A $2.99 canvas tote from Trader Joe’s is fetching nearly $1,700, as demand for the grocery chain’s seasonal minibags reaches fever pitch.
Introduced in 2024, the 13-by-11-by-6-inch Mini Canvas Totes are back this spring in pastel pink, baby blue, mint green and lavender — and they’re flying off the shelves.
On resale sites like eBay and Poshmark, a single pink tote is listed for $1,699, while others in purple, blue and green are going for $1,600, $1,400 and $1,100, respectively. A four-pack of all colors is priced at $400 — still more than 100 times the retail price.
“When it comes to our reusable bags, our customers have made themselves abundantly clear: The smaller the tote, the bigger the sensation,” Trader Joe’s said on its product page.
Why the craze? Someone speculated on social media that it’s a TikTok phenomenon similar to the rush to buy thermoses titled like the hockey trophy: “The totes’ version of the Stanley cup.”
The bags debuted in March a year ago to long lines and near-instant sellouts, and a fall restock quickly disappeared. This week, stores across New York City saw early-morning lines as shoppers hoped to score the new drop, reported the New York Post.
Some locations, such as the Trader Joe’s in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, began selling their inventory ahead of the official Wednesday release. To manage the frenzy, stores are limiting how many bags customers can buy.
