Employees of the popular American grocery chain Trader Joe’s were in for a surprise earlier this month when the high demand for a limited edition rerelease of a fan favorite – canvas tote bags – led to lines for miles outside the front doors.
But these aren’t just any bags, they’re plastered with light pastel colors. These are perfect for the Easter season, or any occasion where you need a bit of color or a bit of extra cash, as resellers camped to market these totes for thousands of dollars more than their original $2.99 price on secondhand sites.
The epidemic spread to King County, as residents were puzzled about the sudden surge of Trader Joe’s customers who were there for anything but groceries.
”Line at Trader Joe’s Burien on Sunday afternoon[…]wrapped around the outside corner, we didn’t see before we went in,” resident Alison Guinn sparked conversation on the social networking app NextDoor.
Many others shared similar experiences, some with more distaste than others. “Tried to do our Sunday morning shopping in West Seattle and same thing,” replied Peggy Flynn. “It’s bonkers! I don’t get it. I’ve never even seen anyone using a mini tote in real life.”
Others were more than willing to wait extra time to get their hands on some color. “I’m [in] line to get cheerful bags [that are] pretty for Easter,” commented Catherine Colby.
According to Val Clark-Fish of Normandy Park, the grocery store has enforced a limit of four bags due to intense demand claiming, “Line is for bags only. Have different colors,” while sharing a receipt.
Trader Joe’s is all too familiar with the frenzy surrounding their line of bags, implementing the four bag rule after similar chaos resulted from their initial launch.
A representative provided a statement to PEOPLE claiming, “Our customers, in our stores, are our focus; we do not endorse the re-sale of any of our products, anywhere.”
In the end, it’s just another tale of the nonsense retail workers have to endure daily, as this is not the first time an aesthetically pleasing item has caused utter chaos and price gouging.
Stanley cups made headlines last year for their viral collaboration with Starbucks, with customers camping for hours outside of Target to get a limited edition Valentine’s tumbler. Missed out on the craze? Feel free to crack open your wallet and buy a resold one for over double the price on sites like eBay.
On top of that, no brand has to work solo, evident with the Starbucks and Disney collaboration in late March sparking similar high demand and long lines. Marketed as a “limited edition” or until supplies last, these “must-haves” only play directly into a consumer culture obsessed with the new, the now, the next.
As for today, Trader Joe’s has no reported intentions on rereleasing the seasonal totes. However, they do have a wide selection of reusable shopping bags available year round in stores.