Why You Spend So Much Money At Trader Joe's
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ค. 2024
- Trader Joe's bucks much of the general wisdom of typical grocery stores in the U.S. - it doesn't do sales or coupons, has no self-checkout, no loyalty cards, and almost always has a nightmare-ish line at check-out. Here's how it was successful anyway.
A trip to Trader Joe's is an odyssey, with struggles, discovery and the spoils of victory: Its parking lots are notorious ("If you didn't have a near death experience in a parking lot, did you even go to Trader Joe's?" tweeted a customer), as are the long checkout lines that wind through the store's crowded aisles. And you won't find sales, coupons or loyalty cards. But Trader Joe's shoppers inevitably leave with an exciting new snack addiction and a respectable bottle of wine for under $5.
That odyssey, the emotional journey, is part of what has inspired consumers' obsession with Trader Joe's.
There are unofficial Instagram accounts dedicated to the brand (@traderjoeslist has 1.1 million followers alone). Even celebrities crave Trader Joe's; Hillary Duff, for example, is "obsessed" with the egg-white salad. And when Trader Joe's opened it's store in Germantown outside of Memphis in Tennessee, more than 500 people reportedly waited in line.
Fandom translates to sales. In 2019, Trader Joe's 505 U.S. stores had an estimated $13.7 billion in net sales, according to retail insights company Edge by Ascential. For comparison, Whole Foods had $16.5 billion U.S. net sales in 2019 (in-store sales only, Whole Foods groceries sold on Amazon.com not included), while Costco had $110.5 billion in store-based (Costco.com sales are tracked separately) net sales, according to Edge by Ascential.
Bringing in billions from a cult of customers is no accident. But the brand has carefully pruned its business strategy to inspire evangelism from its customers. Here are some of the ways Trader Joe's gets people hooked.
» Subscribe to CNBC Make It.: cnb.cx/2kxl2rf
About CNBC Make It.: CNBC Make It. is a new section of CNBC dedicated to making you smarter about managing your business, career, and money.
Connect with CNBC Make It. Online
Get the latest updates: www.cnbc.com/make-it
Find CNBC Make It. on Facebook: cnb.cx/LikeCNBCMakeIt
Find CNBC Make It. on Twitter: cnb.cx/FollowCNBCMakeIt
Find CNBC Make It. on Instagram: bit.ly/InstagramCNBCMakeIt
#CNBC
#CNBCMakeIt
#TraderJoes
Why You Spend So Much Money At Trader Joe's
What’s your favorite Trader Joe’s product? Like the video and let us know in the comments below.
I like their margherita pizza
Frozen Chocolate covered bananas!
Cookie Butter Ice Cream
Top 5 - Tomato Basil Hummus, Frozen Chicken Tikka Masala, Blueberry/Vanilla & Cream Yogurt Cups, Organic Carrot Juice, Mandarin Orange Chicken. Honorary mention for the Garlic Cheese Breadsticks
Almond butter. So far, TJ’s almond butter is the most reasonably priced product I have found.
"Trader Joe's is for overeducated and underpaid people, for all the classical musicians, museum curators, journalists."
Talk about defining your target customer.
you sound undereducated
Polyester Avalanche my kinda place then
@Angelina Not today's "journalists" If you can call them that. But back then in '58. Yes, including journalists. Today you have people like sean hannity making $37 million and Rachel maddow making $6million. They are going to spin the news in the corporate favor america knows so well. That is why we saw a media blackout for bernie so long ago. If Bernie sanders was running in the 20's-50's journalists would have been all over him.
@Rachel Forshee what I meant though was that where we get our news has changed. People don't read anymore. They're in too much of a hurry.
All of the news publications are bought and paid for by corporations and politicians. The only people we can trust are progressives.
lol I go there & Im an electrician. I wouldnt say im overeducated and Im definitely not underpaid lol
Day 10 of Corona Quarantine: Currently watching a Documentary on Trader Joes
Chynna Toliver 😂🤣😂 right here with you on that lol
I hope you get well soon
we dont even have a Trader Joes but Im still watching 😂
Day one for me in the Bay Area.
SAME
Trader Joe's shopping is an adventure, not a chore. Love the employees, the people that shop there, and all the quirky products to choose from. A few weeks ago while putting my groceries in the trunk of my car, a boy who was my checker, ran up to me with a bouquet of flowers, saying he really enjoyed talking to me and wanted to brighten my day. Not a come on people, I'm 79 years young!
L.O.V.E. it! Thank you very much.
Lol wtf kinda store is that
I work for Trader Joe's and I can easily say it's by far the best company I've ever worked for.
That is so sweet... I love it.. thanks for sharing...
Now THAT'S good service!
Okay, since it’s not said in the video:
Trader Joe’s has amazing selection for people with Celiacs, dairy free, vegan and people with nut allergies. As someone with a nut allergy and Celiacs it’s really hard to find ANY thing remotely edible that is gluten free and nut free.
They have simple and nice packaging that’s usually big and easy to read for older people.
There is no other chain like Trader Joe’s where you can get the quality for what you’re getting for the price.
The organic meat is wayyyy cheaper than on a store.
All of their produce is always better quality than the other grocery stores.
There products contain simple ingredients.
They open early everyday for older and disabled people to shop before everyone else.
