Why Are These $3 Grocery Tote Bags Reselling for Hundreds on eBay?
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Trader Joe’s, the grocery chain known for its unique snacks and affordable prices, has gone viral — but not because of a new food hack or grocery item. The Trader Joe’s Mini Canvas Tote Bag, an unassuming piece of limited-edition store merch, quickly sold out after its March 2024 launch, but it's been popping up on reseller sites for hundreds more than its original, under-$5 price.
The Trader Joe's Mini Canvas Tote Bag is a limited-edition, shrunken version of Trader Joe’s signature canvas shopper tote. It's made of cotton-polyester canvas material and comes in blue, red, yellow, and green options — all emblazoned with the Trader Joe's logo on the front. Aside from their smaller size, they look just like any other reusable shopping tote, only these have the star power of social media fame behind them.
“Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated,” says Nakia Rohde, Public Relations Manager for Trader Joe’s. “Before we had the opportunity to promote them in any way, customers across the country found them at their neighborhood Trader Joe’s.”
As documented in numerous TikTok videos, Trader Joe's shoppers bought up whole inventories of the $2.99 bag, with many buyers quickly turning to eBay to resell their stash. Currently, a set of all four Trader Joe's Mini Canvas Tote Bags cost anywhere from $450 to $999 on reseller sites.
Rohde states that the brand does not support reselling of the bags online. “Our customers in our stores are our focus. We do not endorse the resale of any of our products anywhere,” she says.
Some speculate that the reason behind the viral popularity of the Trader Joe's Mini Canvas Tote Bags is a unique combination of brand recognition, an engaged social-media fanbase, and the allure of a limited-edition merch drop.
“Trader Joe’s has firmly established itself as the ultimate grocery destination, thanks to its highly curated array of premade meals, affordable produce, and unique blend of specialty snacks and products,” says Charlotte Delumpa-Alexander, trend analyst at Fashion Snoops. “The brand has garnered nationwide adoration, with its devoted following expanding even further, largely credited to its presence on TikTok.”
Trader Joe’s has a strong fanbase that organically generates hype around the store's newest products. There are entire fan accounts dedicated to creating unique, unsponsored content about the brand, including videos, reviews, recipes, and more. While food and snacks have usually been the main focus, this is the first time fans have latched onto a wearable accessory from the brand.
“When the store unveiled a limited-edition, affordable, and extremely functional Trader Joe's keepsake, it naturally captured the public's interest — particularly among the younger demographic, who has shown interest before in exclusive accessories,” says Delumpa-Alexander. “Take the Sandy Liang x Baggu collaboration for example. A similar mini tote from this collection also rapidly sold out before hitting resale sites with inflated prices.”
This social media-fueled buying frenzy is reminiscent of the Stanley Cup craze a few months prior, in which an insulated water bottle unexpectedly became the must-have accessory for teens and Gen-Zers after taking off on TikTok. While the popularity may be a head-scratcher for some, it may stem from social-media trends related to simple aesthetics and practical living.
“We’ve been tracking things like ‘Tomato Girl Summer,’ which highlights the simple living of European life where one often visits local grocers or farmers markets for fresh produce, alongside consumer insights like ‘little luxuries,’ which invites us to find the joy in the mundane – say, reusable grocery bags,” adds Delumpa-Alexander. “And, like anything, the buzz will eventually taper off until the next great dopamine-inducing product is released.”
Currently, these wildly popular bags are sold out in stores and online — but not for long.
“We do have more Trader Joe’s Mini Canvas Tote Bags coming. Customers can expect to see them in our stores in late summer,” says Rohde.
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