Trader Joe's is less expensive than many grocery stores, and it's a no-brainer why it's so
popular across the country. But the shopping experience there can be even better if you
shop smarter with these time-saving and money-saving hacks.
No matter where you're doing your shopping, bringing your own shopping bags is a smart
idea. Most importantly, it helps you cut down on how much plastic you use. Trader Joe's
stopped offering single-use carryout plastic bags in 2019, though that shouldn't be your
only reason for bringing reusable bags when shopping there. You'll also want to avoid
those unwieldy and hard-to-carry paper bags that the store provides to customers who don't
come with their own.
Trader Joe's offers an extra benefit to those who remember to bring their own bags, and
you might just want to take advantage of it. If you have your own bags, you can enter a
raffle to win a $25 Trader Joe's gift card. This raffle is held weekly, so if you shop
there often, you might just have a good chance at winning. Who knew that bringing your own
bags could actually save you money? It pays to be eco-friendly!
Trader Joe's also has the environment in mind when it comes to its produce bags. While these
particular containers might look like they're made of plastic, they're actually completely
compostable. That's right, they'll break down right along with your fruits and veggies!
This can be a huge relief to anyone who doesn't want to contribute to plastic waste but still
values the convenience of using produce bags while shopping. It can be a hassle to take
your own produce bags with you every time you go grocery shopping, so Trader Joe's is
definitely taking a step in the eco-friendly, and customer-friendly, direction.
There's one particular Trader Joe's hack that's perfect for people with kids or those of us
who are eternally young at heart. It's no secret that most little ones don't love going
grocery shopping. Adults may enjoy marveling at all the new products and picking out the
perfect artisan cheese, but kids won't last long before their attention starts to wane
and you realize it's time to get out of there. That's why Trader Joe's has organized an activity
that can keep kids busy and engaged while their parents shop.
Here's how it works: staff members hide a stuffed animal somewhere in the store, and
then the kids have to look for it. They're sure to have fun whether or not they actually
find it. But if they do in fact manage to locate the animal, they also get a little
prize like a lollipop. This hack had been a rumor for a while, and in 2019, the company
revealed that it was indeed the real deal. So the next time you take your little one
shopping with you, help them spot the toy as you're winding through the aisles.
There are a lot of things to love about Trader Joe's, including its very generous return
policy. It's always a bummer when you buy something you think you're going to love but
then you end up hating it instead. If you purchased it from somewhere other than Trader
Joe's, you might try to choke it down, incorporate it into an existing recipe, or just throw
it away entirely. But if you bought it at Trader Joe's, you can return anything that's
defective or that you don't like.
Did your salad greens go bad before the sell-by date? Take them back for a refund! Did you
decide to try the cauliflower pizza crust that looked delicious on the package but your
kids wouldn't touch? You can get a refund for that, too! Staff members will usually
even take back products that are half-eaten, but just remember to be reasonable when taking
advantage of this hack. We're all better off when everyone treats an honor system like
this one with respect.
"I'm sure we'll all feel comfortable within the confines of the honor system."
Most of us would like to take fewer trips to the grocery store on a weekly basis. The
less we're in the store, the more time we have for doing other things we love, like
spending time in the kitchen thinking of new ways to combine our favorite Trader Joe's
products. The best way to cut down on grocery trips is to plan in advance and ask ourselves:
What are we going to eat for the week, what do we already have, and what do we need to
get at the store? Trader Joe's makes planning a bit easier with its Fearless Flyer. This
handy guide lets you know about all the newest seasonal products in the store that you should
check out, and it occasionally also advertises deals.
You can get the Fearless Flyer online right in your inbox, and it's also available in
stores. Even if you don't end up buying anything featured in the Flyer, it's still worth picking
up. This isn't your average coupon book, after all. Rather, it's a clever, witty read with
plenty of puns and old-timey illustrations. We're sure it was designed to appeal to the
chain's famously "overeducated and underpaid" demographic.
Just because we love Trader Joe's doesn't mean we should blindly praise and ignore its
faults. While it's famous for its specialty products, and deservedly so, it may not be
the best place to shop for every single item on your shopping list. That's why we're here
to let you know what you should avoid.
Some things that you can generally skip at Trader Joe's include the seafood, meat, and
rice, which tend to be more expensive than they are at other stores. But it's also important
to keep in mind that in general, Trader Joe's offers some of the best prices in the business.
So if you don't feel like making a separate run to another store for your fresh meat and
produce, that's completely understandable. It's probably not going to blow your budget
after all, and you might save a little bit on gas in the long run.
