I loved Trader Joe’s for years — but the older I get, the more I can’t stand shopping there

When I was in college, Trader Joe’s frozen meals were a confidence-boosting shortcut because I could prepare great-tasting food without worrying about messing it up.

The chain also has a huge variety of options, such as mac and cheese and stir-fry dishes.

But frozen meals tend to be high in sodium. A consistent diet of too much sodium can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

So, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve relied on them less and started cooking more for myself.

Cooking isn’t scary, and making my own meals is a surefire way to know exactly which ingredients I’m eating and control how much sodium is in a dish.

As someone with ADHD, I’ll also admit there were plenty of times I forgot about Trader Joe’s frozen meals until they were freezer-burned anyway.

The crowding at Trader Joe’s is oftentimes too much for me

I’ve shopped at Trader Joe’s in many larger cities, including Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama, and found a similar experience in each — crowded aisles and long lines.

Although the staff often does their best to organize the traffic, Trader Joe’s locations just tend to be smaller than other supermarkets and grocery stores. Crowds of shoppers are even more overwhelming when there’s less space to spread out.

Plus, Trader Joe’s is a popular store with fewer locations than many of its competitors — this also adds to a crowded atmosphere. For context, Trader Joe’s also has about 560 US locations, and its fellow grocery chain Aldi has more than 2,300 US storefronts.

It’s also worth noting that the chain’s parking lots are notoriously small.

The multipacks in the produce section aren’t usually ideal

I once really liked Trader Joe’s produce section because of the brand’s fun twists on staples, especially bagged and to-go salads.

But as I’ve gotten older, shopping for produce at Trader Joe’s frustrates me because I usually can’t grab just one or two units of a particular item.

Almost every vegetable or fruit I want to buy comes bagged in multiples or packaged on plastic-covered trays in pairs.

It’s not ideal when you’re just shopping for one or two people, and it can result in wasted food. At other grocery stores, I can usually grab just one unit of whatever I’m looking for.

Trader Joe’s doesn’t have sales, and there are no rewards programs

Loyalists shop at Trader Joe’s because they love the store’s products, and I get that.

I myself love the chain’s almond-butter cups because I’m allergic to peanuts, and it’s hard to find alternatives. But customer loyalty isn’t rewarded at Trader Joe’s.

Though it’s possible to use manufacturer’s coupons on products that aren’t from Trader Joe’s private label, the chain doesn’t do sales or promotions.

These days, my partner and I like to shop at stores where items we like are on sale.

And, now that I’m older, I much prefer a retailer with rewards programs and frequent buy-one-get-one deals.

With chains such as Kroger and Publix, I save money on groceries through rewards programs and perks, like Kroger Plus fuel points, and frequent sales.

This story was originally published on November 26, 2023, and most recently updated on October 30, 2024.