FAQ TRADER JOE'S ~ FAQ's And General Information

flash · 09-22-2006, 04:46:26 PM

This is the TRADER JOES forum

Just what is this thing we call Trader Joe’s? Well, we’re a grocery store, sure, but really so much more. Our shelves are stocked full of delicious foods and beverages from the basics like milk, bread and butter to more exotic fare like imported cheeses, organic produce and hand-tossed pizza from Italy. We taste every product before we decide to sell it, and we guarantee you’ll like it.

You might expect indulgences like these to come with unbecoming prices. But at Trader Joe’s, we’re as much about value as we are about great food. In other words, we keep our costs low, cut out the middleman whenever possible and pass our savings on to you in the form of terrific everyday prices. So you can afford to be adventurous without breaking the bank.

Product Categories:
Meals
Snacks and Sweets
Healthy Choices
Entertaining Choices
Organics
The Basic, TJ’s Style
Wine and Beer and Such

HOME PAGE: Trader Joe's

PRODUCT GUARANTEE: We tried it! We liked it! If you don’t, bring it back for a full refund, no questions asked.

CONTACT: Trader Joe's

STORE FINDER: Trader Joe's

EMAIL NEWSLETTER: Trader Joe's

TRADER JOES FAQS:

A Note About Eggs:
Over the past several months we have been listening to what our customers tell us about the choices we give them, specifically about their choices related to eggs.

As of today, all Trader Joe's brand eggs will come only from cage-free hens. Customers looking for cage-free eggs need to look no further than the Trader Joe's label. Any conventional eggs sold at Trader Joe's are now in a brand name carton, not under the Trader Joe's label.

We expect this change will help further boost the proportion of sales of cage-free eggs at Trader Joe's. We believe this change will give our customers a clear choice when it comes to the eggs they want to purchase. We are proud of this commitment, and hope that our customers are as well.

Do you have weekly specials or sales on your products?
"Sale" is a four-letter word to us. We have low prices, every day. No coupons, no membership cards, no discounts. You won’t find any glitzy promotions or couponing wars at our stores. If it makes you feel any better, think of it as all our items are on sale, day in and day out.

Why do the prices and selection vary from state to state?
We try to source goods locally where we can. Because of this, we have a selection of fresh deli products, breads, dairy and juices that will vary in most states.

At the same time, we want to offer the best prices on all these local yokels. Laws, taxes, deposit requirements and our distribution costs are different in each state for a variety of products. This is true most notably in sodas and alcoholic beverages. Since our costs are different according to these regulations, our prices may vary on the same item in different states.

Why does TJ’s frequently discontinue products?
Our mission is to bring you the best quality products at the best prices. To do this, we have to manage our store space well. Each of our products must "stand on its own," meaning it must pay its own way. Each product passes certain criteria in order to earn its way onto our shelves including a rigorous tasting panel.

There may be several factors that determine why we discontinue products:

It may be a seasonal product - for example, strawberries, which are in season only specific times of the year.
The gang way factor - because we introduce 10-15 new products a week, we have to eliminate 10-15 items in order to give our newest items a fair chance.
The cost of producing the item may increase, which would in turn increase the cost to you - if the item is not a strong seller, we may choose to discontinue it.

Can I order your products online?
No. We’re just old-fashioned. We set up our stores with care, finding just the right crew and adding a flavor of paradise. After considering the options, we’re still just big ‘ole fans of the neighborhood grocery store where we can say hello when you’re looking around wondering - what’s for dinner?

What do the bells mean at my local Trader Joe's?
It’s a kind of Trader Joe’s Morse code. Those blustery PA systems just didn’t feel right to us, so we came up with a simple system to communicate island style. One bell lets our Crew know when to open another register. Two bells mean there are additional questions that need to be answered at the checkout. Three bells call over a manager-type person. Honestly, it’s much easier than the ole message in a bottle trick.