They pair fair wages.
They have the best GF pasta, GF bagels, GF muffins, GF granola.
Does anyone trying to save money seriously only shop in one place? There is very few things you need to buy somewhere else and you never have to check what is on sale.
The list goes on.
And they don't overprice the gluten free products like other supermarkets.
It's Celiac not Celiacs.
Love the gf English muffins, hamburger buns. Best I have found. Great texture, moistness and mouth feel!!! That gf bread is good too! The price is great and I appreciate not being taken advantage of when your food is your medicine. The gf brownie mix is yummy but the gf cornbread needs reformulation because the first ingredient is sugar.
@@marilynwillett804 Celiac Sprue, the only people who honestly need gluten-free.
@@FirewindII theres other health conditions that need gluten free to an extent
Her husband was very underwhelmed by that lava cake
Amarah🌻 I know right?! 😂
7:42 yey
But it's delicious lol
Those lava cakes find their way in my freezer ever so often....okay....more often than not 😀
If I were him, I would have yawned at that moment, just to ruin the scene!
Why am I watching this video, we don't even have Trader Joe's in my country
I'm sorry. 😞
Same😂
Sameee
Same!
N V yeah we do, but here in Germany (where Aldi is from) it’s not up to the level of trader joes most of the time
The first time I went to Trader Joe’s I found baking soda in a CAN! It was $0.99 which is more expensive than the average box of baking soda...BUT it was in a can which, as a baker, made me so incredibly happy and was a solution to an annoying problem I always had thought about with the boxes. I was so excited! 😂🙈
This comment is underrated BECAUSE Trader Joe’s aims to please the customer in an old fashioned way. Even though they lack in some areas, they really try to please people like this person who are particular about what they buy. Thank you for your input @Precisely Late!!! I am in 1000% agreement and share your joy!!!
I was excited by that baking soda as well and 99 cents is how much arm and hammer in a box is at my local grocery store
So---why didn't you put baking soda in a jar, tupperware, or a can of your own ??? That's like saying we would have never gone to the moon unless someone else did it first.
I thought the canned baking soda was weird so I never bought it. At the same time, I thought it was a great idea but again, never about it.
It’s funny because in the Uk baking soda is in a container or tin usually. I don’t think I’ve seen a boxed one unless I go to Costco
Low tech gets me every time! That's why I love it. Used to live in Germany and would go to Aldi for the same reason. I could get my whole weeks worth of shopping done in 20 minutes or less. They don't move around things in the store either. I can find everything pretty easily.
That worked because Aldi sells actual food in Germany, as opposed to processed "food" here in the States. Processed "food" = moron food = death.
Trader joes makes me feel less stressed when I go shopping. They are simple and direct with their items and ingredients.
Me too, we all look like morons inside Traders Joe, so i dont feel bad shopping there
Exactly why i like it
I'm more stressed when shopping there because of how cramped and chaotic it is. But the quality and affordability are worth that stress.
Agreed
Same
This is low-key trader joe's ad.
High key
Except where the former employee says they are not good at keeping their cold things cold and frozen things frozen... yikes
mark12345680 her husbands “yay” makes it so much better... it was hilarious
They criticize Trader Joe's quite a lot for an ad
always is
I like to shop where the employees are happy and paid decently. Love TJs.
LOL they’re not Trader Joe’s just loves to push this notion
you mean the employees are forced to look happy for people like you, or they get the boot
They are happy because they were hired happy. Idk if that makes a difference in your reasoning but it’s like a salon vs great clips, the better “happier” workers go to the more expensive, smaller business
I get like 4 bags of groceries, get home, eat everything in an hour.
Same m
😂
😭😭🤣🤣🤣
😂 I am changing that
Omg finally something I can relate to hahah
Trader Joe’s is more affordable than Whole Food.
Setting the bar awfully low there
💯
Way more affordable, even than most of the non-health food grocery stores.
iseeflowers We used to call Whole Foods whole paycheck, LOL
Been to Aldi's?
After spending an insane amount of time cooking and not shopping at TJ's during the pandemic, I can honestly see why it is heaven for most. I miss so many of the pre-made foods, snacks, and frozen food. It is the perfect American grocery store because we are overworked and underpaid.
Oh for the days when Trader Joes was really Trader Joes. I grew up in Southern California, when TJs first opened, the items for sale were limited to Cheese, Wine, Granola, they had a 10lb and 25lb bar of Ghirardelli Chocolate, which you could buy either whole, or after being able to watch the crew members in the back of the store, behind the tables they put the items on, (no fancy shelving or frozen foods then.) Drop a large bar of chocolate breaking it into smaller pieces, then opening the package, wrapping it in plastic, weighing it and selling it by weight. The crew members would scoop out the granola and other products from the wooden barrels they came in, packaging them into bags, heat sealing them and then re-using the barrels to display the items. The cheese was hand cut and wrapped, most everything was processed or packaged in the local stores. TJs was one of the first with the re-usable canvas bags. The first one's said Bag and Generic on the side in green, later they put the TJs logo on them. I still have two from the late 60s that my mom got when I was still in Middle School in South Pasadena
.
