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Trader Joe's, with its friendly staff and funky Hawaiian shirts, has won the hearts of many shoppers, garnering a cult-like following with entire social media accounts dedicated to showcasing and reviewing new products.
Most everyone agrees that Trader Joe's is a great place to save money on groceries and score some unique finds. But recently, despite its success and continual growth, long-time fans have become disenchanted with the grocer and taken to Reddit to air their grievances.
Let's see why people are falling out of love with Trader Joe's.
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Produce goes bad quickly
Reddit users across the country complain about how quickly their produce turns after they get it home from the stores. Other users say this really varies from store to store.
One theory is that this may be due to many of the produce items being pre-chopped or packaged, so while it may be picked in its prime, the additional processing reduces the freshness.
Food tastes bland
Regular TJ shoppers cite that old favorites have started tasting bland in recent months.
People argue that they need to "doctor" their dishes with ingredients or seasonings at home to make their Trader Joe's items taste good. Suspicions are that recipes change due to suppliers or availability. Either way, people are not happy.
The stores are too small
Despite being incredibly popular, Trader Joe's seems stuck on limiting their store size. During holidays and weekends, the stores get so packed that customers struggle to navigate the aisles.
Some customers complain that even on a regular shopping trip, they leave frustrated every single time because of the absolute headache it is to navigate the store.
If you do find yourself inside the store, make sure to try these Trader Joe's shopping hacks.
Popular items are always sold out
With its cult-like following, tasty Trader Joe's items make waves and frequently sell out. Customers are not happy about having to wait weeks or months to get their favorites back in stock.
Some users report being able to call ahead and check the available stock, but it's a lot of effort for kimbap or butternut squash mac and cheese.
Items are limited-edition
Trader Joe's introduces seasonal items regularly. While this keeps people coming through the doors to try all the new products, if you find a new favorite, you might be out of luck the next time you shop.
Some popular seasonal items do actually get added to the regular stock, but many are put back in the vault till the next year or longer.
Reddit users have even turned to buying their favorite products on resale sites like eBay to get their fix.
Items often get discontinued
Often, without notice or announcement, Trader Joe's discontinues items. This means you can enjoy an item for years, then one day, you go to find it, and BOOM, it's gone.
Many shoppers turn to resale sites to try and obtain much-loved products. Reddit users are even willing to purchase items past expiration just for one more taste of their beloved favorites.
The biggest complaint seems to be that there is no warning or chance to stock up on the products. Shoppers are just left with a surprise unavailability.
There's too much packaging
Complaints about Trader Joe's excessive packaging materials go back years. While some users note changes in packaging materials, such as switching from plastic to paper containers, others still find the volume of packaging to be excessive, especially in the produce department.
Trader Joe's did make a statement about its sustainability efforts back in 2021, claiming to have removed 2 million pounds of plastic from its packaging.
Stores have order limits
Customers have found, in talking to their stores' employees, that headquarters actually limits the amount of certain items that each store can stock.
This can cause a shortage of certain items available at individual stores, especially for new and/or popular items.
While Trader Joe's employees on Reddit explain that this is to help spread the products around, customers find this rule frustrating when their staple products go out of stock quickly or are hard to find, or when there are new seasonal items that they can't try out.
People let their kids run loose
Trader Joe's strives to create a fun environment. Locations are kid-friendly, offering stickers, lollipops, and even kid-size carts.
Stores are decorated with hidden picture murals and offer treats to those who can find the hidden objects. However, not all shoppers (or employees) love how relaxed some parents are while shopping with their kids in tow.
One Redditor who works at Trader Joe's reported that some patrons even leave their kids at Trader Joe's while they go to a store nearby.
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Bottom Line
While Trader Joe's is loved by many, there are plenty of complaints on Reddit, including an entire thread dedicated to the worst items people have tried with colorful reviews like, "Even my dogs rejected them — and they will eat almost anything."
However, despite all the complaints, plenty of users share their enthusiasm for Trader Joe's products that help them save money shopping and for their unique selection, not to mention the excitement over new store locations opening nearby.
The love for Trader Joe's expands beyond the United States, with international visitors asking for product recommendations when they come for a visit.
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