Dollar Tree - Columbia, SC Review

264 Harbison Blvd. • Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 732-2809

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

GigiandAdonai
Luvs2Dance, SC

Puhleez don't ask for a price check!

Christmas lover, fairly conservative, budget conscious, value conscious, appreciate quality, noticing the details

SEP

2008

"Welcome to Dollar Tree. Yes, you heard me right everything in the store is a dollar. Unless of course you get a variety of greeting cards and candy bars which are usually priced at 2/$1." Okay, so maybe you don't get the department store greeting but what do you expect? Where did the sheer genius come from for someone to develop a store and no questions asked set one price on everything? I love this place. In my area they are always situated in the same shopping center as Wal-Mart or within a few miles of one.

My Shaybo got me hooked on Dollar Tree. I never had a desire to go in the store believing it was going to be cheap frivolous junk but boy was I wrong! I probably go in the store at least twice a month. When I make a shopping list or Christmas list I put DT beside the items that I know I can pick up at the Dollar Tree.

Well, I have been there so many times I basically know the store layout like the back of my hand (oh wow another freckle) so let's take the grand tour.

As you enter the store you will find the shopping carts (yes, sometimes we need a cart) and the handy little baskets. Typically the holiday merchandise is at the front. This place carries an abundance of special occasion decorations and supplies.

Treat bags for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas
Pencils for all holidays
Mix & Match paper cups, plates, napkins, utensils, tablecloths and decorations for various holidays as well as a year round stock of baby and birthday décor.
During the holidays you can find an array of things that make great stocking stuffers or token gifts for the office when you have to buy for several.

I love the greeting cards and I buy them on a regular basis. The nice ones and basically anything with glitter is $1 but you can get some really good ones for 2/$1 too. They also carry a large supply of gift bags. Near the card department is also an area with candles and photo frames. I like picking up different picture frames; especially for the office. Okay, now I won't compromise the wonderful quality of a Yankee Candle so I only buy the little votive candles at Dollar Tree.

The health and beauty aisle is a great place to be; especially if you have a little girl or teenager with you.

Hair supplies (barrettes, ribbons, hair bands, clips, etc.)
Hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, hairspray-they even carry Suave and Alberto V-05)
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Cotton balls, manicure sets, nail polish
Shaving supplies-creams and razors
Bathing essentials-shower gels, bubble baths and bar soap.

I love the household/hardware aisles. I am always picking up miscellaneous things for my home; little things that I am not even planning on buying but stumble across and think, "Oh, I could probably use that..."

Light bulbs and batteries.
Nightlights and phone jacks
Small tool sets
Boxes with nuts and bolts and screws
Picture hanging kits
Packaging tape and duct tape
Dishes, glasses, and coffee mugs
Storage bags, storage containers, kitchen linens

Another department I really like is the school aisle. I like this area because sometimes you can find some really good books; coloring books and I especially love the scrap booking supplies.

There is a food department; which I don't frequent that often but I will buy the Little Debbie Snack Cakes there and if children are with me they will usually get candy. And usually on the back wall is a slew of cleaning products. Sometimes you will find a name brand dish liquid, air freshener, and so forth. I don't frequent that area too often but I still browse thru it.

Finally, the toy and baby department. You can make some pretty neat gift bags for expectant mothers at this store. And if you take a child with you they get all excited when you tell them they can how two or three toys of their choice. They think that's the greatest because they don't realize how cheap it is.

One Christmas I made potpourri burners for 10 of my coworkers-less than $30 total.

Ten jars with removable lids $10.00
4 bags of potpourri $4.00
10 boxes of mini-Christmas lights $10.00
The look on their face when I presented them with the gifts-priceless! I even had several requests to make more for them to give as gifts to other family/friends.

I only know of one downside for stores such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Big Lots. They buy a lot of stuff in volume from other stores who are overstocked. So many times you might find a product you really like and then they may not have it a month or two down the road. They don't restock their merchandise by specific brands and items. So there could be a turnover for merchandise from one month to another or even from store to store.

Okay, I know some of you are probably thinking: "I would die if anyone saw me in there." Well, put on your big girl panties and deal with it! Would you die if someone knew you got several thousand off a new home or car or if someone knew you got that beautiful Easter dress on sale, probably not! It's the American way of life to be a bargain hunter. I love America and I love the Dollar Tree!

Last edited on Sep 25, 2008

Dollar Tree - Columbia, SC is recommended by GigiandAdonai

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Comments about GigiandAdonai’s Review

I love the dollar tree too!

In response to LadyMagic's comment from Sep 29, 2008 at 8:37PM:

Well, glory hallelujah I will have to keep my eyes open this year when they stock the paper. I probably still have about 9 Winter Wonderland rolls but I love using the metallic for the larger packages. It glistens so well under the tree.

