There's a lot to love when it comes to shopping at Trader Joe's. There's definitely a bit
of a learning curve though when it comes to making the most out of a Trader Joe's shopping
trip. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newbie, you'll want to be mindful of these
things not to do.
When you walk through the doors of your local Trader Joe's, you might be inclined to head
right to the display of ridiculously cheap bananas. But look a step further and you can
find a treasure trove of fresh flower bouquets, a few types of potted plants and herbs.
Add a bouquet of flowers to your cart, even if you're just there to pick up a few things,
because you deserve it. Trader Joe's flowers are incredibly affordable and the store doesn't
skimp on quality either. The Kitchn compared flower prices at other stores like Costco
and Whole Foods and found that Trader Joe's has some of the most affordable flowers on
the market, with bouquets starting at $3.99.
So go ahead and:
"Treat yo self!"
Before you start making your Trader Joe's shopping list, you'll want to take a peek
at the latest Fearless Flyer. Part newsletter, part magazine, part comic book, the Fearless
Flyer is where you'll find all the information you could ever want about Trader Joe's newest
products. And because the store is constantly adding new items to its shelves, reading the
Fearless Flyer is one of the best ways to prepare in advance for your upcoming shopping
trip. The Flyer often contains recipes, nutrition information and creative ways to use Trader
Joe's groceries.
You can ask Trader Joe's to add you to their Fearless Flyer mailing list for a hard copy,
or sign up to receive the Flyer via email. They also have a handy email newsletter with
even more information, ranging from events and contests to how-to guides.
One of the best parts of shopping at Trader Joe's is the ability to sample products, including
new food items. There's often a friendly employee manning a sample station near the back of
the store, handing out tiny paper cups of food or little napkins topped with a piece
of their newest pastry.
You might be so excited at the prospect of tasting these new foods that you accidentally
set your trash down on the counter or drop it into your cart. But as Insider stated,
this is really bad etiquette and it's a pet peeve of store staffers. Employees already
work hard to keep prices cheap. Go ahead and make their lives a little easier by tossing
your sample trash in a garbage can or, if necessary, in your shopping bag.
Clean up after yourself so that your store stays neat and tidy for other shoppers.
Shopping at Trader Joe's with kids can actually be a really fun outing for them. No complaints
about boring grocery shopping here! Trader Joe's welcomes children, with their parents,
with open arms.
To make it even more fun for families, staff members at many locations hide a cute stuffed
animal somewhere in the store. Lobsters, lemurs, donkeys, monkeys, and whales are just some
of the animals that kids have spotted hanging out among the canned goods or between boxes
of cookies. Even better, kids who find the stuffed animals get a little treat or prize
for their discovery. Not all stores hide stuffed animals, but most do, so it's worth a shot.
A Trader Joe's spokeswoman told Today that the game is intended to help keep little shoppers
engaged while their parents grab everything on their list.
While pretty much everything you'll find on the shelves of your local Trader Joe's is
delicious, there may be times when something just doesn't quite mesh with your tastebuds.
The team at Trader Joe's understands this and will graciously give you a refund or let
you grab a replacement item, no questions asked.
Trader Joe's has a generous return policy but the store also makes it easy for shoppers
to get in and out quickly, without all the hassles typically associated with returns
or refunds at other stores. One customer shared on Reddit that Trader Joe's employees have
always been, quote, "super chill" about product issues.
Bottom line? Don't be afraid to speak up at Trader Joe's if you realize something isn't
quite right after you get home and unload your shopping bags.
As with many stores, there are right days and then there are wrong days to do your shopping.
But if you really want to optimize your next Trader Joe's visit, consider shopping on Tuesdays
and Wednesdays. The mornings are even better.
Many Trader Joe's stores have tiny aisles, which can make them feel especially crowded
during peak shopping times. People sure do love their Trader Joe's, after all. The stores
also don't use self-checkout lanes, either, so you may have to wait in line for an employee
to scan and bag your groceries. If you'd rather shop in peace, mornings tend to be the least
busy times at most Trader Joe's stores, according to a manager on Reddit.
Another perk of shopping early? Your store will have the freshest produce at that time.
Plus, some hot-ticket items might even be sold out by the middle of the afternoon. So
shop early and get 'em while you can!
We get it. Standing in the checkout line at any grocery store can be tedious. But just
because you're bored doesn't mean you should start fussing with items you see at the checkout
stand. More specifically, don't mess with the shiny metal bells hanging from the wall
or the stand at your Trader Joe's store.
These bells may seem like a fun diversion for customers but they're anything but that.
Trader Joe's employees use these bells to communicate with each other, in lieu of a
fancy public announcement speaker system installed throughout the store.
The bells can indicate everything from:
"It's time to open another register."
Or:
"We need a manager."
If you randomly ring the bell, you'll distract store employees from more important tasks,
like stocking the freezer with more mango mochi or adding additional bottles of Two-Buck
Chuck to the shelves. If you're bored, play a game on your phone or strike up a conversation
with other shoppers instead.
Look around the shelves of your local Trader Joe's and you'll notice tons of unique products
you've never seen anywhere else. Not to mention the bright, bold, and colorful labels on the
bottles, boxes, and bags. You can thank the store's private label for all these interesting
and delicious foods, plus the quirky branding!
