topic Re: Trader Joe's Question in Kitchen

Trader Joe's Question

FunkyHulaGirl — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 06:20:55 GMT

A friend and I are going on a road trip....to Trader Joe's! It's almost 100 miles each way, but I want to go back and she's never been.

Last time I went I paid with cash and will again, but she wanted to know - do they take credit cards and/or checks? I don't remember.

Thanks!

Re: Trader Joe's Question

ennui1 — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 06:22:49 GMT

Yes, they take all the major credit cards. Have fun.

You may be thinking of Costco -- Amex and cash only.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Deadeye Daisy — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 06:29:25 GMT

FHG:

Yes, they all take checks, debit and ALL credit cards. If you bring your own reusable bag, your name gets entered into a drawing for a $25 TJs gift certificate. Have won several times over the years in CA & GA.

You can also save at TJs by using discounted TJs gift cards from one of the gift card resale sites.

If you're going to one of the TJs in the Atlanta area (we now have 6) they don't all carry the same items. I sometimes go to three in one day. For me, they're all a 'road trip'. Closest one is a 70 mile round trip. Have also gone to the one in Knoxville. It seems to be a much smaller store with less items. Nashville is bigger.

All of the Atlanta area ones now have wine and beer.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

NYC Susan — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 06:56:42 GMT

On 7/9/2014 ennui1 said:
Yes, they take all the major credit cards. Have fun.

You may be thinking of Costco -- Amex and cash only.

Costco is not cash and Amex only. I pay with my debit card all the time, and I've seen people paying with checks.

eta: I just checked their website to be sure I'm giving accurate info, and they do accept methods of payment other than cash and Amex.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Desi — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 07:17:04 GMT

Want to suggest bringing an insulated tote or cooler full of ice in case you buy frozen food.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

jackthebear — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:40:01 GMT

is it really worth driving all that way

Re: Trader Joe's Question

ID2 — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:47:19 GMT

You are going to drive 200 miles to a Trader Joes????? Really? I have one about 2 miles away and never shop there. I've tried but nothing whatsoever in the store appeals to me. I just don't understand the hype.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Krimpette — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:15:56 GMT

I do most of my grocery shopping at my local TJ's. Luckily, it's only about a mile from where I live!!!! Love TJ's!!!!!

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Helping — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:25:18 GMT

Trader Joe's is one of my two main grocery stores. I always get the tomato basil marinara, spaghetti, multigrain triple berry instant oatmeal (add some frozen Wild Boreal Blueberries), frozen vegetable fried rice + Cooked Shrimp (tail off 50-70) + Thai Yellow Curry Sauce, Coconut Red Curry chicken in the refrig section over Rice Medley in the frozen section, all the nuts I buy, Balsamic Glaze, Fleur de Sel Caramels. My brother likes the frozen Shepherd's Pie. And many other items. And a lot less expensive than Whole Foods!

Re: Trader Joe's Question

stilltamn8r — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:50:52 GMT

I have about 6 within a 7 square mile radius..I never felt so lucky till I read this!

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Deadeye Daisy — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:04:15 GMT

YES! Most definitely worth a 'road trip'.

When we first moved to GA from California, we didn't have ANY TJs here. Before the move, I bought cases of the things we loved and had 'em moved by our movers. Things like Garden Patch, apricot and peach sauces, kitty treats, REAL pineappple juice, and French Gum fruits (which none of the stores on the east coast have). I believe we had 20 cases of stuff all told. Fortunately, it was a company paid move.

After moving to GA, when we made trips up to NJ, I would call ahead to Wayne, PA or Westfield, NJ stores to pre-order case lots for our return trip back down to GA. Pre-packed cases were easier to transport.

Now, it's only a 70 mile round trip to most of the 6 TJs in the Atlanta area, but I try to make it every other month when I go to BJs. Now, with some planning (stopping on the way for dry ice), I can also get frozen and refrigerated items in the summer. One of the things I miss from the CA stores - Alta Dena milk and dairy products.

Yes, you do get 'addicted' to some TJs items. Cheeses, chocolates (dark chocolate sea salt caramels) around the holidays; pumpkin body butter @ $5 for 8 oz (about the least expensive and BEST moisturizer out there).

Double Rainbow ice cream. Frozen fire roasted corn, three pepper mix, frozen herbs (much better selection than WalMart). Small size packages of speck, proscuitto, cappicola. Small cans of Hawaiian pineapple juice. Good turkey stock and concentrate. Jams. Cookie butter.

I go with a long list, and often stop at three TJs stores in one trip, as they all don't carry the same items. I buy less now, since it's just myself and guests.

Was able to find things like panko and toasted sesame oil at TJs LONG before you could get them at regular markets.

When we lived in CA, whenever we went to WDW in FL, I would stop at Publix and have them freeze two 6# Taylor Pork Rolls for our return trip home. When flying to NJ from GA or CA, I would order a case of pastrami from Path Mark for our return AND TastyKake Butterscotch Krimpets. We always traveled with nothing but carry-on bags for our personal items, but always traveled with an empty suitcase for stuff we were bringing back home.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

jackthebear — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:13:01 GMT

There are 2 within 10 to 15 minutes of me, I just can't imagine driving more than that to go to any grocery store. Living in the most populated county in the one of the most populated states in country I forget what the rest of the country is like.

At least 7 grocery stores within 10 minutes or less not including TJ, not that I shop at all of them and not including Whole Foods.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

FunkyHulaGirl — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:35:04 GMT

Thanks, everyone. I know it's owned by the brother of the guy who owns Aldi, so that's why I wasn't sure on credit cards or checks - I thought it might be the same as Aldi.

I never shopped at a Trader Joe's until I went to the one in Nashville a few weeks ago - I was there anyway, as I met up with some ladies from the board for lunch. So many wonderful things that you can't find just anywhere, and the fruit tasted much like it used to - non-GMO, juicy, and GOOD. I paid $3.99 for a case of nectarines, and actually finished every last one; I usually end up throwing most fruits I buy out because they don't taste like they should. There are several dozen supermarkets in the area, including Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Publix, Fresh Market, 3 Aldis, Sam's, Costco, etc. - but Trader Joe's has far better produce than any of them do, and unique things like cookie butter, freeze-dried fruit (which I use in buttercream frosting), the best butter cookies ever, etc. One trip was enough to have me hooked!

We're going to the one in Marietta, and are planning to have lunch at Ted's Montana Grill first - I'm hoping they'll sell me some of their wonderful pickles to bring home! We'll do Trader Joe's last, since we're planning on getting frozen items - we're taking a large cooler with us. I'll have to look for the kitty treats; I got dog kibble last time, but haven't used it yet - they'll get some for dinner tonight as I just gave them the last of the previous kind.

I live in a relatively small town, but a major store just announced it's opening here and the Town Council is trying to attract more new businesses; we've been writing to Trader Joe's, hoping they'll open a store near us.

BTW Daisy, most of the Walmarts in the area now carry Tastycake. I used to love the coconut layer cake juniors, but it's not as good as I remembered it.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Clover29 — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:52:23 GMT

I've never been in one that gives you anything for bringing your own bag: all the TJ's I've been to are in cities that have banned plastic grocery bags, so you have to bring your own (or pay for paper). They don't give prizes for that round here.

I'm super impressed with the quality of TJ's everything. I cook a meal with their products, and whatever it is, fish, pasta, pastries, DH always says, "This is nice," and I have to say, "Of course it is, it's Trader Joe's". He doesn't do that when I serve up something from Safeway.

I would love to say I've never had a single bad thing from there, but the other week I bought a jar of marinara sauce and it was terrible. First lousy product in ten years. I thought it was tasteless and much too thin and runny. I also don't care for their shaved Parmesan, which I think is too chunky, but DH prefers it to the thinner ones at other stores.

Would I drive 100 miles to buy from them? No, not on my own, but as a road trip with a pal, I could make a day of it and have some wonderful groceries at the end of it.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Lovely — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:57:54 GMT

Don't waste the gas. I live near one and have tried to find something in there to buy and never do. Most of what they sell isn't healthy either...read the labels and you'll see.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Clover29 — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:05:47 GMT

On 7/10/2014 Lovely said:
Don't waste the gas. I live near one and have tried to find something in there to buy and never do. Most of what they sell isn't healthy either...read the labels and you'll see.

It's the only place I can get prepared fresh mango, almost all year round. What's not healthy about that?

OK, their chocolate and almond croissants are to die for, and they're not healthy. But so what

Re: Trader Joe's Question

I am still oxox — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:07:30 GMT

I have one down the street from me, we shop there all there time and before we lived here we would stop there on the way home from seeing my parents

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Gooday — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:10:57 GMT

I like T.J.'s but, it's always so darned crowded I feel that I can't browse and THAT bothers me. A lot. Just so long as I can stock up on "Two Buck Chuck" I'm happy.

Re: Trader Joe's Question

scatcat — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:43:27 GMT

My TJ's is like 3 miles away and I sometimes have a hard time justifying the drive. 100 miles each way? Really? It's such a small store...have fun and safe travels!

Re: Trader Joe's Question

Teddixat — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 22:00:22 GMT

@ID2. There is no hype. TJs is the real deal. Your loss