16 Trader Joe's Secrets Most People Don't Know About

Trader Joe's offers friendliest return policies.Trader Joe's has no-questions-asked return policies.You can return any product at any store. You can return items you partially ate, no reason needed other than you disliked the taste.

This seems odd initially, but it makes business sense. It pushes shoppers to buy more; they can always return what they dislike. This helps the company adjust products consumers reject. The return policy works for everyone.

Trader Joe's actually rewards you for bringing a reusable bag.Stores give you perks like discounts, gift cards, or more reusable bags.A few TJ's locations enter you into a raffle to win more items.Outside a cheesemonger, Trader Joe's has the best cheese selection. Bon Appetit praises its "convenience, the quality to price ratio, and the evil-genius novelty."You find cheddar, parmesan, jalapeño, honey chevre, aged gouda, and hard manchego here.

If price matters, Trader Joe's is not the best choice for meat or produce. You pay much more for their packaging than at average supermarkets—possibly two to three times the cost.Bon AppetitYou can grab a product at Trader Joe's and ask an employee to try it on the spot.

You find cheddar, parmesan, and exotic items like jalapeño and honey chevre, aged gouda, and hard manchego here.

The bread at Trader Joe's is super fresh. Expiration dates are nearly immediate. A former employee explains why: "NONE of our products, breads included, have any preservatives in them."Stop by the bread section for incredibly fresh, tasty loaves.Trader Joe's has a chipper staff, often wearing loud Hawaiian shirts. One manager states this happiness is real.

Everyone is happy to work there. One manager says, "It's a great job with great people and we get treated humanely. Need a break? Go stretch your legs. Hungry? Grab a snack. Also very flexible with leaving early/coming in late. Low pressure, low stress job that pays well = happy employees."

According to a Trader Joe's manager, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are best days to shop. Shop early in the morning; fewer people mean more samples, and checkout time is short. The manager adds you can get the freshest produce right after opening.Avoid Sundays at all costs if you dislike crowds.Keep it reasonable. Get things you can open and eat easily, like snacks. Employees eat what you don't finish.

Trader Joe's bread is super fresh. Expiration dates are nearly immediate. A former employee gives a good reason for this.A former employee explains the bread freshness."NONE of our products, breads included, have any preservatives in them."

Go to the bread section to grab incredibly fresh, tasty loaves.

Trader Joe's has a cheerful staff wearing loud Hawaiian shirts. One manager says this happiness is real.One manager confirms the employees' happiness.Everyone is happy to work there.

"It's a great job with great people. We get treated humanely. Need a break? Stretch your legs. Hungry? Grab a snack. They are flexible with leaving early or coming in late. It is a low-pressure, low-stress job that pays well; that makes happy employees."

A Trader Joe's manager says this.Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to shop. Go early in the morning if you can. You avoid crowds, samples are plentiful, and checkout time is short. The manager also says you can get the freshest produce right when stores open.

Avoid Sundays if you do not like crowds.

You think Trader Joe's will not accept manufacturers' coupons because of its proprietary brands. But they do.They do.You can bring in those clippings to save more cash on name-brand products.

Knowing which non-proprietary brands Trader Joe's carries is tricky. Your best bets are alcoholic drinks, organic items like mac 'n' cheese, and sodas.

A lot of products are limited run, usually based on the season.Trader Joe's products are limited run, based on the season. Find pumpkin spice items in autumn, peppermint flavors in December, and pop rocks-infused Fireworks chocolate bars in summer. These special items might become your new favorite snacks.Trader Joe's products are limited run, based on the season. Find pumpkin spice items in autumn, peppermint flavors in December, and pop rocks-infused Fireworks chocolate bars in summer. These special items might become your new favorite snacks.

Trader Joe's.Trader Joe's is smaller than most grocery stores. It stocks about 4,000 SKUs, compared to the average 50,000 item stock of other stores. About 80% of these products are their own brand. These items are similar to name-brand foods because many come from the same producers, like Frito-Lay and Stonyfield Farm, but they cost less.

The names are fun. Italian products get the "Trader Giotto" label. Mexican items get "Trader José," French food gets "Trader Jaques," and Chinese food gets "Trader Ming," among others.Trader José."Trader Jaques" handles Mexican products. "Trader Ming" covers Chinese food. The store offers many other brands throughout.

Trader Joe's keeps prices fair by avoiding specials. Everything is priced as if it is on sale. Sometimes certain items get a lower cost, but generally, expect a reasonable price.

Trader Joe's states on its website, "'Sale' is a four-letter word to us."

Trader Joe's most famous proprietary brand is probably Charles Shaw wines.Charles Shaw wines.This is A.K.A. "Two-Buck Chuck." It got the nickname because the price was absurdly low: for years, high-quality wine sold for $1.99. The winemaker owns 45,000 acres of land, which kept the wine cheap even as grape costs changed.45,000 acres of land.This kept the wine cheap even as grape costs changed.

Bad crops in 2011 and 2012 raised the price of Two-Buck Chuck. Now, most Trader Joe's ask $2.49-$2.99 per bottle of Charles Shaw wine. It remains a good deal, but not as good as before.

Trader Joe's has something called the "Fearless Flyer.""Fearless Flyer."This flyer features items, events, contents, and recipes from your local store. You can find it in the store or sign up for their email newsletter.Sign up for their email newsletter.Featured products on the flyer are usually cheaper. This is how close Trader Joe's gets to coupons. Plan your meals around this flyer if you seek savings.

A former Trader Joe's employee says you can find a hidden stuffed animal in most stores.A former Trader Joe's employee says you can find a hidden stuffed animal in most stores.Kids find a hidden stuffed animal in most Trader Joe's stores so they stay busy while parents shop. If kids find the animal, they show it at the register for a free prize, like a small candy.

Trader Joe's manages prices by avoiding sales. They price everything as if it were already on sale. Sometimes certain items get a lower cost, but mostly, expect one fair price.

Trader Joe's states on its website, "'Sale' is a four-letter word to us."