For those who don’t know, Trader Joe’s has one of the most – if not the most – generous return policies in the grocery business.

As they put it:

We tried it, we liked it. If you don’t, bring it back for a full refund

Basically, if you don’t like something, you can bring it back and get a full refund. 

But it doesn’t stop there: If something spoils before its time, the crew members don’t even need to see it. You can bring in your receipt, and they’ll automatically refund your order. In fact, most of the time, they don’t even ask to see the receipt. They use the honor system and take you at your word.

I used this policy twice today.

Caramelized Onion Dip

A few days after I bought it, I noticed the plastic film and the lid expanding, which is a clear sign that something’s growing inside. There were still 10 days to go before the Use By date

I obviously didn’t want to carry in a spoiled dip, so I tossed it and just let them know at the counter. 

They asked the price, and I gave it to them from my receipt. Not only did they not ask to see the receipt, but they would have just checked the price for me if I didn’t have it handy.

Pumpkin Pecan Instant Oatmeal

As I mentioned in my review, this was one of the nastiest things I’ve ever bought at Trader Joe’s. It smelled so much like Fall potpourri that I couldn’t choke it down. It became the first thing that I ever returned just because it tasted terrible. 

I did bring the rest of the box in, and they took it without question.

In both cases, I just brought it up at the checkout stand that I wanted to return it, and a Captain took it off my bill right there. It couldn’t have been easier.

So if you’re not sure about a product, go ahead and try it. Returning it is not only encouraged, but it couldn’t be easier.