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Are Trader Joe’s Employees Trained to Flirt? We Asked an Employee if the Rumors Are True.
San Francisco Gate ^ | Aug 31, 2023 | Madeline Wells

Posted on 09/01/2023 12:07:02 AM PDT by nickcarraway

It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s employees are friendly. You’ve probably experienced it yourself: an employee It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s employees are friendly. You’ve probably experienced it yourself: an employee asking about your plans for the day, complimenting the frozen Mandarin orange chicken in your cart or even surprising you with a bouquet of flowers on your birthday.

After a particularly congenial bit of banter with a cutie in a Hawaiian shirt, maybe you’ve found yourself wondering, “Is this Trader Joe’s employee flirting with me?”

If you’ve ever thought this, you’re not alone. In fact, there’s a pervasive rumor on social media that Trader Joe’s employees are actually trained to flirt with customers.

In one TikTok video with more than 300,000 likes, social media star Daniel Bennett asks a person off-screen who identifies as a Trader Joe’s employee if he flirts with his customers.

“Yeah, if they’re hot,” the person replies. “Usually whatever they’re getting, I’ll just tell them that’s my favorite.”

And it’s not a new thing. A headline from satire website Reductress from 2018 reads, “Is He Flirting with You or Does He Just Work at Trader Joe’s?” In a 2020 YouTube video with more than 9 million views, popular internet personality Emma Chamberlain brought up the urban legend, asking, “I’ve been seeing this thing on TikTok talking about how the cashiers at Trader Joe’s are like trained to flirt with you. Is this true?”

A Slate article published this past June took things even further, claiming that Trader Joe’s employees are not only flirty, but that they’re all sleeping with each other.

Earlier this month, the rumor mill reached such a fever pitch that the CEO of Trader Joe’s himself addressed it. When asked on an episode of the company’s podcast whether the company train

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Society
KEYWORDS: traderjoes
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1 posted on 09/01/2023 12:07:02 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Having been in a T-J’s twice....I’ll just say that they go out of their way to be friendly. Maybe they recruit that way....maybe they train employees to some degree. But if you were measuring grocery friendliness, they rank near the top.

Now, that said...if you were ranking on high cost and inflated prices, they are also near the top.


2 posted on 09/01/2023 12:43:00 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: nickcarraway

So, as a Trader Joe’s “associate,” if I chase a hot babe around the store with a giant cucumber and big smile on my face, will that increase my end of month bonus?


3 posted on 09/01/2023 12:47:41 AM PDT by Rocco DiPippo (Either the Deep State destroys America or we destroy the Deep State. -Donald Trump)
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To: pepsionice

I’d rather not pay to sit and eat and/or drink in a fake environment because I’d be paying in part for “atmosphere”, and then the added expense of tipping makes it a lose-win situation, unless she actually slips you a piece of paper with her phone number written on it.


4 posted on 09/01/2023 1:22:06 AM PDT by equaviator (If 60 is the new 40 then 35 must be the new 15.)
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To: pepsionice

I shop there occasionally. They have some high quality store brands you can’t get elsewhere, the employees are helpful and help you find things.

I’ve never had a cute employee try to flirt with me, perhaps because I’m old and unattractive, but they are all nice.


5 posted on 09/01/2023 1:31:52 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (Either you will rule. Or you will be ruled. There is no other choice.)
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To: nickcarraway
“Yeah, if they’re hot,” the person replies.

And this differs from real flirting... how? What a dumb article.

Some places due to a combination of training and reputation (and thus pride in working for said company) are friendlier than others. Trader Joe's is on the good list. So is Chick-fil-A. Disney used to be, but their cast members aren't as strong as they used to be.
6 posted on 09/01/2023 3:30:13 AM PDT by Stravinsky
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To: pepsionice

I don’t think they are expensive at all for the items they offer. Nothing like Whole Foods.


7 posted on 09/01/2023 3:35:55 AM PDT by Stravinsky
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To: Rocco DiPippo

Depends. If you’re hot, she will find it endearing. If you’re not, it’s sexual harassment, of course.


8 posted on 09/01/2023 3:37:23 AM PDT by Stravinsky
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To: Stravinsky
Disney used to be, but their cast members aren't as strong as they used to be.

Oh, Disney employees will flirt with you….well, the bearded guys wearing dresses and working as “Fairy Godmothers’ Assistants” probably will, anyway (if you’re a guy).

9 posted on 09/01/2023 3:44:49 AM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Rocco DiPippo
Just make sure you aren’t “helping” Dean Wormer’s wife…


10 posted on 09/01/2023 3:45:04 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
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To: nickcarraway

I stopped in one to get some instant decaf crystals. Nothing… just a dozen kinds of gourmet coffee I had to brew up. I just wanted a jar of instant. Nothing….


11 posted on 09/01/2023 4:01:16 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
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To: Stravinsky

I agree. I find their prices compare pretty favorably to other grocery stores. Giant is much more expensive in comparison. I like the fact that they have real people working there. They don’t require my biometrics to enter and monitor my every move while inside.


12 posted on 09/01/2023 4:34:49 AM PDT by PK1991 ( )
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To: DesertRhino

“I stopped in one to get some instant decaf crystals...”

I keep some around. Mama loved Taster’s Choice” freeze dried. I’ve tried various Brands and you know what? Mama was right Taster’s Choice is pretty good for instant. I call it the emergency blend.


13 posted on 09/01/2023 4:49:08 AM PDT by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
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To: pepsionice

I’ve been to Trader Joe’s once and found myself surrounded by hippies and liberals.


14 posted on 09/01/2023 5:13:33 AM PDT by nonliberal (Z.)
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To: nickcarraway
“Usually whatever they’re getting, I’ll just tell them that’s my favorite.”


15 posted on 09/01/2023 6:21:38 AM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Well done!


16 posted on 09/01/2023 6:23:09 AM PDT by glennaro (Never give up ... never give in ... never surrender ... and enjoy every minute of doing so.)
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To: Rocco DiPippo

Depends on what kind of bonus you want and from who! heh


17 posted on 09/01/2023 6:27:18 AM PDT by dforest
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To: nonliberal

I have a family member employed there and he isn’t a hippie or a liberal. He is just a guy with a job working there.


18 posted on 09/01/2023 6:29:28 AM PDT by dforest
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: nickcarraway
“Usually whatever they’re getting, I’ll just tell them that’s my favorite.”

Oldest retail trick in the book.

20 posted on 09/01/2023 7:38:44 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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