Great 'What NOT to buy in Pound Shops' Hunt

Sharon87

I used to work in Home Bargains and whenever I went to Poundland I always thought... we sell that cheaper, and that and that. Then occasionally I would see an item that was a few pennies cheaper.

I think the only things I get from poundshops these days are jiffy bags if I'm selling a couple of items. If I sell more I get them from ebay as they are cheaper when bought it bulk.

horleyflyer

Cleaning materials.Many of their cleaning products such as All purpose cleaner are alot cheaper in Tesco or Asda.Cloths and scouring sponges are also as cheap as chips in most supermarkets.

mineallmine

More of what NOT to buy::eek:

- Freezer bags are rubbish, like flimsy film butchers use for wrapping ham
- batteries (buy rechargeable)
- crisps (pricey)
- cans of eg coke - 4 for a £1 where lidl is often 6 for a £1
- deodorant (wilkinsons is often cheaper)
- books (some can be really obscure titles) - join your local library its free
- make-up (maybe I've been unlucky) but the products seem stale or just rubbish - another MSE thread mentions Wet&Wild (an American budget brand) now sold in Tesco with products like eyeliners eg for 97p plus you get Tesco points.

mann-banks

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

I have used the poundland pregnancy tests for my two recent pregnancies and they work just fine. Same as when i used them and wasn't. They are same as doctors and family planning used in the past.

cherries1971

My mum used to think she was getting a bargain getting Silvikrin hairspray for £1 in the pound shop and used to stock up on a few at a time, until we found it in Wilkinsons for 89p. the can is the same size, just the price is different.

Doom_and_Gloom

mineallmine wrote: »

- batteries (buy rechargeable)

I can't remember if it was the 99p store or the one pound store but I bought some rechargable AA batteries a year or so ago and they are still going strong :money:. Saved me alot of money they have.
You can find quality stuff in these shops you just have to look for it!

Wench

The one thing I've learnt not to buy is there big packs of felt pens for the kiddies

I dont know what they do to them, but when we get them home, most of the pack has dried up, and they no longer work.

Also Neutradol Carpet Powder ( shake n vac stuff ) can often be cheaper in Home Bargains, or currently 77p in Wilko.

gem3

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)

opaque

There is definately a difference in the quality and the range between different stores as well. I was in the Horsham branch yesterday and they had a wider range and a lot more things than are in Cambridge and they're not that much different.

I agree about the gift bows and similar, theres often so many cheaper places to get that stuff, same with the crisps, if you actually have your eyes open in shops you'll know what the current deals are on. Same with any supermarket you buy things in one place for convienience, up to you to make the choice of what you buy.

I'd love it if we had a Wilkinsons or some of the other cheap stores in Cambridge. But we don't!

loulabelle44_2

The only thing I buy from my local pound shop is packs of Bodyform, which I've never seen anywhere for less than that.