Grocery prices Canada: Item from Dollarama ends up on Superstore shelf — with much lower price
With Canadian shoppers increasingly looking for deals on everyday items, a Reddit post highlights the difference in prices at Dollarama vs. big-box stores
A photo posted to Reddit that shows a pack of paper towel rolls with a Dollarama sticker and price being sold at a Real Canadian Super Superstore has people online wondering how that could have happened.
The image, which was posted to the subreddit Loblaws Is Out of Control, shows a six-pack of paper towel rolls, with a green Dollarama price tag of $4.50. It was placed on a shelf with paper towels being sold for $9.99.
“Can someone tell me why this paper towel has a $4.50 Dollarama price tag but is on the shelves at Superstore for $9.99,” the original poster SurreptitiousSquash asked.
Loblaws: 'Appears to be' a customer service error
A representative from Loblaws told Yahoo Canada that it looks like the Dollarama paper towel ended up at the Superstore as a result of human error.
“It appears to be an error where a customer service representative incorrectly accepted a return for an item not purchased at our store,” they said in an email.
A spokesperson for Dollarama said they couldn’t speculate on what could have happened but confirmed that “Dollarama’s products are intended for end users and not for resale.”
Prices at Dollarama vs. big-box stores like Superstore, Loblaws
The post, which garnered more than 3,000 upvotes and 500 comments, also raised questions about the discrepency in pricing between the two retailers.
In light of inflation and the steady incline in grocery prices, many online have compared the price differences between Loblaws and Dollarama.
In May, Toronto vlogger Johnny Strides compared the prices of 13 products at Dollarama and Loblaws, including Lay’s ketchup chips, salt and Pepsi. He found that out of the 13 items, Loblaws only had one that was cheaper in comparison to Dollarama — garbage bags.
When a Reddit post went viral in June showcasing a 166-millilitre bottle of Aveeno baby cream being sold for $5 at Dollarama compared to $18.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart, food pricing expert Sylvain Charlebois explained why.
“The product selection at Dollarama is curated to focus on high turnover items and essentials, often in smaller package sizes, with few options,” he told Yahoo Canada at the time. “This helps reduce waste and keep prices low. They also stock overstock or close-out items from other stores, which can be bought at a discount and sold cheaply. While Dollarama does offer many essential items at low prices, their inventory can be inconsistent.”
Canada reacts: Eagle-eyed commenters spot difference in product
Many in the 500 comments speculated on what could have happened for a paper towel package with a Dollarama sticker and price to end up on a Superstore shelf. Some wondered if the mixup was the result of the manufacturer, while others suspected it was a mistaken return.
“Customers may have returned it and staff overlooked,” “Magicphobic wrote. “I had someone return (Walmart brand) Great Value chips once. I approved it. When I went to put it on the shelf, I realized I work at Sobeys. People make mistakes.”
Another commenter pointed out that the Dollarama paper towels were for six regular rolls, while the price advertised by Superstore was for six jumbo rolls, which means they were not the same product.
“The $9.99 price tag is for 6 jumbo rolls,” commenter AJnbca wrote. "But the Dollarama one says 6 regular size rolls in a green circle, with a Dollarama price tag. So the barcode wouldn’t be the same so I doubt it would ring up as $9.99."
