Dollar General Is Putting Local Grocery Stores Out Of Business (HBO)

Retailers around the country are shuttering stores - a list that ranges from Toys R Us, which just announced it’s closing or selling all its U.S. locations, to brands including Footlocker, J. Crew and Macy’s that are shrinking their brick-and-mortar operations.
But one retailer - Dollar General - is doing just the opposite.
The discount store has opened more stores than ever before, with more than 5,000 new locations across the U.S. since 2010. It now has more than 14 thousand stores in the country - or just about as many as McDonald’s.
It's opening up stores in parts of the country that were slow to rebound from the recession -low income, rural communities that larger retailers won't touch - and they're making a lot of money doing it.
VICE News traveled to Kansas, where the rise of the discount store has spurred the fall of another, arguably more crucial type of establishment: small, local grocery stores.
Subscribe to VICE News here: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News
Check out VICE News for more: vicenews.com
Follow VICE News here:
Facebook: / vicenews
Twitter: / vicenews
Tumblr: / vicenews
Instagram: / vicenews
More videos from the VICE network: www. vicevideo

[@VICENews]

VICE News traveled to Kansas, where the rise of the discount store has spurred the fall of another, arguably more crucial type of establishment: small, local grocery stores. WATCH NEXT: Women Of Color Are Trying To Get Out Of The U.S. - bit.ly/2GGAaLL

[@MrTomdemma]

only VICE News would like their own comment.lmao

[@amvickrz3144]

how come u disabled comments on the Colored people video but not this one

[@damnebeggar843]

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY TRUMP WANTS TARIFFS ON CHINA. Except he foresaw this years ago. Walmart has done the same thing for years. Former employees involved in setting up new Walmarts would drive thru the town and point to the existing stores and say how long they thought it would take them to close. 9 months 6 months, or whatever.

[@urinalcakesorcerer8919]

#Trump2020

[@molons7224]

VICE News iii

[@elmazizo3639]

Dollar general : *we are the cheapest stores all around the USA* Dollar tree: *hold my 1$ beer*

[@elizabethevenson6110]

dollar tree can also hold my $1 daley's frozen drinks. (the margarita is actually fairly tasty.)

[@jessicah3450]

But everything is so tiny at Dollar Tree for that $1. Gotta look at ounces/pounds per dollar to actually save money.

[@Lizlemonbuthotter926]

@Three Stacks to say something that makes sense?

[@WaveRider1989]

@Three Stacks cause people are too broke to shop at costco, or whole sales places. I mean people need to buy in bulk and ave so much money in the long run. That's why there is a saying that it's expensive to be poor.

[@afrothunder2135]

There is a thing called the 99cent store lmao

[@80660018]

The people will go to where the price is cheaper. This has always been the way

[@WithoutRemorse12]

Ricky's reef 806 If people were educated they would know when its best to use quality over quantity or quantity over quality.

[@blasphimus]

That's just because they are poor. Trader Joes sells beef for $12 a lb and it's typical for people to spend 400-500 a month on all the organic food per person. Trader Joes and Whole foods have been growing in crazy numbers. People buy it if they can afford it. The poor in the US are too poor.

[@Chicago48]

That's why the grocer has to offer things that are different!

[@TheSkogemann]

"Uninformed people will go to where the price is cheaper. This has always been the way" I fixed it for you....

[@wildmanofthewynooch7028]

It is the same products so your strawman argument is moot.

[@amandapeterson790]

Unfortunately we lived off less than $50 a week and had to buy enough food for me and my mom. We couldn't afford to go to anywhere else. If it hadn't been for the Dollar Store, we wouldn't have been able to eat.

[@bodaciousbeebee]

For $50 you can eat very well and healthy if you know how to cook . Ex. Bulgar wheat ( cook it like spanish rice) and stew gizzards( high in protein) This dish is fresh, cheap ,delicious &healthy . I spend less that $20 on groceries a week for my family of 3 we eat fresh meat and veg but I cook.

[@amandapeterson790]

@@bodaciousbeebee that's very nice for you. We didn't have the same luxury as you. Don't try to put us down just because you had it better. And if you didn't want to put us down or try to make me feel ashamed, you would be just commented normally, instead of responding to me specifically.

[@bodaciousbeebee]

@@amandapeterson790 read carefully for a family of 3 I spend $20 ( way less than you) on groceries. I buy fresh food and meat . I KNOW HOW TO COOK a balanced and nutritious meal and only spend $20 a week. The reason why alot of ppl are unhealthy is because they buy junk food cuz they see it for$ .50 or $1 and they dont know how to cook and balance their meals and wonder why they developed diabetes..... didnt make a comment on your financial situation but on how you can spend $50 on canned foods, milk and cereal etc... dont buy that shit. It's not healthy that's all they sell at dollar general I shop there!!!

[@user-rz9wz1bx2l]

@@bodaciousbeebee I cook lot a dried beans. I love pinto beans an lentils. They take the place of meat. Very healthy.

[@chrisp3139]

Get some food stamps

[@foxxics]

Local Grocery Store:Salt is 2$ Dollar General:.50¢ No ones made of money

[@cgh7337]

Exactly. I'm not paying the extra $1.50 for salt just so I can help out the small business owner. I doubt he will help me when I'm in need of $ for patronizing his store vs the Dollar General.

[@briancz7112]

That small minded thinking is why this epidemic is happening.

[@Mom_sBasement]

Use a lot of salt, do you?

[@basshawk100]

I have no problem with dollar general paying 10 cent for the salt and selling it to me for 50 cent. I’d much rather have a small general item store in my small town for necessities than a massive “super market” that requires 300 parking spaces. Cheap and convenient, I love my local Dollar General stores. I hear nobody complaining about Mr. Patel and the the 1000’s of other “food marts” aka gas stations that sell over priced convenient groceries while even accepting EBT and food stamps.

[@thesheepthemightythecrazy]

ice cream costs 2.5$ at dollar general, same ice cream costs like 6.5$ at my local CVS :(

[@MelissaTimea99]

Dollar General is NOT a dollar store. I think a lot of people assume that it is. Just wanted to point that out.

[@philthyco1]

#exactly

[@nicetightsize8jeans]

Tim Harjo it isn't lol it's expensive

[@NathanKirby2001]

They sell alot of decent quality stuff and yeah my family usually shops at Walmart or publix or Winn-Dixie

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Dollar General is a lot cheaper on a lot of things, but I've noticed a steady rise in their prices over the past 2-3 years. They used to sell their own (Clover Valley) brand pop in 3-liter bottles for $1. They discontinued the brand and now sell only name brand pop. Canned soup used to be a real bargain but now it's at least equivalent with other groceries in town.

[@sparkyanimations3595]

Yea only dollar tree is really a dollar store where everything is actually $1 I used to work at one

[@InternationalSpaceForce]

With how expensive things are becoming now a days, of course people are gonna go for what's cheapest. We live in an era where being choosey with your products, groceries and such...isn't really much of an option. Which is EXACTLY why Dollar General is succeeding so well in these low income areas. Think about it. If they decided to open it's door in a more suburban, upscale area, do you really think people who have the luxury of being choosey with their products, groceries and such, would shop at a sort of "last resort" store? Nope. People with that kind of money are gonna want what's healthier, more organic and of the best quality. And Dollar General definitely isn't the place for the wealthy.

[@claudeyaz]

President Moore people in rural areas have no optjons for fresh food unless they grow it themselves. And not all crops grow in all areas. Idk how to fix this pribelm

[@cyberpimp29]

President Moore - thats why Vice is attacking them, because they help rural conservatives ; the people they hate. The liberal elite on a high horse...

[@CeeCeeB.]

A lot of people that have money shop at Aldi, Walmart and the Dollar stores. They also coupon...even people with disposable income have to save somewhere. They say they’re at a Target, but a lot of them are at budget stores.

