Henry, I remember the saying, "You get what your pay for".  Check out EXXON profits.  So, have you heard od the saying "Buyer Beware".  Unfortunately, in America the standard way to business is now another old con saying "hook or crook" A  little "Common sense" goes a long way

Please people, five and dime stores have always been around. Its just that now they are a dollar. I remember as a child the excitement of getting to go to the dime store because I knew that there I could pick out what I liked and Mom could afford it. The same is true today, only it's a dollar instead of a dime. And by the way K-mart and Waltmart started out as dime stores! Also, all to the recalls hit the big stores more than anywhere. When the dog food recal hit you couldn't hardly buy a can of dog food at Walmart. And the toys also came from the big stores that had to be recalled. So give me a break, I like my dollar stores, my favorite is Dollar General. Also, when Walmart first started they advertised "Made in USA" well you would be hardup to find anything "Made in USA" in Walmart today! And that goes for more of you stores in the USA not just the dollar stores, even your higher priced department stores. People you need to start looking at you tags inside those high price shoes and clothes. You might have a rude awaking! Then ask yourself why Americans can't find a job!

you shouldn't microwave them as it takes away some of the vitamans and good other sorces found in them steam them.

The first paragraph of this suspicious article says it all for me: Now, let's attack the dollar store since they are gaining popularity in this downward spiralling market.

Dollar stores have been around long before the K-Marts and Wal-Marts in one form or another.  No one has ever complained about them to my knowledge.  Maybe this is because I'm from a social class that thrives on looking for bargains without the need for name-brand items.

Still, in this recessing economy, maybe some of the more affluent are now turning to these dollar stores in an effort to save a buck and are not accustomed to the type of items sold there.  Is this the demographic being truly addressed in this biased article?

If so, then let them know that the dollar stores were never really a place to buy a five-star meal with all the fixings.  The dollar stores were never a place to purchase Martha Stewarts" or Rachel Ray's brands of cookingware.

In my opinion, the reason the dollar stores are rising in populatory is that folks are no longer attracted (for whatever reasons) to the outrageously overpriced name brand merchandise sold at your more popular stores; stores that live off their names and demographic location rather than the actual quality of their merchandise.

The H.E.A.T. is on!

Like there is going to be much difference between food from a dollar store and food from any other chain.  You think Walmart says "oh, we're too good to use the same suppliers as a dollar store".  Heck no.  Cheap sometimes means poor quality and sometimes it means a good deal.  You can't judge the quality of a product by its price.  "Socially responsible" is even a sillier concept.  You are supposed to feel like you are a better person because you can afford to pay a lot more (and are willing to do so) for products that are not made by Malaysian children or grown on land that used to be a rainforest.  However, what are people who can't afford to pay extra supposed to do.  Sit around feeling guilty because they work as a waitress and can't afford to pay five times as much for the "socially responsible" brand.  Maybe you'd like your taxes raised so the government can subsidize that waitresses salary up to a level where she can afford "socially responsible" products.  Nah.  The real reason you pay more for "socially responsible" products over regular products is the same reason you are willing to pay more for a luxury car than for a standard car - it shows that you are better off than other people - even if you only show it off to yourself.  Frankly, it's a waste of money as far as I'm concerned, but of course I'm just a redneck who could care less about socially responsible as well as luxury cars.

the dollar general is the only place to purchase paper goods ie toilet paper,and cleaning supplies for the home or your car. i also buy all my xmas cards,bags,paper and candies from there.  bird seed as well

I find some good deals at the local dollars general. They have some of the smae brand names products that you would find at your bigger chain store. I like the idea of being able to go into a store and find exactly whats needed without having to hunt all ober the store for it. They usuallly don't play hid-and-seek- and-buy -more -stuff-that-you-didn't-come-to-buy.

I use the $ store for gift cards, they have a good selection for 50 cents each, beats $ 3.00 - 4.00 each.

As a teacher the dollar stores are great.  They have many school supplies, stickers, pencils, post-it notes etc., that make our tight budgets go a long way.

Went into a Dollar General in Salisbury Md. Milk was $2.00 higher for a half gallon than it was at the Food Lion at the other end of the strip mall.  When I asked the clerk about is , she said people pay for convienience.  I must be missing something here.  Last time I went into a dollar general.  I Didn't buy anything.