The $4 Trader Joe's Item That Sold Out in Under 10 Minutes Is Back

For a little while, the mini insulated tote bags from Trader Joe’s were considered the best invention since Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. It's not hard to see why: They're an adorable combo of the viral TJ’s mini tote bag and beloved regular-sized TJ’s insulated bag. What’s not to love?

The hype didn’t last long though. When the $3.99 bags dropped six weeks ago, they sold out in minutes at some locations. A few stores had lines of customers outside the doors before opening, and they’ve been out of stock since. But, if you weren’t one of the customers lucky enough to get your hands on one when you had the chance, don’t worry. You can buy them on eBay or Poshmark for prices ranging from $50 to $250. 

Just kidding—please do not pay that much for a $4 cooler bag. Not only is $250 crazy for a mini tote (no matter how cute), but the coveted item is finally back in stores.

Trader Joe’s Mini Insulated Totes Are Back

While the products are still not showing as available on Trader Joe’s website, several sources have reported that the mini cooler bags are back in stores as of July 17. 

Customers have already posted about recent store sightings (and lines of customers) on Reddit and TikTok. This doesn't mean all the bags are sold out yet. Some locations might put the bags out a couple of days late, so keep an eye out or call your local store to ask. 

Locations will have the option to limit how many bags a customer can purchase at once. The two color options, teal and magenta, will remain the same along with the $4 price tag—no more paying a fortune for mini cooler bags. 

Once you obtain one of the coveted bags, TJ’s suggests using them for everything from keeping groceries cold to using it as a lunch box. While the 1.5-gallon bag might not be the most practical for keeping large amounts of food cold, their main draw seems to be how cute and mini they are (I’m sold!).

What to Do If You Can’t Make It in Time

If you didn’t beat the lines (again), don't sweat it. This is certainly not TJ’s last mini-bag endeavor. Unconfirmed rumors are swirling about the release of red and green bags in the fall for the holiday season. There is also hope that the store will restock its mini canvas bags (which are also being resold for hundreds of dollars on eBay). 

But if you aren’t willing to wait, Trader Joe’s still has a variety of great tote bags available year round—including its regular-sized insulated tote bags, which are occasionally released in fun seasonal colors. 

With such high demand, maybe this is TJ’s sign to switch from selling snacks to only selling totes. Watch out, designer brands, there's a new must-have bag in town, and it’s a Trader Joe’s exclusive.

Be sure to run, not walk, to your nearest TJ’s if you are hoping to snag one, though. If there is anything we learned from last time, it's that people go crazy for these.