Annemarie Conte, Deputy Editor at Wirecutter, shares insider tips on smart shopping at dollar stores, revealing which items are worth the buy. Chantal Fernandez from The Cut dives into the buzz around dupes, particularly focusing on the rise of Quince as a game-changer in affordable fashion. Together, they discuss consumer behaviors and strategies behind navigating the evolving landscape of budget shopping in a world of rising prices and online hype.
42:05
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Cake Carrier Disaster
Annemarie Conte's mom loves dollar stores, while Annemarie prioritizes quality.
Her mom's dollar store cake carrier broke, dropping Annemarie's cake.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Laundry Basket Breakdown
While writing about dollar stores, Annemarie's mom's laundry basket broke.
The taped-together basket's bottom fell out, proving her point about quality.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Dollar Store Don'ts
Avoid sharp objects, items that could damage possessions, or things for consumption at dollar stores.
Prioritize quality over price for items like peelers and graters.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Project Hail Mary', Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher, awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or his mission. He soon discovers that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save Earth from a microorganism called the Astrophage, which is threatening to cause a new ice age. As Ryland regains his memories, he encounters an alien named Rocky, and together they work to solve the scientific mystery and save their respective home planets. The story blends science, humor, and heart, exploring themes of survival, discovery, and unlikely friendships[1][3][5].
Not everything you buy from the dollar store is going to be a winner, and Wirecutter editor Annemarie Conte knows this firsthand. Today, Annemarie joins David to share tips for shopping smarter at these discounters, and which items you should probably leave on the shelf. Later, David investigates dupes — cheaper, nearly identical versions of popular products — with Chantal Fernandez of The Cut. Dupes are generating a lot of hype online, and as Chantal recently reported, no retailer has gotten more buzz than Quince. Find out how the brand operates, why it’s taken off, and whether it can last in this age of tariffs.
Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.
Business Wars 
