How can dollar stores still sell things for a dollar? | I’ve Always Wondered...®

Dollar stores aren’t just surviving, they’re thriving. How is that possible?


In this episode of I’ve Always Wondered...®, Marketplace’s Reema Khrais explains how dollar stores can still sell things for a dollar – and how the Great Recession helped create a lot more customers for dollar stores across the country.

I’ve Always Wondered...® is a Marketplace series that answers your questions about the world we live in, why the economy works the way it does, and why it all matters.


Because if you’re like us, you’ve got a lot of questions about the small, simple, brilliant and ubiquitous things in the world of business. We’re here to answer them for you, in our most popular series that’s generated by you – our audience. Suggest something you’ve always wanted to know in the comments below. #MarketplaceAPM #GreatRecession #EconomicExplainers

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[marketplaceAPM]

What have YOU always wondered? Let us know!

[malcolm]

I needed a coffee mug for the office, stopped at a Dollar Tree and bought one. Still using that same mug for over 3 years.

[xBris]

0:54 Calls the shop '99c only' and sells pinaplle for 1.99 - that's my kind of humour ^^

[smackpopcrackysmak]

If something is a dollar and it’s good, a lot of people are going to buy it.

[nobo]

Honestly all types of dollar stores sells less for more, compared to Costco that sells you more for less. Although you get more for your buck at Costco, you end up spending more, whereas you spend more for less at dollar stores but you spend less.

[morrasod]

Oof, this video went under the radar. This is really well edited and answered my question.

[SirLavaLamp]

Companies have every right to resell cheap goods, thing is, cheap foods are usually pretty bad for you.

[karthickentrepreneur]

Guys How can you be so informative?? I’m mighty impressed

[ParthChokshi]

Still doesn't answer the title. How do they sell this cheap? Not everything is bulk bought at lower price cz someone wanted to clear their stock.

[matthewjrichard]

Loving this series! Great work, Marketplace!

It's called MASS BULK purchasing from the whole sellers. Economy of Scale means the per unit price goes down when you buy in bulk!

[randypullman]

Why doesn't my cruise control work at 25mph? Why is their a position on my motorcycle ignition that switches on my brake light?

[MrDreadneck]

I don't think dollar general, tree or family Dollar count as "dollar stores". I would think the stores where every item is $1 should be the only stores mentioned in this video.

[MrFinch-nimk]

Please just stay away from the $.99 meat products

[AXA]

Great work! PS. Time to update your Bitcoin video from 5 months ago? Most people think BTC is 'dead', yet when one searches 'bitcoin obituaries' one quickly discovers it's been pronounced 'dead' 300+ times, and, like dollar stores, has increased in value in times of economic and political uncertainty, like now.

[theslimeylimey]

Advances in manufacturing have lowered prices considerably for just about everything we buy. And yes, cheap overseas labor of course.

[gerardinvestments]

Dollar General is not a dollar store every thing in the store is not a dollar.

[Razzy]

You say dollar stores exist because many of us don't have much more to spend like it makes dollar stores somehow negative. I say it makes dollar stores a shining example of capitalism in action. The invisible hand spoke and in those markets it said "This shit's too expensive.".

[Matowix]

It's mainly Chinese junk and most stuff is more than $1 when you go in the shop like that pineapple

[DarkForce]

You're not really saving anything, more and more brand name items are getting smaller and smaller for dollar stores so if you do the math over time, you're wasting more money buying products at these stores