Viral TikTok Pokes Fun at Trader Joe’s Friendly Cashiers (2024)

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Checking out at Trader Joe’s can feel a bit like meeting with an easygoing friend — so much so that it’s become a meme online. One satirical headline asks: “Is He Flirting With You, or Does He Just Work at Trader Joe’s?” The comedian Andrew Colin recently poked fun at the phenomenon on TikTok, where his Trader Joe’s sketch has racked up over 400,000 viewsin just a week.

In the bit, Colin plays both an overly enthusiastic Trader Joe’s cashier and shopper. Every time the cashier scans something, he’s stoked about the product and tries to spark conversation.

“Oh, man. I haven’t had these yet,” the cashier says while ringing up a dozen eggs. “I’ve been meaning to try them.” (It’s funnier in the video).

Colin’s sketch resonated with Trader Joe’s shoppers on both TikTok and Reddit.

Gallery: Things No One Should Buy at Trader Joe's

“Every single (Trader Joe’s) employee I’ve ever met has been in love with me and you can’t tell me otherwise,” one viewer wrote.

Others chimed in with their own stories about kind Trader Joe’s cashiers.

“I once had a really intense conversation with the check-out guy about how prison reading programs turned his life around,” a Redditor commented on a repost of the video.

In another anecdote, a friendly cashier tried to explain Vine (a TikTok predecessor) to an older shopper.

“Overheard the cashier behind us trying to explain Vines to an older patron on Sunday. The kid even brought a Vine for the customer to watch on his phone! It was too funny and a really sweet interaction,” a Redditor added.

I used to want a boyfriend but now I just go to trader joe’s once a week and make conversation with a cashier it’s the same level of intimacy

— jen merritt!!! (@jennifermerr) May 30, 2019

That begs the question: Are Trader Joe’s employees trained to schmooze (or flirt) with shoppers?

Glamour answered that question in 2021 after interviewing several Trader Joe’s employees and reaching out to corporate. The answer? While cashiers aren’t trained to flirt with customers, they are encouraged to be amicable.

“They do remind you that part of Trader Joe’s appeal is its famously friendly atmosphere and ask that you do what you can to maintain that,” Philip, a former Trader Joe’s employee, told Glamour.

Beyond the emphasis on friendliness, Philip also attributed employees’ easygoing charm to the chain's "decent" pay.

trader joe’s cashier: have a good day

me: love you too

— Isabel Steckel (@IsabelSteckel) November 30, 2020

“For the most part, I have to agree with the theory that most employees are just happier there,” Philip told Glamour. “The pay was decent — for what the job was, anyway — with reviews and opportunities for pay increases every six months. My higher-ups were always so friendly and kind; I think it’s a little infectious.”

That said, the retailer isn’t without its problems. In the past few months, Trader Joe’s has been in the headlines for tactics that critics and employees say amount to union busting, including hiring a law firm that specializes in union avoidance. So far, employees have successfully unionized two stores.

Even so, the fact remains that Trader Joe’s employees remain some of the warmest, most considerate cashiers in the country (if shoppers’ stories online are to be believed).

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Viral TikTok Pokes Fun at Trader Joe’s Friendly Cashiers (2024)

FAQs

Are Trader Joe's cashiers trained to flirt with you? ›

The answer? While cashiers aren't trained to flirt with customers, they are encouraged to be amicable. “They do remind you that part of Trader Joe's appeal is its famously friendly atmosphere and ask that you do what you can to maintain that,” Philip, a former Trader Joe's employee, told Glamour.

Why are Trader Joes cashiers so nice? ›

So what is the reason Trader Joe's employees are so nice? The answer seems to be that the company treats its employees well, and so employees want to return the favor to the customers. Lucky us. NBC News reports that customers are likely to save as much as 20 percent on groceries.

Does Trader Joes have a Tik Tok account? ›

Trader Joes (@trader. joes. official) | TikTok.

