Dollar Tree
Sometimes, you can find what you want there, but instead of going to the store, try looking at the Dollar Tree website, where you can buy things in bulk. Typically, you need to buy a case of 24 items.
If you need to try out the item, go to Dollar Tree locally, and they might have it.
Web Searches
Try searching for the item on Google or Bing. Usually, this will turn up sellers on three marketplaces: Ebay, Amazon, and WalMart. Generally, Ebay is going to be the cheapest, but sometimes, Amazon and Walmart end up being cheaper.
Marketplace sites are websites where thousands of independent vendors sell goods. The website is just the place where the vendors post ads. This is why you often see similar or duplicate ads. Also, most vendors try to post on Ebay as well as one of the others, because Ebay has the lowest fees and lowest barrier to entry – but they also have lower sales volume.
Other Marketplaces: Facebook, OfferUp, Buy Nothing groups, other apps
AliExpress or Temu
Some of the items sold on Ebay and Amazon are shipped from China. These are often based in China, and also sell on AliExpress. When you buy from AliExpress, you are taking a pretty big risk that the item is junk, and it’s not worth shipping back.
I once needed an audio cable with a mic, and bought five or six different ones, and found that two were very good, and one was okay, while the others were inadequate. Despite the bad ones, the overall cost per cable was something like $4, and I had three of them. I’ve been using them, wearing them out, for years.
Temu, Wish, and other apps also do the same, but put a layer of trust in there through the Temu or Wish company. However, it’s usually not worth doing a return.
Mom and Pop Dollar Stores
They don’t limit their prices to a dollar, but they are pretty cheap, and sometimes have great products.
For example, I am a loyal Kingman Tape fan, and the only places where it’s sold are mom and pop dollar stores. It’s not the cheapest tape, but it’s the best.
These stores are supplied by local wholesalers. In Los Angeles, I know of JC Sales, and 4 Seasons General Merchandise.
The shop owners also buy things from other sources, like bulk item auctions, closeout auctions, and other sources. I once got a $7 bottle of lock lube for something like $2. It was in a box of random “toolbox” items.
They may even put items up for sale that they bought for themselves, and didn’t like. For example, I once bought an opened and resealed bag of almonds. I assumed the family got them, didn’t like them, and decided to sell them for 2/3 of retail, to recover some cash.
Once I figure out which shops operate like this, I patronize them more, because they’ll have the most random things, but it’s a treasure hunt. If they’re the right things, you can save an easy 30% off of retail.