99 Cents Only Stores

I grew up in Oakland (you know, like ten years ago when everyone thought I must be a gangstaaaar or something but really I’m a nerdy, manga loving cheapskate) so I’m used to the shelves being sort of insane like a child was left alone for far too long but really it’s an adult who thought walking three steps to put something back was too much effort so they threw it on the ground and walked away. Yup. SO when I shop at this 99 cent store I’m delighted that most of the shelves are neat and in place (Even at 7 pm! When who knows what has been in that store.). The workers aren’t rude either. Tired? Yeah, wouldn’t you be? Rude? So far, haven’t experienced anything of the sort!
I actually grew up going to The Dollar Store (had a reaaaaally hard time differentiating them for a long time) and yes, I no longer lay in bed with both stores because 99 Cents Only Store is just so much better. There is FRESH produce. Mind you I didn’t start buying that until the last couple of months because I thought I would die but I didn’t! LOOK AT ME I’M OKAY. The celer-​aaaaye is great. The asparagus (which is $ 3.99 at my normal grocery store) is great. I haven’t tried the other stuff though, will let you know in the future.
The hair supply items are also great. They have Vidal Sasoon, sometimes coconut oil (That stuff did WONDERS to my hair), that hair band brand that sounds like it’s something you’d get in the back of a massage parlor, L’oreal, and other great things that cost two to eight times as much in the store. Some of the makeup is great too, although you have to make sure it isn’t really old.
Don’t be an idiot though, it’s still a cheap store filled with food and makeup that were rejected for minor reasons, wouldn’t sell or were close to due date when they got them. When I was tired and shopping here I did buy an overdue box of those little rolls of chocolate with the white swirl. I still ate them. They were just a week over due when I did so, I think. (Which is why it gets one star off!)

Ridiculous! This place discriminates cash & EBT users! EBT users had to pay more than people who uses cash. In addition, the employee (Lisa) has a completely rude attitude.

Actually it’s not bad. There is not much items like other branches but i like it because it’s very close to the bart.

99 cents only store here deserves at least 4 store cuz:
–produce dept. in front, good selection
–security guard on duty (or at least standing at front door)
–lots of sugar loaded candy at check out stand (for the kiddies)
–ice cream also at the front
–usual departments are also here.
–parking in the back
–lots of inventory on shelves
2 stars cuz:
–people cut ahead of you.
–check out stand has no conveyor belt
–people don’t drive in straight lines here.
–store cramped. older store.
buys:
–reading glasses, lots of selections.
–wonka «runts»
don’t i will return.

I love this place. Ever since this store opened I was there almost everyday. I have found to cut my grocery budget in half most of the time. I miss not going there that often since I moved from Oakland to San Francisco. But every chance I get I try to stop by and see whats new.

It’s 99 Cents Only. The processed food is toxic, and the plastic products have lead in them. But that’s a given. Two things I noticed here:
1. They sell produce! It’s actually not that bad! I’m poor.
2. There is a beautiful girl who work (s?)(ed?) here whose name is only listed as Biscuit on her nametag. God, I wish my name were Biscuit.

This place was convenient for me, for I was lucky enough to find a parking spot and had enough time to catch a train to SF, so I went here to purchase some nail clippers I could put on my keys. All I could find were ones that were in a pack of other naily-​type things (which I did not need), but I came for some damn clippers and I wasn’t going to leave without a pair. I’ve been here a few times before and it’s not so bad. I’ve been to better 99 cent stores — and by that I mean by the same company, so this one is alright. They have a security guard posted in front of the door, so I guess you can feel safe. I really only come here when I’m too lazy to go elsewhere for toilet paper or paper plates. They don’t really have a lot of the candy that I like so I don’t come here for that. Overall it’s alright. It’s not a place I drive out of my way to come to though.

I usually come here to pick up odds and ends for meals, things for the house, etc. Things I need quickly, since I live only a few blocks away.
Their products are pretty legit… I’ve bought lettuce from here that was decent… and it was only a dollar! However, the can opener I bought from here broke a day after I opened it and used it for the first time.
I could also do without the slow checkout times and the rude cashiers. Not all, but a few of them can make your experience kinda off.

