Are you a bargain shopper looking for the best possible deals at Dollar General? Cool, nothing feels better than saving money by scoring the ultimate deal. And there may not be a better deal on the plane than purple dots at Dollar General – if you see an item at DG with a Purple Dot, snatch it, as the dot indicates that the item is available for a single penny.
That’s right! Purple Dots at Dollar General are meant to be restocked by employees, but if you see one, grab it, as the item is just $.01.
Dollar General is a dollar store that operates out of the United States. There are several ways to save significant money at Dollar General, which we’ll go into. But the ultimate way to save money at Dollar General is to locate items marked with a Purple Dot, which indicates something for sale for a penny.
Coupons, available through the Dollar General website, are another terrific savings opportunity. Monitoring prices, enrolling in a store’s loyalty program and scoring sweet deals when items go on discount after major holidays are other techniques this article will cover and help you save even bigger bucks.
Remember that when an item is marked with a Purple Dot, employees at Dollar General are supposed to remove that item from the sales floor by the end of the day. While the item is still technically on sale while it is still on the sales floor, there are a few sticky issues that may arise. But, fear not, as we will cover how to deal with them in this article.
Finding merchandise at Dollar General that’s marked a Purple Dot is an excellent opportunity to get merchandise for cheap. We will also cover additional ways to save money at Dollar General. After all the money we’ll save you, your friends will call you the Dollar General.
What Are Purple Dots at DG?
Purple dots are Dollar General’s way of marking items that must be removed from the sales floor. Once an item has been declared a “Purple Dot,” it is priced in the DG computer system for $.01. Purple Dot items do not need a physical purple sticker to be considered Purple Dots.
Almost every item sold at Dollar General is eligible for Purple Dot status, including toys, clothing, and household goods.
For whatever reason, discussing the existence of Purple Dot items with Dollar General Employees is considered a no-no.
Perhaps it’s because Dollar General has instructed their employees to remove all Purple Dot merchandise from the sales floor, only to find an item they did not remove indicates a failure. Perhaps Dollar General promotes this idea to encourage bargain hunters to come to their stores and look for a sweet deal (while tempting them to make additional purchases once inside).
Either way, talking to store employees about Purple Dot merchandise is discouraged among coupon clippers.
Buy Purple Dots When You See Them
It would help if you grabbed as many as you can fit in your cart and buy them all. You can enjoy the items at home or resell them for more than you paid. Once the cashier rings you up, they will generally not allow you to return and grab more items for a penny. Stock up now!
Be a Good Person
Don’t throw a fit if you grab a handful of purple dots only to find they don’t ring up at the price you anticipated. Instead, explain to the cashier that you thought the items should be less money, and offer to reshelve the items. Don’t argue that something should be a penny if the cashier says it isn’t.
Besides offering you coupons and deals, the Dollar General app has a price scanner. Confirm the price of items throughout the store with your phone and the Dollar General app.
Are There Other Symbols at Dg?
Yes, Dollar General employs a variety of symbols and stickers to track and sort its goods. These include the following:
- Purple Dot
- Brown Dot
- Red Dot
- Pink Dot
- Pink Star
- Blue Dot
- Brown Diamond
- + others
Often, Dollar General runs sales based on these stickers. Brown Dots, for example, might be 50% off on a particular day, while Brown Diamonds could buy one get one free during a special promotion. Monitor store signage and the Dollar General website to stay apprised of all deals and play your shopping accordingly.
Other Codes at Dollar General
Some additional codes at Dollar General indicate an item’s season and year. They are as follows:
- SP – Spring
- SU – Summer
- FA – Fall
- WI – Winter
- 17 – 2017
- 18 – 2018
- 19 – 2019
- 20 – 2020
- 21 – 2021
- 22 – 2022
- 23 – 2023
Older and seasonal items are far more likely to be on sale or clearance, so knowing these codes is a great way to start bargain hunting.
Additional Ways To Save
If tracking down elusive Purple Dots seems like too much work and makes you feel like Captain Ahab chasing his white whale, don’t worry; there are many ways to enjoy terrific savings at your nearest Dollar General.
1. Enjoy Post-Holiday Savings
It’s no secret that once Christmas is over, all the Winter decorations, and other Christmas goods, go on a steep discount. Dollar General must eliminate as much of that inventory as possible to convert sales space to new merchandise. Dollar General’s loss is your gain – snatch up that reduced-price inventory and enjoy steep savings.
But Christmas isn’t the only holiday that sees markdowns on items after the holiday passes. Valentine’s day, Halloween, and the Fourth of July, are huge holidays that increase consumer spending on seasonal goods. So wait to shop until the day after the holiday to enjoy enormous discounts.
2. Use Coupons
Coupons are available on the Dollar General website. Using coupons while shopping at a bargain-priced store like Dollar General can result in massive savings. For example, Dollar General currently runs a good coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase available for use every Saturday. That’s up to 20% off of goods and merchandise.
3. Track Prices Through the Web and Apps
This may be the least glamorous way to save money on this least, but also the most effective.
Stores like Dollar General fluctuate their prices all the time. An item that was $10 yesterday might be $8 today. You can save significant moolah by knowing a store’s pricing and being ready to pounce when items go down in price.
4. Enroll in Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs have been around forever because they’re an excellent way for customers to enjoy increased savings. They also allow stores to encourage patrons to keep shopping there and enable them to accrue data about their shoppers.
Through loyalty programs, customers can earn points and or coupons. They may also receive notifications from the store about upcoming sales.
5. Avoid Impulse Shopping
Stores have tapped experts on human behavior to help them extract as much money from customers as possible. From strategically placed glossy magazines with beautiful people on the cover to gum and candy in the checkout aisle, retailers exist for one purpose – to make money.
And impulse purchases represent a sizeable boon for retailers. The goods are often individually packaged and overpriced. So if you grab a cold soda from the checkout for two dollars when a six-pack retails for three dollars, the retailer wins that transaction.
Bring a shopping list. Stick to the items on your list. Avoid buying things you don’t need.
Save Some Money at Dollar General
There you have it. You know what a Purple Dot is at Dollar General, and if you see one in the store, you’re ready to pounce.
We’ve also armed you with some terrific ways to enjoy additional savings at Dollar General. You’ll save even more money by using coupons, post-holiday shopping, tracking prices, enrolling in a store’s loyalty program, and avoiding impulse shopping.
