T.J.Maxx is a beloved store with 1,322 locations nationwide. Known for its steep discounts on designer handbags, clothing, accessories, home goods, toys, and, more, the chain is set to have a huge year thanks to its competitive pricing in an increasingly volatile retail market.
However, while you may love perusing the aisles for the latest deals and brand name finds, not every item at T.J. Maxx is a winner. Here are ten items both shoppers and employees say you should never buy, either because they’re damaged, expired, low-quality… or worse.
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1 | Cheaply Made Toys & Baby Products
Take extra caution when shopping the baby and kids aisle of T.J. Maxx to make sure toys and other items are safe.
T.J. Maxx has faced issues with the sale of recalled toys and baby products. In 2022, its parent company, TJX Companies, agreed to pay a $13 million civil penalty for selling over a thousand recalled consumer products, including inclined sleepers linked to infant fatalities.
That same year, TJX recalled 108,000 baby blankets due to potential choking hazards from loose threads.
If an infant or children’s product has small items or seems cheaply made, leave it on the shelf.
2 | Makeup
The allure of inexpensive cosmetics from name brands you know and love can be strong, but many shoppers and even employees admit that makeup, skincare, and fragrances at T.J.Maxx may be expired or tampered with.
“Make-up is definitely on my don’t buy list, even if it’s packaged and sealed,” One Reddit user said. “Usually, it’s dry and expired and doesn’t work as well as it does band new.”
A T.J. Maxx employee also commented: “Thoroughly check your makeup, people test them, open them, put them on, and break things like eyeshadows and stuff a lot.”
Another added: “I saw a lady literally put on a full face of makeup in the beauty department, opening and using products she didn’t pay for and would put them back.”
3 | Fake Eyelashes
Anyone who’s in the market for a long and voluminous eyelash look may want to shop elsewhere.
Shoppers have noticed that fake eyelashes at T.J. Maxx are priced a bit higher than they need to be. A makeup enthusiast on Reddit highlighted that Loni Lashes priced at $9.99 are available for $1.25 at Dollar Tree.
4 | Furniture
Furniture pieces at T.J.Maxx might be overstock or items that didn’t meet quality standards.
Reviewed.com warns that, because the retailer sources their products from other brands who may have inventory to move, these items may have defects, like sticky drawers or uneven legs, which aren’t worth a purchase.
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5 | Food & Snacks
As good as those fun snacks, chocolates, and other food items may look at the checkout, try your best not to throw them in your cart.
Discounted food items at T.J.Maxx may have fast-approaching sell-by dates, both shoppers and employees say. Worse, they may have already surpassed their expiration dates.
One Reddit user said, “Make sure to check the date because sometimes expired food goes unnoticed on the shelves. Also, make sure it’s sealed because I’ve seen way too many people open and sample food and put it back.”
6 | K-Cups
While T.J.Maxx offers K-Cups at a discount, you might find better deals elsewhere.
Experts note that grocery chains like Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Aldi often sell store-brand k-cups at more affordable prices. Plus, you may also run into the same issue of not knowing how long those k-cups have been chilling on the shelf.
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7 | Underwear & Lingerie
One T.J. Maxx employee spilled the truth on Reddit.
“I hate that we allow people to return lingerie and underwear and bras. Always makes me gag. Don’t even get me going on people who try them on in the store – how do so many people not know what size they wear?”
For these reasons, maybe opt for a different store or online retailer for your undergarment needs.
8 | Earrings
T.J. Maxx has a nice variety of necklaces, rings, bracelets, pins, and more in its jewelry section, but the one item you should avoid here is earrings.
“They let people try them on and that is absolutely disgusting,” said one Reddit user.
Plus, an employee mentioned that the earrings themselves may be different than what you’re used to. “the 14k posts on earrings are slimmer and shorter than average posts. Regular earring backs are too big for them, so if you lose the ones that come with the earrings, you’re outta luck.”
9 | Wall Art
If you’re looking to decorate your space, you will have better luck shopping at T.J. Maxx’s sister brand, Home Goods. Since it specializes in home decor, you’ll find better options there.
Just take it from this one shopper who said, “I avoid a lot of the art/prints ( just too generic and poorly framed) unless you’re trying to cheaply stage a home.”
That’s not the look you’re going for.
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10 | Yoga Mats
If you’re looking to get your flow on, T.J. Maxx may not be the best place to invest in a high-quality yoga mat.
Budget-friendly finds at the retailer might lack the durability, grip, and cushion of better made brands. Plus, these are often an item that, if they can take out of the packaging, shoppers may put on the ground to test. They do this with rugs, too, an employee says. You may want a fresh and clean mat instead.
