There are two types of grocery shoppers in this world. The first kind are those who just spew bad vibes from the moment they take a cart. They would sooner sit through a root canal than stock up on essentials. And then there are those who actually feel a tad giddy just thinking about walking down a grocery store aisle. They live to be surrounded by products promising to delight the taste buds. Luckily, there is a store for both the miserable and joyous to co-exist: Trader Joe’s.
The store has definitely found its band of loyal followers. The health-minded grocery store stands out from the competition for a bounty of reasons. New products are introduced weekly to an already impressive selection of eclectic foods. This can be overwhelming to those who are faithful to the familiar. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s has found a way for the timid to be daring. They have a “try before you buy” policy (via PopSugar).
Trader Joe's lets you sample (almost) anything
The “try before you buy” policy allows customers to try most products before purchasing. An anonymous Trader Joe’s employee tells Mental Floss: “I love when customers ask to try products! We’re not gonna grill up a steak for you, but something that you can open up and taste, yeah go for it.” And anything that’s not purchases, employees have the option to finish to the product, or it’s donated or thrown out.
There are a few guidelines when it comes to sampling. To avoid any eye rolling directed your way, do not start hungrily ripping open packages in the aisles. Always ask an employee to open any packaged product you wish to sample. According to Lifehacker, the most popular items asked to try at Trader Joe’s are fruits, cheese, and cookie butter (yes, that’s a thing). Hard liquor is not allowed, but wine is available if you’re of age.
So what else is off limits? Anything you need to prepare, like a cake mix or pasta, or items that are frozen and/or need to be cooked. Fortunately, ice cream is the exception to the frozen-item rule. So, it’s okay if you still fall under the category of grumpy shopper. Just remember that the newest cookie butter flavor or sharp cheddar can be enjoyed on the spot.
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