Love their affordable organic options and fast moving lines. Such helpful and friendly staff. What inspired me to write this review was when I went into TJ's last night after having had a very tiring past few weeks while grieving for 2 loved ones who passed. I was out of it and was trying to use my credit card to get cash back instead of my debit card. I was getting a bit impatient but the cashier, Alex, remained pleasant. He got Ellis the manager to see why my debit card wouldn't give me a choice of taking out cash in their system. I realized the problem and apologized and just said I'm out of it with 2 deaths in my family recently and having had one funeral just on Saturday. Ellis came back with a bouquet of flowers for me and wished me condolences. I couldn't believe it. I almost burst out crying. I was so impressed by their kindness instead of treating me like a irritable customer. I couldn't take the flowers, and had tons from the funeral, but will never forget the patience and lovely generosity provided to me last night when I felt depleted. This is how you build loyalty from customers... there is no grocery close that comes close to the customer service, the consistent and fair pricing of organic items, and the interesting and affordable unique specialty items like TJ's provides. There are 3 improvements that would make this my PERFECT grocery store that would stop me from going to Costco, Whole Foods and Farmer's Markets altogether is if they provided a rotesserie chicken that doesn't come in plastic like Whole Foods, if they can provide non-plastic bags for their veggies (like compostable cellophane like they provide for their flowers stem holders), and if they would embrace unionizing of employees. I would be happy to pay 20% more if I knew it was for supporting unionization. Society benefits from living wages and conditions... we all suffer in one way or another when others are struggling. read more

I recently had an unsettling experience at Trader Joe's that felt like racial profiling. A cashier repeatedly questioned my purchase, and implied that I was stealing. I'm an African American woman, the employee is an Asian man who appeared to be in his early 60s. His aggressive behavior suggested that he was the proprietor of a corner store rather than an employee, albeit a highly overzealous one. Our family was grilling burgers that afternoon, and upon leaving the store, I realized Id forgotten to buy cheese. My Uber was 3 minutes away, so I rushed in to grab the cheese, and luckily there were no lines. As I was checking out the second time , I told the cashier "just this item.". Usually that is sufficient information and the transaction is uneventful, the employee rings up the item, no problem. This guy questioned me twice, eyeing my bag of groceries, asking "just this? " I said yes. A few seconds later he pointed to the groceries I had just purchased, asking "Are you sure you don't want to pay for these?" I was shocked and appalled , I've never had anyone at Trader's suggest that I was trying to steal groceries. I felt very uncomfortable and upset When I paid for the cheese, I said "I'm showing you the receipt for my groceries, you seem to need it". He said nothing , no acknowledgment, no apology, just a blank expression, after all that energy and effort to police transactions. When I arrived home I called the store. The person who answered said he was one of the managers. He said it's not Trader Joe's policy to question and treat customers like that. He apologized, said he would speak to the employee, and promised to follow up with a phone call. The person never called back. I hope this overzealous employee doesn't treat anyone else the same way. read more

Short walk from Rockridge Bart, pretty much right across the street from the station. It may be a small spot with a not-too-large parking lot, it is a solid Trader Joe's with all the TJ staples that I like finding at any other Trader Joe's location. If I find myself in the Rockridge area, I like swinging by here to pick up some groceries. read more

We had an amazing experience with Chanel today! She was attentive and welcoming. It's not always easy shopping with a toddler and she engaged with him throughout check out while also being quick and efficient. One of the best experiences I have had at Trader Joe's read more

The store itself is fine, but the parking lot is an absolute nightmare. Too small by a large margin and one-way lanes. Hate hate hate.

staff are always really nice! it's organized well but usually pretty busy. the parking situation can get sticky so i usually just go around the block to the parking garage and it goes much smoother! read more

I love TJ, but don't like coming here on the weekends bc it's too packed. However, I was so happy I found the mini Tote bags here! The blue and green colors are sold out, but I got a total of 7 for my nieces. Cashier said someone actually brought 40, so they have to put a limit of 10 which is still a lot. These are so cute for little girl or as a lunch bag. I only kept one for myself bc one is enough. read more

