Is Trader Joe's Return Policy Even Better Than Costco's?

Costco's return policy is practically legendary—offering full refunds on almost any product at any time, with just a few exceptions. A cornerstone of Costco’s business is customer satisfaction, especially considering their ever-increasing membership fee. But there’s another store that offers exceptional return service without the membership fees: one grocery chain goes above and beyond to satisfy its customers.

That store is Trader Joe's. Known for its surprisingly generous return policy, Trader Joe's offers returns as easy as Costco’s—without requiring a membership. Some stores may even have signs reading, "We tried it and liked it. If you don’t, bring it back for a refund." But even if you don’t see a sign, rest assured, this policy is in place.

What You Need to Know About Trader Joe's Return Policy

You can return any product for a full refund, no questions asked. Didn’t like it after one bite? Return it. Realized it doesn’t meet your standards? Bring it back. Changed your mind? No problem—just return it. In some cases, all you need is the receipt; you might not even need the product itself.

Why such a lenient return policy? Trader Joe's entire approach as a grocery store is built around new and exciting products hitting the shelves each week. The success of these new items relies on customers being willing to try them, and that only happens if they don’t fear wasting money on something they might not like.

Trader Joe's return policy actually encourages trying new products by eliminating the risk. If you don’t like it, return it for a full refund, meaning you can try the next product without the worry of losing money. According to a Reddit thread dedicated to Trader Joe’s fans, some employees even offer suggestions for other products you might enjoy when you return an item.

One Trader Joe's employee shared on the thread, "We genuinely want our customers to leave with products they’re excited about, so we’re happy to offer refunds when they’re disappointed. It also makes them more open to trying something new."

And speaking of trying new products, customers can even sample items in store before purchasing. Yes, Trader Joe's has sample stations, which returned after the pandemic pause, but you can also bring any product to the sample station or customer service and ask a team member to let you try it. They're more than happy to help, and any opened packages often find their way to the break room for staff to enjoy after you’ve had your taste.

These policies are clearly paying off. Not only is Trader Joe's expanding and gaining massive popularity on social media, but it also consistently takes top honors in customer satisfaction surveys. Just this month, Trader Joe's was ranked #1 Supermarket in America for customer satisfaction for the third consecutive year in one consumer survey.

As with any policy, there are a few exceptions. High-ticket items such as protein powder, supplements, and alcohol typically cannot be returned. Similarly, raw proteins like poultry or meat are usually non-returnable, although this can vary by store and manager. In general, it's important to be reasonable and not exploit Trader Joe's generous return policy—otherwise, you could find yourself blacklisted, much like at Costco.