You might be looking for your favorite brand names while shopping, but you really don't
want to skip out on the grocery chain's in-house store brand. Not only are these private label
products super affordable, but they're also innovative and tasty. Trader Joe's wildly
popular "Everything But The Bagel" seasoning is one of the most coveted! Other fun items
include watermelon fruit spread, brookies, a hybrid of brownies and cookies, and ketchup
seasoned with black summer truffles. Just wow!
"I'm not even mad, that's amazing."
You might want to reconsider your grocery shopping strategy when you go to Trader Joe's.
It'll make your life a lot easier by riding your bike or taking public transportation,
because Trader Joe's stores have famously small parking lots with tiny parking spaces
and tight corners. Trying to park a car will absolutely frustrate you, which is not the
kind of mood you want to be in when shopping at a fun place.
The small parking lots aren't an oversight by the grocery chain, either. It's all part
of Trader Joe's strategy for saving you money. Smaller parking lots means lower overhead
costs, which can be passed along to customers. As CityLab explains, the small parking lots
may also have something to do with Trader Joe's parent company, which owns the German
grocery chain, Aldi. Europe just doesn't build stores with huge sprawling parking lots attached
to them.
If you're running a bunch of errands, there's no need to make a special trip to the liquor
store if you're planning to stop by Trader Joe's. Not only can you pick up your groceries
for the week, but you can also grab some beer and wine while you're at it.
And if you're concerned about the quality of Trader Joe's wine and beer selection, think
again. You'll find so much more, whether you're into hoppy IPA beers or bold red wines. Some
Trader Joe locations even carry liquor, depending on local state alcohol rules and regulations.
There are dozens of Trader Joe's private-label offerings, but you'll also find beers and
wines made by companies you recognize.
Thanks to Trader Joe's seemingly endless supply of unconventional and flavorful products,
you're probably going to find some new foods and items you just can't live without. You
won't be able to find these products anywhere else either, which is one reason you keep
coming back to Trader Joe's week after week.
Just don't get too attached to any one product sold at Trader Joe's. The store is constantly
reinventing itself, rolling out new products while discontinuing other popular items. Brands
often run experiments, during which they release a limited supply of something new, then wait
to see how it performs. Associate producer Helen Zhao of CNBC's Make It said:
"When an exotic new product comes out, you might get your hands on it, or you might not.
What makes Trader Joe's products seem even more special is that they come and go."
So if a new item flops, you may never be able to find it again! As the folks at Trader Joe's
like to say:
"It's all part of the shopping adventure."
You may be accustomed to clipping coupons or using your customer loyalty card to score
extra discounts at your regular grocery store. But if you're planning to shop at Trader Joe's,
you can just head right to the checkout counter.
Trader Joe's doesn't offer sales, deals, promotions, or other discounts in its stores as a rule
because they try to offer the best prices they can every day of the week. And if you're
seeing a special Trader Joe's coupon or gift card deal online, just back away from your
computer. These are either scams or unauthorized parties using Trader Joe's name.
And while you're at it, go ahead and report what you've encountered to Trader Joe's. According
to the store's website:
"Trader Joe's has no association with these organizations. When alerted to the existence
of misleading promotions of this nature, we actively attempt to get our name removed."
Though Trader Joe's is a far cry from a specialty store or a boutique grocery shop, you shouldn't
plan to do all of your grocery shopping here. Some people can get away with making Trader
Joe's their one and only grocery store, while other people may find they have to make additional
shopping trips elsewhere.
While Trader Joe's carries a diverse selection of products, they don't carry a ton of products.
By some estimates, Trader Joe's has about 4,000 products at any given store, which is
much lower than the 50,000 products you can expect to find on the shelves of a traditional
grocery store, according to CNBC. This helps Trader Joe's employees more efficiently unload
delivery trucks and stock shelves, since there are just fewer products to mess with. It also
helps keep each store's labor costs low, which they can pass along to shoppers in the form
of lower prices.
If you arrive at your local Trader Joe's store and see that the space where your favorite
product should be is bare, it's totally OK to ask an employee to check if there are any
extras in the back. But don't get impatient and ask two employees to unwittingly perform
this task at the same time.
According to Insider, this is a particular pet peeve for store employees, who are all
trying to do more with less to keep prices as low as possible. You're wasting their time,
so be patient and remember that Trader Joe's often sells out of popular items.
If you snooze, you lose!
One of the coolest parts about shopping at Trader Joe's is you never know what you might
find. If you see something new and enticing, you could throw it into your cart and try
it out at home to see if you like it. Or you could take advantage of their generous sample
philosophy instead. The chain actively encourages customers to try items in the store before
they buy them.
"You can bring it back if you get it home and don't care for it, can't imagine that
one this one."
But there are limitations. PopSugar reports that you can't ask for a sample of frozen
foods or alcohol. But you can always ask an employee to help you taste snacks, fruits,
vegetables, and some of Trader Joe's prepared foods like sushi, sandwiches, and salads.
Don't abuse this generosity, but also don't be afraid to ask. Trader Joe's gets so many
new products all the time that it would be impossible to keep up without trying some
every now and again.
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