5 of the Best Discount Stores in Winnipeg
Who doesn’t love a good discount? With many stores offering quite an array of brands and products, it can be satisfying to shop for all the goods you want without breaking the bank.
Thanks to discount stores, you can now buy your favourite things for cheaper prices.
In this article, we reviewed different discount stores in Winnipeg to help you decide which one to go to. Let’s dive right in!
How much does it cost to shop at discount stores in Winnipeg?
Discount stores in Canada offer a wide selection of products ranging from food to household items, clothing, kids’ items, and automotive products.
Despite selling products for lower prices, discount stores across Winnipeg may offer different rates for the items they sell. In terms of discount range, expect stores to offer 20% up to 80% off the original retail prices.
Selecting the best discount stores in Winnipeg
For this review, we assessed each store based on the following criteria:
1. Surplus Direct
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| STORE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Easy to navigate | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| DEALS OFFERED | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Surplus Direct aims to provide high-end and quality brand products for cheaper prices.
From what we’ve found, it offers deals of 40% up to 70% on all items – we were able to find appliances, branded toys, home decor, and even sports equipment at great prices and stellar quality!
Patrons of this store highlight the wide selection of women’s clothing and baby items.
Given that baby and children’s clothes can be pricey, we appreciate Surplus Direct for offering cheaper alternatives for parents looking to shop for their kids without breaking their bank.
Another highlight of the store is that it carries stocks of clothing articles that have been discontinued at other shops.
Some even mentioned finding rare finds such as vintage accessories and household appliances.
The store’s lineup of fun and rare stuff makes it the perfect stomping ground for collectors and vintage enthusiasts.
Do note, however, that Surplus Direct’s food selection is quite limited – think pasta, drink powders, canned fruit, instant baking packs, and moon cakes.
That said, we don’t think that this place is suitable for grocery shopping as there aren’t that many fresh options available.
Most food items are also close to their expiry dates, so always double-check before adding any food item into your cart or basket and make sure you consume them quickly.
Pros
- Great place for buying clothes and baby items
- Carries discontinued items
- Feedback on store carrying rare and fun items
Cons
- Very limited food selection
- Reports on most food items being close to their expiry dates
Customer Reviews
A great place to shop for women’s clothes
“Lots of women’s clothes. I am happy that this place is so close in our home. People are asking where I get my clothes, and yes most are branded. LOL I got them cheap right here. It’s like Winners on clothes, like $2-$20 per item and some are $30-$50 and behind the counter are branded stuffs that are -50% to -70% less vs srp.” – G. Park
Offers deals for some discontinued items
“Incredible place to go to. Found an incredible deal on a pair of tights that were discontinued from Costco. It was a blessing.” – Erin
2. G&L Liquidation
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Easy to navigate | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| DEALS OFFERED | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
We recommend G&L Liquidation for ready-to-eat (RTE) goods. From what we’ve heard, this discount store offers up to 40% off bulk orders on cereals, chocolate snacks, coffee, biscuits, and chips.
We think that this place is the perfect place to find treats for birthday parties and Halloween giveaways.
Other than snacks and sweets, G&L also offer pantry staples such as sausages, cheese, cold cuts, dairy products, and yogurt.
We have to give it to this store in terms of food freshness as most of its food items are quite far from their expiry dates.
As for non-food items, this discount store also carries furniture and home decor items. We visited the shop and found couches, cabinets, coffee tables, ottomans, lamps, full-body mirrors, and drawers.
Should you decide to shop here, we’re pleased to share that the discount store accepts payments via cash, wire transfer, and Visa and MasterCard credit cards.
It’s just a tad disappointing to hear that the prices for furniture are a little too premium for a discount store.
For example, some of the couches are sold for $700 – which is already discounted – while other discount stores offer good-as-new ones for under $500, and secondhand ones for under $100.
Another thing we were a bit iffy about is hearing a few reports of some of the staff apparently being rude. Clients mentioned being shouted at and ignored after they asked where items were located.
Pros
- Carries a wide array of food items
- Has an impressive aray of furniture and home decor
- Accepts different credit cards
Cons
- Feedback on furniture prices being hefty
- Reports on some staff being rude
Customer Reviews
Carries an awesome selection of groceries for great prices
“Great place to shop! Whenever I go to G & L, I consistently find that no one can beat their pricing. Not only do they have name brand clothing but they have an awesome selection of groceries at a low price. Friendly staff and whenever I call, they always answer my questions. Would definitely recommend to others!” – Megan Boner
The best discount store for food
“It has lots of random things and a pretty good selection of food, that’s constantly changing. Occasionally, I leave empty handed, but then, sometimes, I buy 24 boxes of 50% off S’Mores flavoured cereal and live like a king for the week.” – Scott Green
3. Giant Tiger
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| > Easy to navigate | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 |
| DEALS OFFERED | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
Giant Tiger is another chain of discount stores that has more than one branch within Winnipeg.
We find them having more than one branch quite convenient as shoppers can simply go to the one nearest them and enjoy scoring great deals without having to compete with as many fellow shoppers.
The store lineup includes clothing, toys, home decor, baking goods, lighting fixtures, and Halloween items.
We love their vast selection of household items ranging from furniture pieces to carpets, drapes, lamps, decorative trinkets, appliances, cookware, glassware, and storage.
That said, we’re just iffy that the inside of the stores is a little cramped. We found most aisles too narrow for shoppers to roam around freely and conveniently.