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All Trader Joe's are quite similar. One room for improvement in all Trader Joe's is to add bulk bins. I think that would be a nice addition. I also find that produce at Trader Joe's is frequently packaged and sometimes even Safeway has a better selection of produce. Trader Joe's does offer many vegan items that are clearly labeled vegan. Some of the best things to get here include canned beans, organic ketchup, hummus, tofu, bread, and all in all is quite alright since prices can be fairly affordable. Staples are solid here. For produce I tend to frequent farmer's markets and love the bulk bins at Rainbow Grocery in SF yet Trader Joe's is still solid so will be back. read more

Trader Joe's is no longer one of my favorite places to shop, with regard to this location in Rockridge - I'll give a few reasons: - parking lot is a nightmare with frequent thefts/break ins - mostly packaged food with so much plastic! - one female cashier who us often there when I shop is frequently rude and snobby, I always feel like I've done something wrong when I get in her line. There's one worker there, an older man named Scott, who is always courteous, friendly and helpful. I've seen him helping blind customers with their shopping. Now that Pharmaca is closed and cars are being targeted in broad daylight, I tend to avoid Rockridge TJs and do my shopping at Sprouts. read more

Trader Joe's. I like Trader Joe's. The only thing in general that I dislike is the limited edition items and the portions may be on the lower side of things. This specific location is always great for me. It's somewhat spacious compared to the one on university Ave. My favourite time to go is during the morning; the earlier the better. Stamp members are always nice and willing to help you. They make their way to leas you to the store, oh and you can literally try anything you'd like. Since this location is near or in the zone of what is considered a college town they got six pack glass beer or so that's what I heard a staff member say. Some items are unique here with their beer. Anyone seen an A's logo on a tin IPA? BART?! You can't miss the frozen section, always nice, quick, easy, and tasty meals speedily for a uni student or anyone pressed on time. read more

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I've been here countless times now, and now that schools (especially UCB) is back in session, they are busier again. During the summer I think the locals can sense the slightly "depressed" levels of crowding, which is pleasantly noticed in May and we take for granted for until we have our usual population levels back in August. Despite any cyclical changes in foot traffic levels throughout the year, I find the staff here always so friendly and pleasant - even if when I may have to bring faulty items back (never any pushback and they geniunely seem to care if I have concerns). Plus it's on my commute path so it's very convenient after work to stop by! Though I am a sucker for more novel food items, TJ's keep it interesting by roatating seasonal/ introducing new stuff once in a while. A must in the neighborhood. read more

I LOVE TRADER JOES. 5* Even in times like this when things are stressful and the community is concerned, the staff continue to maintain their positive attitude. The store is well stocked, the staff is extremely helpful as usual and the lines outside (respecting the 6 feet separation ruke) have designated security to ensure a smooth shopping experience. I have to say, the shopping experience was great and I cannot thank the Trader Joes team enough for making us all feel safe while shopping, keeping the store fully stocked and greeting each and every customer there with a smile. :-) -- First visit 5* This is a great place to buy fresh food and has a huge variety. The additional reason to live this place are the people working here because they are so kind and warm making the whole shopping experience great. They make the effort to recognise regular customers and honour if their way to make you comfortable and are most helpful. This is my regular grocery store and I'm glad !! I highly recommend it :) read more

I'm never let down here. Of all the grocery stores I go to, these are the friendliest, quickest at the register and often ask if they can help with anything. I over packed my bag, while helping the checkout person. When I left, the bag dropped on the ground and one of the bottles broke. Immediately, I was taken care of by two of the workers there. They ran and got me a new bottle and re-bagged everything on the spot outside. That is customer service! Thank you. I will always come back. read more

Had a bit of a rough day at work, and stopped by Trader Joe's on College for groceries. Everyone at this location are always super friendly, but my 5 star rating was prompted by Ben, who was at a cash register. I had questions about recommendations, and he was so patient, sincere and had some really great suggestions. The visit and interaction made my day a whole lot better! I look forward to buying and trying out the recommendations in the near the future! Thank you Ben and to the rest of really great staff! read more

Everything But the Bagel Seasoning is now a must. Sitting right next to the sea salt, pepper grinder, Kikkoman, and Tampico on my counter! I'd had their version of the smoked salmon and actually enjoyed the seasoning more than the fish. You truly can put this on everything. Salads, grilled proteins, and veggies. Maybe even fruit! $1.99 a bottle so shake it up! read more

