In 2013, Trader Joe’s sued Hallatt for copyright infringement, but they lost in a Washington State court. In December 2014, Hallatt had his most profitable month, making more than $80,000 in sales. But in 2016, amid appeals from the grocer and financially strained by the legal battle, Hallatt settled out of court with the store, agreeing to close the doors to Pirate Joe’s once and for all. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a bit devious. Doesn’t seem like a lot? Consider that they could easily buy, package, and distribute 100 bottles in a day. Over the course of a year, that could quickly add up to more than $29,000. For their part, Trader Joe’s, which is owned by German supermarket franchise Aldi, hasn’t taken steps to stop any of these resellers yet, though they make it clear they do not support them in any way. “When shopping at a Trader Joe’s store, customers can expect products of the highest quality, at great, everyday prices,” a representative for the store told Refinery29. “We do not authorize the reselling of our products and cannot stand behind the quality, safety, or value of any Trader Joe’s product sold outside of our store.” Until Trader Joe’s is willing to step into the e-commerce business—or just open significantly more brick-and-mortar stores—the black-market demand for Rosemary Marcona Almonds, Peanut Butter Blondies, and Umami Seasoning Blend will likely remain robust.
What to Know Before You Buy
If you’re dozens—or perhaps hundreds or thousands—of miles away from the nearest Trader Joe’s, purchasing from an online reseller is one way to get your fix. (You could ask your friends to just send you a care package, too.) But before you select “Add to Cart” at any of these retailers, do a bit of digging. Each of the retailers currently selling Trader Joe’s provides seller information, as well as feedback from previous purchasers. Find out if past customers have been happy with the quality of the product—like it wasn’t out of date when it arrived—as well as the service. While you’re paying more for a product you could get for a lot less, that’s no reason to let sellers tack on extra charges or send you a bottle that’s been languishing on a shelf for too long.
