Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:46     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
I find TJ is perfect for supplementing in between the weekly grocery shopping. You can get fruit/vegetables/milk/eggs/cheese/meat, it's just not enough of a selection to avoid additional grocery shopping. But what they do have tends to be cheaper, and there is a TJ in walking distance of where I live (before then, I only went once every few months to get certain items like sliced goat cheese and cheap wine).
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:45     Subject: Re:Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think they’re totally different and aren’t comparable. I’ve never understood the love for Trader Joe’s though. It carries fewer items, is smaller than the other grocery stores and more crowded. I can’t get our week’s worth of groceries there and always end up at Whole Foods or Wegmans anyway.


Trader Joe's is where I go when I want unhealthy snacks and frozen foods. It really delivers in that area. The regular groceries are also pretty cheap, but you won't be able to clear your list there.


What produce can you not find at Trader Joe's? I cook healthy meals at least five days a week and find almost everything I need there. I rarely buy their processed foods except for some chips and the garlic spread.


What healthy meals do you cook from there? We live super close to one, but other than turkey meatballs and frozen cauliflower rice, I haven't been very inspired and would love tips.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:44     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I think Costco per unit is probably cheaper, since their emphasis is on bulk and price, but we joined Costco and quit quickly in time to get our membership fee refunded. The store nearest to us was a stress inducing zoo with checkout lines that took 25 minutes, their online delivery was crap, and we didn't like having enormous quantities of everything--we don't have enough storage for a 4 pack of massive ketchup bottles. Trader Joe's doesn't really have everything we need, but they're great for frozen food, processed food items that are surprisingly tasty, and their fresh fruit isn't bad. So we'll save that membership fee and go to stores that are more convenient or get stuff from Wegman's or Giant where we aren't required to buy a ton.


Costco gas is $0.30 cheaper per gallon. That's enough for me to break even on the membership fee.

As for checkout, don't go to Costco on the weekends.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:41     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing


Yeah, but some of the processed crap is soo yummy!

TJs is easy intstant meals and snacks for young/single people, Costco is for families that mostly cook from scratch.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:38     Subject: Re:Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think they’re totally different and aren’t comparable. I’ve never understood the love for Trader Joe’s though. It carries fewer items, is smaller than the other grocery stores and more crowded. I can’t get our week’s worth of groceries there and always end up at Whole Foods or Wegmans anyway.


Trader Joe's is where I go when I want unhealthy snacks and frozen foods. It really delivers in that area. The regular groceries are also pretty cheap, but you won't be able to clear your list there.


What produce can you not find at Trader Joe's? I cook healthy meals at least five days a week and find almost everything I need there. I rarely buy their processed foods except for some chips and the garlic spread.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:13     Subject: Re:Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I think they’re totally different and aren’t comparable. I’ve never understood the love for Trader Joe’s though. It carries fewer items, is smaller than the other grocery stores and more crowded. I can’t get our week’s worth of groceries there and always end up at Whole Foods or Wegmans anyway.


Trader Joe's is where I go when I want unhealthy snacks and frozen foods. It really delivers in that area. The regular groceries are also pretty cheap, but you won't be able to clear your list there.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 12:10     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
I think Costco per unit is probably cheaper, since their emphasis is on bulk and price, but we joined Costco and quit quickly in time to get our membership fee refunded. The store nearest to us was a stress inducing zoo with checkout lines that took 25 minutes, their online delivery was crap, and we didn't like having enormous quantities of everything--we don't have enough storage for a 4 pack of massive ketchup bottles. Trader Joe's doesn't really have everything we need, but they're great for frozen food, processed food items that are surprisingly tasty, and their fresh fruit isn't bad. So we'll save that membership fee and go to stores that are more convenient or get stuff from Wegman's or Giant where we aren't required to buy a ton.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:24     Subject: Re:Trader Joe vs Costco
I think they’re totally different and aren’t comparable. I’ve never understood the love for Trader Joe’s though. It carries fewer items, is smaller than the other grocery stores and more crowded. I can’t get our week’s worth of groceries there and always end up at Whole Foods or Wegmans anyway.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:21     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing


Costco is mostly computers and sheds and vacuums and clothing and pills.

It doesn't matter what they sell that you don't buy. It matters what you buy.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:18     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing


False.


LOL it's this person. Took only 3 posts for them to post this same thing they post on every TJ thread.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:13     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing


Disagree with the Trader Joe’s comments- I am able to do 99percent of my shopping at Trader Joe’s. We eat healthy and not a lot of processed at all. It’s easy to get real, whole food ingredients to cook with.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:13     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
Anonymous wrote:I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing


False.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:12     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
I get staples at costco. Trader Joes is mostly processed crap with really good marketing
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:09     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
I buy very different items at both stores so I don't really put them in an apples to apples comparison. Use whichever one suits you best!
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2024 11:00     Subject: Trader Joe vs Costco
It seems like Trader Joe's and Costco have converged in price per unit of food, The Trader Joe's lets you buy fewer units well, Costco requires you buy in bulk.