple reason: they're cheap. Many people shop Dollar Tree to stretch their dollars, stock up on essentials, or grab quick convenience items. The store's addition of frozen and chilled foods to certain stores in 2008 only fueled its popularity as an affordable alternative to big-box stores. But while Dollar Store remains considerably cheaper, how much value are you really getting from shopping there?

Pay close attention to Dollar Tree labels beyond just their expiration dates. As many shoppers have noticed in recent years, the store appears to have been slyly reducing quantity while still selling for the same prices (or even increasing the prices of some items). At least one customer complained on Facebook that they noticed Dollar Tree transitioned its candy bar packages from five-counts to four. Another shopper posted a photo on Reddit of a new, smaller can of pineapple slices at their local store, with a sticker covering the price on the larger can still in stock next to it. So, if you've been shopping at Dollar Tree for years and have come to expect a certain level of bang for your buck, be sure to look closely at both the price tag and the item size or quantity included in each package.

As for avoiding future unwelcome surprises, there are some signs to look for beyond just changes in packaging or quantities. As reported by many news outlets and customers on social media, some Dollar Tree stores put red stickers over prices that are going up. This has been done in anticipation of price changes, so if the prices haven't budged just yet at your local store, spotting a red sticker could mean the time to stock up is now before it's too late.

It's worth knowing which grocery items at Dollar Tree actually offer value in the first place. For example, packaged dinners like ramen and Hungry Jack are a relative steal at Dollar Tree, selling for only $1.25 to $1.50 and often coming in pretty decent quantities. Pick up some spices for only $1.25 during your trip (which is comparable to other grocery stores), and you can make your instant ramen taste restaurant-worthy. Quick snacks are usually pretty good cost-wise, too; Dollar Tree's Toast 'em Pop-Ups are only $1.25 for a six-count box, which is notably less than what Pop-Tarts cost elsewhere. On the other hand, you may want to avoid canned goods, as these also cost between $1.25 and $1.50, and you can find cheaper options at Grocery Outlet, Aldi, and many other grocery stores. Additionally, former Dollar Tree employees have said to avoid meat products at the store due to poor quality, even if the expiration date looks just fine.