[@HH-bz6me]

Your explanation is very good and the rise of DG says alot about a country's real economic state. Not those boosted numbers they brag about.

[@hotpockets69]

cyberpimp29 High horse? I'm pretty sure it's conservatives that are the ones who will say gays are bad because the bible says so, then get caught fucking men in their offices. Or claim "family values," then have a story about an extramarital affair come out about them. Conservatives are DEFINITELY the group that act like they're better than everyone else and exclusively represent what's moral. Stop projecting.

[@herbwag6456]

My local grocery store charges $1.55 for salt, my Dollar General charges 55 cents!

[@TheGamingJayM]

Herb Wag that dollar is going to buy a shop owners kids diapers, not buy a rich C.E.O’s 6th vacation home

[@R-Will]

@@TheGamingJayM At the expense of being able to afford diapers for your own child?

[@arabicempress]

ebay show at the end of the day it's survival of the fittest, I doubt that mom and pops store would give a person food when times are down, and neither will a huge corporation.

[@R-Will]

@@anonymouscoward2491 What *shit* is being pushed? Someone with $10 to their name and 3+ kids to feed in a low income impoverished neighborhood has no concern over how much DG can make off $1 when the small grocery store's $3 price prevents them from getting their basic needs.

[@jalen7690]

I go whereever it is cheap for me. I'm not gonna go broke so a store manager can get paid.

[@jacen.8340]

Exactly store managers are getting paid way too much for a retail job

[@briancz7112]

@@jacen.8340 do you even know what a retail manager does and the average pay is?

[@brainwashingdetergent4128]

A store manager has a pretty hard job. First off you got a bunch of young know it all's working for you none of them know their head from their ass or how to use a mop. About the time they get decent they move on with their lives then you're back at the start with a bunch of bimbos. They are responsible for inventory and keeping the store clean its not easy. I have a friend who did it and that's how I know it's not an easy job.

[@Wordsalad69420]

Well then one day there won't be fresh produce, meat and bread on these communities, if people do what you do.

[@hoosierladyus48]

@@jacen.8340 I have a daughter who manages a Walgreens and she works her ass off. She gets paid good money, but works more hours than she gets paid.

[@Joey-db8bv]

I have a feeling many of these businesses were having financial trouble before Dollar General arrived.

[@lancebockelman8756]

The problem at the end of the day comes down to economies of scale. Price wise mom and pop stores cannot compete with big box stores on price due to that and people that survive paycheck to paycheck feel forced to have to go to the cheaper box store because thats more money that they save and can spend on other things. The economy still hasn't recovered from the recession, it just shifted middle class jobs to minimum wage which isn't a real recovery at all.

[@puppydog12000]

@@tryingbutfailing they wouldnt be so expensive if people wouldnt steal off of them all the time

[@MacMac1313]

@@puppydog12000 must be where you live at. I have a liquor store ( owned by an Asian by the way ) across from my job that sells way above at a price that no others sell. Small mom and pops stores or liquor stores out here in LA can be greedy depending on who owns it.

[@brpadington]

@@tryingbutfailing Great point, If Dollar General was his issue then he should focus on selling meat and other things that DG doesn't sell.

[@bayouburner281]

Justin Morgan His store had no meat because he was discounting his product for closing-Didn’t you see the sign in the window? 20%-60% off EVERYTHING

[@DP-hy4vh]

Dollar General filled the void in a nearby small town after a long established grocery store went out of business for gouging customers. The gouging got so bad that people were driving up to 20 miles away to go to Kroger, Aldi or Walmart. Like it or not, Dollar General provides affordable items in small communities with few or no options for shopping.

[@eddyvideostar]

Thank you, DP. This is a classic comment. I thank you. You make it evident that many grocery stores gouge the people, and is not right. Competition is what is needed. DG, DT, etc, fill the void. Also, regarding myself, this hones my economic personality to realize that much frequent food and sundry purchases can be had in an organization such as this.

[@kungpaospic5318]

Exact same happened here

[@kalel33]

@@eddyvideostar I grew up in Kansas and personally knew the owner of the grocery store in my town, not the town in the video. Yes, they're much more expensive than the corporate grocery stores but they don't make a killing. They lived in a higher middle class house(about 2400 square feet), not a "rich person's house". They have to charge higher because they don't get the deals of the corporate stores. Who gets hurt the most in these situations is the elderly. They don't feel comfortable or can't drive to the bigger town to get the groceries that Dollar General doesn't stock.

[@mrhead6856]

I go where it's cheaper I don't care who owns it

[@woolywonders5546]

Walmart been gouging in our location. Walmart sold milk at $1.98 a gal few years ago and all of sudden prices went up $3.40 a gal. Walmart has been in trouble for selling extremely low prices and outcompeting small local businesses when those businesses shuttered this eliminated competition Walmart jacked up the prices. We travel an hour away for our groceries.

[@teacuppie4881]

There's a grocery store in my town, and the price of their products cost more. A box of oatmeal is 5 bucks while DG and FD got it for 3 dollars PLUS COUPONS! These small shops are killing themselves.

[@tinytownsoftware7989]

It's simple economics. They are very inefficient, so they have to charge more to make a profit. This is why big companies win. Their bottom line is lower, so they can afford to charge less.

[@gothnate]

@@tinytownsoftware7989 The small shops should specialize then. Like a bulk dry goods store where you can buy anywhere from a cup to 50 lbs of rice. You bring your own container. It ends up being cheaper for all parties, and the stores can remain open. Or, just make a local version of a Whole Foods. There's a market for that stuff. Ingenuity is the key to long term success. These local grocery stores just refuse to change their ways to survive.

[@noabsolutelynot3660]

Economies of scale.

[@tinytownsoftware7989]

@@gothnate While it sounds ideal to have all these little shops with their own specializations, there's a reason why you very rarely see that. The answer is, it's simply not profitable.

[@gothnate]

@@tinytownsoftware7989 But closing isn't profitable either. I don't know the answer, but at this point, suggestions to these small businesses need to be made, and should be taken seriously by the small business owners if they have any hope to survive.

[@kratz57x]

A local grocer says "dollar general moved in and it's hurting my business". Flip side... "I can no longer gouge my customers because of competition".

[@tinytownsoftware7989]

Sure, but then once the grocery goes out of business, good luck finding meat and vegetables in a 100 mile radius. But hey, I guess you can just eat snacks and frozen dinners.

[@clearskiesmovieproject4685]

@@tinytownsoftware7989 And people wonder why America is the capital of obesity.

[@irarelyupload6930]

@@tinytownsoftware7989 Boo hoo soulless corp loses money due to better competition for consumers

[@tinytownsoftware7989]

@@irarelyupload6930 What are you talking about?

[@draneym2003]

@@tinytownsoftware7989 Kansas and other red states made it very clear they want no holds barred capitalism. While I agree grocery stores are better, they're now getting exactly what they wanted. Enjoy!

[@LexCinnabon]

I worked for years at Dollar General in my younger years as a manager and cashier before that. They treated me well for what it was, and they have a rock solid business model. DG did very well through the last recession, and continues to do well today. I don't think they should be punished for having a track record of making smart business decisions.

[@TheTexastransplant]

They gouge everyone after local stores go out if business. they're theives and scum. And NO, I don't now, and never have, worked for ANY retailer of any kind. I just see them for what they are, greedy scumbags.

[@flipd2830]

@@TheTexastransplant ...maybe those family business should have expanded. Surely their idea of having one store worked in the 50's and 60's but you have to adjust with the times. Plus, why would you spend more on the same item you can get for less elsewhere? It's simple math and human nature.

[@dakotamathews2176]

People have their own opinion

[@andrewd.6248]

flip D that’s true. When he was talking about the collective good and individual good. If you see you’re losing customers, typically a store attempts to combat that buy increasing quality or decreasing price, what moron lets his store lose 100 customers a day and doesn’t do anything about it but curse a dollar store?

