Widespread retail chains ensure that we can experience brands like McDonald’s and The Gap from coast to coast, in every state and virtually every city, with at least a certain degree of consistency. A Big Mac in Albuquerque should taste the same as a Big Mac in Peoria, right?
But are all locations truly created equal? A TikToker shows us that these chains can vary wildly from location to location, even within a city, using Dollar Tree as a prime example.
Dollar Tree can be found virtually everywhere.
Since its founding in 1991, the chain has exploded, numbering a whopping 15,288 locations between the United States and Canada.
While Dollar Tree’s selection of low-cost items may seem the same from store to store, this isn’t always the case.
There’s a TikToker who specializes in this kind of thing.
Yolanda Jones, who you can find on TikTok @yoyololo888 , takes an anthropological interest in how dollar and drug stores differ between rich and poor neighborhoods. Jones’ “Hood vs. Hood” series shows us some of the differences between different Dollar Trees.
Let’s start with snacks.
One of the big draws of dollar stores is the availability of low-cost junk food. Jones notes that even though the price point is low, Dollar Trees in more affluent areas are more likely to stock name brand snack products, while poorer areas have to make do with off-brand snacks.
What about the storefronts?
In Jones’ first video, shot at a Dollar Tree in a wealthier neighborhood, the outside of the store is stocked with merchandise. It looks no different from your typical upscale suburban grocery store like Trader Joe’s.
Meanwhile, in the less affluent neighborhood…
In the next video, Jones pulls up outside a Dollar Tree in a poorer neighborhood. The store is less welcoming overall, with bars protecting the store inside and no merchandise laid out on the patio outside.
The inside of the store is no better.
While the store in the affluent neighborhood was well-organized with name brand products, the store in the less-affluent neighborhood was another story altogether. Products were strewn all over the floor and aisles were completely disorganized.
What are the reasons?
Some commenters noted that a disorganized store might point to a staffing issue, but if there’s a staffing issue, what are the underlying causes? Is it possible that stores in richer neighborhoods have better funding?
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The differences are stark.
Many commenters agreed that Dollar Tree locations can vary wildly. While there’s something to be said for a store tailoring its wares to the neighborhood that it’s in, this can also lead to some stores feeling understocked.
Have you noticed this?
If you’re a bargain hunter, you’ve probably been to Dollar Tree once or twice. Have you found big differences between locations? Be sure to check out part one , part two and part three of Jones’ videos, then share your thoughts in the comments!
