“Dollar” store prices are no different from supermarket prices. They often are a little higher. The article is about stores like Dollar General and Family Dollar, not whatever dollar stores used to be. Prices are not a dollar and prices are not in even dollars or anything.
I have asked many, many people the same question and the answer is always the same: convenience. The dollar store is five minutes away or less. DGs are practically weeds, I live in the country and there are more Dollar Generals around me than gas stations or anything else.
They have food, but it’s a very poor selection and mostly processed junk food with a few staples thrown in.
Edit: reading the other comments, it’s a little shocking to see how many people have evidently never set foot in a dollar general or family dollar. Definitely a reminder I live in a different world than most of HN.
> I have asked many, many people the same question and the answer is always the same: convenience.
You have not asked me. I have a grocery store, and a TON of other stores of all sorts in walking distance, but I drive to the dollar store because it's cheaper.
For example the dollar store popcorn kernels are about half the price of the grocery store ones. Simple glass dishes are 1/3 to 1/4 the price of anywhere else. You can get a pregnancy test for $1, vs $6 to $30 anywhere else.
My most recent dollar (really GBP) store purchases were superglue and sticky notes. Both were substantially cheaper than supermarket prices, with no obvious difference in quality. Both are commodity products that supermarkets only sell as expensive branded versions, which I refuse to buy because I don't like getting ripped off. The dollar store is actually less convenient.
Were they Dollar Generals or Family Dollars? These are the stores mentioned in the article and in my experience aside from a few loss leaders like cold drinks everything is more expensive.
I don’t think the UK vs US situation is comparable.
I have asked many, many people the same question and the answer is always the same: convenience. The dollar store is five minutes away or less. DGs are practically weeds, I live in the country and there are more Dollar Generals around me than gas stations or anything else.
They have food, but it’s a very poor selection and mostly processed junk food with a few staples thrown in.
Edit: reading the other comments, it’s a little shocking to see how many people have evidently never set foot in a dollar general or family dollar. Definitely a reminder I live in a different world than most of HN.