[@pirkkala]

@@TheTexastransplant Wasnt aware you could gouge people somewhere everything is a dollar lol

[@1337LesPaul]

Living in a small town where we only have one grocery store, which effectively has a monopoly and charges sky high prices and is also known to be a terrible place to work with questionable health safety standards, I think I'm okay with this.

[@alexmadio5785]

Competition can be a good thing. But be careful for what you wish for.

[@EmperorStarscream]

Yeah those stores need to adapt or die, they're like what can we do? Umm, lower your prices? Would you rather go out of business or lower your prices 🤔

[@letstacoboutit8205]

Shout out to dollar tree for being true for being only a dollar per item (especially the snacks)

[@danielagomez7014]

_ _ that’s the best place to get your movie night snacks!

[@joeschmoe13106]

Fax

[@RickBizzy]

Amen

[@debbieframpton3857]

I do like Dollar Tree but you do realize the package is smaller that's why it's only a dollar

[@NYD666]

@@debbieframpton3857 so I save money and calories? That's a great 2 for 1 deal

[@KNIV3]

Dollar general is my go to place for my snack runs

[@SporkPlays212]

Águila701 I don’t believe you

[@VivaLaZach]

Águila701 oh well we’re all gonna die

[@trulux8395]

Águila701 Those products aren’t made by Dollar General... if they have those products other stores will too🤦🏼‍♂️

[@Mom_sBasement]

Pretty sure you don’t run. More like waddle.

[@stanktatiousd7732]

They have the cheapest candy

[@BunnySlippers82]

"How many discount dollar stores do you need in one community?" You need as many as it takes for supply to meet the demand of impoverished people, that's how many.

[@ChillingCap]

i live in a small town called champion missouri.... we dont even have a dollar general do you know how nice it would be to not go 50 miles to get fresh foods besides what we makle at our farms

[@jrwizz]

Yeah that idiot running the town needs to go

[@Kgio-2112]

Dollar stores are in middle class and upper middle class areas too. I know. I go to the dollar tree by me.

[@crackernumber2]

@@ChillingCap yeh thats called a food desert. and it contributes to the obistey crises

[@alquinn8576]

@@crackernumber2 Champion has like 20 people living in it--it's an everything desert

[@666hobart]

The company first began in 1939 as a family-owned business called J.L. Turner and Son in Scottsville, Kentucky by James Luther Turner and Cal Turner. In 1968 the name changed to Dollar General Corporation and the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange. And for the record, I live in a small town that could use a corporate entity like this just to keep the price gouging local stores in check! I've lived in other small towns that "suffered" from the opening of a wal-mart supercenter, it thrived, the grocery stores that didn't close had to re-evaluate how badly they were fucking their own community by gouging them solely because they could. This needs to happen in most small towns across america just to keep them in check price-wise.

[@snsm6730]

Once the "price gouging local stores " you hate so much are run out of business (that's the Walmart plan) yo can enjoy those rising prices at....Walmart.....

[@paulmaartin]

At least wal mart sell meat and vegetables

[@DriscolDevil]

Sn SM if Walmart suddenly raised their prices due to lack of competition, it opens the door for that lower price competitor to step in. You seem to talk a lot but understand very little.

[@ramzy4458]

agree completely. the grocery/convenience stores in my area really take advantage with the prices. insane. I do half my shopping at dollar tree sometimes

[@davenwin1973]

The size of the town itself, and the size of nearby towns will determine if a town can support 2 of the same business. It seems that for someone like Walmart, they need a population of at least 10,000 people to be able to support a small town Walmart store. Walmart entered towns of 2,000 and 3,000 with nearby towns having even less, and could not make it long term. Local grocery stores in many cases sell high, because unlike urban and suburban markets, there's not as much turnover in merchandise to sell lower. I've seen more rural independents with expired food than a suburban independents. For Dollar General, the lower prices at rural stores are likely being subsidized by stores in suburban markets, where they get more business, and can afford to serve towns that otherwise probably couldn't support their stores.

[@dennisscanlon7547]

As someone who works for Dollar General, I can tell you good folks that the customers that we get are 1) very dedicated to shopping with us. 2) the same ones day in and day out. 3) almost always come back for the convenience and the prices of the goods we offer.

[@c0ntra605]

You can get all the celebrity endorsements, advertisements, and extra crap you want. The cheaper price will always win.

[@Maryellengray]

Smaller packaging doesn’t mean cheaper.

[@Eyeriz2014]

Dollar General and Dollar Tree stores are paradise for us college students. Bought about a weeks worth of meals for $6.

[@AmmoBops]

iris definitely and I’m not even a college student yet I’m 16 but my fam being the low middle class we are go to dollar tree for snacks,food, toilet paper and necessities and it really works well except the fact you get made fun of for not going to Sams club and Costco and shit like that

[@shanenice5380]

@@AmmoBops I GO SAMS CLUB,IT LAST LONGER

[@anonymousgoogle8462]

Dollar General seems like they jack up their prices. Things are cheaper at local grocery store. But Dollar Tree is a bargain. Everything is a dollar in their store.

[@wecf1411]

Anonymous Google yeah when you don’t have a local grocery store

[@tomthumb9839]

I live in a very small town that had one grocery store and that store was overpriced. DG opened and the grocery store had to lower its prices. Competition is good.

[@2012frawd]

i hate how this video makes it out to be a negative.

[@tomthumb9839]

2012frawd If you are pro stores and not pro people it is negative. This is good for the free market.👍

[@tomthumb9839]

XDigsX 13 Yes, I agree with you. If the public didn't want them then they have the right not to shop there. The people in the video have the right to protest and use their free speech but ultimately the public will decide which store they will patronize.

[@tomthumb9839]

XDigsX 13 I bet you are right.

[@martinlumber]

I worked a summer job in a Appalachian town. The local stores were complete dumps. Dirty, nasty, with poor produce and crap goods. Dollar General came to down and did over a million dollars in business in their first quarter. It forced the local stores to shape up or ship out.

[@mrhead6856]

boycott dollar general and come to my store where I have less stuff and much higher prices.. it just makes sense doesn't it?

[@TheGamer14300]

lmao haha

[@user-rz9wz1bx2l]

Make sense to the wealthy, I guess?

[@user-rz9wz1bx2l]

🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@frankpontone2139]

but think about helping your local community. when you pay more for an item, sure it will mean less money for you at least you know you're contributing to local business and you're putting a smile on the face of a fellow community member. Now, isn't that worth a little extra of your money?

[@GroudonsGame]

But the whole point is that dollar general doesnt have fresh produce and doesnt have as much variety

[@Psycho.NYC.77]

I go where is cheaper simple as that. I work too hard for my money to pay for something that is 5 dollars when I can get it for $1

[@Red4score]

exactly if they wasnt overpricing there stuff we would go to them

[@stephaniecoffman5099]

I agree completely. Especially if that means I have extra money in my bank account

[@Maryellengray]

If you read how much is in the package you’re not getting a better deal. They are making money from people who don’t pay attention.

[@thornking8196]

So if they don't sell meat and a variety of bread why not open a butcher shop and a bakery

[@daradiant1]

Thank you! Well said! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@MehmetlerMehmedi]

Scale

[@matrixman8582]

People don't have enough money to buy fresh meat and bread

[@ashburnsdeal]

In some places in TN (where DG is from) and GA they do. They have Dollar General Grocery stores and in Alabama they sell gas.

[@blackdogslivesmatter1568]

You got to be kidding...a butcher who gets minimum wage..I guess you dont care what you eat...and if you main diet is meat and bread you probably need a wheelchair to get around.

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

*Wait till Aldi comes to town.* They can compete with almost any supermarket chain.

[@zEropoint68]

aldi has a better variety of better quality products for lower prices. if there's an aldi in your town, you're wasting your money food-shopping anywhere else.

