You Should Never Buy These Items From New Jersey Dollar Stores

I remember the first time I went to a dollar store and I found out that everything in the store was not a dollar. It was a deflating experience for a teenager with a couple of dollars in his wallet but I did learn there are many items that you can find at lower prices than many other stores.

But I also learned over the years that just because something costs less at one store versus another does not mean the Quality of those items on the shelf are the same. You may pay less money today on a product today but you will be spending more long term because the item you purchase was cheap quality and did not last long enough for it to be worth the sticker price savings.

In New Jersey, there are over 385 Locations combined for Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree.  The next time you visit one of these dollar store businesses, these are the Top Items to Avoid Purchasing according to Reader's Digest Shopping Experts. No matter how tempting that price tag may look, do not go to a dollar store for these items:

*Kitchen Knives
There is nothing worse than a dull knife that doesn't cut well when you are preparing food in the kitchen. If you do not have a quality knife, it will not sharpen well and a cheap handle will not stand up to frequent usage.

You want a high-caliber set of Kitchen Knives that will last for many years and you can resharpen without any issues. Many quality Kitchen Knife Sets can be purchased online.

*Oven Mitts
You do not want to get cheap protection when handling hot items in the kitchen. Cheap Oven Mitts lack the proper padding and quality fabric to ensure you do not get burned when handling hot pans and heated dishes. Do not risk getting hurt and get some legitimate quality oven mitts online or at your local department store.

*Tools
What you will not find in a dollar store are quality tools that will hold up to whatever you need them for. Don't waste your money and risk injury with cheap tools, instead go to the local hardware store for quality tools. If you are unsure about the tools you are buying, read online reviews or ask someone who works at the local hardware store.

*Batteries
One of the reasons why items at the dollar store are being sold at such low prices is because these products are liquidated from other retailers. Older packs of batteries do not last as long and lower caliber batteries that contain carbon-zinc are typically sold at dollar stores.

You want quality batteries that will last for years and you do not have to worry about buying new ones anytime soon. You can find plenty of high-quality lithium batteries at plenty of supermarkets and big-name stores around New Jersey.

*Vitamins and over-the-counter Medications
There is a reason why respected Medical Professionals and Certified Health/Fitness Experts recommend you do not buy your supplements anywhere you can find them. Many underdosed products are sold for cheap prices not just at dollar stores but at other big-name outlets as well.

If you are unsure about what over-the-counter medications you should get, ask your Primary care Physician or a reputable Medical Professional. Before you buy any Vitamins, Minerals, and Health Supplements, ask a Certified Health/Fitness Expert to ensure you are not wasting your money.

*Electronics and Power Strips
If you need a new phone charger or HDMI Cable, do not get them from a dollar store because when it comes to electronics, quality equals safety. The cheap wiring and casing on these electronics sold by businesses such as dollar stores can be hazards because they could overheat and cause electrical fires or short-circuit your devices.

Also, cheaply made Power Strips do not have quality surge protection and you leave everything plugged in at risk of short-circuiting or permanent damage. Always purchase high-caliber electronics and cables because most of today's technology requires specific specifications for compatibility.

*Toys
As a general rule, you should never purchase cheaply made toys. These may seem like a good idea when you initially hand it to a child and you see how excited they are for their new toy. But cheap plastic can easily break and hurt children.

Also, the poor construction of these cheap toys will lead the children to be disappointed that their new plaything is broken and cannot be fixed. Don't risk a child's injury or disappointment, treat toys like an investment in your kid's happiness.

*Makeup, Skincare Products, Sunscreen
The ingredients inside these products are essential to their value and the better the quality of the ingredients, the higher the price tag can potentially be at the store. At a dollar store, Makeup and Skincare Products have cheap ingredients that can cause breakouts, dry skin, or other issues that will require a visit to a dermatologist.

Cheap Sunscreen can make your skin vulnerable to UV rays because the formula they use is poor quality along with potentially causing rashes and irritation.

*Fresh Food
One of the biggest reasons why people have shopped at grocery stores and supermarkets for decades is because those stores regularly restock and remove items from the shelves that are damaged or expired. The dollar store typically does not have the same quality products of your local grocery store or favorite supermarket. Typically, Fresh Food sold at a dollar store is not actually "fresh" by the time you see it on the shelf.

*Laundry Detergent
This does not just apply to dollar stores, but also supermarkets where they may sell generic brands of laundry detergent. Cheap laundry detergent can leave your clothes less than your ideal clean and also make your favorite shirts look dull or faded.

Many liquid detergents sold at dollar stores are not quality products and some laundry detergents have ingredients that may cause skin irritations.  Also, liquid detergents have expiration dates and closer you are to that date, the less effective they are at cleaning.