If you’re ready to hunt hidden treasures and score unbeatable deals, you’re in the right place. Welcome to your ultimate Dollar General Penny Shopping Guide. Every Tuesday, Dollar General quietly drops the price of select discontinued or seasonal items down to just ONE CENT. Yes, you read that right — just $0.01! This guide will walk you through the updated May 2025 penny list, insider tips for success, and everything you need to become a true penny shopping pro.
What Are Penny Items at Dollar General?
Penny items at Dollar General are products that have been marked down to $0.01 as part of the store’s clearance and inventory removal process. These items are usually discontinued products that have already gone through multiple markdowns, often reaching 90% off or more, before dropping to a penny. The $0.01 price signals that the item should be pulled from shelves, but when items are missed, shoppers may still find and purchase them. Penny items are not advertised, vary by store, and typically update on Tuesdays, making in-store scanning with the Dollar General app essential to confirm the price.
These items become a penny because of how the point-of-sale (POS) system works at many major retailers, including Dollar General. When a product is discontinued or scheduled to be removed from inventory, the system automatically marks it down to $0.01 as a signal that it should no longer be sold and needs to be pulled from the sales floor. The penny price isn’t meant to be a promotion — it’s an internal indicator for store staff. However, if an item isn’t removed in time, the POS system will still ring it up for $0.01 at checkout, allowing shoppers to purchase it for a penny.
How Do I Know What Items Are a Penny?
The best way to know which items are penny items is by following trusted penny list updates. These lists are typically available before penny pricing goes live, often several days in advance. From Thursday through Monday, stores receive internal lists instructing employees to remove certain discontinued items from shelves. Over time, content creators and bloggers have learned how to track these changes and share the information so shoppers can be prepared. At Crazy For Couponing, we post the penny list as soon as we receive it, giving you a head start to check your store bright and early on Tuesday morning. Be sure to bookmark this page and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ImCrazyforCouponing so you never miss an update.
How Will I Know If an Item Is a Penny While I’m in the Store?
The only way to confirm whether an item is truly a penny item is by scanning it in the Dollar General app while you’re in the store. Shelf tags and clearance stickers are often outdated, so scanning is essential. When you scan the item, the price will show as $0.01 or sometimes $0.00 in the app. It’s also important to compare the UPC code on the product with the penny list, as even small differences in size, scent, or packaging can change the price. If the UPC doesn’t match exactly, the item will not ring up as a penny.
The only reliable way to confirm a true penny price in the Dollar General app is by scanning the item directly from the app’s home screen. This is the only place where the app reflects the real, in-store price tied to the barcode. Do not rely on the “Your List” section or saved lists to identify penny items, as those lists can sometimes display items as $0.01 for other reasons, such as the item being out of stock or unavailable at your selected store. Always scan the physical product from the front page of the app to verify whether it is truly a penny item before heading to checkout.
What to Do at Checkout & Can They Refuse a Sale?
When you reach checkout with penny items, stay calm and polite. According to Dollar General policy, items that are on the sales floor and scan in the system are supposed to be sold, even if they ring up for $0.01. However, some managers may still refuse the sale. If this happens, politely ask if the policy has changed. If they continue to say no, it’s best to respect their decision and move on. Calling corporate often results in the store being flagged for not pulling penny items, which usually leads to stores becoming much more aggressive about removing them — making future penny finds far less likely. Staying respectful helps keep penny shopping opportunities available for everyone.
What NOT to Say at Checkout
When checking out with penny items, avoid announcing that the items are supposed to be a penny or mentioning that you found them on a penny list. Do not tell the cashier that corporate policy requires them to sell the item, and never argue or demand a manager right away. Avoid saying things like “other stores sell these” or “I’m calling corporate,” as this can immediately shut down the transaction and create tension. Penny shopping works best when you stay low-key, polite, and respectful — the less attention you draw to the price, the smoother checkout usually goes.
