Buzz
Image Credit: GettyThere's something special about walking into a Trader Joe's on a peaceful Saturday, ready to leisurely browse and pick up all your must-haves (think Pancake Bread or Green Goddess Dip). It's a rare, enjoyable errand, and the cheerful employees wearing their bright Hawaiian shirts truly enhance the experience. Naturally, most of us want to show appreciation by being considerate shoppers.
While the staff at TJ's are always friendly, no matter what, there are certain customer behaviors that tend to annoy them. We spoke with employees to learn about the habits that drive them crazy and what we can do to avoid them. So, if you're aiming for that A+ (hello!), here are the things to avoid doing at Trader Joe's in order to stay the most beloved customer ever.
Leave garbage in your cart
Taking a leisurely stroll through TJ's with an iced coffee is one of life's simple joys, but don't forget to dispose of that empty cup before returning your cart! Employees often have to remove sample cups, utensils, cart wipes, and other trash from the carts.
Hand items to your bagger one-by-one
You might think you're being helpful, but this actually slows down the process. The bagger prefers to grab items in the order they’ll be placed in the bag (frozen items at the bottom), so it’s much more efficient for them to take things from your cart as needed.
Block the aisle with your cart
Keep your cart with you! Leaving it unattended not only clutters the area but also disrupts the flow of foot traffic, causing congestion.
Check out while playing on your phone, but remember to be attentive when it's your turn!
Show appreciation to the person bagging your groceries by greeting them, thanking them, and offering help. When you're ready to pay, make sure your payment method—whether it's a card or Apple Pay—is handy. It’s simply courteous!
If you can’t find an item, ask the baggers. They're usually knowledgeable and can help you locate it.
There are often many employees around who are restocking items or available to answer your questions. Waiting until you’re at the checkout to ask about the Cheddar Rockets means the bagger has to alert another employee to search for it while everyone waits. It's much smoother to ask when you're near the product you're looking for, avoiding delays at the register.
Consider using a reusable bag as a shopping basket.
There are carts and baskets for a reason! Using your own bag to shop complicates things at checkout. The bagger will need to unload everything from your bag onto the small shelf before they can start scanning and bagging items.
Don’t bring dirty reusable bags to the store.
Reusable totes are awesome, but not when they’re filled with sweaty gym clothes or food stains. Make sure to bring a clean one, both for the sake of the bagger and your own. Nobody wants to deal with produce that smells like old socks.
Don’t lean over employees stocking shelves without saying anything.
Trader Joe's team members are constantly restocking shelves, and we’re fortunate that they do! If an employee is in front of the item you need, simply ask, "Excuse me, could I grab (product)?" before reaching over them. It might seem like a small gesture, but it's something that’s really appreciated.
Don’t leave items in random places
This is a common issue in virtually every store, especially grocery ones. If you pick up a frozen item and later realize you no longer want it, leaving it on an unrelated shelf can damage the product and make it unsafe to eat. This leads to food waste! To prevent this, simply return the item to its proper location.
Arrive a few minutes before closing time
We’ve all experienced the rush at the end of a long workday, eager to leave. The employees feel the same way. So, if you need to complete your shopping, make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to avoid keeping the staff working past their scheduled time.