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 1:03PM:

Guess what - one of the papers I got was the prettiest royal blue metallic with snowflakes on it. Yeah, they had great kids' papers. I am enjoying what others have written and your answers. You do write well. It's wonderful to be able to help a reader to picture something with his or hers mind's eye. I call it painting a picture with words. You have a talent. Thanks for sharing it.

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 1:18PM:

I love your style!

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 12:56PM:

Good point! :> You are doing pretty well for a writer. Remember, all the old famous ones were miserable and poor. The idea that writers make a lot of money is not really true, in my opinion. The few that do make a lot of money make everybody jealous. :>

In response to Katrena's comment from Sep 25, 2008 at 11:53PM:

I got the title from my review as a result of me actually doing that! I was in a DT with some coworkers who know how funny and full of life I am. Well, one of them dared me to do a price check. She gave me a name brand item and told me to ask a cashier how much it was. Well, there was no one else in line behind me. I took that suggestion and like a stand-up comedian I ran with it. Not only did I ask how much it was. I went so far as to be in utter disbelief. "How can you sell it so cheap? Bi-Lo sells it for... Are you sure it only costs a dollar?" and so my little charade went. My coworkers were in tears as well as a few customers. One young lady even went so far as to explain to me that everything in the store was a dollar. Thus, the name Dollar Tree. Well I took her hook line and sinker with my remark: "No way! I thought it was like a five and dime. You know where everything is just cheap. You must be joking. I can get anything for a dollar? Wow!" Laughter is good for the soul. I was scheduled for a round of radiation the next day and my oncologist got a good kick out of my story too! I would rather have a moment of laughter than a day of tears.

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 1:06PM:

I love to write too for its own sake and that's a good thing because for most people -- even the best writers -- writing is not much of a money-making venture! If you have worked a long time on a book, the real reason you want to sell it is that most publishers tend to take more seriously their commitment to a project if they have invested money in it. Right or wrong, that's the way they feel, I suspect. I would love tohave my book safely in the hands of someone who wouldn't give up on it if I got squashed by a CTA bus tomorrow. And if there's one thing that writing my book taught me, it's that we can't take life for granted. I suspect you know and appreciate this. Well, now -- since I haven't been squashed by a bus yet! -- I think I'll go eat some cinnamon toast for BREAKFAST! One thing I've noticed about retirement is that even though I get up not too much later than I used to, somehow I keep eating later and later! Very fashionable! Well, I'll catch ya later!

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 11:46AM:

Thanks for the wonderful comments. After being a professional college student for 18 years with a heart for research it is nice to write without the pressure of being judged or "getting everything just right." My Daddy and some friends have always encouraged me to write and many thought I would become a published author but I have always just enjoyed it as a talent and not a money making adventure.

In response to LadyMagic's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 11:14AM:

I do a winter wonderland and most of my Christmas paper comes from the Martha Stewart line at K-Mart because she has a blue collection with snowflakes and snowmen. I am so OCD that everything much match under the tree; like anyone is going to do a magazine layout but hey, people do notice! Anyway, every year I find myself buying a few rolls from DT with children's themes (Princess for my niece and the girls) and cartoons, superheros, etc. for the boys. The children can always recognize their presents from Auntie because the wrapping isn't "her typical fancy schmancy." I have friends with newborns and toddlers so I'll be frequenting DT for Christmas paper for years to come.

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Sep 26, 2008 at 6:42AM:

Well, Mr. Geoge: I would much rather have a Cracker Barrel closer to me than a Dollar Tree. How 'bout we trade? I was talking with my Daddy earlier and I told him about you and Ms. AnnaBanana. To the people who always wanted me to be a published writer: I'm writing, not getting paid but hey, I'm having a blast and this time I'm not being graded ;+}

And what I loved was this review! You have an uncanny gift for projecting the reader into the place you're writing about -- it was like a virtual tour. I think I can get to one of these by bus. Tell your Dad that if he lived in the Chicago area, all his public transportation would be free -- buses, elevated trains, Metra railroads, you name it. So what I spend at the dollar store would really be what I spend! I really enjoyed your info!

I found beautiful Christmas wrapping paper in there last year. Plus they had more on the rolls than other stores and it was not poor quality. You can find some really good things. Still.... you do have to beware of the lesser quality items. You can save a fortune in there! Really good review with lots of good details.

That is a great store, I wish we had one near me! ;>

My kids beg to go to the Dollar Tree. I don't know, asking for a price check might be kinda fun...

You should see it when we get our children into a Dollar Tree. It's very difficult to remember the manners as they get excited about everything. We usually try to visit the ones out of our area so if there are any incidents the regulars won't know or remember us!