Chances are that if you've been to Trader Joe's, you're already a fan.
Shopping hacks at a place that doesn't even have a frequent shopper card may seem unusual,
but there are some tips and tricks to save you time and money.
Watch this before shopping at Trader Joe's again.
One of the best unknown perks of Trader Joe's is its samples policy.
You might have your standby products that you get every time you visit the store, but
Trader Joe's comes out with new products all the time.
If you're dairy-free and wondering if the Turmeric Ginger Coconut Beverage will suit
your taste buds, or you're feeling on the fence about Bloody Mary Salsa, ask an employee
for a sample.
You can try it before you buy it.
PopSugar points out that there are some exceptions to this amazing policy.
They're not going to let you get sick by sampling raw food, and you wouldn't be able to tell
if a frozen food is worth it without heating it up.
You won't get to try any of the alcoholic products either, so stick to asking for samples
of ready-to-eat foods like boxed snacks, jars of jam, or cheese.
PopSugar interviewed a former Trader Joe's employee who confirmed that you can return
anything, even if it's already opened.
Seems like the type of thing that might get taken advantage of, right?
"This was shipped like this so we are gonna need a new one."
"You obviously broke this yourself."
But, overall, the policy works in everyone's favor.
Employees don't waste time arguing with customers about what can and cannot be returned, and
Trader Joe's gains valuable insight about products that customers don't care for.
Win-win for everyone.
Trader Joe's definitely has a cult following, and with mass appeal comes massive crowds.
There's nothing that ruins the shopping vibe faster than overcrowded parking lots, long
lines, and cramped aisles.
Instead of wasting your time, take advantage of people who have done their research and
are willing to share the best time to hit Trader Joe's.
The Daily Meal suggests avoiding Trader Joe's on any weekday during lunchtime.
Unfortunately, that doesn't just mean the noon hour; the lines don't die down until
around 3 p.m., so stay away until well after conventional lunches are over.
"Once in a while I'll take a long lunch."
"A Siesta!"
You won't want to dilly dally too long, though, because things pick up again after 5 p.m.
for the post-work rush.
When it comes to weekends, both Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening are popular shopping times,
too.
According to a Redditor who claims to be a Trader Joe's manager, the best time to avoid
the crowds is as soon as they open on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
You'll have the store to yourself and access to all the products that sell out quickly
each day.
If you do happen to find yourself on a long line, entertain your brain by picking up a
copy of the Fearless Flyer.
Trader Joe's describes the flyer by asking, "Is it a newsletter?
A catalog?
A comic-book?
Yes, yes, and perhaps even yes!"
Basically, it's an illustrated bi-monthly publication that's supposed to announce new
products and deals.
Informative, yes, but we mostly read it because it's hilarious.
The pages are filled with old-timey cartoons with witty captions, and the product descriptions
have more cringe-worthy puns than you thought possible in a 16-page publication.
Their corn salsa is an "a-maizing" condiment?
That's so bad it's good.
Add in some weird comics and off-the-wall humor, and you'll find yourself craving a
line just to take the time to read the thing cover to cover.
Trader Joe's does sell some big-name brands, but why would you pick up a $5 box of cereal
when you can get a Joe's brand for $2 less?
Opting for private-label products is one of the easiest ways to save money at the grocery
store, and you don't have to sacrifice quality when you shop at TJ's: Big brand suppliers
may make some of these private-label products.
In 2010, Fortune suggested that Trader Joe's pita chips were made by Stacy's, and that
Stonyfield Farm supplied much of the yogurt on the east coast.
Eater took things one step further and used the Freedom of Information Act to request
recall information that mentioned Trader Joe's by name.
That allowed them to identify a few potential suppliers, like Wonderful Pistachios and Snack
Factory's Pretzel Crisps.
Of course, big brands wouldn't want you to know that you can pick up their food for less
at Trader Joe's, so it's unlikely any of these comparisons will ever be confirmed.
Even the former VP of marketing, Mark Gardiner, told Eater that he was in the dark about who
made the brand's most popular products.
It's a secret agreement, and no one is allowed to talk about the products' suppliers.
Trader Joe's doesn't market themselves as a Whole Foods-type store or a gourmet market,
but it kind of is.
"This is some serious gourmet s---!"
The low-key grocery store has been selling wine since the 1960's, and their successful
low-cost formula has allowed them to offer affordable versions of gourmet cheeses, specialty
nuts, and exotic frozen meals.
Many of these products would have been considered gourmet at the time they arrived, and Trader
Joe's continues to stay a step ahead of food trends by offering innovative new products
each year.
According to the Trader Joe's website, its private label brands contain high-quality
ingredients, too.
They don't use artificial flavors or preservatives, MSG, GMO ingredients, or partially hydrogenated
oils.
Their labels may not say GMO-free on the product, but Trader Joe's assures customers that their
brands don't contain any GMO ingredients.
They also claim to sell tons of organic products, and their organic options can be less expensive
than conventional options.
Unfortunately, Trader Joe's doesn't have everything you'll find in a normal grocery store.
A typical Trader Joe's has an average of 4,000 products in each store, compared to the 38,900
you'll find at most grocery stores.