[@a_bone_in_the_ocean2276]

lidl is the best

[@bartsimpsongoatbootleg682]

Already took over Australia

[@chloekovac4886]

The only thing I don’t like at aldi is the meat bc it just seems low quality and some thing I wouldn’t want to buy but the other food there is good

[@davidd6218]

Aldi is gross and dirty near me. I'll never shop there.

[@YouStupidBunny]

Back in the 80's, I owned a small produce shop in FL. When I confirmed Walmart was moving a few miles away, I listed my business for sale. By the end of the following month, it was sold and not my problem anymore. Walmart opened a year later and the shop closed soon after. It's that own guys fault for not knowing his market.

[@weareallbrainwashed5101]

Did the same thing with my business, and the exact same thing happened. just different industry.

[@thereallincolntakanashi]

Grocery stores:(exist) Dollar General: *Im about to end this mans whole career.*

[@Red4score]

Dollar General: (exist) Dollar Tree: *Im going to end this man* Family Dollar:I can handle both of you at the same time

[@lamaripiazza5226]

@@Red4score Dollar tree owns family dollar

[@ladyrosemary5480]

It's not dollar general fault. People need better job opportunities to pay for better food than they won't shop there.

[@bestcommentiguarantyyoum4189]

Lord Rosemary your the only wise one in this comment section

[@JDC352]

People used to say the same thing about Wal-Mart. When I was broke and hungry and wouldn't go on welfare - I fed myself at Dollar General. I'm the common man and I support Dollar General.

[@Mkoivuka]

Respect for not going on welfare my man, live by your own rules.

[@YAHGOA]

Amen, respect.

[@JDC352]

Fortune one must

[@JDC352]

YAHGOA I love you

[@ambeegaming76]

Solution? Keep selling what the Dollar General doesn't carry and adjust your inventory and overhead accordingly.

[@Omnipotentous]

This. Adjust the price of meat and produce accordingly and downsize everything else.

[@Gator4155]

Agreed. People want to blame their competition for running them out of business but it's their fault for not adapting to their consumers and what they seek.

[@mickymouze1224]

@@Omnipotentous increase the price of meat and people will buy less, put it down in cost and people will buy the same and enjoy the saving, it simply doesn't work that way. These people are right to protest and raise awareness. Chains like DG are gross, they kill off competition and then put prices up. The community loses an asset as well as jobs.

[@yagurllili]

Yes I agree, I was thinking maybe a niche market.

[@stephaniecoffman5099]

I’ll go where it’s cheapest for me and my family to shop. Especially if it means that we’re left with extra money in our bank account.

[@JordanBrotherInJesus]

I mean hey where you going to shop? Somewhere that charges almost $5 for a gallon of milk or are you going to buy a $1.50 maybe $2.00 gallon of milk.

[@harrylui309]

Google "73% of U.S. Milk Price Is Subsidized"

[@johnsmith5898]

Its not milk, its silk. Dog milk

[@luvdady]

Well it's called a loss leader you come in for milk but you buy other stuff

[@Minionluvrrr]

The place that sells a gallon for $5 because we live a middle class life style.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

DG is the $5 place!

[@josephsmith1893]

The middle class is rapidly declining, and at this rate in about a decade, we won't have a middle class. Where else can the low income class afford to shop? More than half the U.S population now is low income...

[@nickharley2344]

fd11fd33fd99 rob the rich

[@LostandFoundTravel]

My hometown was without local groceries for 20 years after a fire. Dollar General is the first gallon of milk available outside a gas station since.

[@FirstLast-rd6hw]

Being a life long Kansan and a business owner I have to say this a a joke. These old guys are the reason Kansas is failing. They’ll go to Walmart (the store that shut down grocery stores only to underpay their employees to the point they receive billions in financial assistance) every week. I can’t speak for other states but in Kansas Dollar General is a blessing.

[@shaybaby2427]

Listen folks I worked for Dollar General for 7yrs. Their business model is to put their stores in the poorest communities. My store was in an area for senior citizens and low income housing. Instead of driving or taking the bus they can walk to my store an get a bulk of what they need for the week. The year when we had the gas spike was my best year! I had customers who would shop every day! They loved the fact that we would greet them by name and have that small town appeal. In bigger stores you rarely see the same person twice let alone knowing your name. The money makers were the “off brands” items. You wanna pay 4 or 5 dollars for a 3pk of Bounty paper towels or a $1.50 for the DG brand? I even had local businesses like restaurants, bars, and gas stations buying in bulk. Why go to a grocery store, Walmart or Sam’s Club when they can get the same items from my store? Perfect example, quite often we would have Pepsi products on sale for a $1. Again the local businesses would rush to my store buy in bulk then jack up the price for their customers. DG doesn’t have a limit unless by law on their products. Walmart is also notorious for putting retailers out of business. They are the reason retails don’t have unions. If you even whisper or seen talking about it you would be fired on the spot! The real story is how they treat their employees like crap. It’s like sweatshop conditions in some stores. Plus no one can live off of $7.00 an hour! The money as always is in management and we got treated even worse. We are required to work 6 1/2 days a week salary. That way they can work us even harder. Many times management had to run their stores 1-3hrs by themselves to save money! Which is why turnover is off the charts! It’s been 6yrs since I left due to cancer. Yet I’m still getting checks from all the class action suits won by current and pass employees. Yet, they still continue to grow. They’ve opened up 6 more stores to my area making it over 20 stores at the moment. They also added another distribution center to keep up with all the new stores. As long as customers keep buying all the bad stuff will continue to get swept under the rug. That’s the DG way!

[@forc3ofxf3ar51]

Shay Baby 7 years.... god..

[@gettinbigger4744]

I seen the same thing

[@meagan-shawnbooks2975]

I hear you about that my wife just got throw into the lion pit and was running the STORE because the the young kids wear it bullying her and not even treat her as a person I would love to sue them for what they put use throw I wish no one to work or even buy any thing from them any more they will fade away soon enough

[@johnfleming7028]

Meagan-Shawn Books c

[@Iamcynthianicole]

Omg, you are so right about how they treat their employees. I use to work there a long time ago. It's one of the worst retail stores to work for. They have late hours in areas where there is s lot of crime. If you get robbed, they don't provide enough resources to help you overcome what you went through. The pay is low. They never have enough staff. They have all these rolltainers and expect them to finish putting all the products on the shelves with NO staff. They don't hire with in, if you won't to become a district manager. I hated that place.

[@HettesKvek]

"why don't these poor people shop more responsibly by buying their food at places like whole foods?" - person who isn't poor

[@CeeCeeB.]

HettesKvek lol same morons paying 7.00 for cereal and 12.00 for a lb of lunchmeat at WF...smh

[@margaretwilson8736]

Hi, working class person here. I agree with the middle class people. Community unity is key to survival. 👌

[@SandcastleDreams]

Responsibly??? HA!! HA!!! HA!! Throwing away your money you mean! Trader Joe's is better if you HAVE to go organic, but you can still go HFCS free if you know what you are shopping for and don't buy a lot of pre packaged foods. Most people that buy organic don't do it because they want organic, they just don't want the HFCS and HMCS. I'm happy with GMO Project certified. But Organics...Aldi has organics at reasonable prices. Publix has organics at higher prices but you can't beat their ice cream. Walmart has some organics. But for most of the stuff, I just cook from scratch.

[@HettesKvek]

"working class" is a misnomer. Everyone works. Some people just get paid more or less for their work. If "the community" actually cared about the poor, they'd put in better safe guards for them so they don't have to shop at dollar stores.

[@jordannetwork9046]

HettesKvek like sams club

[@rafaelcamilo4887]

With your disposable income diminishing everyday the choice is clear.

[@ConswaMcGaga]

This shows the desperate situation our country is in. People have no disposable income these days, so instead of going to the store owned by their neighbor, which helps to support the community, they're being forced to go to the cheaper chain store that's taking away any unique identity of the town.

