This Trader Joe’s Store Policy Will Completely Change the Way You Shop (It’s Almost Too Good to Be True!)

Not sure if you’d like a new product on the shelf at your local Trader Joe’s? Just ask to try it. Seriously, just ask. Did you know that shoppers at Trader Joe’s have the ability to ask to try a product before buying it? That’s right; the store’s “Try Before You Buy” policy allows shoppers to taste a product and decide if they want to buy it or not, no questions asked.

Here’s how it works: if there is a nonperishable item that you want to try, you can ask a store employee to open it up and give you a sample. Yes, it’s really that simple.

So what happens to the food after it is opened? According to Trader Joe’s employees on Reddit, employees will move that opened item to the break room at the store for others to enjoy. Other employees may also grab plastic cups and trays so they can divide up portions and hand out samples to other customers as well.

While shoppers can’t try anything, there are a lot of items that are fair to request a sample of. Frozen foods would be difficult, along with raw meats and alcohol. But ready-to-eat items like chips, salads, deli meats, cookies, and other baked goods as well as beverages like sodas are all allowed.

Originally this store policy went away during the COVID-19 pandemic, when grocery stores were being extra cautious with customers. While some stores are bringing back this policy and allowing customers to try products again, others are encouraging customers to rely on the store’s return policy. If you take home an item and try it, but you don’t like it, you can return it to the store for a full refund. Be sure to ask your local Trader Joe’s workers if this policy is something the store has picked back up after the pandemic.

So if there are new Trader Joe’s items on the shelves that you aren’t sure if you’re going to love or not — especially with all of their fall foods they’ll be dropping soon — then ask an employee if you can give it a try before you buy.