Dangerous and not at all economical: what products should not be bought at Dollar Tree

We're all trying to save money where we can, and shopping at chain stores like Dollar Tree seems like an attractive way to do that, especially when record inflation hits our wallets. However, some products on their shelves are a waste of money no matter how cheap they are. And while some of them simply do not cope with their task, others can be dangerous. Edition MSN told what products should be avoided in Dollar Tree.

Photo: Shutterstock

Electrical appliances

While extension cords or small store electronics may seem like a good deal, they can put your electronics at risk, as well as your home. The cords, plugs, and extension cords sold at Dollar Tree are often fragile and can easily fall apart. It only takes one second for them to light up. And this has happened a few times with the Crafter's Square hot glue guns sold at Dollar Tree, leading to a big recall of those items. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dollar Tree stores have recalled extension cords and decorative lights due to potential fire hazards.

Hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer has disappeared from the shelves since the start of the pandemic, but be careful not to buy a potentially dangerous product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that several Dollar Tree Assured brand hand sanitizers were contaminated with methanol, which "may be toxic if it comes in contact with the skin or if swallowed, i.e. life-threatening." Some items have since been voluntarily recalled.

Toys

The old adage "You get what you pay for" certainly applies to Dollar Tree toys. While the $1 price tag seems like an attractive way to pamper a child, they can pose a safety hazard. Several toys from these chains have already been recalled: a toy gun that posed a choking hazard, darts that killed two children. In 2016, Dollar General recalled a toy truck that was considered a fire hazard.

On the subject: 15 products worth buying at Dollar Tree and those that are best avoided

Batteries

If your kids play with a lot of battery-powered toys (and inevitably leave them on), buying packs of regular batteries from Dollar Tree might seem like a great idea. The problem is that these batteries contain less energy than well-known brands. They may be enough for, for example, a flashlight, which is used infrequently; for intensive use in the long run, it is advisable to save on the constant replacement of batteries by spending more money on better batteries. In addition, cheap batteries are known to leak, and this leads to damage to electronics.

Another way to determine whether batteries are worth buying from a store is to check the label. If the product contains zinc carbon, do not purchase it. This component is inferior to the lithium used by well-known brands.

Vitamins and herbal supplements

For something as important as your health, your best bet is to head to the pharmacy. Consumer Reports magazine tested Dollar Tree multivitamins and found that some of them did not meet the standards and did not contain the full amount of nutrients listed on the labels. Although the FDA requires labels to be accurate, supplements do not go through the same rigorous review and approval process as drugs.

Knives

Knives are dangerous by definition, so you need one that is durable and well made to minimize the chance of an accident. A few years ago, utility knives worth over $200 had to be recalled because the blade could slip right out of the handle.

Products for pets

Canned food for cats and dogs cost about $1 a can, and sometimes less if you find a good sale. The non-brands at Dollar Tree may be even cheaper, but they don't use the quality ingredients found in more popular brands. For the health of your pets, do not buy food and cheap toys that carry the risk of suffocation.

cosmetic products

Some personal care items are safe to buy at Dollar Tree, but others, like cosmetics and hair dye, are not. From time to time you can find cosmetics of a famous brand for $1 on the shelves, but most often cosmetics in Dollar Tree are represented by unknown brands. When it comes to products used on the face, it's not worth risking an allergic reaction or a rash caused by cheap ingredients. When it comes to dyeing your hair, you run the risk of damaging your curls for a long time with a cheap remedy.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Refreshments

As if snacks weren't bad enough for health without them. But Dollar Tree snack makers skimp on the quality of ingredients to keep costs down. Foods like chips, cookies, and crackers may contain ingredients you've never even heard of, so be sure to check the label before you bring home the treats.

Tools

Tools must be durable. For $1 you won't get them of the highest quality, which means they won't last long. If you have to change tools frequently, you won't save anything at all.

Wedding decorations

While weddings can be expensive, decor is probably not the best thing to skimp on. For example, you might be tempted to buy 300 fabric rose petals for $1, but they won't give you the look you want. The same goes for a set of 48 plastic "cutlery" - they're fragile and likely to cause more trouble than they save money.

Paper products

While four rolls of single-ply toilet paper will be inexpensive, you will end up using more toilet paper than if you bought an expensive one.

Plastic food containers

Recent studies show that low-quality Dollar Tree containers contain harmful chemicals, meaning they may not be food safe. Look elsewhere for food storage containers; the use of non-food containers does not pose such risks.

On the subject: Six things not worth buying at discount stores

Glass washer

A gallon of unidentified windshield washer fluid can cost as little as $1. However, read the label on the liquid you can find at Dollar Tree and see if it says the solution is not effective in winter weather. Often, personalized branded washers guarantee protection in frost.

Soda

Often, a 1-liter bottle of off-brand soda at Dollar Tree costs the same as a 2-liter bottle of brand-name soda at the grocery store. The same applies to most cans and small bottles of soda.

Things for a child

In recent years, Dollar Tree has had a lot of recalls for children's products. Although these reviews are mostly related to possible bacterial contamination that can cause illness, the principle is the same for everything: why risk the health of a child.

Baking soda

Baking soda is good for several types of house cleaning. But the remedy you can buy outside Dollar Tree will be cheaper than in this store.

Chips and cereal

As you walk through the aisles of a dollar store, look closely and you'll see a variety of items of varying sizes and weights—because instead of putting more on them, they might just be selling less at a time. If you don't pay attention, then when you start your snack, you will be shocked by the amount of product inside the package. It may be better to get a reasonable number of servings from a more expensive bag or box than to try to enjoy how much air you get at Dollar Tree.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Six things not worth buying at discount stores

24 ways to make extra money

19 products that are not worth buying at the grocery store

15 products worth buying at Dollar Tree and those that are best avoided

300 + simple idioms that will take your English to a new level

15 best and worst deals at Sam's Club

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.