This definitely isn't in my norm- but my mind is actually blown, and I'm glad I opted to be "lazy"…read moreand only trek 1/4 of a mile to the store on the corner, in lieu of battling a box-box store on a Saturday afternoon! I've only ever been to a Family Dollar up in Salome- basically the only store they have, there! I guess it never occurred to me to check this one out, literally just down the street a block or two, for some basic household goods.
This WOULD be deserving of 4 stars, if there were a couple of things improved. First- the clutter. It was horrendous anxiety trying to navigate through the extremely tight isles that were less than properly organized. There was stuff thrown just about everywhere & displays nearly blocking any cart access to many isles. As far as cleanliness & organization goes- it needs some MASSIVE improvement! And- the employees were not at all very helpful. No one greeted. Not a single person was around to help locate anything. Barely was greeted at the register. And then, they have those long rods attached to carts to prevent leaving the door with them... so, I'm still floored I had to make THREE trips to my vehicle to haul all my bags out. No help. Just HOPING no one would opt to theft the remainder of what I paid for between hauling each load out. It was ridiculous & very inconvenient!
The reason I am happy & opt to give the 3 stars is because shopping here saved me a LOT of money! Literally, about 1/2 the cost of what you'd spend going to WalMart! And, it wasn't secluded to "cheap"- majority of my purchase was BRAND NAME, high quality household goods, just a fraction of the cost elsewhere! (Glad, Lysol, Febreeze, Clorox, Ziplock, Hefty, etc...) The most expensive item on my receipt was cat litter, which I paid $9 for a large box of Fresh Step w/ Febreeze Island Tropics scent... that would usually cost me $13+ at WalMart! So, as far as quality & prices go- I'm totally sold on utilizing Family Dollar & saving a significant amount on everyday items!
There is quite a variety to choose from, as well. They carry just about everything, aside from produce & liquor. (Yes, you can also get beer, wine & tobacco products here!) So, I certainly think it is worth it to shop here for those who are on a tight budget & want to save but still utilize brand name products w/ decent quality. You certainly get what you pay for with some things- so, I'm not going to say their home goods (clothing, decor, etc) is a great pick, but for general supplies & food- totally worth it! If you compare prices, you'll be shocked.
I'll shop here again. I just hope the quality of the actual establishment & employees could improve a bit. It's still worth it, for the savings, in my opinion. I walked out spending $65 on over 25+ products (approximately 10 bags full), which would have cost me roughly $125+ at another retailer. I call that winning!
Update: I've been back on the regular, and it just keeps getting worse. Not sure if they can't seem to keep employees, but there is 0 help. Expect to wait 20+ minutes in a line 10+ deep to check out during rush hour, the busiest time of day. ONE employee at the register with crap piled, blocking the other 3 registers. No one on the floor will come assist to speed it up. In fact, no one on the floor will even MOVE as they're stocking shelves or at least help you reach an item! Seriously, the help & speed here is worthless. It isn't worth saving money when it costs much more time & hassle. Avoid at all costs if it's between 3-7pm. And don't ask for help of any sort. There were no carts available. I sat there struggling with my arms full for 20+ minutes waiting to check out & not a single employee offered to help. Walked right on by & left the one lady at the register swamped. Management here is seriously lacking.