The grocery store has an almost cult-like following, but even its biggest fans might be surprised by these Trader Joe's secrets
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You can try before you buy—seriously, any product
Think sampling is just for Costco? Think again. One of the best-kept Trader Joe’s secrets is that crew members can open almost any product in the store for you to try. Yes, really.
“We actually have a ‘try before you buy’ policy, so if you are curious about something, we’ll open up the package and let you taste it,” says Leandra Justice, a former mate (TJ’s code for manager) and 10-year veteran crew member.
The only catch? Ask first and keep it reasonable—don’t ask them to crack open 10 different items. One or two products should be fine, especially since Trader Joe’s has a famously generous no-receipt-required return policy. “You can return pretty much anything, even if it’s been opened and partially eaten, and you don’t have to have the receipt,” she says.
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Morning shopping is your secret weapon
If you want first dibs on those viral fall snacks everyone’s raving about, you need to shop in the morning.
“Our store gets daily shipments, and it’s the morning crew’s job to get everything put out before we open,” says Becca S., a crew member at a new Colorado store. She says that popular items like seasonal ice creams and trendy snacks can sell out by midday, so early birds really do get the all-natural gummy worm here.
Weekday mornings before 10 a.m. are ideal—shelves are fully stocked and parking isn’t a nightmare yet. And if you’re a weekend shopper, aim for Friday mornings, as they’re stocked in preparation for the weekend, but the crowds haven’t hit yet. And whatever you do, avoid Sunday afternoons, which all our sources confirm is peak chaos time.
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Most products are made by name brands (they just won’t tell you which ones)
Here’s a juicy Trader Joe’s secret: Many of those private-label products are actually made by major name-brand companies. The chain is notoriously tight-lipped about it, but employees sometimes find out by accident. “Every once in a while, we get something sent to us that’s mislabeled with the actual brand,” Leandra says.
Feeling curious? “We all have a lot of theories too, and if you ask, we’ll tell you our best guess,” Becca says.
Why does this matter? Because you’re getting quality products at a fraction of the cost, and “way cheaper than established brands in regular retail stores,” Owen says. This is why that can of organic Marzano roasted tomatoes costs half as much as it does at other grocery stores.
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Don’t get attached to your favorite products
Consider this your tough-love warning: That snack you’re obsessed with could vanish tomorrow. “Same rule I had for Game of Thrones: Don’t get attached. Anyone can be killed off at any moment,” jokes one Reddit Trader Joe’s shopper.
It’s painfully true. Trader Joe’s has a well-known reputation for frequently discontinuing products, even popular ones, Leandra says. “Most of the time, this is just because of low sales,” she says. “Or the supplier goes out of business, or they decide to replace name-brand items with private-label versions.” And sometimes … popular items just disappear into the ether.
The lesson? When you find something you love, especially if it’s seasonal or limited edition, stock up immediately. You never know if it’ll survive the next quarterly review. Learn from my mistake: I’m still burned by the loss of the chocolate hummus.
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There are no coupons, sales or discounts—and that’s a good thing
If you’re waiting for a big sale or hunting for coupons before your Trader Joe’s run, you can stop right now.
“We already offer the lowest prices possible, and they are already comparable to other stores’ sale prices, and that’s why there are no sales or coupons,” Leandra says. “The prices will change up or down sometimes, but they’re not ‘on sale.'” The philosophy is simple: Everyday low prices mean you never have to play the exhausting game of tracking sale cycles or clipping coupons.
But here’s a loophole most people don’t know: Manufacturers’ coupons can be used on non-private-label products. Since a small portion of Trader Joe’s inventory includes name-brand items, you can technically use manufacturer coupons on those products.
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Focus on the under-$5 treasures for maximum value
Trader Joe’s offers an incredible selection of items under $5, Becca says. For instance, individual bananas cost 23 cents (up from their legendary 19-cent price that lasted over 20 years), and an 8-ounce block of feta cheese is only about $3.79 at Trader Joe’s, while at other stores, you’re paying at least $5 (but usually much more than that, especially at places like Sprouts or Whole Foods).
