what is so great about trader joe's ?

Can anyone tell me what the big deal is with this place ? I went in for the first time and could not understand what was the big attraction to this place.

what is so great about trader joe's ?

For me, is their wide selection of organic/ natural products at very reasonable prices.

what is so great about trader joe's ?

When I worked at the mall I used to walk over on my lunch break they had these great wraps in the deli section. I think they have interesting/unique products, never cared for the employee uniform

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I go through spurts when I will go there. The closest one to me is in Merrick and it's a PITA with all the lights on Merrick Rd.

I feel like it's the Target-equivalent of food stores, because when you go in there, you always find a bunch of things you didn't know you wanted/needed and it's very hard to get out of there without spending at least $75.00 (usually more----I feel like it's gotten a lot more pricier).

Personally, I feel like a lot of the products are just as bad as any old processed/frozen food you would buy elsewhere.

I think it's probably a good place for older or single people who don't have to cook for a whole family and are less price conscious.

I am also not a super organic person so don't go there for those things.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

- The cheese selection and prices of it
- The beer selection
- Lots of interesting, vegetarian-friendly stuff
- Great prices on veggie burgers
- Their cereal prices are great!
- OMG THE CHOCOLATES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
- Their yogurt is awesome
- Soy ice cream...their's is the best!
- Olive oil at great prices
- Potato Trio chips...so good
- They carry Kerrygold butter at better prices than anywhere else I've found

Yeah. I love TJ's.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Posted by PearlJamChick

- The cheese selection and prices of it
- The beer selection
- Lots of interesting, vegetarian-friendly stuff
- Great prices on veggie burgers
- Their cereal prices are great!
- OMG THE CHOCOLATES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
- Their yogurt is awesome
- Soy ice cream...their's is the best!
- Olive oil at great prices
- Potato Trio chips...so good
- They carry Kerrygold butter at better prices than anywhere else I've found

Yeah. I love TJ's.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

They have great snacks, cereal, cheese, beer, etc.

My problem is that I have to go to another store after to get other stuff that I need, and I prefer to just go to one store. My DH wants cold cuts, and they don't have a great selection of produce or meat. In general, I think they don't have a good selection of ingredients, its more packaged stuff. It was better for me when I was single and in grad. school-broke, pressed for time, feeding just myself, etc.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Is it cheap or expensive though?

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I find their prices to be great on most things. I also like that the TJ's brand items are guaranteed to be non GMO. They have a lot of different and unique items. I usually get cereal for my son (cheerios and mini wheats are his staples), lettuce, veggies, yogurt, cereal bars, popcorn (love the organic), ice cream novelties, canned tomatoes, soups and beans, baking products, pancake syrup, and almond milk there. I do find it annoying that I often have to go to other stores to get stuff to complete the meal I'm making, since they don't carry as much as a regular grocery store.

I buy my milk, eggs, breads at BJ's though. TJ's milk is too high, and I don't buy organic of that.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Honestly, if you are looking to stay on a budget, I would not shop here for your regular shopping.

Like another poster said, you still usually need to hit a grocery store.

And there's a reason I call it the Target of grocery stores ;).

If you are trying to save money, that's probably not a place you should go either.

Overall, TJ's is a place to go if you have disposable income.

Not looking to stir up drama, but I also think they are placed in certain higher income neighborhoods for a reason.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I don't go to TJ that often because I don't understand the appeal either. I've disliked more items there than I've liked. I used to shop there often because they had a pretty good selection of dairy free foods but in the last few years they seem to have stopped selling them. The last time I was there I couldn't even get soy yogurt which I thought was bizarre. I do like to shop there for entertaining. Their crackers/chips/cheese/hummus/dips selection is good and impressive.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I have no idea. I go in there and rarely find much
It's ok but nothing to write home about.
I find the quality not to be great on a lot of things either.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

Their prices are great IMO. The have a large and unique selection of foods, but a lot of it is pre-packaged, so I could never shop there for my whole weekly menu.

I personally find myself getting very overwhelmed in there. It's hectic and the way products are displayed always feels so chaotic. Sometimes there are just too many options. I either walk out having spent way more money than I'd planned to, or I walk out empty handed because I couldn't make a decision.

what is so great about trader joe's ?

i'm not a fan...i used to shop there more but since trying to cut out processed foods there's not as much to buy there because all i would buy is their frozen meals! I don't like their organic meats, would rather go somewhere else. Fairway has the best prices on organic cheeses, when I went to trader joe's i wasn't impressed with their selection honestly. and not a fan of their veggies etc. I think its good when you are looking for something different or special - or for quick meal fixes.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I like it for quick meals and for organic and natural foods at low prices. I can't depend on them for all my grocery needs. I'd say I do 20% of my shopping there and the rest at Fairway depending on the week.

what is so great about trader joe's ?

Frozen organic veggies, nuts, dried fruit, organic yogurt, kerrygold butter, coconut oil spray and some frozen food items. I don't buy many processed or too many prepared items from there.

Re: what is so great about trader joe's ?

I am an occasional Trader Joe's shopper. I like the store, but I would never do my regular grocery shopping there. I think it's too small/limited in some ways. I usually go to Stop & Shop or King Kullen for regular grocery shopping, and to B.J.'s to stock up on paper goods and bulk items.

I do agree that Trader Joe's prices are very good on a lot of items (staples like cereal and almond milk, and things like cheeses).

I like some of their novelty and specialty products - little ice cream treats, frozen hors d'ourves, frozen seafood, frozen convenience foods, unique cheeses (e.g., different kinds of goat cheese, Spanish cheese sampler for tapas). I also like their soups (in the cartons).

So when I go, I usually go to stock up on some basic staples OR I go because I am entertaining/having a party. I wind up going maybe once every couple of months. I kind of feel about Trader Joe's the way I do about Fairway. I like it, and I go there to buy certain things, and it's more fun to shop there than the usual grocery store, but I wouldn't go every week.