Do you have a Trader Joe’s nearby? Well, as you may know, they stock a wide range of products, but they don’t stock everything. The big question we want to answer here is; does Trader Joe’s sell lighters?
Trader Joe’s does not sell lighters. In fact, they do not sell any product related to tobacco at all. This is due to a dispute that they had in the past.
Let’s explain a little bit more, plus give you some alternatives for picking up some lighters.
About Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is a major grocery store chain in the United. They have hundreds of stores scattered around the nation.
They are not your typical major grocery store, though. This is because Trader Joe’s isn’t going to be loaded with every product under the sun.
Instead, they focus specifically on food and drink products. They have a couple of other product lines on occasion, but nothing too crazy.
Almost all of the products sold at Trader Joe’s are own-brand products. The company is known for offering quality products at low prices.
Availability of Lighters at Trader Joe’s
Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s does not offer any products related to tobacco. This is due to a dispute that the company had internally a while back (hence why Trader Joe’s no longer has the same owners).
It is unlikely that the company is ever going to stock lighters anyway. It isn’t really the sort of product that people would be heading to Trader Joe’s for.
It is also worth noting that the lighters probably are too closely related to tobacco products for the comfort of the Trader Joe’s owners.
They took a pretty firm stance about never having tobacco products sold in their stores. It was one of the factors that led to the company splitting up.
We can’t imagine that they are going to be going back on what they think in the near future. This is a company that does pride itself on offering products that are reasonably healthy, after all.
Still, it isn’t as if it is impossible to get lighters elsewhere. You may not be able to get them at Trader Joe’s, but pretty much every other grocery store is going to have them on sale.
To check the current price and availability of Lighters, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
Alternatives for Purchasing Lighters at Trader Joe’s
You probably don’t need us to give you specific stores where you can pick up lighters. All major grocery stores (excluding Trader Joe’s) should have lighters available.
A gas station in the middle of nowhere should have lighters available too. They really are not going to be tough to find.
Do bear in mind that, depending on where you live in the United States, you may find that the lighters are not out on general sale.
This means that you cannot pick them up from the shelf. Since this is an item that is regularly stolen, you will probably need to talk to whoever is working the cash register.
At major grocery stores, there may be a specific counter where you can pick up tobacco products. This is where you are likely to find the lighters being sold.
Of course, you can always purchase your lighters online if you are looking for something specific.
Considerations When Purchasing Lighters
Your big concern when buying a lighter is whether you are old enough. Depending on where you live in the United States, the age that you can legally buy a lighter can be anywhere from 16 to 21. If you are legal but pretty close to the minimum age, then make sure that you bring ID along with you.
Think about the type of lighter that you want. While disposable lighters (BIC style) are cheap, they are not that brilliant. You can’t refill them, and you are pretty much just going to be filling up landfills with plastic.
A lot of people opt for Zippo metal lighters (or something similar) because not only do they offer a much better flame but they can also be refilled. A good Zippo lighter can easily last for years.
You probably don’t need us to tell you this but using any lighter can be dangerous. It is a flame, after all. This means that you should never light it close to your skin.
We know that there are some people that will hold a cigarette in their mouth and light it. This is fine. Just don’t get that flame too close to your face.
You will also want to ensure that you are not using the lighter close to anything flammable. This means no gas cans, etc.
You should, under absolutely no circumstances, light a lighter insider of a garage, a gas station, or even close to your car. There is always the risk of gas leaks.
Obviously, you should ensure that your children do not touch the lighters. If you do have children, then you may want to inform them about how dangerous lighters can be.
There is a good chance that this may encourage them to not touch the lighter. You don’t want them to be too curious about it, after all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trader Joe’s Sell Cigarettes?
Trader Joe’s does not sell cigarettes. This is one of the reasons why Trader Joe’s no longer has the same owner as it did a few years back. The original owner wanted to sell cigarettes, and the new one didn’t.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s does not sell lighters. It is unlikely that they will ever sell lighters. This is because a company split was caused by an aversion to tobacco products. Trader Joe’s will not sell lighters as they are much too close to tobacco.
Thankfully, if you do need a lighter then they shouldn’t be too tough to find. There are plenty of stores that sell them. Head to pretty much any grocery store, large or small, and they will have them in stock.
Try to avoid buying disposable lighters, if possible. They don’t last all that long and they are bad for the environment.