Penny Shopping Etiquette
Penny shopping can be exciting, but it’s important to shop respectfully. Always be kind and patient with store employees — they do not control pricing or penny lists and are simply doing their jobs. Avoid drawing unnecessary attention to penny items by announcing prices in-store or posting photos while shopping. If an item rings up for a penny, purchase it calmly and do not argue if a store chooses not to sell it, as penny items are technically supposed to be removed from the sales floor. Clean up after yourself while scanning and searching, and never open packaging or leave messes behind. Remember, respectful shoppers help ensure penny shopping continues to be possible for everyone.
Common Penny Shopping Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes shoppers make is not scanning items and assuming a product is a penny just because it’s on clearance. Shelf tags and stickers are often outdated, so always scan items in the Dollar General app to confirm the price. Another common issue is not matching the UPC code exactly — even small differences in size, scent, flavor, or packaging can cause an item to ring up at full price instead of a penny. Shoppers also miss deals by going too late in the day; penny items typically drop on Tuesday mornings, and popular items are often gone quickly. Finally, many people forget to check multiple areas of the store, including endcaps, clearance sections, freezer and cooler areas, and mixed shelves, where penny items are often overlooked.
Look Out For Item Resets
It’s common for shoppers to notice that an item which rang up as a penny one week is suddenly back to full price, even though it’s the same item with the same UPC. This happens because penny pricing is not permanent. Dollar General’s system can reset discontinued items back to regular price if they are reactivated, moved to a different planogram, or included in a reset or inventory adjustment. Penny status is controlled entirely by the store’s system and can change without notice, which is why it’s important to scan items every time you shop and never assume an item is still a penny just because it was one the week before.
Why Sectional Resets Lead to Penny Items
Sectional resets at Dollar General happen when specific areas of the store are reorganized to make room for new products. During a reset, certain items are discontinued and marked down through clearance until some eventually drop to $0.01, becoming penny items. These penny prices signal that the products should be removed from the sales floor, but when items are missed, shoppers may still find them available. Resets typically occur in phases, focusing on individual sections such as frozen foods, seasonal aisles, or home categories, and not all stores reset at the same time. Because many resets are handled by third-party companies like Driveline, timing can vary by location, which is why penny shoppers check stores weekly and scan items in the Dollar General app to catch penny deals as they happen.
Dollar General Penny Shopping – Questions & Answers
What is a penny item at Dollar General?
A penny item is a discontinued product that has been marked down to $0.01 in Dollar General’s system. The penny price is used to signal that the item should be removed from the sales floor, but if it’s still available, customers may be able to purchase it.
When do penny items usually drop?
Most penny items drop on Tuesday mornings, though some clearance events, such as freezer resets, may penny in stages over several Mondays. Timing can vary by store.
How do I know if an item is really a penny?
The only accurate way to confirm a penny item is by scanning the product from the Dollar General app’s home screen while you’re in the store. Shelf tags and saved lists are not reliable.
Why does my list show an item as a penny but it doesn’t scan for $0.01?
Items in your list may show as a penny due to being out of stock or unavailable at your store. Always scan the physical item from the front page of the app and match the UPC code exactly.
Do penny items show up on shelf tags?
No. Penny items often still have regular or clearance shelf tags. Scanning in the app is essential to verify the price.
Can Dollar General refuse to sell penny items?
Dollar General policy states that items on the sales floor that scan should be sold. However, some managers may refuse. If that happens, politely ask if the policy has changed. If they still refuse, it’s best to move on.
Should I call corporate if a store won’t sell penny items?
Calling corporate often results in the store being flagged for not pulling penny items, which usually leads to stores removing penny items more aggressively in the future. This can reduce penny shopping opportunities overall.
Where are penny items usually found?
Penny items can be found anywhere in the store, including clearance sections, endcaps, seasonal aisles, freezer and cooler sections, and mixed shelves.
Why do penny items vary by store?
Penny pricing depends on inventory, reset schedules, and whether items were removed in time. This is why one store may have penny items while another does not.
How do I stay updated on penny lists?
Follow trusted penny list sources. At Crazy For Couponing, we post penny lists as soon as we receive them, often earlier than most. Bookmark this page and follow us on Facebook for updates.
