Trader Joes OR Whole Foods Market?

SweetMegz04
SweetMegz04 Posts: 459 Member
edited December 18 in Food and Nutrition
Which do you prefer when Grocery Shopping?!
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Replies

  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    I haven't lived near a Trader Joe's since I was a kid, but Whole Foods bought out the small store I was working at in college, jacked up the prices, alienated the customers, and fired everybody (myself included). So I have no idea what Trader Joe's is like (I remember it being kind of a cool store) but I'll take it over Whole Foods anyway.
  • chrisb75
    chrisb75 Posts: 395 Member
    Which do you prefer when Grocery Shopping?!
    Trader Joe's by far. Better stuff + Cheaper Prices = AWESOMENESS :)
  • JeepBaja
    JeepBaja Posts: 1,824 Member
    I only have a Trader Joes near me. I did shop a couple of times at a Whole Foods in Colorado when visiting my sister and found that they had good quality food. It's pretty much the only place my sister shops.

    They had these flour tortilla chips that were so good! I never found them anywhere else...
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    Trader Joes!
    I wish there was one near me, but then I wish there was ANY grocery store near me. I'm so far in the country that you have to turn left at the third cow to find my house.
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    Neither for me. The Trader Joe's is so small in our area that they barely carry anything worth having. The Whole Foods is too expensive. I go to Earth Fare.
  • Tropical_Turtle
    Tropical_Turtle Posts: 2,236 Member
    I <3<3 TJ's!!!! I wish there was one closer to me
  • SweetMegz04
    SweetMegz04 Posts: 459 Member
    Neither for me. The Trader Joe's is so small in our area that they barely carry anything worth having. The Whole Foods is too expensive. I go to Earth Fare.


    We Don't have an Earth Fare out in the East Cost... Not in Massachusetts Anyways.
  • SunshineT83
    SunshineT83 Posts: 158 Member
    We don't have a Trader Joes here, we have Sprouts, Central Market, and Whole Foods that fall into the Whole Foods category. I LOVE Whole Foods, but usually it is out of my price range. So Sprouts is my normal shopping HQ they are less expensive have amazing produce and an intimate setting almost like a farmer's market indoors. :love:
  • Aross83
    Aross83 Posts: 936 Member
    I live at Trader Joes!!
    whole foods is great tho! if i had more money i would shop at whole foods for sure. but Trader joes is way more affordable.
  • SweetMegz04
    SweetMegz04 Posts: 459 Member
    We don't have a Trader Joes here, we have Sprouts, Central Market, and Whole Foods that fall into the Whole Foods category. I LOVE Whole Foods, but usually it is out of my price range. So Sprouts is my normal shopping HQ they are less expensive have amazing produce and an intimate setting almost like a farmer's market indoors. :love:

    All these "other" stores I don't have here in Mass! lol Figures...
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    TJs or a local co-op. I don't like WF's prices or politics, but their salad bad does make them redeemable.
  • tigeratty
    tigeratty Posts: 75 Member
    Love Trader Joes. I think WF is overpriced but I get a few thing there now and then.
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
    I like Trader Joes -- Whole Foods has high prices and lots of stuff catering to the yuppie trying to be healthy or earth friendly crowd.
  • EthanJeremiahsMama
    EthanJeremiahsMama Posts: 534 Member
    Trader Joes!!! Love it, it's like my 2nd home lol. Much cheaper prices too.. Whole Foods can be really over priced, but I DO still go there every now & then!
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Trader Joe's because it's way cheaper.
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
    I LOVEEE TRADER JOES!!! But you really can't beat the produce section at a nice big whole foods. I buy some things at each. I like getting spices and bulk items at whole foods and some specialty items you can't find elsewhere. Mostly I shop at TJ's though :)
  • missashley884
    missashley884 Posts: 188 Member
    trader joes! it's actually cheaper because they carry all their own brand of food. so youre not paying more for oh say cheerios
  • AyanaSan
    AyanaSan Posts: 93 Member
    I shop both. Whole Foods for produce, meat and seafood.. everything else is TJ.
  • shel1103
    shel1103 Posts: 185 Member
    Trader Joe's is awesome!!! Wish we had one in Upstate New York. I get spoiled when I go to DC. : (
  • MrsB123111
    MrsB123111 Posts: 535 Member
    Trader Joe's is my preference, but I shop at both. Whole Foods has a few more name brands, but it's much pricier!
  • AdrienneKaren
    AdrienneKaren Posts: 168 Member
    We don't have a Whole Foods in my town yet. We have a Trader Joe's that I go to ocassionally, but not too often because I'm too tempted to get all the goodies and it takes too long to get to that side of town. We have a small COOP here called Open Harvest that I love.
  • skinnybearlyndsay
    skinnybearlyndsay Posts: 798 Member
    I've found that Trader Joe's is good for those specialty items that you can't get elsewhere, but I wasn't a fan of the prices, especially compared to a regular grocery store. Usually I prefer Whole Foods for a few items, or even Wegmans.
  • wlddove
    wlddove Posts: 85 Member
    I feel like Whole Foods might have more stuff in general, but Trader Joe's is cheaper, their brand of food is super tasty, and it's just a fun environment to shop in.

    Edited to add that the hot food bars at Whole Foods are pretty awesome... but kinda pricey.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I find that TJ's had better prices but WF has a larger selection.
  • jreimund
    jreimund Posts: 64
    Living in a rural area, I have two choices...walmart or over priced grocery store...lol! I honestly go for the grocery store for fresh stuff and meat bc I don't trust walmart's produce or meat! But, one good thing about rural areas, summer time means farmers markets everywhere!!! So someone tell me what trader joes even is? A grocery store I assume??
  • djkshdfd
    djkshdfd Posts: 443 Member
    I'd say balance is good. 50/50

    There are some good things at each spot.
  • vikesfanmb
    vikesfanmb Posts: 291 Member
    Love Trader Joe's! I just wish I didn't have to drive an hour to get to the closest one - but hey, I will in a pinch.
    Their prices are great and the store I go to is really well organized and the staff is sooo friendly. :smile:
  • cookierinthia
    cookierinthia Posts: 72 Member
    LOL! That's cute!
    Trader Joes!
    I wish there was one near me, but then I wish there was ANY grocery store near me. I'm so far in the country that you have to turn left at the third cow to find my house.
  • chocolateandpb
    chocolateandpb Posts: 438 Member
    Both! I do the bulk of my shopping at Trader Joe's since they have great prices on organic produce, frozen and dairy items ($2.69 for organic romaine lettuce? Yes please!). Plus they have so many fun (but naughty) specialty foods and treats. Anything I can't get there, I get at Whole Foods. I live less than a mile from both of them, so it's nice to have options. :smile:
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Why not both? Trader Joe's is a mile from my house and I frequently go there however I love a trip to Whole Foods as well. Truth be told I shop in Trader Joe's much more often and find great products and good buys but love Whole Foods for their quality, food bar areas, uniqueness and product choices as well.
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