SERIOUS. LY.

Okay, so this post from Baby on Bored contains more than a few of the words I'm not allowed to say on this blog, but...but...

Trader Joe's? Why DO you have to be so &%$# great?

I once wrote a really long and rambling post about Trader Joe's that culminated in me having to temporary abandon all my groceries on the sidewalk after the bags ripped, and that was TOTALLY the fault of Trader Joe's being entirely too &%$# great. I went in for YoBaby and milk, but left with taquitos and organic juice smoothies and veggie chips and about 20 pounds of other completely irresistible yummy things -- all at a fraction of what they cost at that other organic grocery store, where I am also guaranteed to get some attitude from the cashier because a block of cheese won't scan correctly. But at Trader Joe's? They were all nice and had to offer my kid a balloon, which made him rapturous with joy and which I tied onto the bag handle, thus further weakening the recycled paper because Trader Joe's is so &%$# environmentally responsible. And great.

The lack of things to complain about has Stefanie flummoxed too:

Why can't you have one cashier with a bad attitude? I get plenty of it at Ralphs. I can count on Ralphs for a sneer when I don't answer the paper or plastic question fast enough. You? Forget it. You're all smiles. Real smiles. When I try to put my chicken burritos, a steal at three dollars for two with only 8 grams of fat, on your counter for you to ring up, you have the nerve to say, "don't worry about it. I got it." WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? And, for the love of God, why do you have to actually acknowledge me like you know I live in the neighborhood and ask if I've had a good weekend? You couldn't possibly care but yet...it seems like you do!!!! My head is going to implode.

Seriously. Trader Joe's needs to stop upsetting the natural order of things and stop with the &%$# greatness.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I need to go to Trader Joe's!

[Sonja]

Trader Joe's is downright irresponsible. And now they accept American Express cards, which makes my little black heart skip a beat because CASH BACK! *sigh*

[Heather B.]

I try to explain to people just how wonderful Trader Joe's is and people who don't have them, just don't understand. It's amazing. Like the other day when I bought enough stuff for a family of four and thought 'oh my hell, this will deplete my checking account'. Guess what? It did not, in fact it was well under what I would have paid at that other store that shall remain nameless.
Seriously, I could go on and on about TJ's.

[Patchie]

We moved to the neighborhood we're currently in partly because it was less than a mile from the only Trader Joe's in the whole damn city. I will move away from Trader Joe's under pain of death.

[Missie]

I used to go to TJ's all the time when we lived in California. LOVED. IT. (and also Henry's, which is super fantastic also, and actually a bit cheaper than TJ's.)

But in Idaho? There is no TJ's, and for that, I weep tears of bitter envy at the rest of you able to go there whenever your little organic heart desires. So.Shut.Up. :)

[Amy]

Amen, Sista! Hubby and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TJ's and, when life and schedules were different, we went weekly and got tons of great food for a great price! Now, Hubby gets there when he can, which isn't often enough. But those #@!*#!! TJ's employees with their niceness and caring and all probably are wondering where the heck we are and may possibly be worried about us! I wouldn't put it past 'em, anyway. TJ's and its employees ROCK!

[earlyduckie]

We don't go to Trader Joe's nearly often enough, but when we do - LOVE! Their burrito's and frozen rice rock my family's world :)

[Leah]

Is the title of this post in reference to that Electric Company song written by Tom Lehrer? I love that song.

[foodmomiac]

And have you noticed how the cashiers always comment about at least one of the items that you buy? Like... "OH, that's my favorite feta. Don't you love it?" Or... "I just had those this morning for breakfast!"

[Tere]

So jealous... not TJ's in Miami, just Whole Foods and that AWFUL Wild Oats.

[Sarah]

It is so sad to think how we are used to the bad attitudes at other grocery stores, but it true. Everytime I go into TJ's, I am like why are you all so nice?

[Dana]

I have never been inside of a Trader Joe's like, ever. But our new house is near one and never have I been so excited to go to the grocery store in my life. I also can't believe I just typed that. WOO!

[Suzy Q]

I was just in LA a few weeks ago! Why did we go to Ralph's when there was a TJ right across the street? Why would my so-called "friend" do this to me? Stupid man!

I'm here in Miami,too, with the Whole Foods. I've never been to Wild Oats. Even their sign makes me gag.

[Megan]

I have nothing but love for Trader Joe's. I am lucky enough to pass *two* on my way home from work, and I swear, they are always so nice and helpful. I thought I'd share why I love it:

1. This one time, I saw an employee helping another customer out - showing her where the bread was, the coffee, etc. Very nice, but rather unremarkable - until he made some comment about "well, I haven't punched in yet, but I'll go do that and help you out with product information in a second." Seriously? I have a Jewel (Albertson's) near me, and the employees would spit in my eyes before doing anything like that.

2. Yes, their prices are ridiculously low. The Spouse and I are eating better (good food! And it's organic!) than ever before.

3. I love, love, love their samples.

4. I agree with the poster who mentioned how the clerks always have something nice to say about what I'm buying - "oh, you should try this with such-and-such wine" or "melt this cheese over garlic bread and you'll think you've died and gone to heaven." At other stores? Well, see my comment in #1.

5. Their dried fruits are a God-send for trips. Load up your luggage with their apple rings, banana chips, and other goodness, and you're set.

6. Their wine is so good. I don't think I've ever had a bad wine.

[Janssen]

Wow, I've never been to Trader Joes, but that post forced me to look up their website and find the nearest one so I could go check it out. Unfortunately, there isn't one within fifty miles of me so I may never get to go to Trader Joes. This post mocks me and my Trader Joeless state.

[mdvelazquez]

I've never been to Trader Joe's, but I so want to go now. I have the same reaction when I go to Stew Leonard's.

[kaitkait]

We have a brand new Trader Joe's about a mile away, and it's pretty much heaven. The only problem is that it's smaller than the other ones in town, and I don't think they have a handle on how much stuff to order yet -- they're usually completely out of some stuff and the other stuff on the shelf is already expired.
But the staff is super-friendly, and they do always comment on at least one thing I'm buying, like foodmomiac mentioned. Plus -- and this is my favorite part -- they know how to bag groceries. At my other grocery store (the one that i am never going back to, ever) they always just throw my raw meat in with my vegetables, and all my cleaning supplies get chucked in next to my bread. Gross. And thanks for the double-bagging my sponges separately. Those things can be hazardous.

[madge]

Oh, how I love Trader Joe's. I'm desperately trying to lure TJ's to Maine.

If any of you live in the Greater Portland Area, please go to traderjoes.com and click on the "Suggest a location" option.

You won't regret it. Especially after you try the Key Lime Cheesecake.

[Shash]

I have a complaint about Trader Joe's.

They have no plans to build one here in Orlando.

Don't worry, they already know how I feel, trust me.

I have to send my husband when he is in Boston. And he has to bring an extra suitcase, which he hates.

Oh look! Another complaint! :)