The Absolute Best & Worst Times To Shop At Trader Joe's, According To Insiders
From the famous Green Goddess Seasoning to the Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi, Trader Joe's most beloved items attract swarms of customers every day of the week. And while those cheery TJ's employees (who aren't flirting with you, by the way) are skilled at keeping the line moving, we all know how much damage too much time in checkout can do to our wallets (we're looking at you, dark chocolate peanut butter cups). So if there's an opportunity to cut that time short, we're here to take advantage.
Typically, Trader Joe's stores are open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and because the grocery chain prides itself on offering its customers low prices on the reg, you don't have to plan your shopping schedule around limited-time promotions or discounts. Instead, it behooves you to time your visits to not only when the products on the shelves are the freshest, but also when the store isn't likely to have a shopping cart pile-up.
When To Score The Freshest Produce
Trader Joe's is known to stock its stores with fresh fruits and vegetables every morning. Due to varying demand, some locations restock throughout the day and the store's most popular items may sell out as early as that same afternoon. "Mondays are the worst because most things get sold on the weekend," one devoted TJ's fan notes on Reddit.
However, as another shopper states, "It depends on the store." Deliveries tend to differ depending on which TJ's location they are stocking, so it's beneficial to check in with an employee at your local store who's accustomed to the schedule in order to score the freshest products.
Delish Temporary Assistant Food Producer Mackenzie Filson, a former Trader Joe's employee, explains that at the store she where she worked "restocking happens all throughout the day." But, she adds, "Morning was when everything on the perimeter—cold perishable items like milk, pre-made foods, meat, cheese, and produce—was restocked, so that's always good to keep in mind!"
How To Avoid Long Lines
To get the most out of your next trip to Trader Joe's, hit the store in the early hours of Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Right when the store first opens is ideal, as it's not too crowded and you can subsequently be more relaxed about your shopping. "Going in the morning is best for me," reports a customer on Reddit. "No lines and I can pretty leisurely walk around." Another frequent shopper echoed those sentiments, noting that Monday morning is their go-to shopping time, adding, "Anytime I go in the afternoon it reminds me why I should never go in the afternoon."
Self described Trader Joe's expert Shannon Fong, the creator of the Instagram account @traderjoesobsessed, also has some sage advice for shoppers who want to get the most out of their trip to TJ's. "The best time to actually go to Trader Joe's would be, in my opinion, Wednesday morning because all the new items have been stocked and when you go in the morning, all the shelves are full."
Another reason why the early a.m. hours are the best? A parking lot you can actually park in. Fong notes that the parkiing lots are crowded for most of the day, so "it's usually good to go right when they open!"
Delish Digital Culinary Producer & Editor and former Trader Joe's employee Camille Lowder also lended us her observations. "Honestly, my greatest insight might be to figure out when they get their deliveries." She echos the insight that each store runs slightly differently. For example, Lowder noticed that when she worked in a store location outside of San Francisco, the store received deliveries after closing and before morning. "So early mornings were pretty quiet and the best time to shop with full shelves," she commented. "We also put out coffee and cookies for people, a perk!"
Consider Evening & Post-Holiday Visits
Alternatively, some stores, in New York City for example, receive trucks all day long, making it harder to plan around the busier hours of the day. And while many people find their Trader Joe's comfort zone on weekday mornings, some customers report having success on late Tuesday or Thursday evenings. And research supports this: Tuesday evenings after 8 p.m. are the slowest shopping hours of the week among all grocery shoppers.
Lowder herself prefers the late Friday night hours. "I love shopping when everyone else is getting ready to go out. You won't be the only person there, but less," she explained.
Plus, nighttime is when the inner aisles are restocked in some stores, says Filson. "A lot of the more fun items come in at night so it's typically a good time to score hard to find and viral items."
Not only will shopping during these non-peak hours allow you to shop more efficiently, but you'll also have ample time to ask any questions about the store's stocking protocols and products. And another pro tip? Shopping the day after a holiday or during a big sporting event. "Everyone has fridges full of food and don't need to go to the store as much," says Filson. "So I like to move my weekly shop to those days whenever possible."
Times You Should Avoid At All Costs
Market research company Drive Research finds that the most popular time across the country to go grocery shopping is on Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1:59 p.m. This is in line with what many Trader Joe's shoppers report―weekends at the store are mayhem.
"Worst is on a weekend afternoon," one customer stated on Reddit. "It's jam packed, the aisles are impossible to navigate and the lines are crazy." Others lament the absolute chaos that shoppers on Sunday encounter. As one shopper succinctly put it, "If it's Sunday, you would be a fool to come any time after 9 a.m." Fong agrees with these statements, telling us, "The worst time to go would be Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Usually there's not much left, especially with the fresh produce." Dang.
Research also indicates that late afternoon through the evening on Friday is prime shopping time. If you do need to get some shopping done on the weekend, however, some customers have reported success early in the morning right when the store opens.
The bottom line: Because of its low prices and cult-favorite products, Trader Joe's is often bombarded by a maze of customers. Hit up the store around opening time or late in the evening during the weekday, and avoid weekday afternoons and weekends if you can. Now it's simply up to you to resist the urge to grab those peanut butter cups.
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