As for Joe, until his final days, he would walk down in the Arroyo between Highland Park and Pasadena/South Pasadena with his dogs, close to the original TJs location in South Pasadena, and was as friendly as can be. Petting everyone's dog, and while after he sold TJs was an even more wealthy multi-millionaire, who gave large donations to great causes, he would chat with each person who wanted to say hi, and make them feel they were the only person on the planet.
Today when I go into TJs it's more a corporate feel, nothing like the feel that it had from it's founding through the mid to late 80s, but I still get just a hint of it's past when I go in and pick up a few things that you can't find elsewhere. But the original TJs which was just one of the local mom and pop markets and deli/markets is just a fading memory.
Trader Joe’s isn’t as expensive as people think it is. Good food for reasonable prices.
Nothing is expensive if your upper middle class
Constable Dodo I’m low-middle class living in California with the rising cost of rent yet I either shop at Trader Joe’s or grocery outlet cuz I find them to be the cheapest.
They hella expensive market basket has nice cheap prices
Constable Dodo do you mean Whole Foods
Amber Victoria market basket is a new england thing I believe. Never seen market basket outside of MA/NH/RI
Im a sign painter at Trader Joe's and im so happy to contribute to the fun atmosphere!
Allison Pierce I’ve always been curious who drew all those product tags!
Allison is busy painting signs for over 500 stores...#factcheck
@@pesky-media every Trader Joe's has its own sign team in store that paints signs and creates the atmosphere for their location. Because of this, every store has a slightly different style. Our store has a team of three people including myself!
@@yunchiu1849 there's a team in every store! What you see was made and designed by the crew!
@@pesky-media i hope i didn't lead you to assume i was taking credit for all store signs...every artist working at trader Joe's contributes to the atmosphere!
Loooove Trader Joe’s. So worth the price and the “limited” choices makes it easier to get in and get out 👍🏽
I feel attacked yet strangely also catered too as I watch this video 😂 Also, “Sometimes when I come home from Trader Joe’s I find myself telling my husband about everything I bought.” 😂😂😂 it’s me
May I offer a bit of marriage advice? My husband used to do this with me. It almost wrecked our marriage. "And I got bread and peanut butter and spaghetti and fish and chocolate bars and blahblahblahblahblah. Nothing kills romance like reciting a grocery list, lol.
@@cutzymccall7675 if that almost wrecked your marriage, then your relationship doesn’t seem very strong. I love seeing and hearing what my significant other got at the store if they went shopping without me
Getting inside a Trader Joe’s during the corona virus is like trying to get into a night club 🙄
Omg literally
Haha, this gave me a god chuckle
Ya because so many people are following Satan and covering their faces
literally I tried to go to my local one and it was honestly a joke the line was wrapped around the shopping plaza.
Thank you for that 😂
A limited selection is a smart move! When there is too much of a choice, people get overwhelmed.
Just like Costco does
That’s why I like shopping at Trader Joe’s.
As a former Crewmember, I can HONESTLY say, TJ's is an AWESOME place to work, and if I could, I'D GO BACK IN A FRIKKEN HEARTBEAT! It was an extra job I needed but, at my age, I couldn't work both TJ's and my full time job any further. I DOUBLED my work time there in 2020 to assist with the COVID problems. I WILL RETURN! I miss my Family
Trader Joe’s frozen section is literally what keeps me alive 😭 forever grateful for that
are you telling me the cashier who wrote his number on my receipt was trained to do that??
Lmaoooo the same thing happened to me😂
R. O F L M A O O O O O O O O O O O OOOXOXOOXOXOX
(Finger guns)
Nah, it was probably just for you, Sarah Baguette.
Good for you! That's never happened to me! And I LOVE cute hipster dudes!
This is the longest Trader Joe’s ad I have ever watched.
same,
The important thing is that you watched it.
Whole Food Plant-Based Man it’s also probably the only one you’ve ever watched
Good tool to view in business schools.
Whole Food Plant-Based Man RIGHT!!!
When you invest, you’re buying a day that you don’t have to work.. I pray everyone reading this becomes successful.
You are right! Investing in this assets can make you rich
Bitcoin
Stocks
Real estate
@@robertsonleo4155 You’re right sir, it’s obvious a lot of people remain poor due to ignorance, it’s better to take risks and make sacrifices than to remain poor
Investing in crypto is a plan for the future so it's high time people understand the importance of investment
@@thomasnorris7285 Cryptocurrency is bringing different revolution in the world economy
@@anitaheather1315 Bitcoin is the true decentralized cryptocurrency to ever exist in the world. I'm actually new to trading in bitcoin and can say authoritatively it's an aspect of gaining financial freedom
They quit selling the grapefruit marmalade, which was the main draw for me. So I quit going. Pity. The workers were really nice. One time I was having a really awful day, and the cashier gave me some flowers. All these years later I remember that. Such a sweet act of kindness. It made me cry, and lifted my heart.
"Scandinavian Swimmers" is obviously a play on "Swedish Fish" not a "more detailed way to describe gummy bears"....
It’s both!! Haha they can’t market it with the same name so they had to come up with a new “detailed way to describe Swedish fish” haha
This is one TJ's generics that doesn't stand up to the original. "Swedish Swimmers" are definitely swedish fish and not gummi bears. I truly hope the name is intentionally horrendous and some TJ's exec doesn't think of him/herself as insanely clever.