We think that the discount store’s management should consider rearranging the store to make it more manageable to navigate.
On a brighter note, we love that the store is clean, organised, and well-lit, making it a bit easier to explore.
Another strong point of Giant Tiger is that it offers in-store item refunds to buyers as long as they present their official receipts.
We were happy to learn that refunds can be claimed in any of the discount store’s branches, and customers aren’t given time limits to get their refunds!
A downside though is that this store has limited deal offers on some items. Also, some discounts are actually quite meagre, one example being $0.99 off a fall-themed couch pillow that originally sold for $12.99.
Pros
- Multiple branches in Winnipeg
- Store is clean, organised, and well-lit
- Refunds can be claimed at all branches and have no time limits
Cons
- Small and cramped space
- Limited deal offers on some items
- Meagre discounts
Customer Reviews
Great store with pet items
“Bought pillows from here, and as you can see, my dog loves them almost as much as I do. We also picked him up a squeaky toy for super cheap, that he loves just as much! The staff was helpful too, and the store wasn’t insanely busy so it was a quick in and out!” – Katie Rimmer
Thankful for the nice and friendly staff
“Just awesome staff and my first return item to Giant Tiger, hassle free as I’m hesitant about returns in general, and fabulous cashier customer service yesterday evening and frequently when we visit. We enjoyed interacting with a customer too in the line up who was super friendly. Great clothing selection! Thanks Giant Tiger!” – Winnitzen
4. Primary Direct
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| STORE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organized | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Easy to navigate | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| DEALS OFFERED | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
Primary Direct is a great source of appliances and electronics. We visited the store and found that it carries notable brands such as Dyson, Sony, LG, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire.
From what we’ve learned, the majority of this discount store’s items are manufacturer overstock or liquidated items from insolvent companies that need to pay their debts.
In a way, shopping here also gives new purpose to various items that may otherwise be auctioned or end up as junk material.
Do note, however, that this discount store doesn’t carry any food items. Most of the items you’ll find are household products, clothing, and furniture.
An advantage to this store is that shoppers can get premium appliance brand names for much cheaper prices – we’re also pleased to find that most of the electronics work like brand new despite some having a few scratches and dents.
In case you’re eyeing an appliance brand that is still out of your budget, this place offers financing through Fairstone and Pay360. Shoppers will be able to pay for their items without interest and with 100% free layaway.
In terms of other products, another unique selling point of Primary Direct is that it offers affordable renovation packages. With these, homeowners can DIY some of their spaces for as low as $300.
These kits come with instructions, templates, and building components, helping the owner elevate their space.
It’s just a tad unfortunate that the store doesn’t accommodate returns, even if an item has a valid warranty.
Pros
- Great variety of appliance brands
- Affordable home renovation packages
- Offers financing options via Fairstone and Pay360
Cons
- Doesn’t carry food items
- Doesn’t accommodate item returns
Customer Reviews
Excellent prices and customer service
“I was a bit skeptical prior to my purchase as I had not had great experiences with some other Liquidation centers however Primary Direct is definitely not in the same category. Sales staff are very knowledgeable, helpful and if there is something wrong (I found a ding upon unboxing an new in box item) rectify the issue immediately (replaced the damaged item the next day). One of the few places where customer satisfaction is obviously still center of mind. Kudos!” – Darren Dominix
A must-go for new homeowners and students moving out
“I’ve bought and gifted three Dyson vacuums and have appreciated the staff’s help and advice. The staff are friendly and ready to help! A must to anyone wanting to buy refurbished, lightly damaged/used, or rejected products and save the difference. The staff were quick to point out any damage to the product and informed us about its visual defects. Will be coming back for years to come!” – Meghan
5. Dollarama
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Easy to navigate | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 |
| DEALS OFFERED | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
Dollarama is a haven for dirt-cheap finds as most of its items cost around a dollar. The most popular items sold here are school and office supplies, household cleaners, and unique decor and crafting items.
The store also offers food, although we don’t recommend shopping for any edible goods here as some customers we’ve spoken to claimed that some of their purchases were either mouldy or came extremely close to their expiration dates.
On a brighter note, another favourable point of this discount store is that it has an online shop, which other discount stores don’t offer.
What we liked about Dollarama’s online store is that its items are well-categorised, making it easier to locate specific items for sale.
We also appreciate the store for displaying how many items are per unit and per case or bundle.
Dollarama charges a flat shipping rate of $9.99, which we think is quite reasonable given how easy it is to purchase items from here in bulk.
In terms of its physical store, we appreciate that it provides ample parking space for customers.
Apparently, the store also has multiple exits and entrances leading to the parking lots, which we think is quite accessible. Think of how convenient this is for customers loading a truckload of purchases into their cars.
That said, we’re just disappointed that this discount store isn’t the most accessible for those with special and mobility needs. We hope that management can work on this soon.
Pros
- Has an online store
- Carries well-known household and office brand products
- Spacious parking lot
Cons
- Feedback on food items being expired or mouldy
- Reports on store not being accessible for disabled persons
Customer Reviews
Carries everything you can think of under the sun
“Everything that you may want like mixing bowls, dirt, pots , toys, bags , dry foods, and a whole lot more can be found . eveything is 1.00-4.00. But everything is cheaper then going to the big stores.” – Danna Ridgeway
FAQs on discount stores
And that ends our unbiased take on the best discount stores in Winnipeg!
If you’re looking for other high-rated stores in Winnipeg, we recommend checking out these articles: