Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:47
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?
And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.
Only it doesn’t feel awesome, somehow it feels almost like an insult, because you know they’ve been instructed to pick a random item and praise it. It’s weird and unnecessary.
I notice not all of them do this now. I don't mind it and realize what is going on.
Earlier today, I was at REI and the guy barely spoke to me. I'd prefer the Trader Joe way.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:44
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
I’ve had enough TJ checkout people tell me they didn’t love something so I believe them when they tell me what they do like.
A waiter at a restaurant also pushes dishes.
Do you get upset then too?
A waiter at a restaurant also pushes dishes.
Do you get upset then too?
Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:41
Subject: Re:Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
I usually get asked if I’ve tried a particular item before.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:39
Subject: Re:Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
I go to the TJs on Capitol Hill, and I don't recall them ever saying anything about the food I'm purchasing. But they do make small talk. It's harmless to me, I don't mind chatting with them, and I also don't mind if we're just silent. This seems like such an insignificant thing to complain about.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:34
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:that they’re only telling me that they also love the Vegetable Samosas because they’ve been instructed to do so. Imagine if every compliment you received possibly wasn’t true, they were just fulfilling a quota and chose your shirt, or your hair, or your earrings, just to tick off a box.
What if it was true?
That’s the problem, exactly: we will never know, because we know they are told to make random conversation about the items in the customers’ carts.
How is that a problem? You bought what you wanted and had a friendly chat with the cashier.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 14:21
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:that they’re only telling me that they also love the Vegetable Samosas because they’ve been instructed to do so. Imagine if every compliment you received possibly wasn’t true, they were just fulfilling a quota and chose your shirt, or your hair, or your earrings, just to tick off a box.
What if it was true?
That’s the problem, exactly: we will never know, because we know they are told to make random conversation about the items in the customers’ carts.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:16
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:that they’re only telling me that they also love the Vegetable Samosas because they’ve been instructed to do so. Imagine if every compliment you received possibly wasn’t true, they were just fulfilling a quota and chose your shirt, or your hair, or your earrings, just to tick off a box.
What if it was true?
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:15
Subject: Re:Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It’s no different to me than finding anything else to comment on while we wait in line. They generally only comment occasionally about foods that are, indeed, awesome. They also ask me what I’m doing for the rest of the day. Small talk is generally considered polite in the US and it doesn’t surprise me that an employer suggests topics for their employees.
"in the US" is a strange thing to mention. Most of us don't shop anywhere else.
DP. OP's use of English seems to indicate that they are from outside the US.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:13
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?
And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.
Only it doesn’t feel awesome, somehow it feels almost like an insult, because you know they’ve been instructed to pick a random item and praise it. It’s weird and unnecessary.
OP, TJ employees are not instructed to dish out artificial praise. We ARE encouraged to be friendly (they actually hire people based on personality).
You honestly sound very sensitive. Maybe the self-checkout at Giant is better for you.
VERY sensitive. Anti-social actually.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:12
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:I hate the forced interaction. I don’t find it necessary, and I don’t enjoy the forced putting on airs at the grocery checkout.
I don’t want to discuss my plans for the day.
I don’t want to discuss my weekend.
I don’t care that you also like the Elote corn chips.
If you want to know if it’s still “nice outside”, just look out the window that’s *right there*.
Just ring me up.
"forced putting on airs"? That makes no sense.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:07
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?
And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.
Only it doesn’t feel awesome, somehow it feels almost like an insult, because you know they’ve been instructed to pick a random item and praise it. It’s weird and unnecessary.
OP, TJ employees are not instructed to dish out artificial praise. We ARE encouraged to be friendly (they actually hire people based on personality).
You honestly sound very sensitive. Maybe the self-checkout at Giant is better for you.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:04
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
I never ask for their opinions, OP. Maybe stop chatting with them?
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:03
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
It doesn't happen at the TJ's where I shop in Los Angeles.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:02
Subject: Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
I hate the forced interaction. I don’t find it necessary, and I don’t enjoy the forced putting on airs at the grocery checkout.
I don’t want to discuss my plans for the day.
I don’t want to discuss my weekend.
I don’t care that you also like the Elote corn chips.
If you want to know if it’s still “nice outside”, just look out the window that’s *right there*.
Just ring me up.
I don’t want to discuss my plans for the day.
I don’t want to discuss my weekend.
I don’t care that you also like the Elote corn chips.
If you want to know if it’s still “nice outside”, just look out the window that’s *right there*.
Just ring me up.
Anonymous
08/30/2025 13:02
Subject: Re:Trader Joe’s—I hate knowing
Anonymous wrote:It’s no different to me than finding anything else to comment on while we wait in line. They generally only comment occasionally about foods that are, indeed, awesome. They also ask me what I’m doing for the rest of the day. Small talk is generally considered polite in the US and it doesn’t surprise me that an employer suggests topics for their employees.
"in the US" is a strange thing to mention. Most of us don't shop anywhere else.