At least, they did not call it *ABBAlone* :P
Those Scandinavian swimmers are 10x better than swedish fish
@@zackattackjoseph7279 i thought it was cute :( and i just ate a whole bag of em
In a world where everyone sucks, I've yet to meet a really bad/crabby TJ's employee.
Try harder, the Washington DC ones have crabby employees.
They exist. Especially in nyc. But the norm is friendly employees.
Carlsbad CA, the grumpiest. But still nowhere near as grumpy as the Costco here. 😂
I’ve been to i think four stores in different states and yes, same.
Charmingpreppylife q
Its the packaging. Those packages are GORGEOUS, seem expensive but are "cheap" makes you think you have found the golden pot
Yes, we're aware TJoe's isn't unique. We just want to find high quality products without sorting through the masses at Wegman's. They're not dooping us; we want an easier experience that has good quality products.
They also donate their outdated food to organizations who help those who have low incomes. I can't say that for the store where I live.
I Have a Pony Our local Traders dontates a lot FOOD to our churches food pantry!
They donate to our church’s food pantry as well :)
@Ronald McFondle that's pretty sad that they throw it away. I see the food myself and it's not all near expiration but yes, a lot of the produce is. Still, it's good food that lasts for days and goes to feed a lot of families. We get their flowers too and that really brightens people's day.
I like ALDI and Trader Joes because they pay their employees well, have good products and are relatively cheap compared to the competition.
My sentiments exactly....
ALDI and Trader Joe's are sister-companies. Same ownership. Both have good prices. TJ's is the more upscale version.
@@skatefan9495 Not same ownership. Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi Nord and ALDI US is owned by Aldi Sud. Originally the same company but have been completely separate since the 1960"s.
@@thomasyarnall999 Legally separate but much common ownership by Albrecht family.
Lidls is great too!
One of my favorite trader joe's product is their cocoa baton. It reminds me of this classic chocolate wafer snack back in my hometown in Indonesia. When I check the packaging, the cocoa baton is made in Indonesia. To this day, I still wholeheartedly believe both products are made by the same manufacturer.
I went to TJs yesterday. Everything I got was under $4… yet the total came out to $44. I thought to myself “Why do I always spend more than anticipated?” And then I remembered this video and reminded myself to finally watch it. So here I am. The end.
It’s cheap and gives an illusion of healthiness. It’s not that deep guys.
na not really any health vibes. they just offer a lot more unique food flavor offerings that major brands don't offer.
Thank you!
Definitely not cheap
you said cheap?!? what state do you live in
Nah. They actually have quality products. Some of their products are better than the general grocery stores. Better quality and better ingredients.
Trader joes is more relaxed than a regular store. No cards, no liquor store, no redbox. Peace and cookies.
Kim Barbeau they have liquor
TJ has cards, has liquor
Two buck chuck
And they have red box too
except for the crowded parking lot
I worked at Trader Joe's i can vividly tell you that we are more of a family until i stopped working after covid. Most times it amazes me greatly how I moved from an average lifestyle to earning over $33k per month, Utter shock is the word. I have understood a lot in the past few years that there are lots of opportunities in the financial market. The only thing is to know where to invest.
I agree with you and I believe that the secret to financial stability is having the right investment ideas to enable you earn more money, I don’t know who agrees with me but either way I recommend either real estate or bitcoin and stocks.
@@bjoe631 That won't bother you if you trade with a professional like *Mr Gary Mason Brooks* my coach, you may have come across him on interviews relating to bitcoin and stocks. He trades, manage trading account and offer mentorship program for clients who wish to become professional investors.
Wow I can't believe you guys are discussing about *Gary Mason Brooks* , I once met him at a conference in California 2019, just before the pandemic. I can testify that he’s very good in trading..Highly recommended.
@@susanhaynes679 This is the Fourth time I'm seeing someone talking about Mr Gary as there are lot of testimonies about him, do you know him ? if yes , did you invest with him ?
@@macherie9554 Yes i do, I've known him for couple of years, I'm still using his services, His management team is quite impressive so far. With my $15,000 deposit, I made over $288,000 profit with just 10% charge.
I disagree with the critics. I've been shopping at Trader Joe's for 5 years now, and don't have a single complaint. Low prices, great products, friendly employees, wonderful atmosphere, what else can you ask for?
True. Don't get me wrong, I love Walmart but shopping there is exhausting. There are people everywhere and people who can't keep control of their kids. Shopping at Trader Joe's is much more calming.
@@taylor4353 right and they are so nice and quick at the register .
How about what I said in my comment above--not having so many employees on the floor all the time.
Anyone who thinks Trader Joe's is cheap must have shopped at Albertsons or Fred Meyer's because I could not afford to shop at Trader Joe's that's for rich people. I shop at Winco.
I want to thank all the Trader Joe's employees who gave us stuff about to expire for Food Not Bombs and helped us feed the community over the years!!! And thank you for the wilted lettuce and stuff for our reptiles and bunnies etc. Idk if stores still do that if you ask them but it sure helped a lot of people and animals out.
Key word here is “feel”. Trader Joe’s is actually mostly frozen food and junk food. Its a grocery store trying to act like they are healthy. I used to shop there when I was a teenager and didn’t care what I put in my body. Now I only get their produce because that’s obviously straightforward and untainted. They actually have really amazing prices on some of their fruits and veggies, but don’t think just because your getting organic chips from Trader Joe’s or cookies they are healthy for you.
They dont have junk food. Everything is healthy. Even the junk food is healthier than the other stuff you can find at Ralph's for instance.
I hear you. I only go in to get basics like milk or bananas. I always get an attitude from the cashier when I have one item. Maybe it's that one location but no thank you.
@@KendraGraceT but milk and bananas are so much cheaper and better quality there. They even have a cashier lane for less than 15 items. Who cares how they act lol. Man stupid tj should sponsor me. I feel like I have their back in all these comments.
Agree. You go there for organic and healthy then buy chips, frozen Orange chicken, etc.
what are you talking about? I lost 60lbs and I usually shopped there lol and I'm a chef. Their bulk items and teas are extremely affordable along with non-GMO dairy etc
As someone recovering from an ED, I enjoy shopping at TJ's because its less overwhelming.
When doing my degree in the US I simply stopped going to other grocery stores after finding a Traden Joe's 1 mile away from where I lived. It's... cozy and warm and somehow farm-like.
Former Trader Joe’s manager here- They also pay the producers for their products up front. Most grocery stores pay over a course of months for goods. That way they can negotiate lower prices. Also, there aren’t any slotting fees. Most companies pay for the privilege to show up on a grocery store shelf and there’s none of that at TJs decreasing the prices for you again. Their scheduling of employees is an absolute disaster. You often don’t know your schedule a couple days before the beginning of the week. They do offer healthcare and retirement but both of those have decreased over the years. And they definitely aren’t good about the cold chain. The ordering is all done by crew members, there’s no ordering system, so that can easily go haywire. Overall still a great place to work and I miss it sometimes, the people are fantastic, but the hours, insane pace of the store, that I don’t miss.
Why did you quit
@@animalrescuer80 I got tired of the hours and not having weekends off and so I started a farm
@fear no agent I worked in 7 different stores in 2 different regions. This is how it was in all of those stores. The person that does the scheduling changes frequently. I was a manager for most of the time I worked there as well. So my captain did the scheduling and it was always last minute and subjective to change based on what the store needed. When I wrote the schedule I tried to have it out 2 weeks ahead, but like I said it’s store to store and person to person.
@@superjet2771 they don’t have a great system for fresh produce, but all of their prepackaged food is vastly better and cheaper than the grocery store. I buy convenience things there now, but I also have a farm so I grow most of my food now. Also their health and beauty section has a lot of great deals.
@fear no agent that’s weird so you knew the scheduling was a mess somewhere else and you still came at me like that 🤨 Not very joesy of you is it?
Costco for meats, Sprouts for fruits and produce, Trader Joe's for snacks, grocery stores for anything else.
Four trips a week to eat.
@@desertguy1362 Costco is more like a once a month kind of thing. Buy meat in bulk, seal it in a food saver, and toss it in the freezer. Honestly I'm not a huge TJ fan so I may go once every 3 months for occasional snacks. Otherwise I goto Sprouts or my local grocery store on a weekly basis since they have most things available for cheap. And rarely do I goto Whole Foods, the only thing I find there is their thick center cut bacon that I get every time.
Ha! I do similar but the only things I buy in bulk are toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent. Sprouts for fruits, veggies, and meats and TJ's for dry goods and nonperishable.
@@cboy0394 Well you're a smart man. That toilet paper is like gold now LMAO!!!
@@beckyweisfeld6977 If only it were that easy right?
Trader Joe’s is great for me cooking for a household of 2, and as someone who likes homemade cooking and the ease of incorporating frozen meals/products. If there were more people in my household, it makes no sense $ wise.
Don't forget the Orchids 😁!!! The house plants and cut flowers are super nice as well🌸✨
I do love Trader Joe's. I have never bought something at Trader Joe's that I did not like. However, I also have never spent more than $30 there...
It's easy to not spend over thirty dollars there when they have really reasonable prices on their products, you get a lot for thirty dollars...
@@ericag5346 More like I don't do the bulk of my shopping there.
@@houchi69 cool... 👍🏽
Whole Foods used to have this same mentality as Trader Joe’s towards their employees but not since Amazon bought it
Trader Joe’s has changed a lot about their mentality towards employees. Dan bane keeps appointing regional managers that absolutely do not care about workers and only about money. Moral has been very low in the past two years.
what changed for the employees since amazon bought it?
I agree. It took on a "corporate" vibe. Ugh.
I actually miss getting harassed by friendly Whole Foods employees as soon as I would walk in. Now, it’s like I’m an invisible shopper 🛒
My city doesn't have a Trader Joes. Not even on the affluent side. They're always requesting one. I know people who drive 40 minutes just to shop there.
TJs crew member here. This video is spot on about a few things. BUT...Trader Joe's, just like every big company has a financial agenda for more and more profit. It's a multibillion company that has, over the past few years decreased some of their benefits for staff. That is not a complaint, it's just the reality. One thing that must be clarified, staff reviews are twice a year, only if your review is good, will you get a raise. If you happen to not meet all expectations, you may not get a raise. And lastly, a majority of products, especially the fun ones, are fully prepared. Read all ingredient labels!! We are NOT a health food store or healthy alternative to commercial grocery items. The amount of sodium and sugar in products to make them taste better is huge. And, if you are more of a purest like me, canola and/or palm oil is in almost everything among a few other undesirable ingredients. What is really true is the genius of Joe Columbe who paid for all products up front (it's one of the few companies of its size that is still private and debt free) and created a culture that he knew the public would become addicted to. OH...nope, we will never be part of the digital age. It was always meant to be a people first company.
I had no idea Trader Joe's has been owned by ALDI for so many years..... Truly, I thought all this time Joe held it privately.
Aldi and trader Joe's were originally founded by brothers. One wanted their store to also sell cigarettes, and the other didn't want to, so they created different stores
Aldi is a 100% private company to this day
@@kittymcmeowmeow1 both are still called Aldi internationally, Trader Joe's is a part of "Aldi Nord" the US Aldi Stores are a part of "Aldi Süd"
Sash Wrong. It wasn’t originally founded by two brothers. It was sold to them.
@@CaitlinStoryLovesYou Well the brothers founded Aldi and split their business in 1961 one of them later bought Trader Joe's to expand to America while the other build stores under the Aldi brand in the US, in Germany both are still called Aldi but one operates only in southern Germany (the one owning Aldi US) and the other only in northern Germany (the one owning Trader Joe's)
I spend about $50 every time at traders joes and literally walk out with bags of food
As a mom I love the “little joe” shopping carts my toddler gets an experience while I shop . Win win!
I am a international student from Canada and I started just LOVING their food!! It's such good quality, lots of it is healthy and all around so good. It's also not super over priced like the quality food of whole foods
They have good vegan options with clear vegan labeling. Any store willing to do that deserves business.
100% agree. Even as a vegetarian, they'd label animal rennet, which most stores do not.
Yes ! They make it easy for me 😌
THIS
YES! shopping as a vegetarian in other local stores is tough
Whole Foods does the same lol they’re just more expensive HA
Everybody who works at Trader Joe’s is super nice so sometimes I can’t tell if they are just being friendly or flirting lol
As someone who has worked multiple customer service jobs, FRIENDLY.
Flirting??? Where is this store located?
haha they’re trained to be that nice to you.
I have actually been asked out once by a cashier at Trader Joe’s so sometimes they ARE flirting😂
lol
as a person who gets a lot of anxiety going out especially when grocery shopping Trader Joe’s is calming and my favorite by far
A grocery store designer (I used to approve building plans for a city) told me that lower lighting, narrow aisles, low ceilings and low shelves appeal to older shoppers as opposed to places like Costco. Nothing in Costco looks appealing
It has that country grocery store feel. Like there is a farm in the back
I spend a lot of money at Trader Joe's cause they have the cheapest nuts, cereals, wines, breads, and authentic EVOO. The reason I spend a lot of money there is saving on what I need to buy.
Target on the other hand.. What was I supposed to buy?!
In MY OPINION you should try to spend quality money on wine or just don’t buy it BUT you do you
Berk Sarioz exactly
@@imnotsofunny824 If you think spending a lot of money on wine equates to quality then you really have no idea what you're drinking. There are good tasting wines that are in the 10-15 dollar range you just have to be aware of what you're drinking. Buying and tasting is key, there are many factors that make a good wine such as acidity, dryness, sweetness, body, aroma and even the foods you're pairing the bottle with. With that in mind you can't just judge a wine based on it's price. If that's how you select your wines then IN MY OPINION I recommend that you please stop buying them because you're just wasting your money.
Christian Figueroa I know but typically where I live the cheaper wine tends to be garbage BUT I HATE when people buy expensive sh@t and there is no need to.
Target tells YOU what to buy.
Novelty is a big part of Trader Joe’s. From a psychological perspective, that attracts people. They blend and make their own products. Ginger and green is one of them. My favorite is the garlic spread.
Trader Joe's is the MOST stressful shopping experience, at least in NYC. I can't imagine how anyone would find it enjoyable. I feel like I'm going to burst into tears everytime I walk in there and for that reason have actively avoided it for years (that and because I want to support local non-chain grocery stores, which I understand isn't an option for everyone.)
"...I feel like I'm going to burst into tears..."
And you reside in NYC?
Yeah, anything in NYC is that. It’s not the store.
As a regular and happy Trader Joe's shopper (aka Trader Joe's addict), I thank you for this informative video. Living only 2 minutes from our local Trader Joe's gives me extra incentive to be an addict... ;-)
I like to go there for the atmosphere. Most employees also seem genuinely happy, so the employer must be taking care of them. That makes me want to support the brand even more.
Trader Joes has the BEST quality ingredients at HALF the price of whole foods so idk what you're talkin about. It's the cheapest grocery store with the highest quality foods. Every other grocery store is processed garbage and whole foods is 2x more expensive than Trader Joes. Love TJs
Thank.👏🏽 You.👏🏽 My thoughts exactly 😁
Where do you live? Trader joes is triple what grocery store prices are here! Its a huge rip off for off brand items!
@@lranieri1 nope, not in Minnesota- it's VERY reasonably price, especially for the unique selections that I like.
