Why is Trader Joe’s so chaotic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dream job is actually working at TJ. I love it so much and find it really calming. It’s so bright and cheerful and filled with tasty things. I’m a lawyer and feel like you’d deal with a lot less angry aggressive people at a TJ. I’m so sick of aggro male opposing counsel and just want to pack a freezer bag for someone and tell them which new products I particularly love.

For a day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's part of the charm. It doesn't bother me, except at the tiny Bethesda one because the aisles are too narrow. But once the Friendship Heights one opens there will be 4 TJs within a few mile stretch of Wisconsin Ave so I won't need to go to the original Bethesda store again.

I went to TJ for the first time last weekend. There is nothing charming about that store, its crowded aisles, crazy parking lot, and long checkout lines with yapping clerks. And the items my SIL raved about are totally mediocre!

I will never go there again. I honestly wouldn't go there again if the food was free. We're not filthy rich but I will gladly pay a premium to shop at prestige grocers to avoid all of that. People who obsess over TJ seem to be cult-like and susceptible to guerilla marking tactics... or something.

Exactly. Parking. Ugh. Foods that are labeled from Trader Joes but are actually from Portugal or elsewhere. Ugh. Produce that doesn't last a day. Ugh. And more.

Food from portugal sounds great.

Its a really good deal on staples like eggs, milk, cheese (esp cheese). Decent jarred olives and tomato sauce, some nice bread options. Produce is a bit iffy. The frozen prepared food is abysmal, but what frozen prepared food isnt??

Why would you even bother going there if you're just getting staples? You can get those curb side or delivered by any other grocer.

I go there because it’s within walking distance, and most of the staples I buy there are super cheap— cheaper than any other grocer nearby.

I do too. It’s pleasant and not huge and the staff are nice. I quit Costco during the trial period because I found it overwhelmingly large and completely understaffed. But some people love Costco so to each their own.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to stores in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY; Charlottesville, VA; Rockville, College Park, and one in California somewhere.

They all have horrible parking lots and are overcrowded and chaotic.

Avoid College Park TJ on Sunday morning. It’s insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to stores in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY; Charlottesville, VA; Rockville, College Park, and one in California somewhere.

They all have horrible parking lots and are overcrowded and chaotic.

Avoid College Park TJ on Sunday morning. It’s insane.

Oh and Bethesda and Washington, DC.

Bethesda is the worst because the parking lot owners find ways to ticket people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to stores in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY; Charlottesville, VA; Rockville, College Park, and one in California somewhere.

They all have horrible parking lots and are overcrowded and chaotic.

Avoid College Park TJ on Sunday morning. It’s insane.

Oh and Bethesda and Washington, DC.

Bethesda is the worst because the parking lot owners find ways to ticket people.

Bethesda TJ is great. Yes you should avoid the parking lot (and plenty of residents walk there) but the store itself if great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to stores in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY; Charlottesville, VA; Rockville, College Park, and one in California somewhere.

They all have horrible parking lots and are overcrowded and chaotic.

Avoid College Park TJ on Sunday morning. It’s insane.

Oh and Bethesda and Washington, DC.

Bethesda is the worst because the parking lot owners find ways to ticket people.

News flash: there are 2 TJs in Bethesda and at least 3 that I know of in DC.

[Anonymous]

You have no idea what the word chaotic means at Trader Joe's unless you have been to one in NYC where the line wraps around the entire store as soon as you enter.

[Anonymous]

I don't care about their parking because I walk/take buses, and find they're great for all kinds of nuts, organic chicken, salad stuff, and eggs - all less expensive there than anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's part of the charm. It doesn't bother me, except at the tiny Bethesda one because the aisles are too narrow. But once the Friendship Heights one opens there will be 4 TJs within a few mile stretch of Wisconsin Ave so I won't need to go to the original Bethesda store again.

I went to TJ for the first time last weekend. There is nothing charming about that store, its crowded aisles, crazy parking lot, and long checkout lines with yapping clerks. And the items my SIL raved about are totally mediocre!

I will never go there again. I honestly wouldn't go there again if the food was free. We're not filthy rich but I will gladly pay a premium to shop at prestige grocers to avoid all of that. People who obsess over TJ seem to be cult-like and susceptible to guerilla marking tactics... or something.

Exactly. Parking. Ugh. Foods that are labeled from Trader Joes but are actually from Portugal or elsewhere. Ugh. Produce that doesn't last a day. Ugh. And more.

Food from portugal sounds great.

Its a really good deal on staples like eggs, milk, cheese (esp cheese). Decent jarred olives and tomato sauce, some nice bread options. Produce is a bit iffy. The frozen prepared food is abysmal, but what frozen prepared food isnt??

Why would you even bother going there if you're just getting staples? You can get those curb side or delivered by any other grocer.

Its way cheaper for the organic and gourmet ingredients. The cheese is far cheaper and high quality blue cheese, mozzarella balls, hard cheeses. Milk and eggs are way cheaper than Safeway and organic milk is not ultra pasteurized which you get at conventional grocery stores. Almond flour is like 4x the cost elsewhere.

Curbside and delivery generally costs a lot of money. Again TJ is a good value for good quality. I can get behind Aldi and Lidl too, but much of their food has artificial flavors and preservatives— a rarity in TJ food.

Whole Foods I guess has good quality stuff, and I love Wegmans, but far far more expensive

[Anonymous]

if you hate it so much, don't go. The rest of us get why it's so good and worth it.

[Anonymous]

People don’t value their time. Most Americans are bored and do nothing productive in their free time, so wasting an afternoon at TJ is just something to do to waste some of the day away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s designed to give you the feel of an authentic bazaar or exotic international street market, but without Indiana Jones shooting a swordsman in the middle of it.

Jumping in my Audi crossover to go shop for "exotic" ultra processed frozen slop, which the hippie burnout at the register will claim is "his personal favorite"...

They aren't hippie burnouts. It's just the shirt.

[Anonymous]

It seems like a fun place to work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dream job is actually working at TJ. I love it so much and find it really calming. It’s so bright and cheerful and filled with tasty things. I’m a lawyer and feel like you’d deal with a lot less angry aggressive people at a TJ. I’m so sick of aggro male opposing counsel and just want to pack a freezer bag for someone and tell them which new products I particularly love.

For a day

Actually I really think I would love it for many days, assuming my knees held out (but I think with the right shoes it would work). I’ve been a lawyer for 25 years and am so sick of it. The only part I really like is chit chatting with lots of different people. I assume it would be a huge pay cut which is why I’m not doing it — also because I still have kids at home and the lawyer gig has a somewhat more flexible schedule. But I would definitely like the TJ gig more. I freakin’ love packing a grocery bag. It’s so satisfying and you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something. Unlike the law which is increasingly a frustrating exercise in spending everyone’s money for no measurable improvement in anyone’s life. Spreading joy through reasonably priced cheese and Kringle is something I could get behind enthusiastically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I shop at the Federal Plaza and Darnestown Rd locations and haven’t encountered any issues.

You're kidding, right? The parking lot is a disaster and the inside of TJs is a free for all.