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Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 2:52:22 AM

xxblushesxx

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From: Kentucky
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We haz one opening on Friday!!

What have your TJ's experiences been? Any must haves or must not haves? Details please!!

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 4:32:13 AM

LillyBoPeep

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i like trader joe's -- it didn't really seem much more expensive than my regular grocery store (except the meat -- meat can be high, but i'm a vegetarian, so it doesn't matter so much. =p) and it seemed like groceries i got there lasted a LOOONGG time. they have a lot of frozen food, but it's pretty good quality. my favorite thing are these little boxes with tortellini, tomatoes, peppers, and some other stuff -- super tasty!
i also know a few people who swear by their shampoo and conditioner. there's a lot of great stuff at TJ's -- i keep meaning to go back but, alas... my regular store is closer.............

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 4:34:25 AM

xxblushesxx

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Thank you Lilly! I don't know why I'm excited about this (it's just a store) but we've been asking for one in our area for years.
I've just read such great things about them, and can't wait to try it.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 4:37:12 AM

LillyBoPeep

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yep, people campaigned for years for the one here, too, and it finally opened last year. it's a really great store with a fun, easy-going atmosphere.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 5:13:21 AM

kalikshama

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Mom likes TJ's. It's a bit closer than Whole Foods. The prices are slightly better for nuts and excellent for olive oil. I didn't look at the meat. One weird thing is that product is by each, not by the pound.

I'd be excited if one went in near me, as I'm currently schlepping 30 miles to go to WF, but I'd really prefer a Whole Foods.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 5:18:14 AM

LadyHibiscus

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We have one right by the house, and rarely go, because we're not big into frozen food. They have a good selection of cheeses, their preserves are excellent, and so are the cookies! Great frozen seafood, and I am fond of the samosas.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 5:28:47 AM

samboct

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Hi Christina

Here's my experiences with the place....

1) Rumor- they only have 1000 skus- so some stuff gets bumped off the shelves. This is typically the stuff I really like like mint chocolate UFOs and the Rosencrunch and Guildenpop which I've never forgiven them for getting rid of.
2) Suppliers are deep dark secrets.
3) Some stuff is very good and very inexpensive. They get 1/2 kg bars of Callebaut chocolate (pretty sure it's Callebaut) which is packaged under their own name for about $3.50 per bar. This is like a third the cost of chocolate at other places, but the quality is not as good as the stuff you'll find in Whole Foods-but it's not bad.
4) A lot of their prepared foods contain modified food starch- don't assume stuff is really healthy for you unless it's labeled organic- and not that much is.
5) I find their produce to be poor.
6) Their mozzarella balls in oil are quite good- so is their salsa.
7) Spices are cheaper there than other stores.
8) They have nice sugar for baking and some of their cookies are pretty good- often inexpensive too. Very bad for the waistline.
9) Good dairy stuff- organic butter for the same price as you'd pay in the super market and good milk, cottage cheese etc.
10) I like some of their cereals and granolas and trail mixes- raisins are a good deal there.
11) They have a very easy return policy. Their attitude is try it, and if you don't like it, bring it back and you'll get full credit or cash. No paperwork- you don't need a receipt. Its why they won't open in a low socioeconomic neighborhood.

Summary- the quality of stuff in a Trader Joes is not at the same level as a Whole Foods, but its much less expensive. The layout of the place is easier to deal with than a conventional super market- I've never had to wait more than a few minutes to check out. It has a semi earthy-crunchy feel, but I wouldn't bet that they're really "green" or highly ethical such as Ben and Jerry's. Good bang/buck on a lot of their stuff.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 6:59:58 AM

servantforuse

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I go there here and there. It is more of a specialty store and pricey. Pretty good wine selection that is very reasonable though. I go there for the wines and usually pick up a few other things..

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 7:36:13 AM

Iamsemisweet

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From: The Great Northwest, USA
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Not a good place to buy produce, none of it is local. Their meat selection is xpensive but high quality.

