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Author Topic: Trader Joe's Location Requests  (Read 6849 times)

Offline Emogj

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Trader Joe's Location Requests
« on: March 09, 2012, 12:29:02 AM »
The people at Trader Joe's in Forest Hills have told me to get my friends and
neighbors to fill out the Location Request form on their website. They know how
crowded that Queens location has become and they say their bosses take the
emails and requests seriously. I think it's a long shot, but it can't hurt. If
you want another Trader Joe's in Queens and particularly in our area, please go
to this link:
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/location-requests-form.asp
Please cut and paste if it does not work directly.
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Offline Jeffsayyes

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2012, 01:28:00 PM »
Hmmm, not sure I'd want trader joe's in my neighborhood exactly (big corporation), but they are pretty good.
I'd rather fairway, but even they are getting too big that it's gotta hurt smaller stores.

maybe they should put one in flushing, or maybe at near the museum of moving image.
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Offline jessicaramos

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2012, 10:22:25 AM »
I totally agree with Jeff. If it's going to be a major chain store, let it be one that brings the neighborhood good union jobs like Fairway-- definitely not a Trader Joe's.
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Offline Liam82

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2012, 11:21:08 AM »
Trader Joes? NO WAY! They exploit the environment, exploit suppliers, exploit communities, and exploit workers! Trader Joe's is no better than wal mart in all of their practices, in fact they use the same playbook. If you really want a food distributor try, as Jeff said Fairway or a ShopRite. Say No to Trader Joe's. http://www.traitorjoe.com/index.htm or http://www.traitorjoesny.com/
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Offline K2000

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2012, 03:18:28 AM »
Quote from: Liam82 on March 12, 2012, 11:21:08 AM
Trader Joes? NO WAY! They exploit the environment, exploit suppliers, exploit communities, and exploit workers! Trader Joe's is no better than wal mart in all of their practices, in fact they use the same playbook. If you really want a food distributor try, as Jeff said Fairway or a ShopRite. Say No to Trader Joe's. http://www.traitorjoe.com/index.htm or http://www.traitorjoesny.com/

That's a little over the top.

First of all, your Greenpeace link about sustainable seafood (http://www.traitorjoe.com/index.htm) says that Trader Joes has responded to activists and will only sell sustainable seafood starting in Dec. 2012. You should read your own links more closely -- that one is full of "victory!" messages.

As far as the other link (http://www.traitorjoesny.com/) -- apparently Trader Joes' isn't a union shop? Too bad (I do support unions, and have been a union member in the past). However, there are much worse grocery chains the UFCW could be pressuring -- for example, Key Foods and Associated supermarkets, where in some cases, like the Bushwick Associated, employees make less than the minimum wage (there's a lawsuit there). In other locations, they merely make minimum wage. I'm not an expert on the topic but from what I understand, employees at Trader Joes are compensated relatively well, and have good benefits (including health insurance options, if I'm not mistaken).

I like Trader Joes and I will continue to shop there - they have great prices on staples like yogurt, half & half, nuts, olive oil, lean ground beef, frozen vegetables, egg whites, and other categories. The quality is better than my local Associated, and so are the prices.

However, I do respect the concept of keeping 'big box' stores from opening in the neighborhood.
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Offline Liam82

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2012, 09:46:45 AM »
The point of the first link was to illustrate that Trader Joe's does nothing to better the world, unless they are forced to. An illustrated example would be the Imokalee Workers who fought for years to get TJ to pay a penny more per pound on tomatoes to lift the wages of the pickers. Again, only because of immense pressure, not because they are a "good" company did they finally cave.

Trader Joe workers are nnot compensated well for their hard work. Trader Joe's has spent billions of dollars promoting itself as a good employeer, but just like Fox News' attempt at a similar PR, most of us have the ability to see through the campaign.

Reason TJ has low prices? same as why Wal-Mart has low prices. They pressure the supliers to agree to artificialy low prices.

I for one, will not stand by while people beg a multi-trillion dollar company to do business in my neighborhood.

And remember K2000, if the "big boys", Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, Wholefoods, et.al. can get away with being terrible employeers, neighbors, and citizens, then the little guys will as well. 
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2012, 10:48:58 AM »
We had a thread some time ago about the unfair treatment of grocery workers in Queens. http://www.jacksonheightslife.com/community/index.php?topic=3862.0

I like Trader Joe's and will continue to shop there once a month or once every two months or so -- whenever it's convenient for me to get there.  However, I don't support a store here in Jackson Heights because of the horrible traffic congestion it would cause.  The existing Queens Trader Joe's parking lot and surrounding streets get extremely congested, especially on weekends.  We already have enough of that.
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Offline daisy

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2012, 11:20:09 AM »
I really wouldn't mind a Trader Joe's anywhere in Western Queens.  It's not as if I'd shop there all the time anyhow.  It's not a large store and really only specializes in certain things.  You don't buy a lot there - they don't even have big shopping carts.  I would still shop locally too if we had one.  I'd do both.  That's the beauty of having options.  You buys some things here, some things there.   But as far as affordable organic options, let's face it - it's not as if this area has many of them.  Most of the grocery stores here have one tiny ass section devoted to organic and they mark it up in price.  I'd rather buy the organic at the greenmarket on Sunday - which I do - than buy organic at the local grocery store.
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Offline ECG

