You have to shop for groceries; you might as well have a great experience while doing it. The grocer provides a unique environment to customers, including a tremendous amount of free samples, an almost constant offering of new items, and reasonably priced treats.
While shopping at Trader Joe’s can be a pleasant experience, it’s easy to lose your focus and make a mistake or two.
Today, we’re walking through the seven deadly sins of Trader Joe’s and how you can avoid them. Let’s get started!
What Is Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s is a chain of grocery stores with more than 500 locations. They pride themselves in offering everything from basic needs to uncommon products under the Trader Joe’s brand. The store believes every shopper that walks through its doors should have access to the best possible prices on the best possible products.
As a result, they don’t accept coupons or offer loyalty programs or membership cards. If you want the best possible food at the best price, you should find a Trader Joe’s near you!
Why Is Trader Joe’s Famous?
Trader Joe’s has earned a reputation for offering high-quality, unique food items and everyday necessities at low prices. Shopping at Trader Joe’s isn’t your standard shopping experience, it’s an adventure. The store goes out of its way to maximize the shopping experience, even going as far as letting customers try any product on the shelves simply by asking an employee.
Shoppers love that the store offers free coffee and that you can practically make a meal by visiting the many sample stations around the store. They’re known for being on the cutting edge of offering new items and creating a unique experience.
How many grocery stores do you know that have a podcast? You read that right!
By listening to the Trader Joe’s podcast, you can get the inside scoop regarding this famous grocery chain.
7 Deadly Sins of Trader Joe’s Shopping
Trader Joe’s prides itself in helping customers have a tremendous shopping experience. However, many shoppers get caught up in the excitement of the shopping adventure and make a few mistakes.
Luckily, we’re sharing the seven deadly sins of Trader Joe’s shopping so you can avoid making the same mistakes. Let’s get started!
1. Going Without a Shopping List
One of the easiest sins of the seven deadly sins to commit is walking through the doors of Trader Joe’s without a shopping list. If you do, you’re likely going to forget half of the items that brought you to the store in the first place. You’ll also likely leave having spent twice as much as you planned.
Do yourself a favor and only walk into Trader Joe’s with a list of items you’re looking to find. You can always add the extra unique items you find to your shopping cart, but you’ll know you have what you came for.
2. Getting Caught Up in the Plant Aisle at the Entrance
Like everything at Trader Joe’s, the plant aisle, typically located at the store’s entrance, always changes. They update their plant offerings based on the season. You’ll typically find tulips and daffodils in the spring and mums in the fall.
You may not have come to the store looking for a potted plant, but if you spend enough time in the plant aisle, you’ll convince yourself that you need one.
3. Purchasing the Pricey Meat and Seafood
Meat and seafood are expensive anywhere you buy them, but you’ll pay even more if you buy them at Trader Joe’s. With prices going through the roof in recent years due to inflation, you want to get the best possible deal for your meat and seafood.
Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s shoppers can expect to pay at least $2 more per pound by shopping at Trader Joe’s compared to Walmart or Costco.
Lauren Greutman, a financial coach, said, “It’s so much more expensive, and honestly, I think the packages don’t have a ton in them.” Instead of Trader Joe’s, it’s worth considering the company’s distant cousin, Aldi, for your meat and seafood purchases.
4. Buying the Dry Premade Sandwiches
While Trade Joe’s typically knocks it out of the park for its product offerings, their premade sandwiches are a swing and a miss. They’re typically very dry or bland tasting.
In addition, the premade wraps are also equally as disappointing. If you decide to commit this sin, don’t say we didn’t warn you! It’s one mistake you’ll likely only make once.
5. Stocking Up on Overpriced Vitamins
Trader Joe’s has a reputation for being a store frequented by health-conscious individuals. As a result, the grocery chain offers a variety of vitamins. However, they’re disappointingly overpriced compared to other retailers.
On top of that, you must consider that Trader Joe’s doesn’t accept coupons. Places like Target, Walmart, and Walgreens typically offer the same vitamins but for a fraction of the cost. If you can find them at a local health food market, you may be able to score a coupon and get the most bang for your buck!
6. Replacing Your Name Brand Cereal With Joe’s Brand
Trader Joe’s rarely carries name brands of anything, including cereal. As a result, they create a brand of their own and put it out on the shelves of their stores.
As a result, you could be paying the same price for the Trader Joe’s brand of cereal as you would the name brand at any other grocery retailer. Unless you prefer the taste of Trader Joe’s cereal, you’ll likely get a better deal by purchasing your cereal elsewhere.
7. Thinking Everything at Trader Joe’s Is Organic
While Trader Joe’s offers a variety of organic food options, not everything the store sells is organic. Many shoppers commit the sin of thinking everything on the shelves is organic.
Unless they dive into the label’s fine print for themselves, they could find themselves eating non-organic food. If eating organic is essential to you, read the labels carefully to avoid committing this sin while shopping at Trader Joe’s.
Is Shopping at Trader Joe’s Worth It?
If you enjoy a fun shopping experience or like to try unique foods regularly, Trader Joe’s is worth it. Some hardcore Trader Joe’s enthusiasts will drive out of their way to shop at their beloved store. However, don’t make the mistake of walking into a Trader Joe’s and losing all common sense, especially if you’re on a budget.
Get the items that make sense for you and your situation. If you know, you can get an item for cheaper at Walmart or some other retailer, wait to buy it elsewhere.
However, visiting the Trader Joe’s sample stations is always worth it!
Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA
To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).
You should give it a try!
As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.
Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers who love to score the best site!
We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Access the list by submitting your email below: