3 Signs You Should Not Set Foot in Your Local Trader Joe’s

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Many people love Trader Joe’s. But here are a few reasons you may not want to shop there. 

There’s a reason Trader Joe’s has so many fans. Not only does the store offer customer service with a smile, but you’ll often find that the prices at Trader Joe’s are wildly competitive. The result? More savings for you.

But while plenty of people absolutely love Trader Joe’s, it’s not necessarily the best store for everyone. Here are a few reasons why you may want to do your shopping elsewhere.

1. You have a hard time saying no to new products

Trader Joe’s is known for its rotating product lineup. If you visit Trader Joe’s in the fall, you’re apt to find a host of pumpkin-flavored items that are perfect for the season. And in late November and December, you’ll find holiday treats galore.

But that’s not necessarily a good thing if you’re grappling with credit card debt and don’t want to add to it. It’s easy to get tempted to buy new things when you visit a store like Trader Joe’s and see delicious offerings you’ve never laid eyes on before. So if you’re someone who has a hard time saying no to enticing new products, you may want to stick to a more run-of-the-mill grocery store — at least until your financial situation improves.

2. You’re very particular about the brands you bring home

Some shoppers are very loyal to specific brands, whether it’s due to having picky eaters at home or having dietary restrictions (for example, having a nut allergy in their household). One pitfall you might encounter at Trader Joe’s is that most of the store’s products are store-branded.

In other words, if you’re looking for classic Cheerios, you won’t find it at Trader Joe’s. Instead, you’ll find Joe’s O’s Cereal, which is a comparable product but different nonetheless. In fact, Cheerios is a great breakfast choice for people who want a cereal that’s gluten-free. The Trader Joe’s version, however, contains wheat, so it may be off the table for shoppers who need to be mindful of gluten allergies.

3. You have less expensive sources for buying groceries

Trader Joe’s is known for its competitive prices. And one nice thing about shopping there is that you don’t need to clip coupons or swipe a store card to snag a discount. If you see a given price on the shelf at Trader Joe’s, that’s the price you’re getting no matter what.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t more cost-effective options for buying groceries. Buying certain items in bulk at a store like Costco or Sam’s Club could save you money — even when you factor in the cost of a warehouse club membership. And also, if you have a discount grocer like Aldi nearby, that may be a lower-cost source of groceries for you.

Now one hiccup some Aldi shoppers tend to experience is a lack of familiar brands. But the same might apply if you’re new to Trader Joe’s, since, as mentioned, most of its products are store-branded. Only at Aldi, you might spend less.

All told, Trader Joe’s can be a great place to shop. But if these signs apply to you, then you may want to limit the extent to which you shop there — or avoid Trader Joe’s altogether.

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