That means if you're looking for necessities like toothpicks, diapers, corn starch, or
aluminum foil, you'll have to make a stop at another store while you're out.
You also won't find all the choices of brand variety that you may be accustomed to.
"I don't want this pomade I want Dapper Dan."
"I don't carry Dapper Dan I carry Fop."
"Well I don't want Fop, G------it, I'm a Dapper Dan Man!"
That can be a good thing.
After all, who really wants to compare the ingredients and price on 12 different brands
of ketchup?
Trader Joe's only has one option: Trader Joe's Organic Ketchup.
They do this on purpose, so you can rest assured that they tried it, they liked it, and they
trust that you don't need any other options.
In some ways, that level of confidence is comforting, but if you're expecting to have
product variety, you might want to realign your expectations before you walk in the door.
No trip to Trader Joe's is complete without a stop by the alcohol aisle.
When founder Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe's in 1967, his vision was to create
a neighborhood grocery store with a great wine selection.
Today, that selection has expanded to beer and spirits, too, depending on the state's
liquor laws.
If you're lucky enough to live in a state where you can shop all three, you'll find
an excellent selection of usually inexpensive options.
They're most famous for their Two Buck Chuck, a super-value priced Charles Shaw wine available
in a variety of red and white varietals.
Their prices on non-private-labeled alcohol is similarly inexpensive, and when it comes
to beer, the Chicago Tribune reports that Trader Joe's beers are often brewed by award-winning
breweries.
Make sure to ask questions before you put these items in the cart, though, because sometimes
the alcohol isn't covered in their return policy.
When you're looking at things you should and shouldn't buy at Trader Joe's, the produce
section is pretty polarizing.
On the one hand, their organic produce is usually less expensive or comparable with
other grocery stores, according to The Kitchn.
Unfortunately, it's not always packaged in a way that makes sense.
As Kiplinger points out, a lot of Trader Joe's produce is prepackaged, making it impossible
for you to choose how much you want to buy.
That's great if you want to buy a whole package of carrots, but what if you just wanted one
apple?
Sorry, you have to buy the entire bag.
"Why?"
"Those are just the rules."
That said , there are some great deals to be had in the produce aisle, but steer clear
of the prepared produce.
Things like riced cauliflower and spiralized carrots cost way more than doing it yourself
at home.
The one item that does always shine is the super-cheap bananas; they're always priced
at 19 cents, the same price they were in the 70s.
Trader Joe's frozen section is absolutely legendary.
There is more variety in this section than anywhere else in the store, and it's not just
ingredient variety.
You can stock up on filling main dishes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or pick up a
few items to have on-hand for an appetizer or snack.
They also have dozens of dessert options.
Because most of the items in this section are private label products, the prices are
super reasonable, and it's safe to say you could eat out of the frozen section for weeks
without repeating a meal.
Items at Trader Joe's can disappear pretty quickly, and sometimes forever.
A Redditor who claims to work at the largest Trader Joe's in America explained that's because
they often don't order a lot of stock.
If they have too little and run out, that's better than ordering too much and running
into food waste, which could drive the prices up.
This can happen with any product, especially the best-selling items that generate a lot
of buzz.
The Redditor went on to explain that this tends to happen more quickly with seasonal
products.
Some new products don't do well, which means the store won't reorder it when it's out.
That makes more space for the products that everyone loves.
Whether it's a regular product or a season item, NBC News suggests loading up your cart
if you find something you love.
Things like frozen items won't go bad quickly, and you can check the shelf-stable products
for the sell-by date to see how long you have to use them.
You never know if the item will be out of stock for a day or a few weeks or forever,
but better not to find out.
You don't have to buy pre-made freezer meals to make quick, healthy dinners from Trader
Joe's.
We love combining items from the freezer aisle, product section, and pantry shelves to mix-and-match
dinners that can be ready in as few as 15 minutes.
Combine a pork tenderloin with barbecue sauce in the Instant Pot, and plop the shredded
pork on Trader Joe's brioche buns for easy pulled pork sandwiches.
Or, if you don't feel like cooking at all, opt for their refrigerated pulled pork; it's
ready in the microwave after only three minutes.
It's easy to combine pre-cooked meats with buns and tortillas to make sandwiches and
tacos, but you can also combine items from the freezer aisle to make a well-rounded,
healthy meal.
Add sausage or chicken to frozen vegetarian meals, like Penne Arrabbiata.
Or, cook potstickers and stir-fry vegetables together, straight from the freezer.
Add one of Trader Joe's signature sauces, like Gyoza Dipping Sauce or Thai Green Curry
Simmer Sauce, and these pre-made, packaged items will taste like a home-cooked meal.
There always seems to be a contest going on at Trader Joe's.
Many contests are for gift cards, but some result in a grocery bag full of goodies or
bragging rights for liking the top-voted products in their annual Customer Choice Awards.
The easiest contest to win also happens to be pretty good for the environment, too.
Most Trader Joe's locations will give you a five-cent discount for bringing a reusable
bag.
The Kitchn disclosed that some locations also have a weekly raffle: Win a $25 gift card
if you spend $25 or more and bring your own bag.
It's not well advertised, though, so ask the at your local store for more details.
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