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I enjoy that every Trader Joe's will evoke the same sense of familiarity wherever you go. You know exactly what great products they have, and approximately where they're located. The store is always clean, organized, and well-stocked. Trader Joe's excels at having their own brand of many packaged foods, and it's cheap! Some of the staples I always get are the Trader Joe's brand of Greek Yogurt, hummus, almond butter, nuts, and frozen foods like Chimichurri rice and bibimbap. They also have a good assortment of pre-made packaged foods like veggie hummus wraps, packaged salads, soups, etc. Trader Joe's biggest weakness is its produce. It's just not its forte. The assortment is limited, with maybe one variety of apple, mango, etc.. And the produce is also usually more expensive than regular stores. My strategy is to go to Berkeley Bowl for produce, and Trader Joe's for staples and packaged foods. You get the best of both worlds, and can save a lot on groceries! read more

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I've been going to Trader Joe's for years and for the most part have found it to be an interesting and economical place to shop. Lately, however, I've found a number items to be stale or worse. Yesterday, the frozen salmon I purchased, which has always been good in the past, turned out to be clearly spoiled and inedible. This is not just a waste of money, it's also a public health danger. I don't think I'll be going back for a while to see if the problem is resolved. read more

I love this Trader Joe's. The variety of food changes often. Food is fresh. Employees are helpful and friendly. Only wish service included home delivery. That would make it 5 stars! read more

Parking sucks tho! Too many cars trying to get through parking lot and waiting for a spot to open to park. . Bad parking lot design!

This is a great Trader Joe's with their healthy products, and good prices. This one is a relatively small store, and sometimes it is really crowded around mid-day. I have waited in line for 20 minutes there. My recommendation is to go early--like 8 am. There was no waiting in line outside. Trader Joe's is so popular that if you go later in the day--they may run out of what you are looking for. Did you know that you can ask to try a product before you buy it, and you can eat as much as you wish. They also have a hassle free return policy. Don't love it--return it. Their staff is friendly, too. And remember, go early and miss the crowds. read more

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Trader Joe's is always quality but the staff at this location are particularly great! Specifically Ivan- seems like he's always working and every time I have a question, he asks me if I need help before I even decide to ask! Then he makes sure to find me an answer no matter what! He's been incredibly helpful on several different occasions which is awesome when so many products come and go fast! Just wanted to shout him out because he's been so awesome and friendly read more

This Rockridge store is in a nice location - close to Bart and local busses. The car park is hectic so head to the side parking lot (off Miles Ave) if you don't enjoy parking lot battles (it's gettin' real in the Trader Joe's parking lot) - or use the BART parking lot across the street on evenings and weekends. Staff members are friendly, and everything is easy enough to find inside this compact and accessible store. I do find myself going to TJ's less and less often, however, for two reasons. First, a lot of their food is mediocre when it comes down to it - it's just REALLY well marketed. Second, I avoid many of the items at TJ's for ethical reasons, which I'll list below. A little background: Trader Joe's is owned by the German retail company, Aldi Nord. Trader Joe's is often viewed with fondness, like a quirky friend that brings you interesting things to eat. But, as with any company, we should be looking beyond that strategically nurtured image and focusing on the company's impact on society and the planet. In other words, we should be asking: How ethical is Trader Joe's? I'm giving Trader Joe's 2 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact for the following reasons: * I was surprised to find that there were no pasture-raised eggs to be found at Trader Joe's. 40% of their fresh eggs are still from caged hens, which live their entire lives in a space equivalent to a letter-sized sheet of paper. The Cornucopia Institute has compiled a humane scorecard for eggs and Trader Joe's eggs get their lowest rating: 1/5. I think it's a fair assumption that this also applies to their products that contain eggs. * There's almost no transparency on Palm oil sourcing at TJ's. A customer service rep revealed that TJ's still source palm oil on commodity markets or, at best, from an RSPO-certified supplier. Sourcing on commodity markets provides no assurance that the palm oil is obtained without slavery or deforestation. * TJ's is focused on processed rather than fresh food, which increases both the packaging and carbon footprints. Even a lot of the fresh fruit and veg are packaged in plastic and not much of it is from local, organic farms. * There's no bulk section for staples like flour, sugar, nuts, etc. * TJ's is a notoriously secret company. It's almost impossible in some cases to find information about sourcing. This secrecy over suppliers and ingredients leaves consumers in the dark regarding ethics. * Suppliers of a few of their own-brand products were revealed by recall to include ConAgra, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and the Wonderful Company. None of these companies rates well, ethically, in my opinion. * On the positive side, you can find a few ethical products and brands there, like Miyoko's vegan butter. * TJ's reportedly does a good job of donating leftover food to food banks. The bottom line is that although Trader Joe's is fun and cheerful, it doesn't rate so well, ethically, in my opinion. Trader Joe's lack of transparency benefits nobody other than the company and its suppliers. Check out my related article on the Green Stars Project for more detail. read more