@@lranieri1 Trader Joes is cheap. I live in New York City and I go to Trader Joes more than I go to Whole Foods.
i have noticed that they have a lot of GMO foods....
I love Trader Joe's! As a matter of fact I was recently there buying stuff for Thanksgiving. I appreciate that its quaint, good quality and in my mind unique. They have one of the best prepared food selections (soups, small snacks, salads, pastas, etc.). ❤
Generally the prices stay consistent. So once you know something you like you just keep getting it.
Helen, we see your husband couldn't hold back his overwhelming enthusiasm for his "favorite lava cake". lol :) 7:40
Hi! Helen’s husband here. I do love lava cakes! I’m actually a big sweet tooth 😅 But for my defense, it was early in the morning and I didn’t know I was gonna be on camera haha!
@@Dazdgn1990 Lol! Needed some Trader Joe's coffee
Right! She looked more excited 😂
@@Dazdgn1990 You both did great!...considering 😂 We're sure you enjoyed it.
After she schlepped 200+ blocks
Because they know how to treat customers like human, not a moving money bag to screw.
In my area Trader Joe's is actually pretty cheap compared to other grocery stores. There is a Whole Foods in the same plaza where you legit spend twice as much. I do wish they would be better about their packaging and environmental impact. Almost everything is packaged in plastic. I avoid purchasing certain items there, such as produce, to avoid the excess packaging. I do really love how friendly and awesome the staff are. I work with a young man with disabilities and I love to bring him there because the staff go out of their way to treat him really well. It gives him an opportunity to interact with strangers and practice his social skills. I also really like that it's easier to find items that fit my diet. I've found some really great vegan options that none of the other stores have.
Honestly as a teen and someone who doesn't ever need to go grocery shopping, I love going to Trader Joe's because it feels like an adventure or somewhere interesting to go if I have time off. I can also always get good, new foods that I've never tried before which are super easy to make if I want a quick dinner or lunch.
I did not know Trader Joe’s was owned my Aldi. No wonder I love shopping at both. It’s cheaper than shopping at Stop N Shop. I live in NYC. Food is expensive and Trader Joe’s and Aldi allows me to save money
I second that
Kasandra Williams really? I always thought that Stop N Shop was cheaper than TJ!
Where I am, they’re always having a weekly sale
iChristianGurl I know Shop Rite is more affordable, but there is non in my area. Only Stop N Shop, which is pricer in my opinion
Trader joes is owned by the other aldi. Yes, there are two aldi. Both branded as Aldi in europe, but only one branded as Aldi in the US. Yes, its dumb and confusing but aldi and trader goes in the US are owned by different companies.
@@joshuacook2 But still frendly related and working companies, avoiding any competition between them.
Trader Joe's + dollar store + farmers market = an affordable yet valuable, and well rounded shopping experience for me :)
Ali Meets World shh 🤫 you gonna mess it up for us
Most farmers markets just buy thier stuff from the local terminals anyway.
@@KrolKaz for sure :) but mine doesn't. I live in a small area so you get to know the people and their farms. They literally sell it out of their vans/trucks once a week in a parking lot lol
Farmer's markets are not cheap where I live, so YMMV :/
@@green--apple no worries :) maybe try making a home garden for some produce or spices then. They have kits you can get on amazon affordably, as well as tons of videos on youtube to teach ya how to do it on your own. Plus, I haven't been to the farmers market in a few months myself lol have a good day, stay safe! :)
I love TJ's! Many years ago, my mom brought up how we were shopping for my birthday foods or party or something while casually chatting with the cashier. After he scanned the rest of our food, he reached over the display shelf and handed me a free bag of holiday-themed gummies with a smile and wished me a happy birthday. I was so happy coming out of that store lol. I love the atmosphere there, and that moment made me fall in love with the store even more.
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
I think the pandemic has taught people the importance of multipLe stream of income, unfortunately having a job doesn't mean financial freedom or security
With the consistent weekly profits Im getting investing with Aaron James Benyamina there's no doubt, he is the most reliable in the market
Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in
Ever since I Lost my job with the ministry,I have been surviving through my investment with him, am so glad I invested when I did
Investment is that tiny Line that separates the rich from the Poor
Trader Joe’s workers are truly the nicest‼️❤️
Yes! Up there with Chic-Fil-A. Wonder how they recruit & train??
billion8 they pay people well and give good benefits. That’s why lol pay anyone well and they’ll put more effort into their job
Started at Trader Joe’s after leaving the corporate sector, benefits after 90 days, started me at $16.50, honest work is rewarding to come by.
I feel like the video could be shorter
What I like IS the limited selection. WAYYYYY less stressful to shop because there’s not a million choices and it’s not so big
Gosh I do love HEB! I love how every product they have, they have a version that is made in texas and supports texas businesses. And you dont have to shop anywhere else! Central market is good too especially the butcher counter
Girl you need to get yourself some reusable bags
Amazing the handles stayed on😂
NYC only uses reusable bags now
@Kate GIbs simple, buy them secondhand
Any bag can be reused. And at least paper is bio-degradeable...
Kate GIbs reusable bags aren’t made up of one material so your argument is only circumstantially valid. I make my reusable bags out of canvas/muslin. You can make any size reusable bag you want to with natural fabric and cotton thread without posing a threat to the planet.
