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Dollar-stores overcharge customers while promising low prices

(www.theguardian.com)
510 points bookofjoe | 2 comments | 07 Dec 25 14:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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modzu ◴[07 Dec 25 15:32 UTC] No.46182408[source]▶
what's the point of this hit piece? isnt that frying pan with a sticker price of $10 and rung up at $12 still $50 anywhere else?
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jrmg ◴[07 Dec 25 15:48 UTC] No.46182553[source]▶
I don’t think this is true. Even if pricing in the shelves is accurate, in my experience Dollar General is typically a little more expensive than a normal mid-range supermarket (or e.g. Amazon) for most things.
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modzu ◴[07 Dec 25 15:53 UTC] No.46182598[source]▶
then why do poor people shop there? is the idea dollar general is strategically misleading them to see prices advertised lower than a normal supermarket but in fact they are higher? i didn't think the article was making that strong of a claim at all. it seemed more like, operations are minimal and staffing short (which in theory enables lower prices) and they linked the staffing issue with simply just not being on top of updating price changes on the shelves
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1. pilotneko ◴[07 Dec 25 16:20 UTC] No.46182823{3}[source]▶
Dollar General and Family Dollar are smaller stores that are generally the only option within a reasonable travel distance. Here in the South, you might be able to catch a bus to Wal-Mart, but it’ll take 2-3X more time (1 hour instead of 20 minutes), so people go with the closer option even thought it is more expensive. No guarantees that Wal-Mart will be cheaper either.
replies(1): >>46182972 #
2. qingcharles ◴[07 Dec 25 16:37 UTC] No.46182972[source]▶
In Chicago they closed the Wal-marts leaving only the Dollar Generals and Dollar Trees as the only walkable stores.