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2012, 09:46:56 PM »
Not enough parking on Northern. Have to use the PlayStreet for the overflow. :D
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Offline jeanette

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2012, 11:13:13 PM »
Hope this isn't too off topic... does anyone know anything about Food Cellar? It's an Amish Market store. I go to the one in LIC and absolutely love it. They won't open in JH, they stay in the monied areas, but I was wondering if anyone has any info on the good-corporate-citizen aspect.
Jeanette
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Offline Liam82

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2012, 01:32:06 PM »
Quote from: jeanette on March 14, 2012, 11:13:13 PM
Hope this isn't too off topic... does anyone know anything about Food Cellar? It's an Amish Market store. I go to the one in LIC and absolutely love it. They won't open in JH, they stay in the monied areas, but I was wondering if anyone has any info on the good-corporate-citizen aspect.
Jeanette

Amish Market was fined by the DOL almost two million dollars for wage theft for about 50-70 workers. Actually the Wage Theft Prevention Act was written with the Amish Market in mind. In other words, they were the inspration! And they are not Amish!
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Offline K2000

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2012, 12:13:43 AM »
Quote from: Liam82 on March 14, 2012, 09:46:45 AM

Trader Joe workers are nnot compensated well for their hard work. Trader Joe's has spent billions of dollars promoting itself as a good employeer, but just like Fox News' attempt at a similar PR, most of us have the ability to see through the campaign.

Reason TJ has low prices? same as why Wal-Mart has low prices. They pressure the supliers to agree to artificialy low prices.

I for one, will not stand by while people beg a multi-trillion dollar company to do business in my neighborhood.

And remember K2000, if the "big boys", Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, Wholefoods, et.al. can get away with being terrible employeers, neighbors, and citizens, then the little guys will as well. 

Can we see some confirmation of your accusations that Trader Joes underpays their employees? Here's a website that says crew members make good money for a retail/grocery job, they get regular job reviews and raises, that they are generally treated well by management, they have access to health care benefits, etc:
http://www.jobitorial.com/trader-joes-job-reviews-C814

That is just one link of many I found, Googling "how much does Trader Joes pay".

In contrast to the "big boys" I believe most Key Foods and Associated markets are privately owned, and they pay much less than what Trader Joes pays...

So how about backing up some of your claims.  "multi-Trillion dollar company" who "spent billions of dollars promoting itself as a good employer". Really?

The Fox News and Walmart comparisons seem like cheap shots. Sour grapes, perhaps?
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Offline Liam82

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2012, 01:57:01 PM »
Quote from: K2000 on March 26, 2012, 12:13:43 AM
Can we see some confirmation of your accusations that Trader Joes underpays their employees? Here's a website that says crew members make good money for a retail/grocery job, they get regular job reviews and raises, that they are generally treated well by management, they have access to health care benefits, etc:
http://www.jobitorial.com/trader-joes-job-reviews-C814

That is just one link of many I found, Googling "how much does Trader Joes pay".

In contrast to the "big boys" I believe most Key Foods and Associated markets are privately owned, and they pay much less than what Trader Joes pays...

So how about backing up some of your claims.  "multi-Trillion dollar company" who "spent billions of dollars promoting itself as a good employer". Really?


Sure lets compare companies that are in similar brackets, like sales, profits, and labor. Stop & Shop full time employees start at 11.25 per hour have full medical insurance paid by the company, full pension benifits paid for by the company, time and a half on sundays, paid holidays, sick time, personal time, and vacation. Guarenteed raises twice a year (on specfic dates so everyone knows when the raises will be), without an arbitary review by someone that may or may not like you. Oh did I mention guareentee 40 hrs per week, regardless of the sales.

It is not "sour grapes" . It is called a fundemental believe in my brother and sisteers not being trampled by coporations. I take great pride in making sure my disposable income is spent in places that recognize humans as, well as humans, and not overhead.

Do you take time out to make sure you buy fair trade coffee or not to buy blood diamonds? If yes, then take a moment to realize in your backyard people are living in wage slave system that is designed to keep them down. This is not a fantasy. The world is full of reports and non fiction studies of this system. Who coined the phrase "crew members make good money for retail/grocery jobs" What type of elitism is that? Shame on you for judging a man or woman because of the job they have. Maybe we were not all born in the 1% and we must fight for better wages. 

Yours Truly
99%



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Offline ECG

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #13 on: March 26, 2012, 05:52:12 PM »
Oh for Heaven's Sake, Relax!

And signing your rant "99%" is pretentious.
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Offline taggie

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Re: Trader Joe's Location Requests
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2012, 06:09:14 PM »
Am glad this was clarified as we really like Trader Joe's and find that the food is a good fit for our family. I see a number of slightly older folks who are
real pleasant as cashiers and we know some local high school grads who were lost and seem to say that their Trader Joe's job is putting them back on
track with a supportive work environment and good role models. I don't know the inside story but from where I stand, the products and the workers
look mighty fine. Would be ecstatic to have them in our neighborhood!
 
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