Even for $1.25, These 10 Dollar Tree Items Aren’t Worth It, Experts Say

1 | Nonperishable foods

In Nov. 2021, Dollar Tree upped the price of each of its products from $1 to $1.25. And while that 25 cents might not seem like much, smart shoppers have made some changes to their savings strategies.

"I never buy food items like cookies, bread, cereal, and basic pantry staples, as they are sold in smaller quantities, making the $1.25 not worth it in many instances," Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert for MySavings.com, tells Best Life. "You can find the same items on sale at a better price for the size of the package."

Case in point: At the time of writing, a 2.2-ounce bag of Cheerios was $1.25 at Dollar Tree. At Walmart, an 8.9-ounce box of Cheerios was $3.68, making both items roughly the same price per ounce. However, when so many grocery stores run promotions, you'll likely get a better deal there.

2 | Tech accessories

For these items, it's not the price that's the issue, but the safety.

As The Washington Post explained in a story about dollar stores: "Off-brand electronics can be risky purchases, as their supply chains are not as consistent as the name brands you find at other retailers. Power strips and chargers are likely to be cheaply made and could damage your devices."

Speaking about the super-cheap cell-phone chargers at Dollar Tree, Melanie Musson, a retail finance expert with Clearsurance.com, says, "You may find one that works, but you'll probably have to go through 10 that don't work or work for a couple of uses before you find one that's even slightly reliable."

Smart shopping expertAndrea Woroch agrees that things like HDMI plugs and extension cords should be avoided at Dollar Tree. "You can save on electronic accessories by shopping Amazon and stock up during Prime Day in July when you can find deals from 20 to 40 percent off," she suggests as an alternative.

3 | Vitamins

Staying healthy means loading up on vitamins and minerals. However, you may want to skip the ones at Dollar Tree.

According to a 2012 test conducted by Consumer Reports (CR), some dollar store multivitamins didn’t contain the number of nutrients listed on the label.

And in a 2021 article about shopping at dollar stores, CR noted that supplements "aren't regulated as carefully as OTC drugs." Therefore, if you're going to purchase them at Dollar Tree, CR recommends checking "to see whether they bear the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) seal or the seal of another independent testing group, such as NSF International."

In particular, you may want to avoid supplements from the Dollar Tree brand People's Choice.

Pharmacist and authorGrant Harting, PharmD, previously called out several of these products for being a "scam" or containing a mysterious "proprietary blend" of ingredients.

RELATED: Dollar Tree Price Hikes Likely Coming Fast—What You Need to Know.

4 | Picture frames

When you're looking to create a display of photos, it can add up quickly to buy picture frames at places like Target, where they typically retail for about $15 each. But shopping at Dollar Tree might not be the answer.

"Unfortunately, as soon as you pick them up, you'll realize they're a lot lighter than you expected, indicating they're made of non-durable materials that will start showing wear very quickly," shares Musson.

Woroch agrees that Dollar Tree's frames are "cheaply made and can break easily." She says, "You're better off shopping sales or picking up a higher-quality picture frame for less from a discount retailer like Marshalls or Homegoods where you can snag very nice options for around $5."

5 | Face masks

Dollar Tree has a large, rotating selection of face masks, but dermatologists and estheticians agree that they're not good for your skin.

"Many of them contain synthetic dyes (like Red Dye 40), and irritants (like perfumes)," Best Lifepreviously reported.

Dollar Tree employee Raina Bowen went so far as to say, "Some of [the Dollar Tree] face masks either burn my face or just don’t do anything," adding that many of them don't even contain enough active ingredients to have an effect on your skin.

6 | Seasonal decorations

At any given time, Dollar Tree will have an entire aisle dedicated to seasonal decor, whether it's wrapping paper for Christmas, paper plates for the Fourth of July, or spooky lawn ornaments for Halloween. But try not to let these displays lure you in.

"Seasonal decorations don't hold up, so you're better off spending a little more on quality goods that you can hold on to for years," recommends Woroch. "Better yet, shop after the holiday or towards the end of the season to find outdoor decorations and other seasonal items for up to 80 percent off. Many retailers also provide coupons for clearance merchandise, like seasonal merchandise, through CouponCabin.com."

7 | School supplies

The reason you'll want to avoid Dollar Tree's school supplies is that they simply don't offer enough value for the price.

Cid says you can often find better prices on these items at Walmart, Target, and office supply stores. "Buy all of your school and office supplies at other retailers when they are on sale at the end of summer for 75-90 percent off for back-to-school sales," she recommends.

"For example, Target and Walmart have sold notebooks for as little as 50-cents during the back to school sales rush, that's 75-cents cheaper than Dollar Tree's standard price," Woroch adds.

RELATED: Dollar Tree is Selling Off All 7,600 Family Dollar Locations—What You Need to Know.

8 | Kitchen items

Another area where Woroch says you're not getting value for your money is kitchen items.

"Stay away from oven mitts which are made with poor material and won't provide the protection necessary against high heat," she says. "To save, head to a big box store like Walmart and grab one from their private label brand."

She also cautions against buying dollar store cutlery, as "dull knives are actually dangerous because they can slip when you're trying to cut food and hurt you." To save on these items, Woroch suggests checking out "warehouse club stores like Costco or Sam's Club for sales on quality knife sets."

9 | Frozen meat

According to Dollar Tree employees, if there's one item they avoid buying at their stores, it's the $1.25 meat and fish. "I don’t eat any of the frozen fish or rib eyes because I don’t trust frozen seafood or meat that costs a dollar," one worker told Mental Floss.

Another employee told the publication that they would never buy the steak: "I’ve heard from more than one person that it doesn’t cook [well] and it feels like rubber."

Indeed, in 2016, television station WCPO conducted a taste test with the local fire department. Unsurprisingly, the $1 steaks didn't fare well. "It's pretty chewy, tastes a little rubbery," observed one tester.

In addition to the taste, you may be getting a lower quality of meat. Len Bleh, co-owner of Avril-Bleh Meat Market in Cincinnati, told WCPO that dollar stores receive "utility" cuts of beef. According to the USDA, this is one of the lowest grades of beef that is "seldom, if ever, sold at retail but [is] used instead to make ground beef and processed products."

10 | Toilet paper

Finally, Cid recommends avoiding the toilet paper from Dollar Tree: "Most of the toilet paper Dollar Tree carries in thin, 1-ply paper, and runs out quickly, making it not worth the price."