Trader Joe's - Mints in a cardboard box. - Grocery Near Me - Oakland, California

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TJs continues to get and provide all manner of groceries, despite the fact that everyone seems to think their food supply is running out (public service announcement: it isn't). In this time of pandemic, be prepared to encounter long lines so that customers can socially distance, and be prepared to stand 6 feet apart on the sidewalk at all times. Bring a mask unless you want to get hate stares. Yelp currently reports that Trader Joe's is delivering groceries. THIS INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. I confirmed this with the store yesterday when I called them. They were disappointed that Yelp wasn't checking it's facts, particularly during this time of crisis. NO GROCERY DELIVERY & NO PHONE ORDERS. On the up-side, if you do decide to wait in line with the rest of us, you get all sorts of delicious foods at good prices when you get through the doors. Don't miss the chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and their delightfully cheap bourbon collection!!! #AmCoping read more

Who doesn't love Trader Joe's!!! Great selection of everything and reasonable prices that are affordable for everyone. Friendly staff and easy to find items. They even have their own alcohol selection from wine, whiskey, etc. read more

Ok all these reviews of people saying ample parking must not go shopping on Sundays because I've thought more than once I was never going to make it out of the parking lot alive. Store itself is great, typical friendly employees, great prices & products albeit with entirely too much plastic used. Better layout but worse parking than Emeryville location. read more

Parking is tough in this neighborhood - but the store has its own designated lot. Employees and store is what you've come to expect from a typical TJs. TJs is always a pleasant shopping experience. This particular store is no different. Very popular stores and restaurants surround the area. I was also at the Safeway down the road and that particular 'lifestyle Safeway' has all the negative aspects to a small grocery store (selection) yet all of the negative feel of a big store. Great time to buy some cookies or chocolates as gifts from here. I like the brandy beans - and they still have them in stock as of yesterday - which is surprising as it usually sells out fast. I feel like the Safeway down the road tried to copy a Trader Joes but somehow couldnt' pull it off. Maybe the managers of that store should come into this one and learn how its done. read more

Look how many items they are missing. This is very commom here for them to be missing these items. I think im going to start shopping at the berkeley bowl. They seem to have more of these items in stock read more

Trader Joe's - Look how many items they are missing - Grocery Near Me - Oakland, California

Pleasant experience grocery shopping here or grabbing something for lunch. I prefer this Trader Joe's over Emeryville.

Excellent customer service they tend to be out of items more than I would like the lakeshore location is always fully stocked. ITrader Joe's cut & packaged watermelon is suspect I buy a lot I sure hope it's real fruit the color, texture & appearance concerns me. read more

I have been buying flowers from Trader Joe's for years. Something is going on with the flowers. Last 3 months most flowers are dead within a couple of days and start getting smelly in the vase. Please go back to being an amazing place to buy flowers from. read more

Trader Joe's - Flowers have been terrible last few months. They die within a couple of days. I know proper care I used to have a flower shop. - Grocery Near Me - Oakland, California

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Review during the Carolli: They got it together here! Very organized, clear spots where to stand when you wait in line, wipes available to disinfect your cart, allowing only a certain number of folks at a time...I got there around 9 am and there was a good line. I'd say I waited about 30 mins. to get in. But once I was in, it was a calm environment with room to walk around. If there was an item not on the shelf, they were happy to check in the back for me. I really appreciated my shopping experience and all the workers who greeted everyone with a smile and positive attitude. **Limit 2 on hand sani. They do not allow you to bring in your own grocery bags. Paper bags provided free of charge. read more

I am always satisfied with the products i buy from this trader joe's! I'm a fan of the layout of the inside of the store and their friendly service but the parking lot is another story. obviously there's no room to expand the parking lot but no matter which day or time i go, I nearly always have to find street parking or somewhere in the very back of the second lot. I've also nearly been hit several times by people driving the wrong way back to the first lot- i think more visible signage would really be appreciated. Other than my constant battle with parking my experiences here have been really great. read more

Fast and friendly staff. Quality food products and produce. It can get busy which is expected considering the location.

