For example, how many times have you bought a shiny new offering only to discover once you get home that you don’t actually like it? Luckily, you can avoid this mistake thanks to Trader Joe’s flexible sampling policy. In addition to offering a bevy of free samples near the back of most stores, TJ’s employees are permitted to open any ready-to-eat items for customers to try upon request. In other words, if you’re unsure about the new Candy Cane Almonds, you can try it before you toss it in your cart. Another common mistake many Trader Joe’s shoppers make is not stocking up on holiday items ahead of time. This can be especially detrimental to your holiday plans if you’re unaware (or neglect to remember) that last-minute jaunts to Trader Joe’s during the holidays are virtually out of the question. In addition to being shuttered on Thanksgiving Day each year, Trader Joe’s is also closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day and has shortened hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Trader Joe’s Shopping Mistakes
Generally, Trader Joe’s branded items tend to be (though aren’t always) less expensive than their name-brand counterparts. For example, Trader Joe’s cheeses are almost always a bargain (shoutout to the 7-ounce block of Unexpected Cheddar for $3.99) as are the $1 single-serve Greek yogurts, which are less expensive than similar products from Fage and Chobani. The TJ’s Powers That Be have remained tight-lipped about exactly which California vineyards produce the brand’s wine, but only because the booze sports a better price than that of many competitors, without sacrificing quality. “If we say who [the wine producers] are, and then we offer this great price, the other folks they do business with are going to want that same great price,” Trader Joe’s marketing director, Tara Miller, said on an episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast. And if you want stock up on some spices or spice blends that you can’t find everywhere else, TJ’s is also a good bet. Customers consistently love items such as the Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, the Green Goddess Seasoning Blend, and more. For starters, you’ll pay 10 cents for every paper bag you end up using, and showing up without your own reusable bags means you won’t be eligible to enter the Trader Joe’s raffle. Each week, TJ’s rewards one customer with a $25 gift card, but in order to enter you need to bring your own shopping bag and spend at least $25. Additionally, even Trader Joe’s employees have said the produce tends to be underwhelming when compared to other TJ’s products. During a Reddit AMA with a TJ’s employee, said employee was asked if there was a Trader Joe’s product they wouldn’t buy. While the team member clarified that they trusted “99 percent of [the] products,” they did have one important caveat. “The ‘iffy’-est is dry produce (namely tomatoes and stone fruit)—they tend to get moldy pretty quickly in the summer, but my store makes sure to check them constantly, and I still buy them (after a quick scan). It may be different at a store with lazier employees.”
