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Trader Joe’s has amassed a sizeable cult following thanks to devoted customers who sing the praises of the grocery chain, and now, it’s found itself with a fairly unexpected craze on its hands courtesy of some tote bags that have taken the world (and eBay) by storm.
The first Trader Joe’s outpost opened in California all the way back in 1967, and the store has slowly but surely expanded its grocery empire over the decades to the point where it now boasts over 550 locations in the United States.
It’s kind of hard to explain the allure of Trader Joe’s unless you’ve experienced it for yourself. The store is known for the wide variety of products it sells under its proprietary label at pretty reasonable prices, and while you can check plenty of ordinary items off of your grocery list while there, it’s arguably best known for its snack foods, frozen items, and dessert offerings.
Trader Joe’s is also known for its focus on sustainability, and while you can haul away your groceries in the tiki-inspired paper bags it provides, all of its locations usually feature a fairly wide array of reusable tote bags—including a new “mini” variety that has transformed into a pretty wild sensation.
Earlier this month, the folks at TJ’s released a smaller version of the chain’s signature totes, which retail for $2.99 and are available in four different colors. I wish I could tell you exactly why they became all the rage, and while I can’t provide you with an explanation, I can give you some video proof highlighting that reality.
It didn’t take long for resellers to flock to eBay in the hopes of making a quick buck—including someone who was apparently able to sell a complete set of green, blue, yellow, and red totes for $499.99 (that was admittedly a bit of an anomaly, although there are three other auctions that also fetched a triple-digit winning bid as of this writing).
What a world.