The $4 Small-Space-Friendly Trader Joe’s Gem Shoppers “Have to Have” (It’s Flying Off the Shelves!)
Trader Joe’s has some dedicated followers keeping tabs on everything from the store’s best frozen meals to seasonal offerings like $1 cinnamon brooms that sell out almost instantly. The latest Reddit-approved must-have purchase is a $4 bag that’s quickly picking up steam as the hottest commodity in the TJ’s online community — and before you ask, no, it’s not the mini tote.
A new bag is taking the crown as the “it” TJ’s tote to have — and it’s flying off shelves (and, in some instances, straight off the delivery trucks). Lauded as the “next Stanley Cup” by Fortune, the $3.99 Stand-Up Collapsible Grocery Tote Bag is already inspiring shoppers to go to extreme measures to get their hands on one.
Shoppers have been using Reddit to document their struggles to score one of the tote bags, with one person revealing, “Not me going daily to try to find one,” while another admitted they “waited an hour and a half” at TJ’s for the delivery truck to restock the bags and personally hand them one.
Compared to the mini totes, this new collapsible grocery bag — which holds up to six gallons — is much bigger and more colorful. The double-sided design features illustrations on both sides, with one side featuring a drawing of a moon and clouds with a strawberry, carrot, and a shuttlecock.
On the other side, there’s a tropical scene with a giant onion nestled in the clouds while a grocery cart, a turnip, and salt and pepper shakers float around. The sturdy handles are kept in place by metal grommets on either side, and the bag’s structure prevents spillage (even when it’s completely full).
Not only does it have a cute design, but the reusable bag is also eco-friendly, convenient, and great for small spaces, thanks to its ability to collapse. Plus, when you’re not going on TJ’s runs, you can use it to carry lunch to work or school, to hold your books, or to bring to your “girl dinner” spread to a picnic.
It’s so versatile, and the stakes are high to get one. As one TJ’s shopper shared on Reddit, “Of course I have to have this bag or I will die.”
As with all TJ’s viral offerings, it’s not easy to get your hands on one of these. One employee advised in the Reddit thread, “I suggest going in the morning, as these likely come in on the evening truck (they do for my store).” They also revealed that there’s a limit of two bags per order, meaning they’re “only getting 48 bags in per day.”
If you keep missing out, Amazon is selling a similar collapsible grocery tote set that costs $9.99 for four bags.
It’s not the same design as the Trader Joe’s one — Amazon’s version has a black-and-white checkered gingham aesthetic — but it has the same general structure. Each bag is also cheaper, and they hold nine gallons instead of TJ’s six, meaning you can pack even more Trader Joe’s goodies into your bag on your next grocery run.