Nice, spacious Trader Joe's. It was busy when I went so there was a line. The line veered to the right side of the building near Zachary's where it is shaded. They had mini yellow watermelons and caramel cookie crunch as well as pistachio gelato..Mmm mmm good.. Can't go wrong there! As well as beautiful peonies for $7.99. Get them b4 they r gone!! On June 13, 2020, they have a free gift for graduating high-school seniors.. read more

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First of parking here is easy! It is also a walking distance from the Four Points across the street. Can you say awesome or what? This TJ is packed with goodies as usual. BUT better than that I found a bottle of 2007 Riesling Spatlese late harvest sitting in one of their shelves. The bottle is also from Germany and tastes almost as good as what I really desire. Paired with my favorite truffles from France and I'm happy! The staff is very efficient if not super busy! So the tendency to be snappy with customers when questions are asked is there. I witnessed it :( read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Oakland, California

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Picked up TJ pita bread $1.49 a pack. Took Bart there - Rockridge Bart Station. read more

PICKPOCKETS STEAL WALLETS INSIDE THE STORE! VANDALS BREAK INTO CARS IN THE PARKING LOT!!! No security guards, either!!! And when you go to speak with customer service, you are told they have no security cameras inside the stores, and may be getting some in the parking lot. They don't even have a protocol to take incident reports, that' s how little they care to document that this is happening. If one googles "Pickpockets at Trader Joe's" there is a plethora of information, so there is no way they can say they are unaware, or fake a look of surprise as the person to whom I reported the theft today tried to pull off. They know what is happening in their store. They don't get my after tax dollars anymore. Plus, it is hit and miss on staples that should be there every day, overly packaged and damaging the earth, anyway. No bueno TJ's!!!!! Adios! read more

TL;DR Trader.. trade.. I like you. Trader Joe's, more like ... Trader Low's .. cause they all have low prices here!!! Everyone here is so nice, they have cheap eggs, they have free coffee, they have free samples, they have friendly people, they have succulents for $5, like a whole pot of them. I was low key mad cause I was looking, well this was a while ago. But i was looking for cocoa powder, but they didn't have any. I asked and they said they weren't gonna have it until July. I think Trader Joe's does well in terms of their ethnic cuisine though, like Chinese food. Have you tried it? I did hear their Chinese food is authentic and cheap. I like ALLLL the Trader Joe's. They have really cheap bananas. Did I mention they have eggs? They always ask if I want a double or single. I'm talking about bags. They also ask me about my day. They are very friendly. Who doesn't love Trader Joe's? They have cookie butter. Where else are you gonna find your weird coffee flavor almond stuff ... I don't know. I'd give them a 6 if I could. I do like the one on University more though. It's right next to BART, the Rockridge Joe's have dog bowls outside for your dogs. They also don't have trash bags. Maybe they should have some trash bags. - Donni W. read more

I really liked this Trader Joe's. It has a very hospitable feeling that makes you feel right at home, even if this is your first visit here. Option are pretty decent, but I always wished that Trader Joe's had a bigger bakery section. They have some bread and pies, but it's very limited. Still they have a ton of unique foods that you can only buy at Trader Joe's and this location is probably one of their better ones overall. If you love food shopping at a very friendly environment, then this would be the place for you. read more

Uncharacteristically rude service with cashiers who ignore you, fail to greet you, and then proceed to start negative passive aggressive conversations with other cashiers about other customers. They don't even offer to bag your items and seemed to consider it troublesome. Definitely not a first time experience either. Store clerks frequently block isles and fail to move out of the way. Overall one of the worst Trader Joe's locations I've been to. Other locations have clerks greet at the door and are overall helpful and friendly. Will definitely share an update in our Facebook group! Also this location never seems to have any ACV. read more