I once found FRESHLY made pasta. It was made (I forgot the makers) in Oakland too. If that doesn’t say anything then venture in this place early in the morning when everything is still there and I bet you’ll stay for at least an hour browsing.
I think the funniest thing I’ve bought from them were thongs. After I got over my laughter in seeing them I took a closer look, found that I LIKED them and took most of them home with me.

I lagged after posting about the guacamole and some sly hipster went in and bought the rest of it that very day. Dammit! This is why it’s dangerous to post… Thanks a lot Unilocal

I came looking for Cayenne Pepper, personal size watermelons, drain cleaner, sink strainers 3 pack of different sizes, cheese cloth, bargains, just be prepared for a long slow checkout, come early when they open at 8am.

I got a case of frozen organic goji berries here — 1 lb packs were $ 1. (gone now)
A lot of perfectly god stuff for way less, so I pop in once in a while.
Avoid baked goods-​nearly all have partly hydogenated/​trans fat. Why buy so-​called green d/​w detergent like seventh generation for 3x the price when the stuff here has the exact same ingredients down to the recycled packaging, except its made nearby, not in Canada.
–1 for the sketchy ‘hood, but hey, where do you expect to find a $ store, Pacific Heights?

They sell produce here!
Go on and let that sink in. I said PRODUCE.
I didn’t want to trust it & I don’t [even though I did buy a bag of big, delicious, plump lemons]. My pal from the city was with me and she was jealous that there was nothing like this in SF.
Well you got that right sister, this is West Oakland, and boy did it live up to everything you think of when you think West Oakland.
It’s amazing how much bullshit I will put up with for items that cost only $ 1. Screaming babies, rude shoppers, messy store, narrow aisles, a janky shopping cart that we had to pick up and literally pivot to turn corners, long lines, crackheads… you name it, I withstood the pain to get my $ 1 items. I even bought my friend one of her birthday gifts right in front of her here.
You tell me you need new wine glasses. guess what? They have em for a $ 1 here… and they’re nice! She was pleased.
This place was just beaming with an intense cheaposity that I love and hate all in one. Go here, bring 10 bucks and go home with a bag full of wonderful.

I’m a 5 Star fan of 99 Cents Only Stores as a whole, but this location…
… only gets 4 stars. Why? Crackhead factor.
But still! I love these stores!!!
I’m going there today, actually. GREAT values!
They even sometimes have vegetarian foods (and alwyas have imported, cool luxury food items).
For a cleaner/​safer location, consider the San Leandro or even better the Richmond location.

Gotta give it up to a store that fits in with «this economy (™).» Conceptually, I’m a big fan of the $ 0.99 retail model, particularly because they really stick to their guns and everything really *is* less than a dollar.
On the other hand, some of their stuff is tragic crap, or just scary if you’re even remotely conscious of things like «design/​production standards molded plastics and metals.» The sharp tang of off-​gassing plastics coming from the «tupperware» aisle terrifies me.
On the other hand, for really basic crap like toenail clippers, pliers, etc, I mean, that stuff’s just fine. How good do your toenail clippers have to be, really?
Food ranges from awesome and appealing to horrifying and dangerous. One time I went in and they had half an aisle full of Kern’s guava nectars – stuff must’ve fallen off a truck. Pringles show up frequently, as well.
But then there’s the unknown brand names of bizarre flavors. Dammit, I wish I could remember what one was, but they frequently pair cinnamon with something strange – like «cinnamon & nopales corn chips.» Maybe I’m just not culturally flexible enough, but that sounds disgusting!
And then there’s the produce. I can feel my genes mutating just walking through the produce aisle.
Hey, it’s an adventure every time I stop in. Frankly, 50% of the time I walk out of there empty-​handed because they didn’t have anything that was *worth* $ 0.99, but I usually stop by whenever I’m leaving West Oakland BART – why not, I say to myself… why not.

