If you know me, you know the almost embarrassingly intense affection I have for Trader Joe’s.
And I’m not alone. The offbeat, service-oriented chain has even inspired a loosely legal Canadian knockoff for our TJ’s-less neighbors up north.
But you may wonder: what exactly fuels my passionate — and flavorful — devotion to TJ’s?
It’s far more than just bargain groceries… though that certainly helps.
10 Reasons We Adore Trader Joe’s, and You Should, Too
I could probably write dozens more, but I’ll try to keep it to ten highlights.
1. The company treats staff exceptionally well.
As much as I appreciate saving money, it’s even more important to treat people right — particularly those doing sometimes thankless retail work.
Trader Joe’s starting pay typically sits well above many state minimum wages at roughly $12 to $13 per hour, according to Glassdoor.
Also, per a former employee’s account, the company uses a smart scheduling approach to keep its customer-facing team cheerful and able to help: they schedule enough staff.
“They totally overstaff so that you don’t feel like your stocking duties or your register duties trump interacting with customers,” an anonymous source told PopSugar.
“They encourage you to be nice to customers.”Imagine that!
In an era when large retailers often trim wages and benefits to boost profits, Trader Joe’s stands out for its principles — a trait that would keep me loyal even if the rest of the experience didn’t impress.
Thankfully, that’s not the case.
2. The customer service is outstanding.
Investing in employees isn’t just commendable — it pays dividends.
I’ve experienced it firsthand. After buying the beloved mini heirloom tomatoes, my cashier asked if I’d ever paired them with fresh ciliegine and a balsamic glaze. When I confessed I hadn’t but wanted to, she actually grabbed the other ingredients for me while I unloaded my cart.
Not only did she gift me a delicious pairing I still make, but she boosted store sales without a pushy upsell.
That is exemplary customer service.
3. They accept third-party coupons.
Though Trader Joe’s doesn’t issue coupons itself and views “sale” as a dirty word, if you have a third-party coupon for an item they stock, the store will honor it.
Because they carry brands like Bob’s Red Mill, Lactaid and Amy’s, you have a solid chance of finding a usable coupon.
Need a place to begin? There are many reliable sources for free coupons online.
4. You can return things, even if opened.
Yes — even if you’ve already cracked the package and taken a few nibbles.
Crew members at Trader Joe’s actually sample many products themselves, so they can give thoughtful opinions. If something doesn’t meet their standards, it typically won’t be stocked.
Trader Joe’s is confident enough in its product curation to let you test anything in the store without worry.
In the company’s own phrasing: “Try it. We think you’ll like it. If you don’t, bring it back for a full refund.”
5. The wine is affordable and surprisingly good.
I’m not just talking about the notorious Two-Buck Chuck — though that’s decent for the price.
You can frequently find a solid bottle at TJ’s for around ten dollars or less, whether you want a standard chardonnay or cabernet or feel like trying an offbeat variety. Ever had vinho verde?
If you’re curious about what to try and what’s worth buying, check out resources on what to buy at Trader Joes and for opinions on the vino, see this trader joes wine review.
6. One word: cheese.
The assortment? Vast. The provenance? Global.
The price? Often under $5.
Honestly, this entry alone could probably replace the whole list for me.
7. The Fearless Flyer is free and delightful to read.
Getting my mail is always better on the days the Fearless Flyer arrives.
As noted earlier, Trader Joe’s doesn’t run conventional sales — their philosophy is that prices are already as low as they can be every single day.
Still, they produce this charming circular you can pick up at the front of the store or read online. It’s full of seasonal recipes and fun product tidbits, and it’s genuinely well-written — basically the closest thing you’ll get to literary flair in grocery circular form.
If you’re skeptical, see the archive online and judge for yourself.
8. The value is very competitive.
When I compared supermarkets to find the best prices on my pantry staples, Trader Joe’s ranked just behind Walmart — but once I factored in my food preferences, TJ’s was the winner.
While it may not have the absolute lowest price on every single product, it frequently offers strong value (psst: here’s heres much money ill save groceries switching trader joes if you’re curious about savings).
Reader Becky Provost told Savinly she loves buying peanut butter at Trader Joe’s because it’s the “best price” she’s found for plain peanut butter.
And when you flip through the Fearless Flyer, you’ll sometimes see notes about the last time an item’s price changed — occasionally it’s been years.
9. You can win free groceries for doing something sensible.
Need a nudge to bring reusable bags more often?
Trader Joe’s runs a bag raffle. Bring your own bags and fill out a slip with your name and phone number for a shot at winning $25 in groceries next week.
Helping the planet and getting a chance at free food? Sign me up.
10. All the store signage is hand-drawn.
You won’t find sterile, uniform aisle labels at your local Trader Joe’s.
Each in-store sign is hand-lettered and unique. At one time, “sign artist” was even a specific job you could have at the store, though today crew members with artistic talent typically handle the chalkboards.
Either way, it’s nice to see a human touch instead of block letters when locating the tortillas.
Plus, it makes rotating displays easy — which keeps shopping interesting week after week.
Your Turn: Why do YOU love Trader Joe’s?
Alex Morrell is a staff writer at Savinly who, when scouting apartments, first checks how close the nearest Trader Joe’s is. Find @AlexMorrell on Twitter to say hello.
