Trader Joe's
- Thread starter ponyo
- Start date
harobikes333
Platinum Member
I live in ND... the west side... ... hence we only have walmart
It's pretty good stuff at pretty good prices, but I cannot get everything that I want there. So, it is not the best.
Serious?
Trader Joe's is like a tenth of the size of Costco.
Costco has pretty much everything you need in your home. ie: clothes, electronics, food, etc.
Whereas Trader Joe's is strictly just food.
They shouldn't even be compared.
Can't seem to follow your logic. And I enjoy shopping at both of these locations.
Cheap prices but not up to par with some of the local high end grocery stores. Being a food elitist, I rarely go there.
Miramonti
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2000
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They succeed because they don't try to please 'all the people all the time', but make sure that what they sell pleases a lot of people at prices that are right for most people. Aldi's and TJ's has a different target customer, but both are successful in being instrumental 'first-stop' shopping venues for each group.
I think Aldi's runs on margins lower than walmart, and TJ's must be extremely low as well.
I think Aldi's runs on margins lower than walmart, and TJ's must be extremely low as well.
- Feb 14, 2002
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While TJ is tiny in space compared to Costco, both share similar retail philosophy. Both carry limited number of items and turn over merchandise very quickly. You might find an item you like on the shelf one week and never see it again. Both leverage their ability to flip inventory at a rapid pace to buy distressed merchandise on the cheap knowing they can get rid of it before it expires. Both have top quality house brand merchandise.
Fair complaint but same can be said of Costco. Costco also forces you to buy in bulk.
honestly, I've never bought anything there that I was blown away by -- certainly not so much that shopping there is worth the inconvenience of having to get on a highway and drive 3 towns over plus having to deal with an impossibly small parking lot.
My grocery shopping involves Costco, Aldi, Trader Joes, Walmart, Target and Jewel. Between those guys I can get everything I need for the best price consistently.
Costco for the bulk stuff (olive oil, flour, etc) and some meats
Aldi for the produce
Trader Joes for the Pasta and some meats
Walmart/Target for cheap general foodstuffs
Jewel for their sale items and if I can't find it anywhere else.
But I love going to Trader Joes, everyone just seems so happy there. The clerks are always smiling, it just makes buying food more enjoyable.
Also, aren't Aldi and Trader Joes owned by the same people?
Costco for the bulk stuff (olive oil, flour, etc) and some meats
Aldi for the produce
Trader Joes for the Pasta and some meats
Walmart/Target for cheap general foodstuffs
Jewel for their sale items and if I can't find it anywhere else.
But I love going to Trader Joes, everyone just seems so happy there. The clerks are always smiling, it just makes buying food more enjoyable.
Also, aren't Aldi and Trader Joes owned by the same people?
Miramonti
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2000
- 28,653
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I'm trying to think of the word that describes TJ's selection but am brainfarting. Its not high end, but isn't run of the mill, and their margins for these type of a-typical selections are lower than any other competitor would offer them (altho certainly not aldi-low margin levels.)
As for china, no doubt. Particularly the fact they don't sell fish from chinese fish farms.
daniel1113
Diamond Member
- Jun 6, 2003
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- Oct 9, 1999
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Aldi's "no-name" brands are often cheaper (they run on insanely thin margins) but also generally BETTER than other store's generics and quite often the equal of national name brands.
You should really give them a try. Some stuff you will love, other stuff not so much.
Miramonti
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2000
- 28,653
- 100
- 106
It's hit or miss. Many describe them 'ghetto', and many are run that way, but many aren't. They are cheaper than walmart on many things. Some products are low generic quality, but some are rebranded namebrand products. For example, their country homestyle cookies are rebranded Matt's Cookies, which are awesome and 1/2 the price you'll find them at the grocery store. Since they are so cheap, they attract more EBT users than anyone else. I'd always get what I can from them first, atleast what I can enjoy from them, then go to the chain supermarket or walmart.
Two examples of keeping their margins low...you have to 'rent' their cart for $.25 which you get back when re-lock it up with the rest of the carts, and you have to pay for bags. The cashier rings up the items and puts them directly in the carts, and then you put them in free boxes or your bags afterwards. They don't take time to bag etc.
As for Aldi, I tend to stay away from their dairy or meat products, other than the frozen stuff or yogurt. A lot of their cereals and other dry goods are great though. It is worth it to go there and figure out which products work for you.
I thought so too, until I tried their oranges. At the time i was living in chicago, I decided to give it a try as they were only a couple bucks. They were the BEST oranges I had in a long time. I thought it was a fluke, but I went back later and got some more, just as amazing. And I never had a problem with any of their fruits/vegies, always dirt cheap and perfectly fine quality.
Not sure if I trust their meats though.
Of course, maybe its a regional thing.
Remember to bring a quarter for the carts, as far as I know all Aldis require a quarter to use their carts (you get it back afterward), just a heads up if you didn't already know
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