What is Trader Joe's culture? ›

We are dedicated to doing the work, every single day, to make sure Trader Joe's is an environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and respectful for all Crew Members and customers. Read more about our commitment to integrity...

Why do cashiers ring bell at Trader Joe's? ›

Sometimes during your TJ's visit, you'll hear the bells ringing — either once, twice, or three times. The bells act as a "Trader Joe's Morse code," according to the store. There isn't a PA system in place, so the bell is the way the team members communicate with one another across the large space.

How do you tell if a cashier is flirting with you? ›

If she maintains eye contact for a few moments and ignores her cashier duties and anything else going on around her and seems to disappear into a cloud of attention on YOU YOU and ONLY YOU, then yes, she is flirting with you.

What are Trader Joe's employees called? ›

Crew. As a member of the Crew, you do a little of everything—and handle a lot. So does everyone along with you. From running the register, to stocking shelves, to creating a beautiful display; all while making sure that every customer has a fun, friendly and informative shopping experience.

What is the average age of Trader Joes employees? ›

What is the average age of employees at Trader Joe's? The most common age range of Trader Joe's employees is 20-30 years.

What are Trader Joe's weaknesses? ›

Weaknesses. Limited store presence: While Trader Joe's operates over 500 stores in the United States, its store count is relatively low compared to other major grocery chains. This limited presence can restrict the company's reach and make it difficult for some customers to access its stores.

Who is the Trader Joes List lady? ›

Natasha Fischer, who's 33 years old and lives in LA, started the account over 10 years ago. She spends hours each week shopping, sourcing, cooking, and photographing products from TJ's, and posting them to her wildly popular Instagram.

Who is the girl on Trader Joes list? ›

Natasha Fischer (@traderjoeslist) • Instagram photos and videos.

How do I find hidden TikTok accounts? ›

You can use Google to access private TikTok accounts by simply searching for their username. This method works because Google indexes most video content. So, if you know the exact username of a person's account, you can easily find their TikTok private account videos this way.

Why are Trader Joe's employees happy? ›

It's easy to tell that Trader Joe's employees love their jobs, and a large reason for that is because the company invests in employee experience. Trader Joe's pays its employees competitive wages and offers health care benefits to even part-time employees.

Is Trader Joe's a stressful job? ›

Overall, the Reddit post reveals working at Trader Joe's is a pretty low stress job that pays well.

What are the 7 values of Trader Joe's? ›

Match
  • Value 1. Integrity.
  • Value 2. We are a product driven company.
  • Value 3. At Trader Joe's we create WOW customer experience every day.
  • Value 4. No Bureaucracy.
  • Value 5. We are a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores.
  • Value 6. Kaizen.
  • Value 7. The store is our Brand.
  • Integrity simply means:

Why don t stores let cashiers sit? ›

They found the main reason American managers prefer the standing position is job function: Because American cashiers tend to bag items. Standing is thought to provide more flexibility, to swivel and pivot from the till to the customer and to the bags. In Europe, bagging is the customer's responsibility.

Does Trader Joe's call past employers? ›

Yes. They will make sure you're trustworthy and dependable.

Why are they getting rid of cashiers? ›

Eliminating cashiers is really about rationalizing store labor; those jobs won't likely be reassigned elsewhere in stores. This major variable expense, when cut, goes right to bottom line improvement. A grocery store typically budgets about 12-15% of their sales for labor, and lower for mass merchants and discounters.

What annoys cashiers? ›

16 Things Customers Do that Annoy Cashiers
  • Disrespectful and rude customers. This grievance isn't singular to cashiers. ...
  • Checking out more than 10 items in the "Fewer than 10 items" lane. ...
  • Incorrect change. ...
  • Return retribution. ...
  • Checkout storage unit. ...
  • Are you open? ...
  • Paying with a cheque. ...
  • Complain about the cost of a plastic bag.
Sep 18, 2017

What personalities do cashiers have? ›

The average Cashier tends to be a careful planner and natural listener: patient, logical, and supportive. The average Cashier tends to be loyal, supportive, and helpful. They can be a stabilizing force in a group and will likely invest lots of time building relationships with their peers.