I have to say I was a little dissapointed in the selection at this 99c location. I’ve been shopping at 99c and Only stores for some years now, so I’m pretty familiar with their «offerings» if you will. I was shocked to find out that they didn’t have a dish drainer, baking soda, trash cans, shower caddy and nails. Funny thing is when I asked the Chinese lady for nails, she took me to the «press on nails» for fingers. I was thinking: No fucking way. LMFAO! So, I told her «No, not those. The nails you hammer into a wall. Nails for the wall. To hang stuff» She finally go it, and like I said they didn’t have em’.
However, I did get tons of kitchen utensils, like spoons, a laddle, a spatula, a cheese slicer, kitchen scissors, etc. I also got a 3pk of Extra Fresh Burst Tropical gum, so I can’t complain.
I mean it is the freakin 99c store so I should probably lower my standards next time…

The best thing about the 99¢ Only is that they have a framed copy of Andreas Gursky’s photograph «99 cent» hanging above the canned soup section. Every time I walk in I am forced to confront my ideas of the relationship between subject and artist, commerce and art.
It’s pretty hit or miss for food. A lot of what they get was stuff that didn’t sell elsewhere. Be aware that the dairy is all close to expiring, and the produce should generally be consumed within three days… except the lettuce for some reason… but I digress.
Their periodic shortages of things I want (like eggs, peanut butter, and coconut milk) forces me to keep changing my eating habits, and is doing wonders for my cooking skills. I just wish they were open later.

I’m not cheap. I’m frugal.
Actually, there are parts of me that can be exceedingly cheap, if I’m honest.
On Friday after work, my ride was to pick me up at the West Oakland BART station, and he was 10 – 15 minutes late — sigh. I decided to walk over to the 99 cent store across from BART thinking to browse. Then I remembered that I am supposed to make taco soup for a potluck dinner today, so I wandered over to the cans and picked up some diced green chiles. Lo and behold, the 99 store had it (for 59 cents, no less)! I also picked up some other random things — lemon cookies, sour candy, etc. I walked out spending about $ 3 in 15 minutes, just in time to meet up with my (late) ride.
Side note, I steered clear of the meat and produce section, though I saw several people who seemed excited about the selection (and honestly, it seemed OK — hot dogs, lettuce, etc all for 99 cents). There is also a decent selection of the kid birthday party favor bag stuff (High School Musical markers resembling microphones, Lighting McQueen or Batman rulers, etc.), household gear (extension cords, light bulbs), and beauty items (nail polish, hair brushes and the like).
Would I go out of my way to shop here? No way. I’ve been to much more organized dollar stores. Yet, this 99 Cent store sure beats standing in the cold waiting for my ride!
And the cheap girl in me got her fix.

This store is right in my neighborhood. I love that they carry fruit and vegetables, though the quality varies greatly. I always seem to find decent tomatoes, and if I’m just going to use it for dinner that same night, it’s a great bargain.
Tons of generic juices and colas. Also you really can’t beat the deal you get buying the majority of your canned items here, plus they have a really large selection.
I approve!

5 stars for a dollar store?! Let me tell you why:
There is nothing closer to a grocery store in all of West Oakland than this. That point alone fills such a deep void. Every other store in the neighborhood is a liquor store, and I do not need to be making my way past a bunch of thugs and broken glass on the ground to get some food, and I really don’t think that all that liquor contributes in any positive way to the safety of the neighborhood. That’s why I have to go out of the area (see my reviews for Alameda TJ’s and Emeryville Pak n Save). I didn’t see any liquor at the 99 cents store! Woohoo! We don’t need it! Besides, you probably wouldn’t even want to drink liquor that only costs 99 cents, it’s probably dog piss.
And they have what we DO need: a little bit of produce, staples like bread, eggs, milk, sugar, canned pantry items, non-​alcoholic beverages, and regular household stuff, like ziploc bags, cleaning products, toiletries, and the like.
Everything really is 99 or less (I like the «or less» part especially). This is my favorite thing to buy there: organic pureed pumpkin for my dog Dango. He loves pumpkin, and it makes dogs’ stomachs feel better. It is 2 cans for 99 cents here! I can’t believe it! TJ’s is easily triple the price! I just got two cases of pumpkin for $ 12! (yep, I stocked up)
Other hits: thick sliced bread for French toast, a big pack of green onions, chocolate soy milk, ziploc bags (for real, ziploc brand!), all 99 cents a pop. So cheap, so good. Amazing.
What else is nice, you actually see diversity here: whites, blacks and asians all working in the same store, and the same diversity in customers, with some Latino thrown in too!
And before I forget, they have a parking lot, and their shopping carts lock up when you go too far (great for the neighborhood; discourages more bums wheeling shopping carts around). This is a store that serves the neighborhood well: good prices, good product, excellent location, friendly staff.