I think they’re overrated, but maybe that’s just my own personal experience. The stores I’ve been in had very limited selection.
Anyone else?
Nope, they’re amazing. They only sell (for the most part) their own brand, so their selection is what it is. We can’t do all of our shopping there but we do go there for a lot of things.
As with any “specialty” store, there are a few items that I find I like and return to purchase on a regular basis, and a majority which either don’t interest me at all or simply aren’t up to the hype (after trying).
On the whole, if I had to give up a TJ or a WF store in my area, I’d reluctantly give up the WF before the TJ.
I am also underwhelmed by Trader Joe’s. My wife likes to go there, but I don’t see the attraction.
They have fewer products than a standard grocery store, but what they have is both better in quality and most of it is cheaper (I just did a comparison last night myself). They also have a lot of very interesting products you wouldn’t find anywhere else. So, I get flour and sugar at a standard grocery store, produce at a local Asian market (again, better and cheaper than anywhere else), but whatever I can I get at TJ’s.
I used to go to TJ’s a lot, until I noticed how many times a year there were recalls for their store-brand products. Mostly of the sandwich/wrap/seal-a-meal kind of things, but I found myself with a couple jars of almond butter that I had to return. I’m thinking there’s not quite so much attention to detail at the food processing plants as there should be…
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[li]I found where TJ’s offers an identical product with the local grocery store, the TJ price is more expensive. There are exceptions but I’ve found them far and few between.[/li][li]Lots of their products have too much salt.[/li][li]Consumer Reports has been on their case for years their meat and poultry has antibiotics in them, despite assurances by TJ’s to the contrary.[/li][li]The TJ Orange Chicken is good easy food, even better than the Costco (cheaper) equivalent.[/li][li]For five bucks you can get a 500g bar of dark chocolate that really makes a dull afternoon pleasant, and then some.[/li][/ul]
They’re good for what they’re good for. I like their frozen vegetables and they get nice on-the-vine brussel sprouts and there is usually a limited selection of some pretty decent produce. I can buy a large leafy basil plant for less than a small plastic envelope of basil leaves at the regular grocery store. They’re small enough that when I’m there for a regular purchase I’ll browse the whole store and sometimes find something I want to try. I would never consider grocery shopping with them exclusively though, whereas I could easily get everything I need across the street at the regular grocery store.
We have a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and ShopRite around here. I’ve only shopped at Whole Foods twice because I was so disgusted at their prices. At the height of cherry season, they were selling them at six bucks a pound when they were two bucks at ShopRite.
I shop ShopRite for basic groceries and Trader Joe’s for a special treat every two months or so. ShopRite has good quality items such as meat, eggs and produce at good prices. I can get Pellegrino waters for about a buck each. I hate NJ tap water so that’s good. They also have good prices on cat food, paper goods and bread. We go to Trader Joe’s because I like the fancier stuff they have there at a good price. I was there yesterday and picked up some very nice cheese for half the price at my local ShopRite, some fantastic holiday cookies and a few other items that are a nice way to welcome the holiday season.
I find that each store is less than perfect. If you are lucky enough to have a variety to choose from that’s probably the best way to go. We also hit places like our local Korean market for items like fresh lo mein noodles and our local Italian bakery for the bread they bake on the hour.
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[li]I found where TJ’s offers an identical product with the local grocery store, the TJ price is more expensive. There are exceptions but I’ve found them far and few between.[/li][li]Lots of their products have too much salt.[/li][/QUOTE]
I must have picked the wrong items then, as out of 8 items 6 were cheaper about the same at TJs. A couple of those were significantly cheaper.
Odd that you mention the salt as much of what we buy there is the low-sodium version. Much of what they have has a low-to-no salt version.
If your TJ’s carries their line of fertile chicken eggs, you can pop them in an incubator or under a broody hen and hatch out some chicks
12 potential chicks for under $5, not bad…
Dear god I wish I could find one in NJ that did that. My children would be delighted. But it’s probably not legal here alas.
Portsmouth NH TJ doesn’t carry them either, that said, the birds that’d hatch out would be either White Leghorn or California Gray, neither of which would handle New England winters well, what with their oversized combs and wattles, big frostbite risk, I’m sure NJ is similar, winter wise
I find TJ is good for remade sauces, dips, and frozen meals, it’s not really for ecverdy grocery shoping in my experience.
The only solution is house chickens! Wonder if they can be litter trained. 
Nevermind litter - just get chicken diapers!
12 chicken dinners for $5!
Trader Joe’s is pretty neat, but I have to admit I don’t go there all that often. Mostly because the one nearest to me has a total death trap for a parking lot that doesn’t have nearly enough spaces for the business it does.
I like it when I’m there, though. In complete contrast to Whole Foods, everyone there is eerily cheerful. I think it’s because their employees are actually paid really well and have benefits and stuff. And a large candy bowl full of Ecstasy in the breakroom. Their good cheer is infectious. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where customers actually pass samples back to those who can’t get close to the sample counter. I’ve gotten some great meal ideas and product suggestions from employees and other customers as well, and people make eye contact and ask if you like the thing in your hand or if you’ve tried the new salsa. Bizarre. But nice. And I say that as a person who generally runs in and out and uses self checkout at most grocery stores, because human interaction is not what I want with my bananas and tampons. But Trader Joe’s even makes me cheerful. The bastards.
Love them.
The fulfilled all my needs when I was single- Good frozen meals, lots of snacks, cheap wine.
With a larger household, they are an occasional supplament, and not really worth going out of my way for.
They are, however, the only place I know where I can buy a tin of anise-flavored Altoids.