Their corn relish is my favorite thing from TJs, I buy six jars every time I go there. And then, there is the two buck chuck. Not bad, really, although it is 2.99 where I live.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 8:18:20 AM

tj444

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I like different stores for different reasons. To me, Whole Foods is very expensive but I like their food bars so I can try different things. TJ doesn’t have food bars. At various times (like lunch time) they have a test food area which has lead me to buy their sundried tomato pesto, etc.

I like various things at TJs, low calorie salad dressings, packaged lettuces, their wraps in their fresh food/meal section, frozen food like pot stickers, veggie mixes, edamame, frozen berries, peach jam, various other things.

I only buy soygurt (yogurt made from soy) and TJs has their own brand which costs $0.99, at another store a name brand soygurt is $1.09 and $1.19 at another local store. That same brand would be a lot more at Whole Foods ($1.39?). So TJs brands tend to be lower priced but imo, good quality. For the longest time this summer I was buying HUGE watermelons for $3.49 and other stores were selling really small ones for the same price. You have to know your prices and decide what you want to buy. That’s not to say I buy everything they sell, its stuff I like, especially what is just unique to them. They also bring out new items (they seem to know their customers tastes very well) and have a quaint monthly flyer.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 8:34:48 AM

LillyBoPeep

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i do like TJ's soygurt, too. and i like that it's cheap.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 11:20:12 AM

LafayetteLady

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From: Northern New Jersey
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Like any other store, you will have to try stuff and see how you like it. I've found some of their stuff to be good, some not so good. They seem to have a lot of prepared, frozen, just toss in the microwave kind of stuff.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 11:30:12 AM

xxblushesxx

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From: Kentucky
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Ok, well for us, my plan is:

Bakery essentials. I'm a great baker, and it's getting to be that time of year.
Frozen food for HM. He eats his lunch at his desk, so we're always looking for something new and delicious.
I don't think they'll have a liquor license in the area they're moving into, but if they are, will def. try their wines and beer.
Cheeses.
Some seasonal items that are unique to them.
Nuts.
MAYBE olives but they have to compete with a wonderful Italian store just down the road so...

No produce unless something looks excellent.
No meat (probably) because I buy usda Prime from Costco for an unbeatable price. (imo)
No bakery goods.

That's all I got so far. (am I over-thinking this? I'm so OCD) *lol*

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/25/2011 1:39:27 PM

LadyHibiscus

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Oh they have reallly good pumpkin whoopie pies!!

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 5:37:02 AM

0ldhen

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I love that place! It is where my favorite loose tea comes from.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 8:09:40 AM

abrattyprincess

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TJ's Tea Tree Body Wash is amazinggggggggggg!! It makes you tingle. :)
I also love their store brand Greek Feta dressing and their Lobster ravioli.
Mmmmm!

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 8:12:22 AM

LillyBoPeep

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i want to try to TJ's tea tree tingle shampoo -- i'm trying to find a more cost-effective alternative to the shampoo i use now, which costs boatloads for a little bottle. i don't shampoo very often (i mostly wash with conditioner) so the bottle lasts a while, but it still seems ridiculous. i've heard that other people with hair like mine have good luck with it; my hair just tangles up badly if any shampoo gets near it, and the expensive one i have is the only one that doesn't do that

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 12:20:50 PM

cloudboy

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The Dutch Milk Chocolate with hazelnuts bar is superb.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 2:17:40 PM

ricken

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I like the cheap wine, I thinks it's really good. I also like their fish, even if it is frozen, I think it's a reasonable price. There was also an article I read onlin about fish being mislabeled TJ's was on of the few that labeled corectly 100% of the time.

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RE: Trader Joes? - 10/26/2011 5:02:36 PM

xxblushesxx

Posts: 9318
Joined: 11/3/2005
From: Kentucky
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Chocolate and wine?!! Ok, I'm convinced!

I forgot to mention the shampoos and body washes. People rave about them. Especially the salt scrubs which are apparently as good as the Body Shop's at a fraction of the price. I'll definitely be experimenting with these!

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A nice girl with a disturbing hobby

My femdom findom blog: http://www.MistressAvarice.com

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