[@garytodd5605]

I live in a small town. There wasn't a grocery store. There is a gas station with over priced gas and other stuff. Thank you Dollar General for doing what no one else would do. Or could do. We still drive 10 miles to buy the large portion of our groceries. But now I don't have to drive 10 miles to buy hamburger buns at the 10 miles away price. Before DG the gas station hamburger buns were half again the price. That is huge in my economy.

[@-vrtex-1966]

That's right. They built DG at my small town. We had nothing before. Very convenient.

[@sarahharper5134]

me too I live out in the middle of nowhere I have to go out of town just to go get groceries

[@bobty6659]

amen

[@KISHEEME]

I agree.

[@AnthonyCastrio]

This is my hometown too

[@afnusa]

That's complete nonsense. Dollar General, Lidl, Aldi, and many other discount grocery stores are not putting anyone out of business. What's putting these businesses out of business it's maybe the way they treat customers, they are not modernizing, they are not having competitive prices. Isn't competition a wonderful thing because it weeds out bad retailers and a rewards good retailers? It's really easy to blame someone else, but it's hard to admit that maybe you're doing something wrong.

[@Uuxaul]

Very well stated. This is an indication of a much bigger problem which stems from tax increases, inflation, cost of living increases, wages which have stagnated for 30 years, and corporate greed, which is unwilling to pay workers more than minimum wage for jobs that should be paying much more. These stores are a god-send to families that are hard-working but unable to earn more than minimum wages, who are silenced and refuse to speak out due to the threat of losing their job at the drop of a hat in favor of being outsourced, automated, or replaced by the first immigrant willing to work in squalor working conditions.

[@NDG0XIII]

It’s not competition when it’s a monopoly

[@fiftyfuckingfeet]

Dollar General isn't really a good retailer though. My hometown grocery store has shitty prices but it has a full selection of food. Going to the nearest city which is about 20-30 minutes away there are many choices. Aldi as you mentioned is great. There's Wal-mart, Meijer, a Lucky's Market... These are competitive retailers with a full selection. What Dollar General does is they push out the only retailers in small towns with a full selection. My town does have a Dollar General but the local grocery store thrives and survives thanks to being full service with a pharmacy, a deli, a gas station, a store loyalty program... Not to mention being in a prime location while Dollar General is kinda tucked away. I don't personally shop there very much but due to the fact that I don't own a car and most of the trips I take to the city are by bus sometimes it's the best and only option. If I need something fast I'm happy to pay 50% more for it when it's my only option. If Dollar General was more successful than it already is in my town I might not even have that option.

[@psych20361]

Most the small towns they move into that have a small grocer they end up putting out of business and bring less money into the economy, while at a small town grocer they have on average 15 employees, while dollar general has on average 5.

[@ashburnsdeal]

Milk and eggs and some other products are cheaper at Aldi.

[@nerineri7083]

I live in rural area. I feel Dollar General is more of convenience than saving. Some of their items actually cost more. If I need a couple of things quick, I'll drop by DG. But if I'm actually shopping for many items, I'd drive the extra few minutes to my nearest grocery store or Wal-Mart. But I love that DG is widely accessible, especially in the middle of nowhere.

[@ghostxx2270]

I'm so glad DG built a store next to a "convenience" store near me. Keep up the good work DG. 👍

[@sewey77777]

pov: you live under a rock

[@bozothepimp4039]

Oh boo hoo! You've been gouging people with high prices and now somebody comes in with low prices and you want to cry about it!

[@kalel33]

I grew up in Kansas and personally knew the owner of the grocery store in my town, not the town in the video. Yes, they're much more expensive than the corporate grocery stores but they don't make a killing. They lived in a higher middle class house, not a "rich person's house". They have to charge higher because they don't get the deals of the corporate stores. Who gets hurt the most in these situations is the elderly. They don't feel comfortable or can't drive to the bigger town to get the groceries that Dollar General doesn't stock.

[@mrhead6856]

Viva Valdez yes come to my store where I have less stuff and much higher prices. thank you

[@mrhead6856]

kalel33 if a Walmart opens there screwed

[@ironfortitude9817]

@@kalel33 A higher middle class house is a rich person's house in my and 95% of humanity's eyes. They should sell their house and then move to a trailer or something and learn to be happy with that. Ungrateful bastards!

[@roseforeuropa]

@@mrhead6856 The best thing that could happen if a Wal-Mart opened up. A variety of goods from groceries to electronics to bicycles to car car parts. Combine that with super low prices!

[@t.jackson2613]

So we r suppose to feel sorry for these store owners who have had all the business in these rural communities. When people who are absolutely way below the poverty line have access to cheaper goods. Tiny towns don't have an issue with dollar stores everywhere. In a lot of these communities people had to drive an hour or more to find any groceries. The mom and pop stores left during the recession or way before. Where I live they spent millions to not allow Walmart to come but then approved target unanimously. More often than not, these communities don't want poor white people and minorities stopping in their small town. For me, that's a bigger story.

[@hdotl6286]

Ain't that the dam truth

[@commonsense5219]

Boycott a company because it’s more efficient and serves the community better than the alternative. Smdh.

[@gokarengo]

No DG in my neighborhood. I go to 3 different grocery stores to get more for my money...Commissary at March ARB for meat and seafood, Mexican market for the freshest and cheapest produce and Winco for everything else totaling $200..... It's an ordeal but it's better then spending $300 at Walmart or Albertsons when I can save $100 and have a few margaritas at happy hour🍹🍹😂

[@pgtryhard9360]

Mexican markets for veggies and winco for the rest, but I also have a sams club card to buy some house hold items and frozen foods In bulk, it’s way cheaper that way

[@guypicard1648]

Good for Dollar General! They are showing how overpriced those grocery stores were.

[@darranblack1767]

Mrs. Harper kind of fine

[@gregs.2679]

They raise their prices as soon as the local grocer is out of business. In my Kansas town, they haven't even waited for that to happen. The selection sucks, utter garbage products compared to Dollar Tree, and nearly nothing is actually $1. Maybe SOME of the processed "food" is a nickel or so cheaper, which is what researchers who have actually done comparison shopping say about the toxic waste that passes for "food" at WalMart also, but if you prefer real food, expect to drive 20+ mile or starve. Oh, and did I mention that at Dollar General, nearly nothing is $1?!!?

[@noelmakarth156]

Lol he probably won't because they only hire 6 to 5 employees.

[@matts8547]

Because they sell smaller amounts and a bunch of lower quality products.

[@matts8547]

It says a lot about our country dollar general is growing so fast.

[@omedolf]

What these communities actually need are German discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl, who combine the formula of Dollar general with cheap fresh food, such as meat, fruits and vegestables.

[@JUNIORK1974]

Hell yeah Aldi is my fav.

[@solomonarbc]

Yeah, bankrupting local farmers with import foodstuffs. Nice examples you found ...

[@omedolf]

Solomonarbc, you are putting words in my mouth that I never said, although it should be noted that some food products can only be produced in very particular regions and so they will always have to be imported. The Aldi and Lidl here in the Netherlands and Belgium actually sell a lot of local grown fruits and vegetables and the Lidl often outranks more expensive supermarkets in those categories with regards to quality. With my comment I just wanted to point out that there seems to be a market demand for similar formulas in the US. I think a similar formula could not only be financially successful, but also resolve the problem of food deserts. If you're American, maybe look into it as a businessplan ;)

[@solomonarbc]

No I'm talking about a Romanian Lidl where you have 7 brands of cheese from all over the EU but Romania. If you go to other stores, you can find the local cheese from many producers. So I'm not talking about bananas, but about the food Lidl will NOT sell from local suppliers (although cheaper). Yes, they do sell local food as well, but at the cheese stand - nothing local. I'm reading all the labels (in respect to the origin).

[@baatileydaansheeri7518]

I live both sweden and the states. Lidl is the best they even have clothes with good quality like I even have lidl app.

