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[Closed] What's the best and worst things you've ever bought from the £1 shop

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Was cleaning the BBQ with my £1 shop 3in1 bbq cleaning tool yesterday when I realised this must be its third season, still going strong. Wire brushes still effective, blade still sharp, no rust. It struck me that I really had got my moneys worth with that one.

If I had to pick a worst, it would be the foldaway rucksack that I bought thinking I was clever for avoiding the 10p charge on the carrier bag, but the stitching was coming away by the time I got to the car.

I know this is STW, but there must be a few here who stoop so low as to make use of the £1 shop. What's your best and worst £ shop purchases.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:34 pm
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Condoms....
Khani, father of 12.. 🙁


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:35 pm
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The 50p i bought was pretty disappointing.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:37 pm
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http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/24559/trying-out-the-films-of-poundland

http://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/poundland-blu-rays/39087/the-blu-rays-of-poundland

😀

ive got some 1L pink mucoff rip off, not used it yet in case it takes off all my paint too tbh


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:38 pm
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Best: Squished M&S coffee cake
Worst: A torch, it was crap


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:39 pm
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My daughter wanted a pair of earbuds for her iPod. Awful. I realise there are stereophiles here who will claim that unless you have a squillion pound headphones then all quality is awful but barely being able to recognise the tune was a new low.

Good - a pack of Wasabi peas. Sinuses like they'd been jetwashed after that lot.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:39 pm
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Best: iPhone 6s case- emergency purchase and protected the phone well whilst I waited for the otterbox to arrive.

Worst: Headphones- sounded like I was trying to listen to music next door through the wall, then one ear broke and then the second kept cutting out. This was after 2 minutes use. Died after 3 minutes, because I got very angry.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:40 pm
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Best: Haribos. There's something very satisfying about turning up at the counter with 5kg of haribo. (I like it when they still offer you 3 packets of chocolate for a pound at the counter, "doesn't look like you have quite enough sugar there sir..."

Worst: random things that just don't work. A CD drive cleaner was the last one.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:40 pm
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ive got some 1L pink of mucoff rip off

Me too. Half way through the bottle. All good so far!!


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:41 pm
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a token for a shopping trolley shaped the size of a pound coin, it cost me a pound.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:41 pm
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Some small pincer snips 14 years ago, very useful for cutting cable ties


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:51 pm
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Some small pincer snips 14 years ago, very useful for cutting cable ties

Hang on.. That's cheating!

That would be £1.49 in today's money. Of course they would be superior quality!


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:53 pm
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Best - chocolate.
Worst - aftershave.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 3:58 pm
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About a hundred brandy snaps. Real chewy ones. Lovely.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:00 pm
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A file that the handle came off in use and the exposed metal spike jabbed me in the squishy bit between two fingers. Agonising!

*edit* Forgot the best thing! It was a really long screwdriver that performed a multitude of tasks, crow-bar, chisel, paint lid lever, wire-fence tensioner, etc. Never for screwing things though, far too long for that.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:03 pm
 DezB
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A baking tray. And a ton of cheap AA batteries to put in Xmas toys.

Worst was a chicken sandwich, not very pleasant.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:10 pm
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2m x 1m tarp with eyelets, Handy for lots of things.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:18 pm
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Best: their cheap muck-off

Worst: pretty much anything else, the sellotape is particularly abysmal.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:25 pm
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Reading glasses.....the're as good as the prescription ones I have and quite stylish! 8)

Can't think of anything bad....its all good!


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:25 pm
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Best - batteries those Kodak ones are reet.

Worst - oh so many to choose from. I never learn. Mainly tools though, and hairy paint brushes that make your window sills look like they are moulting.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:37 pm
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best - 2x1m bungee cords with a carribena at either end. Incredibly useful.

worst - batteries. (At least) 24 pack of AAs. At least 75% were DOA.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 4:53 pm
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Best,
Tempered glass screen for iPhone .
Lasted 2 weeks longer than the £12.99 version I bought elsewhere.

