Dollar Tree customers say the decision to raise most prices to $1.25 left them feeling 'sick to their stomachs'

Dollar Tree's recent price hike has been criticized by loyal customers.
Shoppers have been using various social-media platforms to express their feelings.
One customer said they were sick to their stomach over the higher prices. The change was referred to as a "calamity" by another person.
The discount chain made headlines last year when it announced that most of its $1 items would be sold for $1.25. It was the last dollar store chain in the US to keep its $1 commitment even as investors demanded it raise prices.
Michael Witynski said that the new prices would allow the company to survive rising supply chain and labor costs.
Many customers are unhappy despite the reasoning.

Some people have started calling the chain "$1.25 Tree" and have suggested the store change its name.
Dollar Tree didn't reply to Insider's request for comment.
"I wish they wouldn't have done that because most of their shoppers are people who are not getting paid a lot of money," said Costa.

She said that this is the worst time to raise the price.

The death of the dollar-store concept in the US is being signaled by the chain store's increased prices.

Dollar Tree kept its prices at $1 after WWII, unlike most other dollar stores, which hiked prices in line with inflation.

At the time of the price-rise announcement, Witynski promised that they wouldn't go higher than $1.25.