[@rexxsade6425]

WHY on earth would I go to an expensive place. If it's cheaper count me in.

[@skinflutey]

Rexx Sade quality is a reason

[@yagurllili]

@@skinflutey exactly!!!

[@matthewwelsh294]

Expensive means better quality

[@vjaguirre6044]

You really can't blame the dollar General for being the king of cheap, They worked hard to get where they were, They all started like Local Businesses, And for some people to say they don't know what its like is absolutely false. Everyone starts out small.

[@jomishx]

This is a 60 plus year old company. They found a way to thrive. Deal with it. Grocery store markup is ridiculous anyway

[@timothym5482]

The average supermarket has a profit margin of about 1 percent, according to Stacey Vanek-Smith of National Public Radio. Some experts suggest this figure might be as high as 3 percent. Either way, supermarkets are a volume business. The single location grocer just can't negotiate with vendors for lower costs while DG has 15,000 stores to really drive down THEIR costs..

[@nunyabiznis817]

Dollar General is actually very expensive. In urban areas, they open stores in areas where there are a lot of welfare recipients live, who don't have cars. They can walk to a dollar general instead of spending all day on the bus going to walmart and other grocery stores. They pay more, but it's more convenient. Heck, even if they can't walk there, they can get a cab and it will cost less since it's a lot closer than the other stores. So in my area, dollar general is basically a large convenience store for the poor. My city is only 30K people and there are 6 DG stores, all in the poorest areas of town. But when you take into consideration Family Dollar (a similar chain), that # doubles. If Family Dollar was not here, there would be more Dollar Generals.

[@Dr.Kananga]

This is the same old story of grocery stores who had their monopoly in town with their prices, then competition come to town and go bust in panic. Truth is these small independent food stores never wanted to modernize, never wanted to protect themselves from rainy days, they don't offer anything alternative, don't have a website, despise technology, and eventually become the dinosaurs of business: extinct.

[@jersla1999]

Just wait until Dollar Tree comes to town. Retail is a blood sport and survival of the fittest rules. Aldi will soon put most of the remaining grocery stores out of business anyway. The decline of small town retail began decades ago with Walmart, then Amazon, and now Dollar General, etc. Customers want lower prices and convenience. Time to wake up and smell the coffee.

[@roqfortt]

lmao love how the protesters have the store's address on their signs. Like thanks, now I know theres a dollar general on pine street.

[@DonutsReview]

Americans STOPPED COOKING with fresh food 2 decades ago. Look at grocery stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables, most like Stop & Shop chooses to sell pretty vegetables instead of affordable ones, due to lack of demand. But if you look at the Asian grocery stores, they're increasingly expanding, even as close as within a block or two. That's because Asian people cook EVERY DAY, 2 - 3 times a day from scratch. Americans eat from boxes and cans.

[@bs4real]

Speak for yourself!

[@oldsrocket8841]

My town is so poor that our Dollar General offers layaway.

[@hueyfreeman8421]

where the hell do u live!!!!

[@wakemeupinside5526]

what huey said

[@oldsrocket8841]

@@wakemeupinside5526 Just a joke, that's all.

[@devan1715]

DAMN

[@bg5561742]

Haha that’s funny you’re poor

[@trinity6401]

I mean...10 dollar stores with no grocery store? You wouldn’t be able to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, etc..

[@Panicatthejazz]

I was just in Publix today & I bought a couple of things but I finished my food shopping at family dollar because I’m on a budget & have a growing child to feed. Dollar general is my favorite as well.

[@phillhuddleston9445]

If Dollar General is putting them out of business then they need to reevaluate their business strategy.

[@ballsdeep2520]

Yes clearly but I don't think youre getting the point. An independent grocer can't compete with a discount giants business model. They all reevaluate and see they have to close

[@leilanidru7506]

ballsdeep 🤷🏾‍♀️ oh well. As sad as that is. Its always horrible when people lose their livelihood. It’s an amazing opportunity for lower income families to put food on the table at a much lower price. What do they want us to do? Stop shopping at places that offer is dirt cheap prices because....big business? As a college student who literally cannot afford anything, dg has saved my life more than once.

[@phillhuddleston9445]

Blessing, that is the free market working as it should, the ones with the best product or the best value win. The consumer picks the winner as it should be. Dollar General employes people too so it is a win-win if you think about it.

[@denniscaruso5713]

The real world is gonna really put hole in ya

[@TheShaniqua1992]

+ballsdeep the point is you believe poor people should be paying higher prices to subsidize someone earning more money than them?

[@brianmyers9989]

So WalMart knows how it feels now. Suck it WalMart.

[@Andreas4696]

Is Dollar General cheaper than Walmart?

[@brendanleonard1375]

LegendMeadow I don't know but I like Aldi because they are pretty inexpensive and I trust the quality of their products.

[@ezwins1234]

Lol no walmart has had to shut down other than the boycotted ones

[@Lucyinthskyy]

Brian Myers i hate Walmart. I would rather spend more money than have to shop at Walmart.

[@tracer740]

Luxy- Just curious, why do you 'hate' Walmart?

[@pootandbeans5956]

I'm relieved there is a Dollar General. In areas where there is only a Walmart and Winn Dixie that have sky high prices, it helps save money on laundry detergent, toilet paper, hygiene items etc. I moved to an area with an Aldies and an outlet grocery store but I still shop at Dollar general for certain things.

[@dm23music48]

I wished all businesses would reinvest more in their community's

[@grabitz]

If it's cheaper it's cheaper . I always go to the cheaper stores . I wasn't born in this world to keep those rich stores rich. They lose because of their greedy high prices

[@ingriddubbel8468]

You lose because you buy processed food that takes a toll on your health. It is a fallacy that fresh food is expensive. Its an issue of being too lazy to plan and cook and if you don't have time get a crock pot.

[@grabitz]

@@ingriddubbel8468. I'm 62 smoke cigarets for the last 48 year eat whatever on the table and healthy as can be. I get around better than a lot of younger people. I take multiple vitamins daily drink one beer and a clove of garlic daily and smoke pot most of my life. My hair is still black very little wrinkles so I'm not changing any habits. If I did it would probably kill me. I figure if I die in the near future I went out happing doing it my way.

[@grillbaked]

They don't have higher prices because of greed dummy. Local grocery stores are an asset to the community.

[@664theneighbor5]

Greedy? Are you high? Dollar general is a huge corporation and the smaller businesses are struggling to survive!

[@c.l.1820]

Exactly. Like Hello the name alone tells you it's cheap!

[@ride0RgetR0DE0n]

I live in a small ass town in North Carolina. The closest dedicated grocery stores is 20 minutes away in the next town. There are two different dollar stores in my town both within 5 minutes of my house. There's no wonder why I would go instead of a larger store if I only need a couple things.

[@carlenegilstrap2871]

Based God same thing here in my tiny town in SC. DG is the only store within 20 minutes of my home.

[@AsianGlow]

Y'all don't need any stores. Y'all have COOK OUT! That $4 combo (idk how much it costs now) even came with a milkshake! n_n

[@hans7743]

This is not a collective actions problem. If people was willing to pay the actual full cost of "real grocer" they would not go out of business. This happens because Dollar general provides more value to the community than the grocer

[@Ironsight813]

Dollar general the poor man's Walmart.

[@Fresjr66]

Oh cry me a river. This is a simple equation, lower your prices to adapt with the times. With the epidemic of homelesness in america, do you really think that the homeless person or someone living in poverty is going to spend 4 dollars on a can of food instead of 1 dollar. Simple logic. Greed and the lack of caring is a cancer that is not going away.

[@GiordanDiodato]

lowering prices would put them out of business.

[@joemellon5444]

Why is the person homeless? Mental issue? Then thank the ACLU. Lazy? Find a job. There is no reason to be homeless anymore in this country.

[@PayNoTax-GetNoVote]

Not really, the problem is Government. The government only returns 18 cents on the dollar due to its inefficiency. So for every dollar allocated for, say food stamps, one dollar tax is paid in, only 18 cents gets to end user. Private charities on the other hand return 86%, YES 86 cents on the dollar AND THATS THE AVERAGE!!! The top 5 had overhead so low , they had 100% return. It's time to CUT government spending, let people keep THEIR OWN MONEY and be able to donate to more effectively run organizations.

[@korisalapatas602]

My husband and I travel all over on our road trip and in alot of places DOGs all there is

[@oh_kay2954]

Joe Mellon with a working brain it’s very easy to understand why getting a job while homeless is hard. Who is going to hire you if you don’t have a working shower or nice work clothes.

[@blakryptonite1]

The guy who shut down his grocery store should have rather transitioned to meat shop. Much more profitable and niche-based. Plus his competition would be zero.

[@americangiant1003]

Good point on switching over to a niche based store. Or say even a smaller family owned Whole Woods type place as well. I am sure in that town in Kansas Whole Foods is no where to be found.

[@blakryptonite1]

There's literally no corporate level meat shops that are going to operate in that town. Even if there were, people are very picky where they get their meat from(at least in my town). People prefer fresh meat, which corporations can't deliver at such a massive scale (entire nation).

[@drakekoefoed1642]

why not sell the dg items at cost, and make your money on produce and meat? walmart buys cheaper than the grocery wholesalers is why you can't compete with them

[@sabrinatheteenagebitch6805]

cicada la michicana

[@jayjohnson7827]

How do you know about this mans financial situation(personal and business), business history, etc, to make such a comment? Why didn't you open up a store there?

[@badge315]

So what these people are saying is that instead of a Dollar General operating in a food desert, they'd rather have nothing at all. Preventing DGs from opening up in an under-served community isn't going to make a Winn Dixie, or a Kroger, or a Target appear in its place. And even if one of those stores DID open up in place of a discount retailer, they'd still be complaining about how they're driving local stores out of business.

[@DAlexKablack]

Before Dollar General moved in, the closest place to get groceries in my old town was 20 miles / 35 minutes away

[@promontorium]

I'm poor as shit and Dollar General is a place I can afford. You richers want your local overpriced stores, have at it.

[@jeffw1267]

And even the "overpriced" stores have good deals on some things. Like Whole Foods and their bulk bins. The key is to stay away from the deli and bakery.

[@ThatBronxgirl7]

Stores like Dollar General are not putting local grocery stores out of business. People are putting them out of business. Your customers have chosen to go elsewhere because their dollar will go further.

[@CeeCeeB.]

Regina Johnson facts

[@Will-tm5bj]

It really is that simple

[@Eli_B3000]

Not to mention, that guys grocery store was older inside, and kind of dumpy. He coasted for years without upgrading or improving anything. More than likely, his grocery store originally put smaller grocery stores out of business.

[@angelamartin1717]

What’s the problem??? Grocery stores have produce, meat, liquor and beer just to make a few things that dollar stores don’t have...so why are they closing...cuz people are buying a few boxes of cereal and cans of soup at DG. 🤦🏽‍♀️...our neighborhood convenience store had maneuvered to compete with CVS...he’s still going strong

[@noabsolutelynot3660]

A lot of people are talking about how "hurr durr those small grocers are overpriced" without understanding economies of scale.

[@phacelesshero]

Good. Grocery and retail stores have been overcharging customers for really basic, inexpensive things for way too long.

[@SocialDem86]

“The community” says they don’t want the DG to be there yet business is booming. Hmm.

[@wfjhDUI]

Did you watch the video? It directly addresses the collective action problem.

[@SocialDem86]

Jyoeru Zaberu I don’t doubt it. What I’m saying is it seems like maybe this woman is lying.

[@alexeivoloshin5984]

Good.

[@alexeivoloshin5984]

There is no collective action problem. What's good for individuals is good for the collective.

[@cloudie8314]

SocialdDem 😊

[@indiashante1560]

I love Dollar General. I'm gonna go to where the prices are cheapest. It is what it is. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@frankpontone2139]

but isn't going to a store and paying a little more money for something going to make you happier knowing that you are building a stronger local business community?

[@andrewkim1667]

@@frankpontone2139 lmao is that small amount of “happiness” going to pay the bills?

[@bayouburner281]

One just opened in my rural town I reside in(Population around 250 or so) and there are no grocery stores here. It’s really a blessing. No need to travel back to a bigger city for the little things that get forgotten, just head to the DG.

[@ginnydare13]

The Dollar General helps me not have to drive 25 miles to get milk. It is what it is.

[@thearmchairjournalist566]

Virginia Dare The DS is probably why you have to drive that far to buy fresh produce! Do you not understand the story, USA has a massive problem of very little access to fresh meat & vegetables, which is a major factor in obesity! You are slowly killing yourselves by not supporting local small businesses!! Wait until there are no fresh food stores and see how you feel 😫

[@ginnydare13]

Pretty Pixy I live near 5 produce stands, I have plenty of fresh fruit and veggies straight from surrounding local farms. Grocery stores are great when youre near them, need something from them, when you have time to park, walk in, wait in line, load the car, unload the car, put the stuff away, etc. If I just need milk, I can park by the door and be in and out in 3 mins or less. Less time, less gas.

[@vacationboyvideos]

Virginia Dare buy nuts and make your own vegan milk.

[@crazywildman]

maybe start a grocery store :)

[@ginnydare13]

Lionel Wan I have honestly considered starting up a grocery store here!

[@teddykgb3865]

Ok, so a Dollar General opens near your store, and from that moment your sales begin to decline by $700 to $1000 per day, every day. Meanwhile, this KSU dude says the vast majority of Dollar General stores don't offer fresh fruits and vegetables, hardly any variety of dairy products, and very little variety in bread. How, after 1,095 consecutive days of declining sales, does it not occur to you to scale back your product line and focus only those items that your local Dollar General does not sell?

[@Gos1234567]

Exactly like this guy is just a bad businessman,he thinks people should pay extra for their stuff just to keep him richer,fck that shit

[@lkcsac]

Exactly! He should invest in items that DG doesn't have. We have a local grocery store that does the same exact thing. They have the freshest produce, meats, and dairy in the area and it sells like hot cakes. But they also sell dry goods, canned foods, and frozen entrees and they are barely touched. Not to mention, their prices are outrageous. A Dollar General is next door. They complain but they can't blame the consumer. We steer towards the better bargain. Either lower prices or rid of the unwanted inventory that is just sitting on shelves. They have to throw the items away after the expiration, which is a waste.

[@ameyas7726]

Or rather Dollar General is a good businessman...you don't understand how Dollar General operates and why it has been so successful while other such stores are on slow decline....Dollar General (DG), through market research etc only store limited brands that are cheap and popular...sure other local stores could scale back those brands and only keep other brands not found in DG, but Dollar General still wins due to their multiple, easily accessible stores; people are going to think, hey why drive to local store to get brand C or D, when I could just walk to nearby Dollar General and buy brand A or B (which I hear are just as good)....and selling groceries, fresh produce etc alone don't generate the store any much profit to stay in competition..

[@teddykgb3865]

You either missed my point or you didn't watch the entire video. I don't need to understand DG's operations to draw a conclusion based on the facts presented. This guy can't compete with DG. Over 1,095 consecutive days of declining sales make that clear. Maybe changing tack and focusing on needful items that DG doesn't sell would work. Maybe not. You can't comment accurately on the profitability or unprofitability of that approach because there isn't enough data here. The main point of my post was disbelief that he watched his business lose money every single day for three years and, rather than doing ANYTHING in response, he took zero action let his business bleed to death.

[@philgamer5280]

Teddy KGB Yeah so true, its like getting a wound and instead of bandaging it you let yourself bleed out.