“Customers want to feel like they are smart shoppers”
oof
Long story short, Trader Joe's is pretentious.
I have traveled around the world and TJ's food is just decent school lunches. Not horrible but a good medium for trying new foods.
They want to try new food right out of the box and the healthy image of the brand makes them think its wise to shop there. some product have labels like Organic, vegan, new flavors, off brand, plant based.
For the people saying it’s cheap, double check quantity in the package compared to other stores because I’ve noticed Aldi sometimes gives me the allusion a bag of snacks is cheaper but it is also smaller and I have a feeling Trader Joe’s has stuff like this. It’s annoying but I like to track quantity and price compare when I’m shopping at both places because it just seems like stuff is smaller sometimes 🤷♀️
Hmm. Really? Honestly, never saw that. Their snack bags, for a couple of dollars, are huge.
Getting groceries has become pretty much my social life these days, and going to TJ makes me feel excited and happy to go
13:49
I disagree. I worked at the Trader Joe’s location in SW Florida and the staff was on point with making sure the product was handled properly. Frozen foods went to the freezer right away and was the first thing to get stocked overnight. I’ve never seen a more dedicated team than TJ Naples.
It can vary by store. He probably had a worse manager than you did.
Lol of course Naples would have a great store. Naples is one if not THE most bougie towns in FL🤣🤣😂😂
Did you refer to Naples as SW Florida what the
Here in Miami there are two stores and they are disasters. The new one is worse than the 1st one. They have a real problem with stocking. 2021 the new store had no pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and more stuff too much to write about. But the ones in Broward are excellent.
@@lauraharrison295 yes, that’s where Naples is geographically located…
I love how the stores are small and things are easy to find other stores really are stressful and over whelming
I feel way less stressed when I shop at Trader Joe’s compared to other grocery stores that’s why I keep going back
No MSG in any product in the whole store. Incredible.
Being an employee for many years at Trader Joe's, I can tell you that most of this in this video is legit. Great job id say. but also some inconsistencies here that are def worth mentioning. And have nothing to do with her, but mostly that employee, and some of the info she was given. Ill straight up tell you that it varies from store to store when it comes to being "a good grocery store". maybe that location didnt do it as well, but some others do, so you can have a totally different experience there. Ive worked at, at least 5 different stores, some for longer periods of time, and some just for covering shifts etc. And i can easily say that some Trader Joe's do the "grocery store" thing very very well. Also! I think she mentioned how "its not that the prices are necessarily cheaper..." Well, actually they are. A good handful of them anyways. If you wanted to do some legit side-by-side comparisons to some other stores, youd see that they are actually cheaper. Every once in a while though Ill see the exact opposite and see a product more expensive at Trader joes, but i feel that is so extremely rare. I say this because I live directly across the street from some other grocery stores and DO have to shop there once in a while, so I am always seeing first hand just how much of a difference it is in price, with direct comparisons. Other than those 2 things, I think this is such a great video!
I love Trader Joe’s. The Trader Joe’s in my town has done the best in my opinion for being COVID-19 conscious. They are also always friendly and helpful. One time I also told a cashier that I had passed my first semester of nursing school and so he went and grabbed me a bouquet of flowers. It was such an awesome jester! Btw I also graduated this May from nursing school! 👊
did u pay for the flowers
Joycelyn A I doubt it.. lol
it's "gesture", not "jester"
@@madisonpage5483 can you believe it
@@marilynwillett804 in this day and age, yeah lol...no one can spell nor use grammar properly
I love the dried fruit, nuts, wine and cheese sections at Trader Joes and the value in that area is legit, but a lot of the "ethnic" foods can be bought at ethnic stores for about the same price or cheaper and the quality is much better. The produce is not that great either at TJs. Still, I prefer them over the bigger grocery stores because of customer service.
Hahah yes! I have a Trader Joe’s 1/2 a mile from where I live... literally it’s so crowded sometimes and everyone seems to love it
Why you spend so much Money at Trader Joe's: Stockpiling for Coronavirus
lmaoooooo
Roman do you know better alternative?
If you have food intolerances like gluten or corn or soy-Trader Joe’s (and Aldis) are the ONLY stores to get food without those additives, and affordably. It’s the only place I’ve found a mayonnaise that doesn’t use soybean oil for under $9 a jar (whole foods sells avocado oil based mayo-it’s expensive and I don’t like the taste!)
I love love love Trader Joe's. They have great products, almost everything I've tried tastes wonderful, customer service is wonderful (at least at the locations I shop at), it's clean, and most importantly, it's accessible.
I think the biggest factor to customer satisfaction at Trader Joe’s is the variety of new and interesting products. They make new versions of foods everyone wants to try.
My two favorite stores: Trader Joes and Aldi
YEP me too!!!
One thing I love about trader joe's is to discover new things and I can visit every corner of the store easily in a short amount of time and not get overwhelmed.
I love Trader Joe’s because their staffs are the most friendliest employees.
And very helpful
I get super overwhelmed and anxious when I go to costco or Walmart. Trader Joe’s reminds me of this chill hippie dude HAHA, their employers are so nice and genuine. I’m going to continue to shop at TJs
Trader Joe's ingredients in alot of their foods are very clean and not all filled with any ingredient with names you cant pronounce .