Other budget-friendly staples she says are worth stocking up on include frozen cauliflower rice, the famous Mandarin Orange Chicken, mini ice cream cones and the extensive selection of affordable frozen meals. The trick is knowing which items offer the best bang for your buck compared with other grocery stores—and then building your shopping list around those items.
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It’s never going online
In an age when you can order everything from toilet paper to tiramisu with a single click, Trader Joe’s is stubbornly sticking to brick-and-mortar stores only. No online shopping, no curbside pickup, no delivery—not even through third-party services like Instacart or Dumpling.
Why the digital resistance? According to the company’s website, it’s all about maintaining that special in-store experience. “We set up our stores with care, finding just the right crew and creating a rewarding shopping experience, full of discovery and welcome,” Trader Joe’s explains. The company believes third-party services “can’t match our outstanding in-store value and shopping experience.”
Trader Joe’s is unapologetically old-school about being “big ole fans of the neighborhood grocery store, where we can say hello when you’re looking around wondering ‘what’s for dinner?'” So yeah, you’re going to have to put on real pants and venture into that chaotic parking lot. But at least you’ll get a friendly greeting and maybe discover your new favorite snack in the process.
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The terrible parking lots are actually intentional
Every Trader Joe’s parking lot is an absolute disaster, and it’s not an accident. “Every store I’ve worked at has had a nightmare of a parking lot. I don’t know why. It’s some unspoken rule or maybe a curse,” one Redditor says, and crew members from California to the East Coast to the South all agreed.
But there might actually be a method to the rat-maze madness. One way that Trader Joe’s keeps prices low may be by choosing locations with less-than-ideal parking situations because that means cheaper storefront property. So that death-defying game of parking lot chicken you play every Sunday is actually saving you money because of it.
You’re welcome, I guess?
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Employees genuinely want you to ask for recommendations
Don’t be shy about talking to crew members. Many stores have break rooms where employees sample new and seasonal products specifically so they can give informed suggestions to customers.
“People do actually ask me all the time what they should have for dinner,” Becca says. “And I love giving them recommendations! This is one of my favorite parts of my job, and I have tried so many random things there.”
Plus, it breaks up the monotony of their day. Owen mentions that one of his favorite parts of the job was being able to open products and try them with customers, then share the leftovers with co-workers in the back. It created a fun, collaborative shopping experience that benefits everyone. Just maybe don’t ask during the Sunday afternoon rush when they’re drowning in customers.
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You should help bag your own groceries
This one might ruffle some feathers, but hear me out: When the store is busy, bagging your own groceries makes everyone’s life easier. “We won’t ask you to, but it is really helpful when you help us bag, especially if your order is big and/or it’s really busy,” Leandra says. When lines are long and registers are slammed, cashiers are trying to scan and bag simultaneously in very limited space.
“The register spaces are pretty small, so we need to get items out of the scanning area quickly,” she adds. The crew member will be grateful for your help, and you can make sure your eggs don’t end up at the bottom of the bag under your $2 wine bottles.
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Wednesday evenings are the sweet spot
If you can’t make it to Trader Joe’s in the morning, Wednesday evening is your next best bet. Why? “It seems like most people get their shopping done for the week on Saturday, Sunday or Monday,” Becca says. “So by Wednesday, it’s definitely slowed down.” It’s the Goldilocks zone of grocery shopping—not too crowded, but still early enough in the week that shelves haven’t been picked clean.
The worst times? Sunday and Monday are the busiest days overall, with Sunday afternoons being particularly brutal. And whatever you do, stay away from Friday evenings between 5 and 5:30 p.m., when everyone’s racing in after work to stock up for the weekend. Also, avoid stores near college campuses during big sporting events unless you time it perfectly and go during the game, when everyone else is occupied—ask me how I know.
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Crew members get some nice perks (and that’s why they’re nice to you)
Trader Joe’s employees get 20% off all purchases, which, as an avid shopper, has made me consider getting a job there more than once. They also have the option of a 401(k) retirement plan. And in addition to all that, employees can get raises twice a year. According to the FAQs, “to keep crew developing and incentivize exceptional performance, we provide a performance review for each crew twice a year. On average, crew have the potential to receive a 7% annual increase.”
