I work at Trader Joe's. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do employees get to pick the music that plays in the store? I was really jamming out to a Grateful Dead song a few weekends ago and one of the employees said it was their playlist.

It depends on the store, but generally yes. As long as the captain (main store manager) is cool with it.

[Anonymous]

Were you always this happy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

I think they keep their bread frozen and then put it out on the shelves. Moisture builds up in the bag that facilitates mold.

Some bread arrives, and stays frozen (if we receive a lot of it). This is mostly the brioche though. Other breads arrive usually daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do they source such great flowers? The prices are amazing and they last weeks for me.

This one I don't know. The flowers and plants are really a great deal, even if I remove myself from the 'employee' perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe the people who are defending Trader Joe’s cheating their hardworking employees out of their 401k compensation. Solidarity folks!

Today it is the Trader Joe’s mate, tomorrow it is your white collar employee who says “hey guys, it’s been a lean year and unless we retroactively cut your retirement contributions our execs won’t get their million dollar bonuses. Todd’s second beach house ain’t gonna pay for itself.”

Earlier last year, TJs was lauded in the media for (temporarily) adding “hazard pay” to the hourly wages of employees. They took it away earlier this year, in addition to regular raises.

What’s clear is that temporarily added “hazard pay” was essentially the 401k contribution that they cut, and wasn’t really a kind contribution for working in person on the front lines this entire time as an essential worker. Had they been upfront and clear from the get go so employees could plan, there would be less of an issue. THAT is the bait and switch.

Meanwhile, they also took away “covid pay” (pay if you had to call out due to a positive test). It was reinstated less than 2 weeks ago, but only if you are boosted and only for 3 days. The new 3-day plan was only put in place after omicron surged, and thus people had to cancel/reschedule their boosters due to having already caught covid - they don't any covid pay if they test positive.

Though I have not tested positive for covid, I have also been explicitly encouraged to come in while sick with a cold, because stores are severely short staffed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

That means they don't pack the bread with preservatives. This is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to defend TJs, but a bit of clarity on some of the points - discount is 10 percent for purchases under $20, 20 percent for over $20. The 401k has always been discretionary and given as a percentage of your pay, in addition your contributions. They never announce how much it is until the end of the year, so it was not really a bait and switch. And this year, the structure was changed which reduced it for some, but not all employees. (I don't work for TJ but know someone who does)

It's very much a bait and switch. I know several people who are 9.5 years and are being stiffed.

Note the retroactive change announced after the alleged #1 core value ("integrity")

5-10% salary match is still really good.

[Anonymous]

Is it under the same corporation as Aldi or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it under the same corporation as Aldi or not?

No, they are totally separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

I think they keep their bread frozen and then put it out on the shelves. Moisture builds up in the bag that facilitates mold.

Yes, I always see tons of condensation inside a lot of the bread bags so I don’t buy those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

I think they keep their bread frozen and then put it out on the shelves. Moisture builds up in the bag that facilitates mold.

Yes, I always see tons of condensation inside a lot of the bread bags so I don’t buy those.

Take it home, open the bag, let the condensation dry out, and use or freeze. This is not difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

Is it the Idylwood/Tysons location? Because I’ve had issues with their meat going bad before the date too. That location is just not a great one, generally speaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WFT happened to the soy coffee creamer. This was a staple for at least a decade and the best one out there. Then poof..disappeared

They discontinue things chiefly due to poor sales, and making room for new products that they think would sell better. Not in our control, sorry

Sales were great for this item. It was frequently sold out. An employee told me it was a supplier issue

If an employee at the store always told you what happened to it, why are you going on about it here?

[Anonymous]

Love TJ's. LOVE the employees at the 14th St and West End stores. I always come with my toddler in a stroller and they are always so nice (beyond what one might expect toward a little kid).

It's also the only store where I have never had anyone pack the bread at the bottom and then proceed to squish it with milk and other heavy objects.

You can walk into the bathroom and it's never weird or gross in there.

Produces has improved by miles in the last 5 years. Birthday cards and flowers are actually within my budget.

I am sad to hear that pay isn't as good as it used to be. I'd totally pay 10% more in groceries at TJ's if I knew it was going toward wages.

Ok, question for OP:: what are the top three least busy times these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love TJ's. LOVE the employees at the 14th St and West End stores. I always come with my toddler in a stroller and they are always so nice (beyond what one might expect toward a little kid).

It's also the only store where I have never had anyone pack the bread at the bottom and then proceed to squish it with milk and other heavy objects.

You can walk into the bathroom and it's never weird or gross in there.

Produces has improved by miles in the last 5 years. Birthday cards and flowers are actually within my budget.

I am sad to hear that pay isn't as good as it used to be. I'd totally pay 10% more in groceries at TJ's if I knew it was going toward wages.

Ok, question for OP:: what are the top three least busy times these days?

Weekdays opening-11am. Tues, Wed, Thurs probably least busy.