Dollar stores are thriving – but are they ripping off poor people?

Dollar stores are frequently warned against on /r/Frugal

For a lot of food and kitchen consumables like aluminum foil or trash bags, they're a horrible deal. Things that aren't consumable such as utensils are extremely low quality and can even get rusty.

That all said, they're the BEST place to go for party favors. Gift bags and cards are $3-10 at Walmart. You won't find a bag with a Disney character on it, but the kids don't even notice or care.

I don't think it's a genuine comparison to compare 8 * small item to 1 * big item. Even in the same bigger supermarket, there's always going to be a substantial saving when buying a gallon of milk vs 8 individual cartons.

For food & veg, people are much better off buying smaller portions when they need them - even if that means paying a premium over what they would have paid if bulk buying.