Big Lots

I love a bargain. I was looking for some decent-​quality, sturdy plastic tote boxes/​bins. I like the Rubbermaid brand Roughneck ones due to the big handles, thicker plastic, and snap-​on lids but they are expensive! Here, they’re $ 7.70 each. That’s $ 1 – 3 cheaper than the bulk pack from Lowes, Home Depot, or even Walmart. AND I didn’t have to wait for them to be shipped to me!
Big Lots sells closeout items and I got my Earth Boxes here last year for just $ 25. I’ve never had such success in my small garden! They also sell reconditioned items that have been repackaged and look like new, like vacuums. They DO sell furniture, décor, and household goods that appear to be manufactured specifically for them… but you’ll also find closeouts from Pier 1, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or Linens & Things on occasion.
The food section is pretty great. Lots of international items and a HUGE bargain for Bob’s Red Mill stuff. Sometimes the stuff is close to or past the best-​by date but this isn’t the norm. If it is past the best-​by date, it’s deeply discounted. I picked up 4-​packs of no-​sugar-​added applesauce this week for $ 1 each.
I have purchased curtains and curtain rods here as well. For the most part, I find the items to be higher quality than Walmart or Kmart but at lower prices.
Lots of seasonal items. If you’re looking to buy small trees, rosebushes, flowering shrubs, hostas, bulbs, etc. check out their selection. I bought some last year (on clearance even!) and they’re blooming again this year.
All in all, a great place to save some money on necessities and things you might want but don’t quite need.

The deals maybe be good, but good luck finding what you are looking for! It was as if a tornado had blown through every aisle, the staff had no idea where anything was located either. I was slightly concerned about people hanging in the parking lot, i.e. the man wondering between the cars, the man dodging in front of cars as they were trying to drive by the entry.

I have to admit it, but Neal’s review is spot on even though it’s canned. This location also is one of the largest Big Lots and has furniture. Their regular products that you can always find here: Spaghettios; A whole bunch of cereals that expire in six months or less; Oreos; Ruffies brand trash bags; A whole bunch of Latin American brand foods and flavor varieties not normally sold in the US; and SnoCaps! They also have a lot of cleaning products that tend to be of the more lower bargain end, but they also have lots of regular stuff here, like brand name brooms, mops and other cleaning supplies.
The service here is, in a word, craptastic. The people are friendly, but don’t want to be there, so they really don’t care. I once discovered that I whole display of mayonnaise was about two months beyond expiration, so I brought it to the attention to the cashier. She just acted like I told her that it’s cold outside in winter. Really?
The great bargains are holiday stuff after the holidays. I clean up on wrapping paper after Christmas every year. 50−80% off their already ridiculously low prices. Good prices on storage stuff too.
Also, the most comfortable piece of furniture I own is a couch I got from Big Lots Furniture back when that part of the store was in a separate location. So I actually take their furniture selection (and the fact they offer layaway) very seriously. It’s name brand, Simmons, although they are know more for mattresses than couches and chairs.
For more info, see Neal P.‘s review. That is all!

Okay, I’ve actually been here. But since this is a chain store, I’m going to basically cut/​paste my standard Big Lots review here.
I love Big LOTS! (And I cannot lie. You brothers can’t deny…”)
This store is cleaner than most other Big Lots stores.
Yeah, they have lots of cheap Asian junk, but you can also find BARGAINS GALORE on tools and household goods.
But what keeps me going back are the CLOSE-​OUTS of brand-​name or equivalent-​to-​brand-​name-​quali ty FOOD ITEMS. If something doesn’t sell well at major chain stores, the manufacturer still has to dump their warehouse full of stuff that the major chain stores don’t want anymore. And that’s where Big Lots comes in.
Granted, there is often a reason why something doesn’t sell at the big name chain stores and it ends up in a close-​out store. But sometimes the reason is not quality, it’s just the taste of the average buyer. And if you happen to be «odd» or a «discriminating consumer» (like me, ha-​ha) and like something that the majority doesn’ t like (which happens all the time to those of us who really do have good taste, snort, snort, :-), then you can sometimes find it at Big Lots for a GREAT PRICE! «OY VEY! SUCH A DEAL!»
So here’s my strategy: I shop the food aisles every week, try a little of something I might like, and if I like it, go back the next time and buy a LOT of it, because when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Are you a fan of Tuesday Morning? If so, Big Lots is the lower-​priced version of Tuesday Morning. I’ve sometimes seen the same things on sale for cheaper at Big Lots.
Caveats: #1: Check the expiration date of all food items before you put them in your cart. They are notorious for having out-​dated food. Most everything is fine, but every once in a while they have out-​dated product.
Note: I do not work at Big Lots, never have, and do not own stock in them. I just luuuuuuuuuuuuuv saving money!
Also, be aware that the actual products on the shelves will differ from store to store, because they sell out at different rates/​times.