Dollar Tree used to be easy: everything cost the same. That’s no longer true. With items now at several price points, checking the price before you get to the register matters more than it used to, especially if you’re hunting penny items.
Why scanning matters now
Dollar Tree’s base price is $1.25, and many stores also sell items at higher prices like $3 or $5. Some recent reports mention items as high as $7. With mixed prices on the same shelves, it’s easy to grab something you think is $1.25 and find out it isn’t. Dollar Tree has added in-store digital price scanners and price scanning in its app to help shoppers keep track.
Using the Dollar Tree app
The app’s scanner is handy for regular shopping. Scan a product’s barcode to see its price before you put it in your cart.
There’s one important quirk for penny hunters. According to The Krazy Coupon Lady, penny items show up as “Product Not Found” in the Dollar Tree app. So the app can’t confirm a penny item. If a product you suspect is a penny comes back as not found, that’s actually a hint to check it another way.
Using the in-store scanner
Many Dollar Tree stores have digital price scanners on the sales floor. Scan the product’s barcode there. If the screen shows $0.01, it’s a penny item. This is the best way to confirm before checkout.
Step by step
- Find a product you think might be marked down.
- Scan it in the Dollar Tree app.
- If the app shows a price, that’s your price.
- If the app says “Product Not Found,” take it to the in-store scanner.
- If the scanner shows $0.01, it’s a penny item.
Scan the right barcode
Scan the barcode printed on the package, not a sticker on the shelf. Products that look alike can have different barcodes, and only the exact one rings up at the penny price.
If your store has no scanner
Not every store has one. In that case, you can ask a cashier for a price check, but be aware that pointing out a penny item can lead staff to pull it. Some shoppers would rather just bring the item to the register with the rest of their shopping.
Clues worth noticing
Items marked down to $0.25 are often one step away from a penny. Clearance bins, endcaps, craft, beauty and home decor are the usual hunting grounds. Read our Dollar Tree penny items guide for more.
Quick recap
Use the app for normal price checks. Use the in-store scanner to confirm a penny. And remember that “Product Not Found” in the app isn’t a dead end. It might be your best find of the day.