Are they flirting or being friendly? ›

Flirty: When a person is flirting with you, they might make prolonged eye contact with you. They will look deep into your eyes and will stare at you till you become slightly self-conscious. Friendly: If they are simply being friendly, they will look at you equal amounts of time as they look at others.

What is top pay at Trader Joe's? ›

Hourly pay at Trader Joe's Company ranges from an average of $13.77 to $25.74 an hour.

How long is lunch break at Trader Joe's? ›

You get a 10 minute break, lunch, then your last 10 minutes break. Each day you also take 10ish minutes to have a staff meeting to go over the product, how well we are doing that day, or just to discuss how well our staff is doing.

Do Trader Joe's employees get free shirts? ›

You'll be provided a shirt, Just wear some decent jeans or cargo shorts and you'll be fine.

What is the turnover rate at Trader Joe's? ›

At Trader Joe's, turnover among full-time employees is less than 10%.

What is the youngest Trader Joes hires? ›

How old do you have to be to be a cashier at Trader Joes? You must be at least 16 to be hired. However, keep in mind that if you are under 18 you are limited to only bagging and cleaning. Minors are not permitted to operate the register or any heavy machinery.

What is the average income of people who shop at Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's average customer is a married person in an urban area who is 25 to 44 years old, earning $80,000.

What is hidden in Trader Joe's? ›

Donkeys, whales, monkeys, and lobsters are just some of the stuffed animals placed throughout stores as a way to keep children and parents entertained while shopping, confirms Today.

Who is Trader Joe's biggest competition? ›

Trader Joe's's alternatives and competitors. See how Trader Joe's compares to similar products. Trader Joe's's top competitors include Tres Lecheria, Thrive Market, and Whole Foods Market.

Who is Trader Joe's rival? ›

Trader Joe's's competitors and similar companies include Weis Markets, Whole Foods Market, Giant Eagle, WinCo Foods and Raley's. Trader Joe's is a company operating a specialty grocery store chain. Weis Markets is a large regional grocery chain.

What is Trader Joe's sister company? ›

Aldi
Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord logos
TypePrivate
RevenueUS$121.1 billion (2021)
SubsidiariesTrader Joe's (Aldi Nord) Hofer (Aldi Süd)
Websitealdi.com
7 more rows

What family owns Trader Joes? ›

of Theo Albrecht

Who was the original Trader Joe? ›

Joe Coulombe the, founder of Trader Joe's, in 1986. One marketing expert thought it was a terrible name – “Trader” was “something associated with selling defective horse flesh,” Coulombe said in his memoir, “Becoming Trader Joe,” published in 2021, a year after he died at age 89.

Does Trader Joe's sponsor influencers? ›

Luckily, Trader Joe's has an army of influencers to help promote its products. Trader Joe's cult-like following isn't new.

How old is Joe from Trader Joes? ›

On February 28, 2020, Coulombe died at his home in Pasadena. He was 89 years old.

Who is Trader Joe's brother? ›

After World War II, brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht found their mother's corner grocery store in Germany still standing — so they ran with it, transforming Aldi into an international supermarket chain.

Can someone see if you viewed their TikTok profile? ›

You can turn your Profile view history on or off in your privacy settings or on your Profile views page. Turning off profile view history means you will not be able to see who has viewed your profile, and others would not be able to see that you've viewed theirs too.

Can I view a private TikTok? ›

On TikTok, you can choose whether to have a private account or a public account. If you have a private account, only people you approve can follow you, view your videos, LIVE videos, bio, likes as well as your following and followers lists.

Does Trader Joes train employees to flirt? ›

“Absolutely no one told me to flirt with customers. To be honest, I did that on my own,” says Josh, who worked at a Bay Area Trader Joe's from 2014 to 2015. And current Trader Joe's employee Jonny* says, “I've worked at 10 stores in two different states, and this is the first I've heard about flirting.”

Does Trader Joe's negotiate salary? ›

Negotiate Salary

If you think you and your skill set should be valued higher than your offer, negotiate your salary! 20% of men and 100% of women at Trader Joe's said they negotiated their salaries. On average, Trader Joe's employees earn $128,919. Trader Joe's ranks in the Bottom 45% for compensation in Los Angeles.

Is it better to work at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods? ›

Trader Joe's scored higher in 10 areas: Overall Rating, Culture & Values, Diversity & Inclusion, Work-life balance, Senior Management, Compensation & Benefits, Career Opportunities, CEO Approval, Recommend to a friend and Positive Business Outlook.

How long is a typical shift at Trader Joe's? ›

(a) The first shift (day shift) shall consist of eight (8) consecutive hours worked between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Employees on the “day shift” shall receive eight (8) hours pay at the regular hourly rate for eight (8) hours work.

Does Trader Joe's hire easily? ›

Most people go through two interviews before getting hired at Trader Joe's. If you get invited to a second interview, that means you're very likely to be hired. If you're accepted, and they decide to hire you, it can take about a week for you to start working at Trader Joe's.

Does Trader Joe's pay time and a half on Sundays? ›

The same month, Trader Joe's announced company-wide increases to compensation and benefits, including an increase to discounts for employees from 10 to 20%, a $10 an hour premium pay for Sundays, an increase to paid time off and market rate pay adjustments over complaints about pay disparities between longer term ...

What is the best company to work for at Trader Joe's? ›

Forbes just released its annual report ranking the best companies to work for in 2019. In the anonymous survey of 50,000 working Americans, a grocery store topped the list. The winner is Trader Joe's, known for its delicious frozen foods, small market charm and high-quality curated products.

What is the secret to Trader Joe's success? ›

By selling foods outside of what the shopper typically sees, Trader Joe's customers keep coming back to see what's new. Over the years, the grocery chain has cultivated a loyal customer base. These customers appreciate the unusual products and competitive prices in the store.

What are Trader Joe's mottos? ›

We keep our costs low because every penny we save is a penny you save.

Are Trader Joe's employees supposed to flirt? ›

We asked eight current and former employees—and the company itself—to give us their take on the rumor circulating on social media. “I love this stuff.” You look up.

Are Trader Joes employees trained to compliment you? ›

The resounding answer is no. While no part of the official training encourages them to do so, that doesn't stop some employees, like the one featured in this TikTok, from flirting with customers.

Is it OK to flirt with a cashier? ›

Compliment her if you must but don't overdo it because you'll sound like a creep. Cashier are ordinary human being like you and me, and the golden rule is to treat her like ordinary human being. Don't sound too co*cky or too boastful about something, try to visit her as often as you could and try to get close to her.

What is the average age of a Trader Joe's customer? ›

Trader Joe's average customer is a married person in an urban area who is 25 to 44 years old, earning $80,000.

What does Trader Joe's call their employees? ›

Crew. As a member of the Crew, you do a little of everything—and handle a lot. So does everyone along with you. From running the register, to stocking shelves, to creating a beautiful display; all while making sure that every customer has a fun, friendly and informative shopping experience.

How are Trader Joes employees so happy? ›

Start with engaged employees.

It's easy to tell that Trader Joe's employees love their jobs, and a large reason for that is because the company invests in employee experience. Trader Joe's pays its employees competitive wages and offers health care benefits to even part-time employees.

What personality type is a cashier? ›

The average Cashier tends to be a careful planner and natural listener: patient, logical, and supportive. The average Cashier tends to be loyal, supportive, and helpful. They can be a stabilizing force in a group and will likely invest lots of time building relationships with their peers.

How long is Trader Joe's training? ›

Train with regular crew members. Basically they train you for 10 days.

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