I work at Trader Joe's. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I have no idea, sorry. I don't buy milk that frequently but when I do, I haven't had that problem. Is it all kinds, or a specific kind (like the organic 2%)? Maybe it's the specific store's refrigeration?

Different poster, but we have had this problem with TJ's milk for the last decade or two. It's less of an issue for us currently, as one of my kids drinks a lot of milk and helps us get through it fast. But before this, we'd avoid the milk.

Tangent but we also avoid FreshDirect milk.

[Anonymous]

Why does trader joe's smell so bad?? Do you get used to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

I know OP answered, but I'd actually think this is more common at a place like TJ's than an average grocery store. Unique items you can't get anywhere else, plus less distribution than national brands. My mom always stocks up like this because she lives a couple of hours from the nearest TJ's.

DH is Filipino and his parents would always bring back American items to his family when he was growing up. But now so many of them are even more readily available in the Philippines, especially in Manila. My ILs retired back to the Philippines in the 90s, and then we became the people bringing American things back home to them, but after a while, especially in the last 10 years, my FIL's balikbayan list was like, all Trader Joe's stuff, lol. It was us at the checkout with 20 of a certain kind of chocolate bar and 15 of a particular snack, etc.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I have no idea, sorry. I don't buy milk that frequently but when I do, I haven't had that problem. Is it all kinds, or a specific kind (like the organic 2%)? Maybe it's the specific store's refrigeration?

Different poster, but we have had this problem with TJ's milk for the last decade or two. It's less of an issue for us currently, as one of my kids drinks a lot of milk and helps us get through it fast. But before this, we'd avoid the milk.

Tangent but we also avoid FreshDirect milk.

I get my milk delivered from a local farm. It's extremely fresh and minimally processed, and it goes bad way faster than grocery store milk. Any milk that last a long time is heavily processed and probably has added preservatives.

[Anonymous]

Is everyone so peppy even in the back room?

[Anonymous]

Do you still have find the monkey for kids? My kids are grown up but they loved that. And the stickers.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:tell us something interesting. what is your life story? how did you end up working at TJ? how old are you?

That would be too much personal identifying info. And TJs HR is known for firing employees that publicly say bad things about the company.

We already know who you are, Mike.

- TJ HR (just kidding)

[Anonymous]

Are you on the “Trader Joe’s meal ideas for busy moms” Facebook group? It’s actually pretty funny!

[Anonymous]

Do you find that the customers are mostly polite, kind of goes with the jimmy buffet vibe or have you had many rude encounters?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

How long have you worked there and what led you to apply there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you on the “Trader Joe’s meal ideas for busy moms” Facebook group? It’s actually pretty funny!

I had to silence that group around the holidays because I would crave to many of the holiday sweets. I was hopping by to see if I could find what I saw on facebook a little to often!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your favorite thing about working at TJs?

The best thing are my coworkers. They're fun, we laugh a lot. I've made some great friendships because the people (the regular crew members, and some mates and captains) are just good people.

Also, can you tell me what the bell system is? Like 2 rings means what?

The bells are a communication system - if we need assistance from another employee to go grab or check on something, if we need a mate/manager, or if we need other crew to come to the register.