I used to have so much more respect for this company, before I worked for them!! - Crew Member Trader Joe's Employee Review

2.0
Sep 9, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The crew, some of the management, most of the customers, most of the food options

Cons

The once great benefit opportunity is now nearly impossible, the pay (even if you have a college degree or loads of beneficial and/or prominent work experience), you still begin at a minimum wage rate. The physical demand is at times insane, especially at the busier locations. Just one crate of lettuce alone is like at least 30lbs, try lifting like 50+ of those a day plus register for a few hours, maybe carts, or the truck load, or pulling all the pallets into the warehouse. There are so many other loads that are just as heavy and plenty that are even heavier and move quicker. A coffee pot alone is like 60lbs. Lift that several times a day. The hours are so all over the place that it makes working at the other job(s), that are necessary just to survive here unless you have a partner who makes descent money or live with parents, very difficult and near impossible. Even the raises have been lowered twice within the last year. It sucks because I had such a different impression of trader joes before working here. If your not a back stabbing brown noser it would be really difficult to excel with this company. And even still there's no guarantee.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
Jul 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Marketing degree and customer's support for over 30 yrs

Cons

Enjoy customer services that i spend time with customer

4.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Great way to meet people, socialize, and learn customer service -Always tasked with different things every hour -Friendly crew who will always help you to learn and get better at your job -Get a slight pay raise every 6 months -No outside commitments and amazing benefits if you work full time (about 28 hours a week for every 6 months) -Will take time, but find your friend group, stay with them and have fun, you can't please everybody -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

Cons

-Not many, unless you are stuck in a bad store with bad management -I had some good luck of working in 3 great stores, so YMMV -Sometimes can get cliquey like you are back in high school -Getting promoted up to store management may involve buttering up and being a "yes-person" -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

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