I work at Trader Joe's. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What stuff should I be buying there?

Depends entirely on your needs and wants! Everybody's tastes are different. Stocking up on our frozen items is super popular though - there's good variety if you don't have the time/energy to cook.

[Anonymous]

When is the new Bethesda store opening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How bad is covid among the staff?

Bad. We get notifications via our app. Probably 20 cases in my store alone in the past month. Please be kind and patient to the employees - they are exhausted, understaffed, and extremely busy even in good times. We're doing the best we can and are all juggling so many tasks at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What product is either known as the best value and/or you think is the best value?

Probably a lot of the wine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think people hovering around the sample area are greedy?

Not at all. But it seems like the samples are a thing of the past, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they paying you a living wage?

Definitely not. Most people have a 2nd job, or are also in school full time, or are retired and "do it for fun" (they're a people person, they want something to get them out of the house a few days a week, want the discount, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are your favorite, recurring seasonal items. Thinking fall, or holiday season.

Fall: the Thanksgiving chips are a personal fav. Christmasy: I love the non-food items like the olive wood bowls or garlands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When is the new Bethesda store opening?

No idea, not my store. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Does your supervisor tell you to smile and flirt with the customers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they treat you well as an employee?

They used to. These days no, and there are lots of whispers of unionizing. Pay is above minimum wage, but raises (and pennies half a year, if that) are capped and not congruent with inflation. The minimum hours for benefits has increased considerably over the years, 401k contributions decreased, and the work is very physical and often backbreaking. Everyone I know deals with some kind of on-the-job pain, from back pain to shoulder strain injuries to severe carpal tunnel. Hazard pay (pandemic related) has stopped, included covid pay if you must be out sick. Overtime pay is nonexistent, and many are looking for other jobs.

TJs used to have a reputation for treating their employees well, but they're riding out that rep while rapidly decreasing morale. This is, sadly, a common attitude among employees. Years ago they used to treat employees quite well.

That's really disappointing ti hear. I thought they had a rep of being a good place to work. I've worked places that were unionized and it was so, so much better (we always got our breaks, were not schedule to clopen).

[Anonymous]

Did you discontinue the Meatless Meatballs? If so I'm going to be devastated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your supervisor tell you to smile and flirt with the customers?

No, never. But there are a lot of weird people who don't understand the difference between chatty friendliness (because it's part of our job) and flirting.

[Anonymous]

TJs milk is cheaper but goes bad much faster than a traditional grocery store. Why do you think that is? Is it older?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you discontinue the Meatless Meatballs? If so I'm going to be devastated

Not sure! I can't check the product info while at home. But just ask someone next time you're in the store - they should be able to tell you if it's discontinued or on a production delay.

[Anonymous]

I do my main grocery shopping at other stores but go to TJs to stock up on specific TJ brand things. So my cart will be like 10 jars of eggplant dip, 5 each of the same frozen 3 indian meals, 6 jars of hot and sweet jalepenos, and 8 things of cold brew. I always feel weird at check out, like the cashier thinks I'm insane. Would you judge me for that cart or is it relatively normal?