3 Reasons Everyone Should Be Buying Groceries at Trader Joe's

A person unpacking fruits from a grocery bag into a bowl on the dining room table.

The folks who write all of those economic reports keep claiming that inflation is cooling. And sure, technically, that's true.

But here's a big misconception a lot of people I know are buying into. They seem to think that just because the pace of inflation is slowing down means consumer products are getting cheaper. That's not the case at all.

Take groceries, which eat up a huge chunk of my budget. Grocery costs are up 1.1% from a year ago, as per the latest Consumer Price Index. But remember, that's a 1.1% increase on top of all the other increases in recent years. So no matter how you slice it, I'm still spending way too much money to put food on the table.

If you feel similarly, I highly recommend you do at least some of your grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. And even if you're not particularly stressed about your grocery bill, I still think it's one of the best supermarkets to shop at. Here's why.

1. You know exactly what you're going to pay ahead of time

Trader Joe's does a great job of updating its website with new product information so you can see what's on shelves month after month. But what I love about Trader Joe's is its practice of publishing prices on its site and charging the same price at every store.

Take the new Peaches + Cream Cream Cheese Spread. I'm not sure if it's my cup of tea, but I appreciate knowing ahead of time that Trader Joe's will charge me $2.79 for an eight-ounce container.

Of course, there is the disclaimer that prices can fluctuate based on market conditions. But in my experience, when Trader Joe's posts a price, that's what I'm paying.

2. You can try any product before you buy it

Here's a little-known fact about Trader Joe's. If there's a new item you've never tried before and you're not sure you'll enjoy it, all you need to do is flag down a store employee and ask to sample it. Someone will open up a box or bag of whatever it is and let you try before you buy.

I took advantage of this years back when my kids and I went to Trader Joe's in search of the granola bars they loved, only to learn that the store had discontinued them. My kids were heartbroken, so the kind store employee who'd been forced to break the news proceeded to march them into the cereal aisle and start opening various boxes of replacement granola bars for them to try.

When my kids found a few kinds they liked, I offered to pay for the partially eaten boxes they'd sampled from. The store employee refused my money for those boxes. I was floored.

3. You can get a refund for purchases that don't meet your expectations

Trader Joe's wants you to be happy with your purchases. So if there's a quality issue, such as a product that goes bad before its expiration date, or if there's a new item whose taste you don't like, you can generally bring it back for a full refund.

Granted, Trader Joe's isn't alone in this regard. Costco is also really good at refunding customers who have issues with food products. Only to buy groceries at Costco, you have to pay a $60 fee at a minimum for a basic membership. There's no budget hit to walk into Trader Joe's and see what's in stock.

Look, I'll admit that I'm a fan of Trader Joe's first and foremost because of its awesome products, many of which you can't find anything like elsewhere. But I also really appreciate the way the store does business. So for these reasons, I highly suggest shopping at Trader Joe's if you have a location near you.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.