Trader Joe's Employees Reveal Their 8 Best Shopping Tips

These insider secrets will help you score the best deals and products.


Trader Joe's has gathered a cult-like following over the years, earning the title of America's favorite market more than once. Dedicated shoppers love the friendly staff, localized offerings, and unbeatably low prices. But there's more to the seafaring-themed supermarket than meets the eye. Several current and former employees divulged some helpful insider secrets about the famous chain. Here's everything you need to know before grabbing a shopping cart.

1. Don't expect additional discounts or sales.

Trader Joe's iconic newsletter, the Fearless Flyer, only comes out eight times a year. It highlights the newest products hitting shelves for that time of year, so customers can get a heads up on all the seasonal offerings. However, it's devoid of any coupons or discount offers—because the store already sells all of its products at the lowest possible price point.

2. Yes, coupons are accepted.

As mentioned, Trader Joe's does not offer any store coupons. But the chain does accept all manufacturer coupons, according to one personal finance blogger. It's worth a try to save a few extra bucks!

3. The bells are a secret employee code.

You've probably heard the signature bells near the checkout counters . It turns out there's a method behind all that ringing. "One bell means everyone to your register, which means the lines are getting too long and they need everyone at a register," a former employee explained to PopSugar. "Two bells means you need an employee to come over and help with something. Three bells means a manager needs to come over."

4. There's a genius hack for getting more free samples.

Head over to the demo station around closing. "If you're there at the end of the night, and we're just trying to clean everything out of there, you can probably stand there for 10 minutes and eat," an employee told Thrillist. Score!

5. You can return anything.

Seriously, anything. According toPopsugar, customers can buy anything, try it, and still return the product for a full refund if they don't like it or think there's something wrong . The policy is typically no-questions-asked and most of the time, you don't even need a receipt.

6. There are two best days to shop.

Don't show up on a Sunday afternoon and be surprised when it's packed. One employee claims that Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to visit the store — the earlier in the morning, the better. "Right when we open is honestly the best time to go," he wrote on Reddit. "We get fresh produce in every morning so you can get the best products, and some stuff actually will sell out for the day around 2 to 4 p.m., including perishable and non-perishable items. "

7. Ask for samples of anything in the store.

Don't limit yourself to the offerings at the sample stand. You can ask an employee to try anything in the store (within reason) and they'll give you a free sample. "We're not gonna grill up a steak for you," an employee explained in a Reddit thread. "But something that you can open up and taste, yeah, go for it. They'll be happy to open it and let you try." Take that, Costco!

8. There's a secret way to entertain your kids while shopping.

Every store has some sort of stuffed animal hiding somewhere within it. "It's really just for kids to run around and find the missing animal, and they get a treat," one employee said. "Kids seem to LOVE it."

Follow Delish on Instagram.

Download the Delish app.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Food Trends