The Shocking Reason ‘Penny Items’ at Dollar Tree Aren’t Worth It
Written by
Kristopher Kane
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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If you’re on a budget or just hunting for bargains, you’re probably familiar with the low prices Dollar Tree offers on many everyday items. Whether you’re looking for cheap canned food or other pantry staples, snacks, party supplies or household items from doormats to paper towels, Dollar Tree likely has you covered.
It should be pointed out that the “dollar” in Dollar Tree is, at this point, a nod to its former price points. Most items are now priced anywhere from around $1.50 to $7, an increase that many on social media have taken issue with.
But what if you learned there are items at Dollar Tree priced so low that the chain has never officially offered them? It turns out that the best bargains at Dollar Tree can be had for a single penny — but there’s a catch.
Zero Value Penny Sales
If you find something at Dollar Tree with a surprise 1-cent price, you might think you’ve found a surprise bargain, even if it is just a candy bar or a pair of sunglasses. But that 1-cent price doesn’t indicate an item on clearance or special sale for a few lucky customers. It’s an internal code Dollar Tree uses that’s supposed to alert the cashier that the item is considered a “zero value” product.
These items are considered losses, and Dollar Tree store policy is that 1-cent items should be removed from shelves and destroyed or discarded. The most common items in this category are discontinued products the chain no longer carries, seasonal or holiday items that are now outdated, or items that have been recalled for safety or quality issues.
Accidental Bargains
This policy raises a few questions, not least of which being why the chain would have employees price these “zero value” items at 1 cent instead of just having employees remove them from the shelves. If you’re confused, you’re not the only one. Dollar Store employees, sharing their experiences on social media, admit that these 1-cent sales sometimes escape detection at the point of sale, especially when the store is busy and the cashier is working fast to try to clear a long line.
Cashiers often don’t have time to watch the screen and quickly scan and bag items simultaneously, which leads to these “penny bargains” sometimes leaving the store despite company policy. However, employees are at risk of termination if they’re found to be selling these items — and buyers are at risk of not getting the item if a cashier does notice it and doesn’t let the sale go through, so it might be best to avoid them altogether.
Diving for Dollars
Some customers have even admitted that they’ve combed through Dollar Tree trash outside of the stores in search of these discarded items. The only price cheaper than a penny is free, and some lucky dumpster divers swear by the method. While it’s not generally a recommended practice, dumpster diving is legal, as long as the garbage is stored in a publicly accessible space and the trash receptacle is unlocked. It’s worth pointing out that local laws might vary, so before you hold your nose and take the plunge, check to make sure you might not be getting more than you bargain for.
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