If you're a smart shopper, and you love snacking as much as we do, you surely take advantage
of free samples wherever you go. This is of course a great way to try out new products.
While there have been some changes to free sample protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic,
stores are still handing out various treats. And yet many people don't realize that they
can actually sample any individually packaged item in Trader Joe's at any time.
"Free sample. Help yourself, okay? Free sample. Tell your friends."
This may not be a feature that shoppers take advantage of regularly, but if you want to
know if you like something before you buy it, this is the way to go. Plus, you get a
free snack out of it regardless of whether you decide to buy the item or not. Just ask
a staff member the next time you want to test something out in the store, and a hopefully
tasty treat will soon arrive in your mouth.
We've already established that the Fearless Flyer is an indispensable tool that you should
always take advantage of when you head to Trader Joe's. But if you're the type of person
to look at the flyer but never make a shopping list because you believe that you'll remember
everything you need when you're at the store, you may find that this method just doesn't
work. Nothing's worse than getting home only to realize that you forgot to pick up important
ingredients for dinner and now have to run back to the store again.
One easy way to avoid this dilemma is to use the Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer Shopping List,
which can save you a ton of shopping time. First of all, you don't have to make it yourself:
just cross items off the list when you find them. And what makes this list especially
helpful is the fact that it organizes items by section. That way, you can take the most
logical path through the store without blindly wandering through the aisles unsure of where
your next item is located.
You might already know that Trader Joe's doesn't offer many deals or coupons. Instead of offering
a slew of special prices every month, the chain aims to keep its prices consistently
low. That's why you're never going to find a coupon for a Trader Joe's product. For those
who hate cutting coupons, this is just one more reason to adore Trader Joe's. But for
those other shoppers who do in fact love using coupons, they may feel like they're missing
out. But don't worry, as there's some middle ground here.
It all comes down to what you buy. Trader Joe's does offer a selection of name-brand
products that are separate from its own label. If you can find manufacturer coupons for these
products, Trader Joe's will happily accept them. The store may not offer its own weekly
circular, but you can still save big with coupons on the right products. That's a compromise
that plenty of deal-hungry shoppers surely appreciate.
Some Trader Joe's products are liable to sell out quickly, especially the once-a-year seasonal
items. Mini dark chocolate mint stars, we're looking at you. If you're a fan of these products,
you'll want to grab them as soon as you can, but it's not like you can always make it to
the store as soon as they arrive. Don't despair, though! What many customers don't know is
that there's a way to make sure you get the items you want without having to drop everything
to make an impromptu shopping trip.
Just call ahead to your local Trader Joe's and tell them what you're looking for. They'll
be able to tell you if it's still in stock, and then you don't have to waste your time
if it isn't there. And if you're worried that it's available but might sell out soon, you
can also request that they put it on hold for you. Pick it up whenever you get some
time, and you'll never again miss out on your favorite popular Trader Joe's items just because
you can't get to the store right away.
Trader Joe's isn't like a regular grocery store. It's a cool grocery store. And that's
why you should always be on the lookout for the events at your local store. There are
activities going on throughout the year, including special offerings and events for kids. If
you're looking for a way to save some money the next time you go shopping, be sure to
enter into the store's money-saving contests. These contests involve doing everything from
drawing cartoons for the Fearless Flyer to creating your own signature ice cream-based
recipe to share with the world.
These contests are mainly about having fun, but if you can have fun and win a free gift
card or get other store perks in the process, why wouldn't you do it? If you're a parent,
you can even get your kids to participate, so make sure the whole family's in a good
mood when you head to the store. You never know when you're going to win, so it's worth
a try if you've got some extra time on your hands.
If you forget to bring your own grocery bags with nice, long handles that you can easily
sling over your shoulder when you've finished your Trader Joe's haul, you may think you're
out of luck. Those paper bags with the tiny handles aren't exactly easy to carry to your
car, especially if you have a lot of them. And if you have bottles of water, wine, or
other liquids to carry, even walking just a few feet to your vehicle can seem like a
tall order.
But don't worry! Help is always available, as you can ask a Trader Joe's employee to
assist you with taking your bags to your car, and they will be happy to oblige. This doesn't
necessarily mean that you can expect someone to go out of their way to ask if you need
help, but don't let that stop you from politely asking someone yourself. That's just one more
way that Trader Joe's works to make life easier for its customers.
"So stop by and say hello to some of your neighbors at your local Trader Joe's."
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