Hard to make it to this location, but it's my nearest one since they closed their Wayne store…read more
I don't shop here for the more obvious stuff most people do (furniture, home decor, junk food). I get random stuff that happens to be a really good buy compared to offers elsewhere.
They have some quality pet supplies for great prices! They carry a brand made by AKC (American Kennel Club) that makes wonderful leashes and collars. I suppose this is a contract between AKC and BigLots because I've never seen AKC items elsewhere. I've looked over the packaging to see if it's a charity promo or something, and they don't detail anything like that. But since AKC is a nonprofit, I am sure something is going to them if the items bear their name, even if BigLots takes a cut. (I will do all I can to support AKC, because they offer free registration/monitoring for any brand of pet microchip so you never have to pay the monthly ripoff that the brand name places charge.)
BigLots also has AKC rawhides in a HUGE 21" size for only $10 each at holiday time (Nov/Dec). I have been stocking up every year for the past 3 years. I buy at least 8 of those suckers to get our dogs through the year. These are more than double the price on Amazon or elsewhere for similar sizes.
There are other "no name" brands here that offer decent quality at very reasonable prices. I've been buying their 6pk of paint rollers here for more years than I'd like to remember. The price has gone up from the major steal it used to be, but it's still far better than comparable quality at Lowes/Depot. I have gone through at least a hundred rollers after renovating 2 homes, refinishing loads of furniture, as well as my art projects.
Another really awesome deal is their shoebox storage containers. They have a snap lid, with those flaps that come down and lock it. These have been only $1.25 forever. For a quarter more, the quality is a LOT better than the Dollar Tree ones whose lids don't have locking flaps, and don't stay on as well.
BigLots will also have tech accessories for good deals. I can't vouch for the whole array of offerings, but the chargers and earbuds have worked reliably and have been cheaper than other discount places (Five Below, and randomly craft stores like ACMoore have tech accessories + offer cheap deals with their 50% off coupons).
I have also gotten decent 100% cotton beach towels here, in a healthy thickness. Again, pretty random, but whoever their seasonal buyer is, I have to pay some respect. They really have some great deals to snatch up season-to-season, though you do need to get them when you see them, because they will sell out, and if they come around the next year, it will be another color or pattern, so make your set when you see it!
Their cotton balls are also another random good deal. Their 100% Cotton Balls, in 300 quantity (and a nice jumbo size) are $2.50, which way beats Dollar Tree's 100 count of puny sized balls.
My only gripe is that corporate is pretty stingy about coupons. BigLots rarely sends me coupons (probably because I never make it down there), and when they do, they're normally for useless stuff, or spend amounts that only apply to those shopping for furniture. Gimme a % off or a $5 off $25 some time, please!
The Aston location is in a shopping center just off Five Points, simple to get to, especially if you come in the back way, around from Knowlton, through the residential neighborhood behind it. Staff is always friendly, and very helpful. Any time I have needed help they are always on the ball, and totally responsible and thorough about leading me right to what I need, or getting it from the back. Extraordinary team!