Worst, set of spanners. Jaws opened first time I used them ( I knew they would be crap, but not that crap)


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 5:09 pm
 pb2
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The trolly, mind you I had be off smartish 😀


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 5:59 pm
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The batteries are mostly shitey zinc btw, usually a false economy


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 6:03 pm
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Broken chocolate fingers - a freakin' massive bag of them. They were actually cadburys and included white and their double layered offerings.

Obscenely good value and weirdly, never broken.

You get fat quick mind you.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 6:05 pm
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Best :- smyths bscon and scampi fries multi pack , oh and frys chocolate creams...

Worst :- batteries.. Last 5 minutes


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 7:58 pm
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Best = reading glasses

Worst = bag of assorted wine gums, lovely taste, but they worked like Picolax, for 3 days.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 8:14 pm
 ctk
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Best: 2 (or was it 3?) cans of coconut water
Best: A Hotwheels Lancia Stratos (for my kids obviously)

Worst: Some protein energy bar, tasted OK but I actually had to stop riding to concentrate on chewing the ****er! Like Toffee


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 8:26 pm
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Best: A remote control that lets you take photos on your phone hands free.
Second best: a mini remote control skateboard I sellotaped my work mates phone to, I then 'drove' his phone round the office taking photos on the remote and putting the phone back on his desk without him knowing.

Worst: some deodorant that gave me a rash


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 9:31 pm
 nuke
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Retractable micro USB cables...bought lots and they all still work and means when I'm not charging devices on a 4-way multi usb, the cables aren't everywhere


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 9:42 pm
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We needed to get some presents for the maids when we went to Cuba as money tips are useless to them and certain stuff they just can't get.
Got a load of medical stuff ,plasters,tablets etc which we found later all cheaper in Boots.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 9:49 pm
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Best: vajazzle kit for secret Santa
Worst: washing up liquid - no bubbles


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 9:52 pm
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£1 gift voucher for a present surely the best purchase?


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:00 pm
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khani - Member
Condoms....
Khani, father of 12..

May as well have ended the thread on post #2! Made me laugh like a drain! 😮


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:13 pm
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Best, Terry chocolate Oranges (though you now find them for a £1 in Lidls and Asda so no longer such a bargain)

Worst was a tungsten masonry drill bit. On first use I thought it was working well as the drill rapidly moved towards the wall. On checking how deep I had gone I noticed the surface was barely marked and the drill bit was now an inch shorter 🙂


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:17 pm
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Best - I phone 5 screen saver, 2 for a £1. I had just got the phone and I'm clumsy so just got them till I could get a " proper " one but it's as good as any from a phone shop.

Worse - anything tool related.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:37 pm
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I bought a small wheelie bag from the Pound Plus shop in Macclesfield, but haven't used it as it had been steeped in a hideous chemical that absolutely stank the whole house out!
Best purchase was a red washing up bowl.


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:46 pm
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Worst.. sandpaper... the sand isnt actually attached to the paper so just falls off when you trying sanding. Also most £1 tools are pretty much made of cheese.

Best.. cable ties and throw away paint brushes


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 10:52 pm
 Earl
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pink exercise rubber band - for rotator cuff rehab


 
Posted : 08/08/2016 11:28 pm
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Best: Sun screen
Worst: plastic clothes pegs (they fall assist if left in the sun)


 
Posted : 09/08/2016 2:10 pm
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The batteries are mostly shitey zinc btw, usually a false economy

Look again, there are alkalines there with more than acceptable performance - Kodak and Sony usually (there are crappy Kodak ones too that last about from the checkout to the door)


 
Posted : 09/08/2016 9:39 pm
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I have been buying rechargeable batteries from there as well recently. The charge doesn't last as long as the more expensive ones, but that's a blessing when they are being used in the kids toys


 
Posted : 10/08/2016 9:22 am
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One and only purchase was some tie wraps which actually broke while tightening them. I mean who breaks tie wraps with their bare hands


 
Posted : 10/08/2016 9:25 am
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Best: circlip pliers. Made of cheese but bargain at £1 and just the picket for work i was doing on the car
Worst: circlip pliers. Made of cheese, tip snapped off the 2nd time i used them and took me ages to retrieve the broken bit.

I mean who breaks tie wraps with their bare hands

Bears


 
Posted : 11/08/2016 5:03 am