Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard • Hacker News Board

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#11

Post by kumarsw » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:11 PM UTC

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #9

Been a couple years since I've stepped foot in a Dollar Tree, but by and large I don't recall very many things actually still being under a dollar, except maybe candy?

That's Family Dollar and Dollar General. Dollar Tree is/was the "true" remaining dollar store.

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#12

Post by syshum » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:11 PM UTC

h2odragon wrote: post #2

They ought to bite the bullet and jump to "Tree Fiddy"

I so want to see that store become a reality

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#13

Post by kumarsw » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:14 PM UTC

They have been selling for a dollar for 35 years. I'm really curious how their inventory has changed over this period. One 2020 dollar is 40 cents in 1985 dollars, but the cost of consumer goods has decreased significantly since 1985. So I wouldn't be surprised that their package sizes have not changed much.

Related trivia: Between 1886-1959, the price of a bottle of Coke was a nickel [1].

[1] https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/11/15/165143816/why-...

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#14

Post by jmoak » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

They were so close to being called: The Dollar "Three".

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#15

Post by lotsofpulp » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

tyingq wrote: post #5

I suppose their employees would then be justified asking for a 25% raise?

It is a free country, anyone is justified to ask for any raise anytime they want.

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#16

Post by TigeriusKirk » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

tyingq wrote: post #5

I suppose their employees would then be justified asking for a 25% raise?

Not if they're raising prices because salaries have already increased.

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#17

Post by enlightens » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:18 PM UTC

ourmandave wrote: post #3

"Actually it's a buck and a quarter staff, but I'm not telling him that." ~ Daffy

I appreciate this.

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#18

Post by melony » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:20 PM UTC

kumarsw wrote: post #13

They have been selling for a dollar for 35 years. I'm really curious how their inventory has changed over this period. One 2020 dollar is 40 cents in 1985 dollars, but the cost of consumer goods has decreased significantly since 1985. So I wouldn't be surprised that their package sizes have not changed much. Related trivia: Between 1886-1959, the price of a bottle of Coke was a nickel [1]. [1] https://www.npr.org/sec…

Globalisation happened, massive economies of scale in manufacturing.

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#19

Post by RappingBoomer » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:22 PM UTC

i see dollar tree going broke...they used to sell groceries and sundry goods cheaper than the big stores...now they are more expensive with a lot of item as compared to the bigger stores...convenience stores with gas pumps can get away with that--everyone needs gas...but now that dollar store is no longer cheaper than the big stores, and have no gas pumps, what is the attraction?

Re: Dollar Tree says US$1.25 price point to become new standard

#20

Post by abeppu » Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:24 PM UTC

smt88 wrote: post #6

Not much is still a dollar there, and they use that gimmick to charge people more than other stores anyway[1]. 1. https://boingboing.net/2021/08/17/this-chart-reveals-that-do...

But also as you shrink stuff, the proportion of it that goes to packaging increases, right? Like, even if you aren't trying to trick people, smaller containers of stuff perhaps should be more expensive per unit net weight. If you go to a normal retailer that sells multiple sizes of the same product (dish soap, tooth paste, whatever), the larger size will typically be cheaper per oz basis.