Read These Important Facts Before Shopping at Trader Joe's

Updated on Jan 25, 2016 at 8:00 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Erin Cullum

If Trader Joe's is your go-to grocery destination, you probably know it pretty well. But there are little-known facts that even dedicated shoppers might be unaware of, and they could make your trip way better. Did you know you can return anything you don't like . . . including that $3 bottle of wine? Read on to learn more fascinating food facts about this favorite budget-friendly retail store.

POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

You can find Trader Joe's brand-new products online every month.

You might miss them during your grab-and-go weekend trips to the store, but new Trader Joe's items grace the shelves every month — and we taste them all. You can look them up on Trader Joe's website under What's New.

Before Two-Buck Chuck, TJ's was basically a wine shop.

Trader Joe's might be your cheap-wine destination (no shame), but it's been a go-to provider since the beginning. After its opening in 1967, the store sold every California wine there was.

POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

The first Trader Joe's name-brand item was granola.

It launched in 1972, five years after TJ's opened.

Trader Giotto, Trader José, and Trader Ming's have been around since 1977.

There are 13 different versions of Trader Joe (who was a real person, BTW).

You definitely bought some of 2015's most popular items.

According to a Trader Joe's customer survey, fans' favorite items of 2015 were organic pumpkin puree, spiced cider, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, frozen Mandarin orange chicken, and Speculoos cookie butter — no surprise there.

Trader Joe's has the best return policy ever.

You can return anything you don't like for a full refund. Really — anything . . . even wine!

Even better than its return policy is its try-before-you-buy policy.

That's right — an employee can open any nonalcoholic item and let you try it before you decide to buy it. That's just one of the ways you can save major money at Trader Joe's.

80 percent of Trader Joe's products are the company's own — 80!

You won't many find typical store brands at Trader Joe's, which is part of the reason the store's prices are so low — their own label cuts down costs that many manufacturers charge.

There are no such things as sales at Trader Joe's.

The company elaborates on its site, stating, "'Sale' is a four-letter word to us. We have low prices, every day. NO coupons. NO membership cards. NO discounts. NO glitzy promotions or couponing wars at our stores. We offer the best everyday values, every day."