Trader Joe's - thoughts?

by **Death Roe** 2017-10-17, 09:26

One just opened up by me, I know they are owned by Aldi. Are they worth checking out? Anything noteworthy in the store?

by **Floyd Robertson** 2017-10-17, 09:28

I don't know.

by **Death Roe** 2017-10-17, 09:29

Floyd Robertson wrote:I don't know.

Any updates on this?

by **DWags** 2017-10-17, 09:34

Death Roe wrote:
Floyd Robertson wrote:I don't know.

Any updates on this?

Yeah, I've never been.

by Senior Dickfist 2017-10-17, 09:35

I'm assuming you're referring to the new store in Kzoo? My wife said she liked the store, but it was so packed she plans on waiting a few weeks before returning. I know, I'm not much help...

by **SeeRockCity** 2017-10-17, 09:38

Trader Joe's is dumb.

by **Floyd Robertson** 2017-10-17, 09:39

DWags wrote:
Death Roe wrote:

Any updates on this?

Yeah, I've never been.

Same update.

by **Death Roe** 2017-10-17, 09:39

Senior Dickfist wrote:I'm assuming you're referring to the new store in Kzoo? My wife said she liked the store, but it was so packed she plans on waiting a few weeks before returning. I know, I'm not much help...

Yep. Thank you for giving me some info, though. I will check it out at some point, maybe when we're going to Costco.

by Senior Dickfist 2017-10-17, 09:42

I did hammer a bag of their white cheddar popcorn. It wasn't anything special, but good enough with a couple of beers.

by **InTenSity** 2017-10-17, 09:48

The peanut butter, or whatever its called is pretty legit.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 09:58

never been.

by **SeeRockCity** 2017-10-17, 10:05

InTenSity wrote:The peanut butter, or whatever its called is pretty legit.

This is pretty much what it is.

Everyone I know who shops there has 1 or 2 items that they view as a bargain, or that they really like. We used to drop by once in a while but it's usually a pain in the ass and the checkout process is slow. Not worth making a secondary grocery store trip just to get a can of that guacamole that you really liked.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 10:06

so people go to a grocery store because of the peanut butter they sell?

scratch

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 10:08

a certain element of the East Lansing/Okemos population is all abuzz because of a Costco that is opening up at some point..

at what point do we have enough grocery stores? Trader Joe's - thoughts? 2599972566

by **Floyd Robertson** 2017-10-17, 10:14

Robert J Sakimano wrote:a certain element of the East Lansing/Okemos population is all abuzz because of a Costco that is opening up at some point..

at what point do we have enough grocery stores?

Costco is only like 60% groceries. They're probably excited about being able to buy 5,000 Q-Tips in one package. I mean, think about not having to buy Q-Tips again for three years.

by **InTenSity** 2017-10-17, 10:14

Robert J Sakimano wrote:a certain element of the East Lansing/Okemos population is all abuzz because of a Costco that is opening up at some point..

at what point do we have enough grocery stores?

I'd argue that having a lot of grocery stores, is much better than only having 1 or 2. Mainly from a competition POV.

by **GRR Spartan** 2017-10-17, 10:14

I like Trader Joe's. A fan of the house brand salsa and their chocolate covered coffee beans. Good beer selection too.

Their $3 buck Chuck wines are decent for high dining like tailgates and parties. Better than a lot of reds, whites and roses that sell at twice the price or more.

Don't go Tuesday or Wednesday mornings. It seems to be the days the women retirees loading up on cases of $3 buck Chuck.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 10:16

Floyd Robertson wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:a certain element of the East Lansing/Okemos population is all abuzz because of a Costco that is opening up at some point..

at what point do we have enough grocery stores?

Costco is only like 60% groceries. They're probably excited about being able to buy 5,000 Q-Tips in one package. I mean, think about not having to buy Q-Tips again for three years.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 10:17

InTenSity wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:a certain element of the East Lansing/Okemos population is all abuzz because of a Costco that is opening up at some point..

at what point do we have enough grocery stores?
I'd argue that having a lot of grocery stores, is much better than only having 1 or 2. Mainly from a competition POV.

I guess I've never wandered around East Lansing wishing I had more grocery stores to choose from.

clearly I'm in the minority - which isn't unusual. Wink

by Guest 2017-10-17, 10:37

Death Roe wrote:One just opened up by me, I know they are owned by Aldi. Are they worth checking out? Anything noteworthy in the store?

Yes. Whole Paycheck quality with half paycheck prices.

by **WhiteBoyHatcher** 2017-10-17, 10:42

I go to Kroger because it's a driver* and a 5 wood from my house.

*provided no slice

by MSU addict 2017-10-17, 12:34

Death Roe wrote:One just opened up by me, I know they are owned by Aldi. Are they worth checking out? Anything noteworthy in the store?

Trader Joe's is not owned by "Aldi" as we know it in this country. The German chain Aldi was started by two brothers, who later split up the company due to differences (mostly over cigarettes).