[@muffychao2373]

Damn I wish we had a Dollar General here in Seattle 😥 it's crazy expensive to buy and live here.

[@ravemasterdbzwwe]

on the brightside seattle's crime rate is rising and economy are collapsing so you'll get these cheap stores soon lol

[@PsychSoldier756]

Oof

[@lamaripiazza5226]

@@ravemasterdbzwwe it’s not

[@JohnJacobGarza]

If you live in Seattle you got money

[@gothnate]

In my rural Western North Carolina county of 35,000 people, we have 8 Dollar Generals, one Dollar Tree, 8 grocery stores including Walmart, 1 Big Lots, 4 meat markets, 5 Mexican grocery stores, a few produce stands, not counting any locally owned shops still in business. The DG isn't really putting anything out of business unless they can't keep up with their customer's demands. That's the underlying problem, really. A lot of locally owned stores refuse to change their business model to survive. They've, "Been doing it this way since 1950, and I'll be damned if we change!" What they really should do is turn their stores into alternative shops, such as a bulk-buy store or specialty shop; stores we don't have any of here, and would make a killing off the health and environmental conscious people in the area. What's killing local grocery stores is the mindset, not competition.

[@starandfox601]

The consumer is owes right in matters of taste. Meaning what customers want to buy is what you should be selling.not what you want to sell.

[@gothnate]

@@starandfox601 But instead of doing that, stores are just stagnant and refuse to change. I mentioned health food stores in my comment. The people in my county that like going to places like that, have to drive an hour or more just to get to one. There's probably a decent market for a store like that here, but small town minds are stubborn and refuse to change.

[@swicheroo1]

I lived in a rural town in Iowa--9000 people. It was a nicer town, because there was a college (where I worked). And there was a SuperWalmart, two chain grocery stores, and a more high end store that was smack dab in the middle of town and catered to a wealthier crowd--the doctors, the faculty, the students, the moneyed locals. Dollar General is on the outskirts and caters to the people whose income hovers around the poverty line. There are so many people like that in rural America. The fancy store was, too me, shockingly expensive. It wasn't that amazingly fancy, compared to the big city I came from. So, I didn't find it to be a good deal. But it really was pricey. And I only bought wine from it. I think the problem, beyond the health of these single-proprietor stores is this: Once the traditional grocery stores shutter, you will have a population of people who are going to be eating packaged goods: high sodium, high fat mac and cheese in a box type fare. And this will not be good for their health in the long run.

[@ididntknowshewas1470]

that sucks living in Iowa

[@swicheroo1]

Don't I know it. That town is also a magnet for people living in the countryside. There was even a theater that did the Superhero movies and the Disney stuff. One coffee shop, two Mexican joints, two Chinese restaurants, one loose meat burger place, and several bars. My dentist was from a town of 500 people and he really thought the place was popping. "There's so much to do."

[@brandonmale2779]

So she doesn't want Dollar General to open another store because there's already several dollar stores in the area, but she wants and welcomes a grocery store to open, expecting that somehow a grocery store would survive while surrounded by several dollar stores, with the entire basis of the video being that dollar stores are putting the grocery stores out of business? Sorry if I missed something..

[@allisonshaw4606]

I’m fascinated by dollar general. We see them multiply in wealthy yet rural retirement communities. The local DG to my parents home is so convenient and less expensive, I never thought about the repercussion to local grocers! Insightful and scary documentary you’ve created here!

[@vibrantlylead11]

I don't really see the problem. If you don't want dollar stores, then work on building a local fairly priced grocery store with quality options. I mean if people are so broke in a town that they can only afford Dollar General, then that raises a whole bunch of other questions about the local economy itself.

[@tiffanylpleasant4181]

👍🏿

[@B.N.HMedia]

Ima open up a store called 89 cent commander and chief.....

[@tuberose4601]

oh man if this was a thing id be happy

[@theworldoverheavan560]

Joshua Sullivan lol

[@audreyhartman]

Or 50 cent captain lmao

[@quagliumquagnarr3853]

If ya can't beat 'em; get Vice to do a micro-documentary to complain about 'em.

[@jesselevine0]

Oh internet ^

[@Evili555]

Well in California it’s way different instead of cheap grocery stores it’s more expensive stores like wholefoods, trader jones, and etc

[@imsimplytired3532]

For reaaaaaaaaaal

[@EricRomeoCooper]

Lol We have maybe a Couple Walmarts in the Bay Area and If you ever been to a Walmart in another state you would be very disappointed.

[@MoNeenja]

In my town, we have a DG & a supermarket right next to each other. Both are doing well.

[@MrGrey-zc2cy]

Using the local Dollarama I made enough tasty vegetarian chili (made, not bought in a can) for 3 good sized meals. It cost *$2.63 USD* Can't get that at the grocery store.

[@anaconda9711]

Mr. Grey can u tell me your recipe please

[@ryken2998]

Recipe?

[@texasgun2731]

wtf is vegetarian chili

[@MiguelGonzalez-xr6oi]

Canned food? Say hello to cancer

[@MiguelGonzalez-xr6oi]

@ungratefulmetalpansy food isnt suppose to last for ever, only normal shelf life. If u add preservatives to make it last longer, you're possibly damaging ur health. Look it up it's only common sense...

[@Tusk_Tact]

I'd rather they build Dollar Generals in the hood rather than liquor stores and check cashers

[@carter_1]

Problem is I can spend $50 on 1 meal, milk, bread at small town grocery store OR $90 for a cart full at Aldi's. Can't afford small town grocery shopping!

[@kevinh3238]

If you spend 50 dollars for 1 meal, milk, bread then you probably eat too much lol.

[@supernova44]

If you reside in a food desert, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, or DG do not sell fresh meats and produce...where do you go if there are no full service grocery stores? People really need to consider this. Besides, some food items cost more there than at grocery stores like bread, milk, and frozen foods for instance. Who wants to pay $3.50 for a half gallon of milk when you get it for half the price elsewhere. DG fills in a niche but falls short when it comes to groceries.

[@ChimaChindaDev]

Evolve or dissolve.

[@toxic1698]

Or break out the molotovs.

[@diligentone-six2688]

Just Bring out your Kalashnikov.

[@litojonny]

publish or perish.

[@Brian-jp3wt]

These people boycotting are ridiculous, most low income families live from paycheck to paycheck so of course they're going to gravitate to whats cheapest. The fact that they want the people to not have options is absurd, more competition is good it gives people options to choose and competition helps lower prices.

[@LOWROLLER72]

Brian I definetely agree with you. Honestly, not to be stereotypical but is it me, or do all these protestors look like they shop at these discount stores? Personally I shop at Dollar Tree and the 99 cent store everyday.. Low-Roller 🎲💸😍

[@americangiant1003]

Brain you make a good point. However mainly because of the lower incomes in much of urban America and Rural America as well, you aware that these locations don't have any major supermarkets at all nearby? Yet in Rich neighborhoods in the big cities or Suburbs there are Super Wal-Marts, Targets, Whole Foods, etc on every other block. Just pointing it out. Not sure of a solution though.

[@3xand3r49]

Im glad some people can work paycheck to paycheck.... But in supporting dolar generals, your also supporting the buisness who doesnt pay employees a decent or living wage.... When i worked for the company i was lucky to take home maybe $500 a month and that paid just my rent.... Which is basically the cheapest place in town. This is bc they dont want people working full time or many hours... But want you on call any time the store is open. Most dg employees are utilizing snaps and wic as well as other financial assistance programs just to get by.

[@3xand3r49]

Yes they are kinda ment for that... But many adults get stuck in jobs like this as well... Its either take it and get a not so great paycheck or nothing. Also with some health conditions and areas production jobs just arnt a possibility for all.

[@soulsreaper7145]

if ur that poor then u should apply for food stamps so u don't have to eat card board noodles

[@waldolifeart]

ironically, the prices of stuff in dollar general in my city are more expensive than kroger and walmarts