Why is Trader Joe’s so chaotic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call it Trader Joe’s tourism. People are wandering about looking for interesting things. They insist on taking carts down aisles too small and go in all directions. I don’t know if the TJ tourists are just excited about TJ specialities or if half of them have literally never visited a grocery store before.

I think this is right.

They also have a way of moving key staples around, like seltzer. So then you have to go against the flow to find it.

[Anonymous]

I know many like it. But I never saw the attraction. I felt like I could never get my full grocery list there and would need to go to multiple stores.

[Anonymous]

Go as soon as they open. If you wait, it will be rough.

[Anonymous]

I’m close to the location on 14th street. Whew a nightmare. I now go to union market and that is much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call it Trader Joe’s tourism. People are wandering about looking for interesting things. They insist on taking carts down aisles too small and go in all directions. I don’t know if the TJ tourists are just excited about TJ specialities or if half of them have literally never visited a grocery store before.

This. And the TikTokers filming everything. So many people wandering aimlessly that take 5 minutes to decide on every product.

I go in knowing what I want and can make it through quickly. I also don’t use a cart. Shop directly into my bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one in college park is not like this at all. There is one tiny one in Bethesda that just sucks.

That tiny one in Bethesda was the worst. The one in DC on Florida isn't bad.

I think part of the problem is that people take so long to read labels there because it's all new to them since they have so many new products.

[Anonymous]

Sunday is more crowded than Saturday.
Monday evening is crowded too.

[Anonymous]

Gosh, you guys are major complainers....a bit spoiled, are you not? It is crowded because it is popular; great prices and good stuff. Go to Safeway/Giant if it bothers you. I love TJ and do not have any problems with it, even at the small Bethesda one. Best time to go is before closing. Hardly anyone there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call it Trader Joe’s tourism. People are wandering about looking for interesting things. They insist on taking carts down aisles too small and go in all directions. I don’t know if the TJ tourists are just excited about TJ specialities or if half of them have literally never visited a grocery store before.

I think this is right.

They also have a way of moving key staples around, like seltzer. So then you have to go against the flow to find it.

Seltzer is not a staple food. That might be one of your problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh, you guys are major complainers....a bit spoiled, are you not? It is crowded because it is popular; great prices and good stuff. Go to Safeway/Giant if it bothers you. I love TJ and do not have any problems with it, even at the small Bethesda one. Best time to go is before closing. Hardly anyone there.

Remember shopping there during covid? There was a line out the door, everyone 6ft apart...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know many like it. But I never saw the attraction. I felt like I could never get my full grocery list there and would need to go to multiple stores.

I feel the same way. I can find a few niche things there but it could never be my primary grocery store. It’s an occasional stop at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like it but at my local TJs all the staff and half the customers are in masks! It's like stepping into 2020.

Oh no, wherever will you get your daily dose of stranger spit?

Found the masked TJ lunatic

[Anonymous]

Seems like the last bastion of masked super-weirdos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All grocery stores are like this now. Someone shoved me with their cart so they could get to the organic strawberries at whole foods. Aisles are more narrow, store hours are more limited. It's the physical manifestation of shrinkflation

Oooh, she would have had to get into with me. That would have been good! Some of us are from NYC and love a challenge from a dumbarse DMVer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grocery stores are like this now. Someone shoved me with their cart so they could get to the organic strawberries at whole foods. Aisles are more narrow, store hours are more limited. It's the physical manifestation of shrinkflation

Oooh, she would have had to get into with me. That would have been good! Some of us are from NYC and love a challenge from a dumbarse DMVer.

I know you're being badass here, but the elderly NoVa Korean couples at Costco would take you out in a heartbeat.