But here’s the catch: Raises aren’t automatic. Crew members are judged on three criteria: customer experience, productivity and working as part of a team. Fall short on even one category? No raise. This performance-based system explains why Trader Joe’s employees are consistently friendly—their paycheck depends on it.
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The return policy is ridiculously generous for a reason
We’ve all heard about Trader Joe’s legendary return policy: no receipt required, full refund, no questions asked. But why? “We stand behind all our products, and we don’t want anyone to worry about wasting their money on the off chance they don’t like it,” Leandra says. “And we want you to get out of your comfort zone and try new stuff.” The company would rather eat the cost of returns than have customers play it safe.
It’s all part of Trader Joe’s strategy to encourage adventurous eating and build customer loyalty. So go ahead and grab that weird-looking jackfruit curry or unusual cheese—if you hate it, you can return it. That’s not permission to abuse the policy, but it is permission to be brave.
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Kids can hunt for a hidden mascot (and score free treats)
As a mom of five, I can tell you that shopping anywhere with little ones in tow can be a nightmare. But it’s a little less stressful at Trader Joe’s because it offers a lot of kid-friendly features. My sons’ favorite? Most stores hide a stuffed mascot somewhere in the store for children to find. Our store in Seattle hid a raccoon, but we’ve also seen a dog, a wolf and a monkey. It turns shopping into a fun scavenger hunt, and when kids spot it and tell a cashier where they saw it, they get a free lollipop or cookie.
The furry implementation varies by location. Some stores hide the mascot on shelves for kids to discover, while others place it up high, and kids just need to point it out. But there’s a hilarious cautionary tale: “My store used to hide it in the shelves, but the stuffed animal would get so dirty, disgusting, not to mention the germs it was carrying around,” one Redditor says.
The real kicker? “We would ask the kids who found it to re-hide it for us, and they would sometimes hide it so well we couldn’t find it for weeks,” the Redditor adds. So if your local store’s mascot seems to have vanished, blame an overly enthusiastic 5-year-old with excellent hiding skills.
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The uniforms are cooler than you think, but the rules are strict
Trader Joe’s is known for its casual, Hawaiian-shirt vibe, and employees generally appreciate the laid-back dress code. “The uniforms were always cool,” Owen notes. But there are still standards. He once got sent home for wearing a white T-shirt under his uniform sweatshirt, which seems oddly specific.
The relaxed atmosphere extends beyond clothing. Owen emphasizes that Trader Joe’s feels different from typical corporate retail jobs. “I liked most of the people I worked with, which is saying a lot because they must’ve had at least 80 to 100 employees on payroll for my location,” he says. The company’s focus on hiring “friendly and personable” people creates a genuinely positive work environment—which is why your checkout experience usually feels less like a transaction and more like a chat with a neighbor.
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The bell system is like a pirate ship calling all hands on deck
Ever wonder what all that bell-ringing means? It’s not just for show. The bells at each register are actually an elaborate communication system between crew members and management.
One ring means more cashiers are needed up front. Two bells—which prompts every nearby crew member to yell “two bell!” and throw up a peace sign—signals that someone needs help with something like a carry-out or cleanup. Three bells? That’s calling for a manager to handle managerial duties.
The nautical theme makes sense when you consider Trader Joe’s pirate ship branding. “My assumption is that Trader Joe’s is kind of pirate ship themed, so the bells and the ‘all hands on deck’ are direct references to that,” Owen says.
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Sources:
- Owen Rose, former Trader Joe’s crew member; phone interview, Oct. 5, 2025
- Leandra Justice, former Trader Joe’s manager; phone interview, Oct. 5, 2025
- Becca S., Trader Joe’s crew member; in-person interview, Oct. 7, 2025
- Reddit: “What is your Life Pro Tip (LPT) for Trader Joe’s?”
- Trader Joe’s: “FAQs”
