I once got a mesh bag of clementines at Trader Joe’s. A few of the clementines turned out to be rotten but I didn’t notice until after I got home. I happened to mention it to the check out clerk, just in conversation, the next time I was there. He said they would give me my money back (no receipt needed) or he would have someone go get me another bag for free. I wasn’t even looking for compensation, it just so how came up in conversation.
Another time, I was purchasing something (can’t recall what) when the clerk asked if I’d ever tried this similar product. When I said I hadn’t, he had someone go get a box/bag, opened it up and offered me to try it. It was good, whatever it was. He then gave me the rest free of charge (wouldn’t let me pay since I hadn’t originally planned to purchase).
I think part of the “hype” around me a time least, for Trader Joe’s is that when it first arrived, we had nothing else like it. Just our regular grocery store chains, as well as Whole Foods, which is way above some people’s budgets. Since that time, we’ve had a lot of new stores open in my area - Aldi’s and Lidl (tho not one near enough to me to shop there), Wegmans and Fresh Market. With their arrival, Trader Joe’s has a lot more competition. I have specific things I go there for, but don’t do all my shopping there. Would I be upset if they closed…perhaps, b/c there are some things I really do like that I can get elsewhere for the same price. Nor do I have those other stores (Aldi, Lidl, Wegmans) in my neighborhood - just a disappointing local grocery chain.
That said, the one very irritating thing is when TJ suddenly discontinues something that is a favorite. Most recently, just yesterday I wanted a package of mozzarella balls, the kind that comes in liquid in a tub (ovoline). Not the dry shrink wrapped kind my chain store carries. I was so looking forward to slicing fresh tomatoes and basil from my garden with mozzarella. TJ’s has carried it for years! However, yesterday they just had the mini balls and burrata. I asked the two clerks who were restocking if they were just out or if it was discontinued. They said if it were out, the sign would still be there but flipped backward. There wasn’t one, so they said it must be discontinued. If so, I’ll be totally annoyed, esp at this time of year when I buy it nearly every week!
A couple of years ago I dropped a bottle of olive oil in the parking lot and it broke. I went in to purchase another and mentioned the breakage to the clerk in case they wanted to clean it up. She didn’t charge me for the replacement, even though it was totally my fault.
Just had to go back to TJs today and buy another 4# box of nectarines @$5.99. The 1st box was SO delicious but the last one in the box was rotten/moldy and had to be tossed. I guess I should have mentioned it to the cashier but we hog such enjoyment from the rest of the box.
D was stuck in the elevator once when she was trying to get to TJs in LA. They were very nice to her and comped her small cart of groceries! She was very impressed.
We like to buy their frozen microwaveable brown rice…we use it so often. You just microwave it for 3 mins and it’s good to go! We use it for stir-frys, etc. My H also likes their frozen Indian entrees and their frozen taquitos. S and D like a lot of their frozen stuff as well.
TJ’s is the only place I’ve ever seen with coffee soy milk. The only kind of milk I can abide are coffee and chocolate flavored milk. That’s reason enough for me to be glad that we have a TJ’s close by
Well sort of. Our first Whole Foods opened a few days ago. I stopped by today after work to check it out. Only had TJ bags in my car, so there’s that - me, walking into WF with TJ bags.
Didn’t have big expectations. Should have had “small” expectations. Because that’s what they did IMO - build a SMALL Whole Foods. Seems to happen all the time in our town - they bring in a store but it isn’t up to snuff in size! The Whole Foods an hour away in Ann Arbor must be at least 3 times bigger. This one, small produce area, awkwardly spaced out fresh food area, very basic food dining area in an awkward spot. Limited bakery items. Very underwhelming.
On that note, while they often say at TJ’s follows a Whole Foods in a town, I don’t know that TJ’s is going to have much competition if they do!
Trader Joe’s did follow Whole Foods into our area. People commented that Trader Joe’s would impact our Whole Foods. Hasn’t happened. Trader Joe’s has a steady stream of customers but isn’t overwhelming. WF is super busy pretty much all the time. Lunchtime is crazy busy.
I was just so surprised how “lesser” this new store seemed compared to other WF’s I’ve been in. I never expected or planned to do a lot of shopping there but I was really surprised how underwhelming it was.
I will watch my app for the Prime specials (some of them were worthwhile last week - nothing I wanted THIS week!) - and I forgot that if I use my Prime Visa I’ll get 5% back.
@abasket I wonder if your store was one of the stores originally planned with the more basic concept WF was planning to roll out then pulled back from.
In 2003, 70,000 grocery workers , across SoCal, went on strike for FOURTH MONTHS!!!
It was impossible to cross picket lines without being harassed and feeling threatened. At that time, I had young children and taking them across the picket lines in order to put food on the table, was very unsettling. Ultimately, even though it was more expensive than my regular grocery store, I switched to TJ (which was not on strike) where I felt safer.
I’ve never forgotten that time, carrying small children across the picket lines, and I’ve never been back to a supermarket in SoCal. I do all of my grocery shopping in TJ, and I don’t regret my decision
It was. And that was one of my thoughts while there…“oh that concept they pulled out of? That’s exactly what they still built!”
It was more than just being small. At least on this visit the products just didn’t seem up to par - the fresh food looked meek, the “deli” counter salads had that look of dry/stale on the edges. The produce was blah. (I’ve been to Whole Foods where the produce is like a work of art!)The decor was not Whole Foods “nice”.
What is the point in a basic WF’s besides perhaps featuring their 365 products? If it isn’t different than Kroger for example, people are just going to go to Kroger and pay less.
Our WF has excellent produce. Too bad yours is so disappointing.
Honestly, I think Amazon is working angles with the stores - shipping pick up, online orders. Kind of like the old Sears Roebuck concept refreshed. So, if you are in an area with attractive demographics I can see why they want a store there even if it isn’t as large or as nice as other stores. But, too bad for you.
Do you supplement with purchases from farms and farmers markets? Or is your Trader Joe’s super big? Otherwise, I’d personally find that very challenging because the TJs in my area don’t have anywhere near the variety of options as traditional grocery stores especially when it comes to fresh stuff, and they don’t carry much local products. Given the great products native to California, I’d feel like I was missing out on freshness.
I personally don’t know that we have the demographics to support a WF. But here it is.
I DO feel in the same area at TJ’s would do well. It’s in the area of a university and I think at TJ’s is more likely to get/keep customers here.
There is a Fresh Market, WF and Fresh Thyme all within a couple miles of each other. Can’t believe they will all survive.
@doschicos I grow my own fruit & veggies. I do buy things such as the persian cucumbers (although I have quite a bounty at the moment), bags of rainbow carrots and avocados. I also go to Chinatown to buy live fish from the tanks and whatever fruit & veg. I don’t grow or is almost impossible to find in most supermarkets. This week, I purchased fresh jackfruit and rambutans - yum!
