No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie (2024)

ByKalea Martin

No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie (1)

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"Did you find everything you were looking for?" At any other grocery store, this simple yes or no question is usually the extent of the interaction customers have with cashiers. At Trader Joe's, however, you can expect a full-blown conversation about your weekend plans and the incredible taste you have in food products. No matter who you are or what Trader Joe's store you shop at, the cashiers will always take an interest in you and the products you picked out. The friendly, chatty demeanor of its workers is such an integral part of the Trader Joe's experience that some have wondered if the chain trains its employees to flirt with customers.

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However, according to Trader Joe's CEO Bryan Palbaum, the rumor is completely false. What people perceive as flirting is simply genuine niceness. "I think we just have such a unique environment in our stores that to go into a Trader Joe's store and feel that everyone is genuinely interested in whether or not you are having a good day, compared to maybe perhaps other retailers, I could see how that might be misinterpreted," Palbaum explained in Episode 65of the Trader Joe's podcast.

Trader Joe's does hire its cashiers strategically

No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie (2)

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So maybe Trader Joe's isn't making their employees flirt with their customers, but they must be forcing them to smile like weird, grocery-selling Stepford Wives, right? Wrong again. Trader Joe's doesn't train its employees to be nice, because they don't really have to; the people they hire are naturally like that already.

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Trader Joe's prides itself in being a friendly neighborhood store, so it simply hires people who can uphold that reputation. Though some people assume that you have to be extroverted in order to be a Trader Joe's cashier, that's not the case. Introverts get hired at Trader Joe's too. In order to determine if they'd make a good cashier, Trader Joe's evaluates both the retail skills and people skills of its applicants. "You don't have to be the most outgoing person, but able to give that personable, insightful customer service," one Trader Joe's employee toldCheapism. "If you prove to them in the interview process you have that type of energy, you're pretty much set." Flirting abilities have nothing to do with it.

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Trader Joe's employees aren't required to converse with customers every time

No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie (3)

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Trader Joe's employees are trained to use the register and stock shelves, but as far as customer reactions are concerned, Trader Joe's President of Stores Jon Basalone shared inEpisode 15 of the Trader Joe's podcast that there are only three requirements employees are told to follow: be yourself, be genuine, and be nice. Basalone explained that interactions aren't scripted; in fact, the store doesn't even require cashiers to ask the standard, "Did you find everything you were looking for?" greeting common at many retailers. What's more important, Basalone said, is for the cashiers to be able to judge whether a customer is in the mood to chat, could use a compliment, or has too many things on their mind to engage in small talk.

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Conversations tend to flow more naturally not only because employees aren't forced to ask certain questions, but also because of the setup of the register, saysformer Trader Joe's employee andTikToker Brian Roque, who used to work at a Trader Joe's. Because Trader Joe's employees scan the items directly from your cart instead of you loading them onto a conveyor belt, the conversations are less distracted. If you perceive this interaction as flirting, well perhaps it's because you actually had the chance to make eye contact with the cashier.

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No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie (2024)

FAQs

No, Trader Joe's Employees Are Not Paid To Flirt With You - Foodie? ›

The friendly, chatty demeanor of its workers is such an integral part of the Trader Joe's experience that some have wondered if the chain trains its employees to flirt with customers. However, according to Trader Joe's CEO Bryan Palbaum, the rumor is completely false.

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 much do Trader Joe's employees get off groceries? ›

Trader Joe's is dedicated to making an investment in and for you. All Crew Members currently receive up to a 20% discount on all products in our stores. We offer exceptional medical, dental and vision plans to eligible Crew Members.

What are the Trader Joe's allegations? ›

Trader Joe's has since opened a Pronto store in its space. According to the complaint, after employees were interrogated about union activities, they were told they could lose their benefits if a union were to be formed, and that management would not bargain with a union.

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

Trader Joe's employee average age
Employees AgePercentages
Less than 18 years2%
18-20 years13%
20-30 years55%
30-40 years20%
1 more row

How much do you make as a Trader Joe's employee? ›

What is the average salary for a Trader Joe'S Crew Member? As of Sep 02, 2024, the average annual pay for a Trader Joe'S Crew Member in the United States is $35,742 a year.

Why does Trader Joe's employees ring the bell? ›

Miller said that she recently visited a New Jersey Trader Joe's location where she went around asking new crew members what the dings mean during a training. She recalled their answers: “One bell means you need another cashier. Two bells means you need someone to find an item. And three means you need a manager.

Why are people upset with Trader Joe's? ›

Copycatting baby brands is not the only controversy related to ethnic food labels that has embroiled Trader Joe's in recent years. In 2020, the company faced public outcry over the store's racially insensitive packaging, such as private-label brands like Trader José beer and Trader Ming's frozen Asian meals.

Is Trader Joe's owned by China or the USA? ›

Trader Joe's, although it may be based in Southern California, is actually owned by Albrecht Discounts. The company was purchased back in 1979, long before it hit the cultural mainstream.

What is a weakness of Trader Joe's? ›

Limited product variety: One weakness of Trader Joe's is its limited product variety compared to other grocery store chains. While the company is known for its curated selection of unique and innovative products, its offerings may only meet the needs of some customers.

What type of person shops at Trader Joe's? ›

Frequent Trader Joe's shoppers are more likely to be young, male and well off than the general public. This cohort, defined as those who shop at Trader Joe's at least weekly, is young.

Who is the target customer of Trader Joe's? ›

Because the Trader Joe's target demographic is young professionals in their 20's-30's, the first line of advertising will start with standard social media presence. April 2017: Grand Opening Event.

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

At Trader Joe's, turnover among full-time employees is less than 10%. At Mercadona, it's a mere 4%. Turnover for employees who stay at Costco for more than a year is 5.5%. In addition to offering the lowest prices in their industries, these retailers also provide better customer service than their competitors.

What are the job titles at Trader Joe's? ›

Working at Trader Joe's
  • 4.1. Section Leader.
  • 3.5. Order Picker.
  • 4.4. Cashier.
  • 4.2. Customer Service Representative.
  • 3.3. Forklift Operator.
  • 4.3. Manager.

What did Trader Joe's used to be called? ›

Trader Joe's is named after its founder, Joe Coulombe. The company began in 1958 as a Greater Los Angeles area chain known as Pronto Market convenience stores.

What is Trader Joe's dress code? ›

The typical dress code at a Trader Joe's store is casual, comfortable clothing. Employees are encouraged to express themselves through their clothing choices. Shorts, jeans, and comfortable shoes are all acceptable.

Is it hard to get promoted at Trader Joe's? ›

Over 75% of our Mates have been promoted from our Crew. Likewise, many of our Office employees began their career in our Stores. All of our Captains and our Regional Vice Presidents have been promoted from within. Promotions are performance based, which means your passion and dedication determines your growth.

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