Trader Joe's Easter mini tote bags listed online for up to $400 shortly after debut

The Easter mini tote bags that Trader Joe's customers can't seem to get enough of have already begun to appear on a number of third-party e-commerce platforms, including Mercari and eBay.

The viral accessory, available in four pastel colors, made its highly anticipated return to Trader Joe's stores nationwide on Wednesday, about a year after the mayhem that ensued in March 2024 when the bags were released. The grocery store chain even had to impose a limit on the number of bags that customers could purchase.

Last year's mini totes were eventually listed on a number of online marketplaces for as much as $500 and this year is no different. Online listings have already begun to appear on eBay, Mercari and Facebook for as little as $11 or as much as $400.

The mini tote retails for $2.99 and will only be available for a limited time.

The most expensive eBay listing was for a set of four mini totes (all four colors), that went for $400, not including shipping. At least three other sets of four bags sold for over $100. Another set of four was priced at $200.

Trader Joe's released a statement about third-party resellers in March 2021.

"This is done without our approval or authorization and outside the controls of our quality-minded supply chain," Trader Joe's said at the time. "To be clear, we neither condone nor support the reselling of our products and do all we can to stop the practice."

More on 'Trader Joe's Mini Pastel Canvas Tote Bags'

Trader Joe's "Mini Pastel Canvas Tote Bags" are 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide, making it suitable for "smaller shopping trips." The tote bags come in four shades: pink, baby blue, mint green and lavender.

"When it comes to our reusable bags, our customers have made themselves abundantly clear: the smaller the tote, the bigger the sensation," Trader Joe's said on its website. Last year, when we introduced our Mini Canvas Totes, we were so pleasantly surprised by their rapturous reception that we’re bringing in even more Mini Totes."

Because each neighborhood Trader Joe's determines its own merchandising plans, some stores may still have the item while others may be completely sold out, Trader Joe's spokesperson Nakia Rohde said Friday.

"Since 1967, we have been transforming grocery shopping into a welcoming journey full of discovery and fun," Rhode said. "Our buyers travel the world searching for exceptional products that will find a following among our customers. We believe that customers 'vote' on what they love—and what they want to see more of—with their dollars."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trader Joe's Easter mini tote bags now selling for hundreds online