15 Brutally Honest Reasons to Avoid Family Dollar

Shopping at dollar stores like Family Dollar is a common way that even smart people waste money. Underneath the low price tags lurk a host of problems you may not have bargained for.

Here are 15 legitimate reasons to think twice before going to Family Dollar for your next shopping trip.

Family Dollar lost one of the biggest food safety cases in U.S. history when they were fined $42 million for a rodent infestation in one of their warehouses in 2022.

The inspection revealed rodents (both dead and alive) as well as urine and feces.

There are often only one or two employees on duty at Family Dollar at any given time. This puts a heavy burden on employees who must be cashiers, help customers, stock shelves, clean, watch for shoplifters, and more without much support.

This also makes it harder for customers to find someone to ask for help.

If the rat infestation wasn’t enough to deter you, the level of sanitation (or lack thereof) at local Family Dollar stores should be.

Workers report that shelves and back rooms are dusty and dirty, as it’s hard for the one or two employees on the shift to both help customers and clean.

Understaffing has broader implications than slow customer service. It’s nearly impossible for a couple of employees to keep up with the stocking requirements.

Boxes pile up in aisles and walkways, creating cluttered and potentially hazardous conditions.

Based on reviews from Indeed, Family Dollar employees reported feeling as disposable as many of the products they sell.

There have been several reports of high staff turnover, including long-time employees getting fired without a good reason.

Don’t plan on anything from Family Dollar lasting very long. It may be okay for toilet paper or wrapping paper, but if quality is a consideration for your purchase, it’s best to look elsewhere.

That’s true for everything from beauty products to batteries.

Family Dollar has become a target for numerous thefts and robberies around the country.

And in response to shoplifting issues, Family Dollar has eliminated self-checkout options at some of its stores.

Don’t let the name fool you. In many cases, Family Dollar’s products are more expensive per ounce than at regular grocery stores or big-box retailers.

The difference is that Family Dollar sells the same products in smaller quantities, so more of what you’re paying for is packaging and less for the product inside.

With Family Dollar employees spread as thin as they are, it’s no wonder that customer service has taken a hit.

Don’t expect a lot of attention or patience from stressed-out employees at this retailer.

The quality of the food Family Dollar sells isn’t good. Most of its offerings are highly processed and devoid of fiber and nutrients.

This is especially problematic in poor, rural communities where Family Dollar may be the only “grocer” for many miles.

Family Dollar gets a fair amount of its revenue from SNAP benefits, which are aimed to help low-income families afford food and essentials.

So when the government pulls back on these benefits, Family Dollar suffers and closes its doors, deepening the food scarcity problem for many struggling Americans.

If you have a Family Dollar near you, don’t get too attached. The chain has announced plans to close 370 stores over the next several years.

The aforementioned pullback on SNAP benefits, shrinkage from theft, and pressure from inflation have kept many locations from being profitable.

On the surface, a dollar store in a small, rural community might seem like a good thing, offering low-priced goods to residents without ample means or transportation to other retailers.

However, retailers like Family Dollar can edge out other Main Street businesses that can’t compete on the price of consumable goods.

Dollar stores like Family Dollar aren’t very judicious with their sourcing, and one study showed that 81% of dollar store products tested contained at least one chemical of concern, and 49% contained two or more.

Many “cheap” products sold at these stores come at a high cost of possibly endangering your health.

Many dollar-store toys and other items are made of or packaged in cheap plastic, which ends up in landfills.

Smaller packages mean a higher carbon footprint for manufacturing and transporting products.

It may be difficult to avoid the siren call of Family Dollar’s cheap prices when you’re looking to save more on everyday essentials. 

However, you may end up paying more in the end, whether it’s with money (due to a high cost per ounce or having to replace cheap products) or with your health, as many of the products have poor nutritional values and/or toxins.

It’s a good idea to weigh the costs against the purported low prices before patronizing dollar stores.