An American who is living in the UK visited Poundland for the first time but he had one major criticism.
Kobie Jordan, who is from the US but now living in London, took to his TikTok @kjordyyy to share a video of himself touring the popular British discount chain.
However as he browsed the aisles, he was confused by the range of prices on items, despite the store’s name suggesting a flat £1 cost.
In the clip, which racked up 44,000 views, he said: ‘It’s automatically giving me Dollar General vibes. But the things aren’t a pound, which is kind of crazy. I’m seeing £3.’
UK-based social media users were quick to point out that while the store originally sold everything for £1, its pricing model has changed over the years due to inflation.
One person said: ‘When it first opened, everything was a pound. Then lockdown happened!’
Another added: ‘It used to literally be everything £1 now it’s just a pointless shop full of stuff that’s not £1.’
But it wasn’t just the pricing that raised questions. Kobie also had a cheeky take on the name itself, hinting that Poundland carries a very different, and much more risqué, connotation back in the US.
‘They couldn’t choose a different name besides Poundland? Poundland, really? UK… at least it’s not called Pound Town,’ he joked in the video.
He even captioned the clip: ‘Not a bad store… but the name is a bit sus.’
Despite the eyebrow-raising branding, Kobie was surprisingly impressed by the store itself.
He said: ‘It’s giving like a low key mini Walmart,’ before adding, ‘I’ll be honest, most dollar stores back in the States are kind of like dirty, dingy… but there’s something so clean and sterile about this one. Like, it’s so pristine.’
As he explored more of the shop, the American stumbled on a beloved British snack that he was eager to try.
He added: ‘Also, party rings. Never had them, but apparently all my British friends said they’re a staple when you’re growing up. Gotta try them one day.
‘I’m genuinely shook with the variety of everything, cause it’s not a big store from the outside, but they have a little bit of everything, which I kind of like.
‘Imagine like a clean, sterile small Walmart mixed with Dollar General- that’s what you have. Poundland.
‘I think I’ve explored every square inch of the store. I don’t know what I was expecting from a Poundland, but it’s pretty legit, innit?
‘Living the dream, man. Living the dream in Poundland of all places.’
Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on his review of the discount chain.
One person said: ‘My husband’s American and wants a ‘Poundland’ T-shirt as he thinks the name is so funny.’
Another suggested: ‘Please try Greggs, Wetherspoons, Sports Direct and Primark.’
Someone else added: ‘Back in the day everything was a pound!!! There’s 99p stores as well’
A fourth added: ‘Poundland needs to rename itself at this point. Bring back the days when everything was actually a pound’.
It comes after Kobie revealed the British cultural habit of being ‘over-polite’ is sometimes confusing for visitors.
The TikToker admitted he’s still adapting to the famously apologetic and overly polite nature of British culture.
In the clip, which racked up more than 45,000 views, he revealed one train journey in particular left him completely stumped.
He said: ‘As much as I love living in the UK, there’s just one thing I have to talk about.
‘Their over politeness almost to a fault. It’s no secret they have a huge apologising culture. Always saying sorry, sorry all the time. But boy, do I have a story for y’all.’
Kobie explained he was on a ‘super packed train’ from Birmingham to London when an older gentleman boarded the train and began eyeing the seat beside him, but wouldn’t take it.
He said: ‘Every single seat was taken except for one. Right next to me, there’s an older gentleman that just got on the train.
‘He kept looking at me. Cause it’s not my job to tell you to come sit if he wants to sit. He’s a grown man, he can come sit.
‘He would even look, look at me and look away. His wife had found a seat, but he was kind of looking at me like I was doing something wrong.’
The American admitted he was tempted to offer the free seat to the man but he hesitated as he claimed the man could just grab the seat if he wanted it.
He said: ‘Part of me wanted me to offer my seat next to me to him, but I was like, wait a minute, it’s an open seat, he can just come grab it if he wants to sit there.
‘And me being from the US, it’s hard for me to judge these type of situations here because, one, I don’t know if he’s actually just being too polite, maybe he’s not too fond of me, or it just doesn’t make sense.’
He concluded: ‘If y’all know me, y’all know I love the UK. And this is just my opinion and I Gotta see how it is.
‘As much as I love it, that’s one thing that I just can’t really get my head around.’
Many British commenters quickly weighed in, offering their own interpretations of what the elderly gentleman may have been thinking.
One person said: ‘I think he wanted you to give up your seat so him and his wife could sit together.’
To which Kobie responded: ‘Very true, why didn’t he ask?’
Another added: ‘It polite to offer the seat… especially to pregnant or older people. He may not have wanted to have assumed he should squeeze past you.’
Kobie added: ‘Again that’s so British. If you want to sit. Sit.’
Someone else added: ‘We’re just polite to a fault. There’s an unwritten rule about sitting next to people, although in PACKED situations usually doesn’t apply.
‘The ‘look’ would typically be inferred as a request to sit there and then the other party obliges.’
A fourth added: ‘I’m English. if he wanted the seat he would have either taken it or asked’
Another added: ‘As a old English lady who loves good manners, you acted in the correct manner. the choice was his to stand.’
