The shelf tag at Dollar General won’t tell you an item is a penny. It still shows the old price, sometimes for weeks. The Dollar General app is how most penny shoppers check the real price before they ever get to the register.
Set the right store first
This is the step people skip, and it causes most of the confusion. Prices can be different from one store to the next. When you open the app, choose the exact Dollar General you’re standing in. If the app is set to your usual store and you’re shopping somewhere else, the scanner can show you the wrong price.
How to scan an item
- Open the app and make sure the store you’re in is selected.
- Tap the scanner option.
- Point your camera at the barcode on the product itself.
- Read the price that comes up.
If it shows $0.01, you’ve found a penny item. If it shows the full price or a clearance price, it isn’t one, at least not today in this store.
Scan the product, not the shelf tag
The barcode that matters is the one printed on the package. That’s the UPC. Penny lists use the UPC because the same-looking item can come in different sizes or versions, each with its own code. If the list says 072785144842 and the bottle in your hand says something else, it’s a different item.
Why the app beats guessing
A lot of shoppers try to read clues on tags or count markdowns in their head. That can help you decide what to check, but the scan is the proof. A quick scan saves you from carrying a cart full of stuff to the front, only to find out it’s all full price.
When the app and the register disagree
Every so often, the app shows one price and the register shows another. Systems update at different times, and stores don’t always match perfectly. If that happens, stay calm. The register is what you’ll actually pay. You can ask the cashier for a price check, but don’t argue. Some days it just doesn’t work out.
Tips that save time
- Scan in batches. If you find a shelf with several items from the list, scan one of each version first.
- Watch the size and flavor. A “family size” and a regular size of the same product are different items.
- Charge your phone. Penny hunting on a dead battery is no fun.
- Keep the list open in another tab so you can compare barcode numbers quickly.
Is using the app allowed?
Yes. Checking prices in the store’s own app is exactly what it’s for. What you shouldn’t do is ask employees to look up penny items for you. Staff are trained to pull penny items once they know about them, so asking can make the item disappear before you buy it. More on that in our penny shopping rules.
Quick recap
Pick your store in the app, scan the barcode on the package, trust the number you see, and keep things friendly at the register. That one habit will save you more wasted trips than any other tip. Pair it with this week’s penny list and you’re set.