The Trader Joe's on Pico in SM is too crowded (San Francisco: neighborhoods, living in)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Sorry, but I love TJs.
Friendly employees. Most of the people are friendly (lots of the neighbors), few douchebags, NO REWARDS CARDS, short lines.

I'm walking distance to my local TJs. Prices are good and the wine selection is pretty decent for daily table wines. Although I usually walk, parking is more than adequate at the local TJs (as well all the other local stores in HB and Belmont Shore.

and I have never found a TJs employee that was not totally knowledgable about the products, where things are located, what the future holds etc..I wish all stores trained their employees as well. Sometimes those who shop at TJoe's are a little uppity up, slightly affected, by what I don't know, but even then, I would take TJoe's over any specialty store I have visited and there have been a lot.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Nita, I haven't been to a TJ in 10 years. I haunt the Latino markets, the places where Spanish is required.

We too shop at markets that speak pretty much, only Spanish, but we have other favorites, depending on what we want: produce, Aldis or the Mexican market (sometimes Sams); meat, our local market or our favorite butcher when they run specials, Asian foods, our Asian market, basics, depending on sales and what we need and sauses, breads, coffees, things like that: we want TJs!!!!!Wines, the same thing.

[Capablanca]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Many of them are claustrophobic, have horrible parking, and attract the types of self-centered, "I'm-the-only-person-in-the-world" aisle-blocking idiots who hold up other shoppers while they minutely inspect 35 bottles of ****ty wine as if the meaning of life will be revealed on the labels.

LMAO!! So funny.

The Trader Joes in Studio City and Woodland Hills are just the opposite. Studio City moreso than W.H.. Whenever I go there, people are SOOOOO friendly and nice. They make small talk, say "how are you today", make suggestions on products, etc. Maybe its the location, but I have always found folks there to be super super nice and friendly.

The West Hills Trader Joes has a bit of what you are talking about, but its because you get those "uppity" Calabasas folks going there all the time.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Sorry, but I love TJs.
Friendly employees. Most of the people are friendly (lots of the neighbors), few douchebags, NO REWARDS CARDS, short lines.

I never thought of the no rewards card aspect...I think I really like that too!

[Cream1]

The Trader Joe's in Simi Valley and Agoura Hills have ample parking and aren't too crowded.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

I never thought of the no rewards card aspect...I think I really like that too!

Trader Joe's never has sales and clearance either. That just rubs me the wrong way somehow.

Even Whole Foods has sales and Costco sends out coupons like once a month.

[rgarcia77]

Who wants to hassle with coupons or clearances. Clearances are just another way of getting rid of old products that have come close to their expiration shelf life. Trader Joe's products are always fresh or they're out. The reason, I think, Trader Joe's is crowded is because the supermarkets have only one or two check stands open with a long line of customer in each one. These check stands are worked by with unhappy clerks much like the ones you see at the DMV. My wife and I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes (and that seems long) to get checked out, mainly because every check stand is covered. I do admit that the parking lots are usually to full capacity. I suppose they'll just have to open more to meet the growing demand. BTW, ever since my wife's been shopping for food at Joes, I've lost weight and my nasal allergies are all but entirely gone. Coincidence?

[rgarcia77]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Sorry, but I love TJs.
Friendly employees. Most of the people are friendly (lots of the neighbors), few douchebags, NO REWARDS CARDS, short lines.

I'm walking distance to my local TJs. Prices are good and the wine selection is pretty decent for daily table wines. Although I usually walk, parking is more than adequate at the local TJs (as well all the other local stores in HB and Belmont Shore.

You've pretty much summed up why I shop at TJ's also. The organic products are plentiful too.

[Capablanca]

Originally Posted by Howiester

The Trader Joe's in Simi Valley and Agoura Hills have ample parking and aren't too crowded.

Well duh!! Its because they are in Simi Valley and Agoura Hills where no one wants to go or be.

[DinsdalePirahna]

I used to go to Trader Joes in Missouri. The one in Chesterfield was well staffed and had a relatively normal cliental (for missouri) and had enough orange county references to make me feel at "home".

On the other hand the one in Clayton, was a complete snobatorium. The staff was professional, but the cliental were very reflective of a town that appears to be populated by casting directors who were looking for "stereotypical 1980's snobby-type people.