They operate as two separate companies in Europe and in the US. In the US the two companies operate as Aldi and Trader Joe's and they really don't like each other much. Trader Joe's is much more "Americanized" though Aldi in the US is moving that way.

by **Death Roe** 2017-10-17, 12:42

Thank you, MSU addict

by **steveschneider** 2017-10-17, 12:44

Trader Joes is a notch below Whole Foods. I agree with the poster above they do somethings really well. Haven't been there in a while but their prices were pretty good back in the day.

by MSU addict 2017-10-17, 12:52

I will add that when they began operating in this country, Trader Joe's began on the West coast, Aldi on the East Coast. Trader Joe's has much more of a West Coast feel and is much more in to organic and responsible farming. Both sell private label foods as opposed to name brands, but as LooseGoose points outs much of Trader Joe's fare is sourced from the same places as whole foods but they sell it much cheaper.

Trader Joe's is worth checking out. I prefer it to Aldi. I am not a big fan of Aldi.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 13:11

I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

by **InTenSity** 2017-10-17, 13:19

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

They may not be in MI yet. At the very least E. Lansing. They like to setup near Walmarts and compete with them.

by Guest 2017-10-17, 13:19

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

Aldi
5625 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

6555 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48911

Good prices on some things, I hit the one in Bay City a couple times a year.

by **InTenSity** 2017-10-17, 13:21

LooseGoose wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

Aldi
5625 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

6555 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48911

Good prices on some things, I hit the one in Bay City a couple times a year.

I guess I was wrong.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 13:21

InTenSity wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

They may not be in MI yet. At the very least E. Lansing. They like to setup near Walmarts and compete with them.

I suspect they're on the way.. that way, each mid-Michigan resident can have their very own grocery store.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 13:21

LooseGoose wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I've never been to Aldi either.

I don't even know where one is.

Aldi
5625 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

6555 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48911

Good prices on some things, I hit the one in Bay City a couple times a year.

I don't really get to those areas often.

by MSU addict 2017-10-17, 13:29

There are a lot of Aldi stores in Michigan well over 50, they even have one in the UP. There is one on Marsh Road in Okemos.

There are less than a dozen Trader Joe's in Michigan.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 13:35

I never knew what I was missing my limiting my grocery shopping experience to the Lake Lansing Meijer.

for what it's worth, my wife sends me to Whole Foods once every couple of months. Trader Joe's - thoughts? 3493939353

by Guest 2017-10-17, 13:36

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
LooseGoose wrote:

Aldi
5625 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

6555 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48911

Good prices on some things, I hit the one in Bay City a couple times a year.
I don't really get to those areas often.

They actually pay pretty well for retail. I know they were advertising a starting wage of over $11hr when they opened in Gaylord last year. Obviously not what anyone on here would work for ;-) but not bad for an entry level job.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 13:45

LooseGoose wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't really get to those areas often.

They actually pay pretty well for retail. I know they were advertising a starting wage of over $11hr when they opened in Gaylord last year. Obviously not what anyone on here would work for ;-) but not bad for an entry level job.

true - if you're looking for a part-time job bagging groceries, you could do a lot worse, I reckon.

by **Death Roe** 2017-10-17, 13:53

They don't bag your groceries. You do it yourself.

by Senior Dickfist 2017-10-17, 14:05

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I never knew what I was missing my limiting my grocery shopping experience to the Lake Lansing Meijer.

for what it's worth, my wife sends me to Whole Foods once every couple of months.

That's one hell of a Meijer, Bob! My brother lives near there. He said he sees Izzo there every now and then.

by **Turtleneck** 2017-10-17, 14:13

The produce is terrible at Trader Joe's. It really, really sucks.

More often I have been buying a lot of my stuff at Trader Joe's, but I still get my produce from the farmer's market or Wegmans.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 14:16

Death Roe wrote:They don't bag your groceries. You do it yourself.

well no wonder you can buy a can of peas cheaper there.. they don't have to pay some pimple-faced high school kid.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2017-10-17, 14:19

Senior Dickfist wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I never knew what I was missing my limiting my grocery shopping experience to the Lake Lansing Meijer.

for what it's worth, my wife sends me to Whole Foods once every couple of months.

That's one hell of a Meijer, Bob! My brother lives near there. He said he sees Izzo there every now and then.

yeah I like it - I'm there probably more than I care to admit. I feel like I actually know some of the employees. Trader Joe's - thoughts? 502811600

I think I've seen Izzo there before - though he's probably closer to the newer one toward Haslett/Bath that just opened up. He can probably sneak up the back way via Park Lake Road.

I remember consulting once with Drew Stanton in the vegetable section. He was clearly cooking for a chick. He had a rotisserie chicken, flowers and a bottle of wine - he was asking me if he should go with zuchinni or squash.

I told him zucchini because GO GREEN!

(though I didn't say that - that would've been weird. But I did suggest the zucchini).

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