Bagels, Wine and 5 Other Products That Trader Joe's Does Way Better Than Costco
David and Goliath
Costco and Trader Joe's resist comparison because, well, they're so dang different. One is a members-only warehouse retailer piled high with pallets and bulk goods, while the other sells cutesy products like "Everything But the Bagel Seasoning" in baby-sized, Hawaiian-themed stores. And yet, the retailers share a customer base because they both offer high-quality, low-cost goods. If you're one of those discerning shoppers who appreciates both, it's important to know what to grab at one store versus the other. So here are seven products that Trader Joe's does better than Costco, according to Redditors.
Editor's note: Prices & availability subject to change
Flowers
Prices vary
Costco superfans say that Trader Joe's flowers are "fresh" and "cheaper" than the warehouse store's selection. That’s in part because of the retailer’s fresh stock, which workers replenish seven days a week, according to Maggie Meccia-Vogt, Trader Joe’s national floral category manager. “There could be somebody out there that does, but I don't know of a single other retailer in the United States that gets fresh flower delivery seven days a week,” Meccia-Vogt said on an episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast. “So we move an absolute massive amount of flowers just because we're known for our freshness.”
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Peanut Butter Pretzels
$2.49
"Unpopular opinion: the peanut butter pretzels at Trader Joe's are better than the ones at Costco," one Costco superfan admits. But based on the upvotes and replies their comment received, the opinion isn't that unpopular. Another Costco fan adds that they don't buy Trader Joe's chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels for fear of eating the entire package (relatable).
Sam's Club Versus Costco: Redditors Compare the Warehouse Giants
Cheese
Prices vary
Buying in bulk isn't always frugal, especially if you end up wasting food. That's why one Redditor says that they buy Trader Joe's cheese, which is well-priced and reasonably portioned.
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Mandarin Orange Chicken
$4.99
Trader Joe's mandarin orange chicken needs no introduction. All you need to know is that fans named this killer entrée their favorite overall product in 2023. Redditors say that it's "incredible," so good that it's "like it's own food group."
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Bagels
Prices vary
As we wrote in our review of Costco's bakery, the wholesaler makes a better-than-average bagel. However, it's frustrating that consumers are forced to buy a dozen bagels at a time (or none at all), which gives Trader Joe's a convenience edge. One Redditor also writes that Trader Joe's bagels are cheaper and a more manageable size.
Wine
Prices vary
Although Trader Joe's is best known for its Two-Buck Chuck (a misnomer these days), the retailer also has a respectable variety of wines that range in price. "Trader Joe's has some of the best deals on discounted wine," a Redditor writes. "Some bottles I'd say are worth double or triple the price. I know Costco has great discounted wine too, but not at those lower price points."
Specialty Products
Prices vary
Despite the Trader Joe's small size, the California-based retailer dwarfs Costco's selection of fun and weird specialty products like chocolate hummus (RIP), hot cocoa cream cheese, and pizza-flavored seasoning. Whoever is in charge of Trader Joe's product team is a creative genius (if not a little crazy).
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This article was originally published on Cheapism
