What It Means If You Hear A Bell Ring At Trader Joe's

It's no secret that Trader Joe's isn't your average grocery store. From its limited number of private-label goods to its playful branding, Trader Joe's does things differently. While many of these differences can fly under the radar, the clap of a brass bell mid-shopping spree is hard to miss. But what exactly does it mean? Is it a celebration of the day's 100th customer, a cause for alarm, or a signal that you've unlocked a secret aisle of cookie butter treasures?

Of course, the answer isn't quite as exciting as the mystery itself. The Trader Joe's bell system is analogous to the average supermarket's intercom system. Instead of the old "clean up on aisle three!" announcement, Trader Joe's employees flick the clapper of the bell to call for assistance. Rather than relying on a this-is-your-principal-speaking PA system, Trader Joe's uses the song of the bells to communicate information among staff while staying true to its nautical theme. In maritime culture, bells were historically used as warning signals or markers of successful passage. At Trader Joe's, where the only boat is a cartoon painting of a dinghy manned by a Hawaiian shirt-wearing Trader Joe's captain, the chime of the bell is primarily used for register assistance.

The vibrato of the bell at Trader Joe's is a bat signal for assistance, but how do crew members decipher what kind of help is needed? Think of the bells as a grocery store Morse code, where the number of dings correlates to a specific request for help.

• One chime means that register lines are filling up fast and crew members who have left their stations to help with other tasks should return quickly to their register. 
• Cracked seal, leaky packaging, or broken egg? Don't sweat it — two chimes indicates a problem with a product, and that a replacement is needed.
• Three chimes, on the other hand, is the sound that your cashier needs help from a more senior crew member. You'll hear this when you're trying to return an item that needs special authorization or some technical or logistical glitch has arisen thatonly a manager or captain can fix. 
• If you hear four chimes of the bell, you're likely shopping in a swarm of other shoppers, as this manic melody prompts all employees on the floor to rush to the register to clear unusually long lines. Occasionally, Trader Joe's crew members ring the bell for miscellaneous purposes, but the four distinct beats are the primary signal for addressing urgent issues.

Though it's just one of many Trader Joe's secrets, knowing the meaning behind the chime of the bell will keep you from mistaking a call for help for a cause for concern. Or, sorry to say it, from thinking you're the company's award-winning one-millionth customer.