Ocean State Job Lot

I’ve shopped OSJL’s for easily 20 years. Always assumed, «Why pay more?» I used to buy wrapping paper and greeting cards at a discount there. Last week I bought 2 cards and when I got home, I saw I paid Full price! A call to the store confirmed cards are full price. Why carry them if they are not discounted?

I’m surprised I never reviewed this place– because being on my direct commute home, I’ve been here dozens of times.
All Ocean States aren’t created equal. Some are new and spiffy while some are run down and tired looking. Some are neat as a pin and some look like a landfill after an earthquake. Some have polite and personable workers, while some have unsmiling grunting cavemen.
This OSJL scores a solid middle of the road.
They are usually pretty good at stocking the Internet Coupon shelf adequately, but it seems that whenever I go I have a coupon for something that is mysteriously not on the shelf.
I’ve gotten some pretty good prices on toys for Christmas donations and audiobooks here. They have a decent school supply and stationary section here, and I’ve bought some bargain priced erasable markers here for the whiteboard at work. I get clothes once in a blue moon– some good prices on golf shirts and a jacket once in a while.
I usually buy items from their food department, and that’s where most of my money goes. Six packs of Polar beverages for like $ 2, and great prices on snacks like Pop Chips and the like. They have really good prices on all sorts of foil pans and disposable razors. Yes, very eclectic indeed.
Shopping here is like going on a treasure hunt, its different every time.
For the most part the help is OK, some being better than others.

As I sit here in my cozy new fleece-​lined leggings, tonight’s $ 3.99 purchase from Ocean State Job Lot, I have to admit to being a fan of this wildly overwhelming bargain warehouse.
Still, it’s a bit of a hot mess, especially compared to other Job Lots in CT. This evening marked my first visit to the Bloomfield store. Venturing out into the 20 degree weather, I tagged along with a friend to buy a space heater and poke around the kitchenwares. Although many of the deals are fantastic (ahem, LEGGINGS — but more importantly, rugs, patio/​garden décor, kitchenwares), the store was a huge mess with items strewn all over the aisles. Seriously, no rhyme or reason. Hopefully it was just the awkward post-​holiday inventory transition, but this particular Job Lot needs to step up its game.

If you’ve never been to an Ocean State Job Lot let me tell you what you’ll find: cheap stuff, of all kinds. They have patio furniture, gardening equipment, clothes, pet supplies, housewares and food. One of my all time favorite purchases here was a zero gravity patio recliner. It was under $ 40, came in one (ugly green) color and it was so far the most comfortable Zero gravity chair I’ve sat in.
I seem to buy a patio umbrella there annually as well as cheapie gardening stuff. The quality of the items isn’t top notch but it’s inexpensive and I can always find something when I’m there. (including candy, such as dark chocolate covered almonds)
check it out!