See shoppers dote on Trader Joe's latest mini totes – they're pastel!
Tote bag connoisseurs once again celebrated Trader Joe's latest product drop.
On Wednesday, June 17, many a customer lined up outside their local Trader Joe's to get their hands on the grocery store chain's new summer tote bag, available in four pastel colors. Videos shared on social media show long lines of eager customers ready to rush inside and grab as many of the $3 tote bags as possible.
In a TikTok video, content creator Rob Pepp arrived to his local Trader Joe's at 7:31 a.m. (the store opened at 8 a.m.) and was able to snag one of each of the four colored bags. He said his store limited customers to four bags per person. Taking to the video's comments, other users said their stores limited each customer to varying numbers of bags, with some even up to 12 per person.
While Pepp was able to get in and out of his store quickly, some customers had different experiences. Content creator Maddiely Ocampo shared in a TikTok video that when she arrived to her store at 8 a.m., a line encompassed the entire parking lot.
When customers entered the store, most bombarded the corner where the tote bags were available before they ran out. Someone among the crowd said the bags were sold out, a manager had to clarify they were not, then more bags were brought out from the back of the store. Ocampo said customers were limited to six bags per person.
When USA TODAY video editor Jenna Hecker drove by her local Trader Joe's an hour-and-a-half before the store opened, about a dozen customers stood in line. By the time she joined herself, about 30 minutes before opening, the line stretched down the side of the building, the parking lot was full and cars appeared to be making laps looking for open spots.
When the store's doors opened customers were guided inside by employees, kept in established line positions. Each customer was allowed four bags per color, a total of 16 per person.
See the hype in the video at the top of this story.
Trader Joe's continues to roll in tote bag hype, with limited-edition releases flying off shelves. Most recently, the grocery store chain sold brightly colored, summer-themed insulated mini totes bags that also had customers waiting in long lines outside of stores.
The iconic, traditional Trader Joe's tote bag has developed a cult-like following over the last year. First available in March 2024, the canvas bags are popular on social media for becoming difficult to find.
What do the new Trader Joe's tote bags look like?
The newly released striped summer tote bags come in four pastel colors: Green, pink, blue and brown. The bags are made of a heavy-duty cotton and polyester blend and feature a pocket on each side.
How big are the Trader Joe's summer tote bags?
The summer tote bags are 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide.
How much do the Trader Joe's summer tote bags cost?
The new summer tote bags are $2.99 each.
Trader Joe's files lawsuit to stop dupes
Trader Joe's told USA TODAY it recently filed a lawsuit to protect its customers from knockoff tote bags.
"We are aware that some knockoff totes are being sold online and have recently filed a lawsuit to protect our customers from being misled," the company said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. The grocer said it only offers Trader Joe's products for sale inside its stores.
Trader Joe's totes have found fans abroad, with bags listed on international marketplaces, including Coupang, Depop, Karrot, eBay and Mercari. With no Trader Joe's stores abroad, resale prices listed by U.S. shoppers are often higher than in‑store prices, sometimes exceeding $1,000.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].