Great 'What NOT to buy in Pound Shops' Hunt

Kiama

I have to say that I have had pretty good experiences in pound shops, got a fab Gavin and Stacy book that was RRP £12.99. Obviously I have been stung a few times - Johnson's Baby Talc - was 88p in Wilko's(not checked recently though) I have also brought poundlands electric toothbruth that didn't work but the brushes have proved useful for cleaning kitchen crevices.

As with all shops you have to have a basic awareness of the value of items you are buying. The dvd's are rarely very good but I have found a few that I would have probably paid more for elsewhere. The toiletries I guess are the ones to be really careful of even the Dove shampoos and conditioners can be got for 79p in other shops like savers.

voiceofreason

jamespir wrote: »

the bags of sugar are cheaper than anywhere thyre 1.5kg

Eh?!?

LALA999

Last week I bought some Duchy original earl grey at poundland (very posh!)
But the J2O at 3 for £2 was cheaper at Waitrose (on offer at 12 for £6.99)

Roland

I was advised to go to the pound shop, rather than Wilkinsons for some paper plates that were needed at work. I bought them at Poundland, but the same plates were 97p in Wilkinsons.

Jai.

I find you just have to watch the quality of some items. I bought a mini sewing kit once when I was out and a button fell off my coat (note- Next don't always sew on buttons properly) and ok you don't expect much, but the scissors that were in it just bent when you tried to use them.

sillywilly

Fortnum wrote: »

If you consider tat to be a bargain, then it's hard to differentiate what to buy and what not to buy from a 'pound-shop'. The clue is in the name. It's cheap nasty tat which would break on the second usage (if you're lucky), necessitating the purchase of a proper item (at a fair price) along with the wasted money on the tat. How exactly can that be construed as 'money saving'?

Don't worry about "Tatty" as she calls herself - she is now locked up again - aka Jane Andrews she got a bit above herself cos she had acces to the net for a few hours..

jenniewb

gem3 wrote: »

dont buy the toothpaste at any £1 shop. They tend to be 2 for £1 but if you go to a supermarket they are much cheaper. My sister who was a dental nurse said that it makes no difference if you buy colgate or own brands - they do the same job! (just dont buy whitening if you like the enamel on your teeth)

I wish you could tell my sensitive teeth that! Without sensodyne I can't even eat an apple it hurts so much! Let alone hot/cold foods!

empress_3

Must admit (sounding horribly cheap) but some of the bath sets are good value as pressies at Christmas! They look expensive but for £1 are really good value. And, I also like the fact I can get hard to find shampoo/conditioner/creams in there - takes a bit of looking but found Urban Decay cream (RRP - £17) for £1. Cleared the shelf and sold it on ebay.

maureenjscott

megsykins wrote: »

Balloons - £1 in Poundland but 78p in Tesco.
Wouldn't trust the 2 for £1 pregnancy tests either (not that I've tried them)

£1 pick & mix is great though - it's £3.99 in the video shop

Did buy pack of two pregnancy tests in poundland - both positive results - and i'm now 22 weeks! Would definately buy them again as opposed to the £6+ in chemists etc

Of course you can get tests done free at your gp/practice nurse/family planning clinic.

Mo x

li'l_p

Cadbury selection boxes; same ones are 2 for £1.50 in Home Bargains, so 75p each.

Choc advent calendars; I got Night Garden one for 59p in B&M. They do have many others for 59p that the Pound shops were selling too.