Dollar stores are disappearing

[Pete Jones]

There seems to be a trend that dollar stores are starting to close down.

Just this week, I noticed:

-The big dollar/discount store on the main level of the plaza at Bathurst/Steeles is closed
-The Dollar Blitz at Yonge/Steeles is closed -- bailiff's notice at the door.
-The Dollar Kwik downtown near Yonge/Wellesly is closed

Maybe it's because of the dominance of Dollarama.

Maybe it's because there's a glut of dollar stores, many of which offer pretty much the same thing.

Another thought is that all the stores above have also been selling items above the $2 mark. I don't know about you, but if a store is going to charge me more than a toonie for something, it just makes me think twice.

There have been several "Buck or Two" stores that folded just after they started selling more expensive stuff.

Has anyone else noticed this trend?

--Pete

[user01]

All I can say none of the items are even a dollar nowadays. I notice many small dollar store chains are closing since they do not have any competition with the bigger dollar stores like Dollarama or Everything for a $1. Only things I buy from a dollar store would be the typical items like bristol board, screw drivers stuff, plastic buckets, dish sponges, paper utilities, etc.

[tsatsa]

Well even with Dollarama there are only a few items that is still $1.

[Ottomaddox]

I noticed alot closed 18-24 months ago, but in the last 6 months a couple new independents have opened near me, as well as a new 'Buck or Two'.
None have stuck to the strict $1 price point; I think Dollarama breaking that trend may allow some other players some breathing room.

[djstiles]

A bunch of the smaller dollar stores have closed down in Kingston but Dollarama's keep popping up like crazy.

[grantg24]

The only true dollar store left is Everything for A Dollar store. I suspect that will change as they are chugging there point of sale system to one that scans the products.

A Buck or Two folded there corporate stores a few years ago. Most that are left are franchises. Thus the higher price products.

A lot of the independent stores will close becuase they can't compete with the dollaramas. If they have a location in a neighborhood without a dollarama they can survive bit will sell higher price items.

I was in an independent dollar store a month ago that sold cigarettes.

[Beeg]

Dollarama has very strong ties to their manufacturers.

[Manatus]

Out of the ones I've seen, Dollarama seems to be the chain that sticks closest to the actual dollar price concept. Yes they go up to $2 (sometimes $2.50?) but that's about it. The other ones I've been to seem to go way above that even for items similar to what Dollarama sells. I even saw one that sold cordless phones and similar things for $25 or more... who would buy that from a dollar store when it's a similar price to Walmart, Costco etc? To be honest things like that turn me off completely and I don't even look around further, since it seems like they just use the "dollar store" sign to get people in the door. The whole reason for having a dollar store is that you can find no-name stuff and even if it's junk, the most you lose is a couple bucks - once they start pricing close to regular stores, what's the point?

[Heavenguard]

I noticed this a loooong time ago, before I really took note of Dollarama. However, I do like Dollarama because a lot of their things are of fair, if not good, quality for the price. Dollar store stuff is generally flimsy and cheap, and of course not everything at Dollarama is great quality, but if you're careful about what you get, Dollarama can offer some good stuff.

[Ottomaddox]

Out of the ones I've seen, Dollarama seems to be the chain that sticks closest to the actual dollar price concept. Yes they go up to $2 (sometimes $2.50?) but that's about it. <snip>

I gotta props to 'Dollar Giant'; they have everything at $1.25, except for food, which is still $1.

[Chuckled]

I interchange between Dollar It! and Dollarama. Does anyone else in Canada have a Dollar It store?

[Ottomaddox]

I interchange between Dollar It! and Dollarama. Does anyone else in Canada have a Dollar It store?

We had a Dollar It for about a year. They had some really great, unique stuff
... in addition to the usual assortment of "Chateau" crap that the others all seem to stock.

[Chuckled]

We had a Dollar It for about a year. They had some really great, unique stuff
... in addition to the usual assortment of "Chateau" crap that the others all seem to stock.

Here in Ottawa there are a few locations, with a few selling very unique items. Although I am not a marijuana maniac, there were ashtrays with a marijuana symbol on it, which I purchased for my uncle who is a marijuana maniac. Very stylistic things they sell there, and just as with other dollar stores trending now, items are now usually above a $1.

[Manatus]

I gotta props to 'Dollar Giant'; they have everything at $1.25, except for food, which is still $1.

Sadly there doesn't seem to be one near me, or I'd have to take a look!

[number8888]

Dollarama has huge bargaining power with the distributors due to their size so it's easier for them to get more cheap stuff. The smaller stores simply can't compete.