Woman says she got fired from TJ Maxx for telling the truth. Then she exposes 3 secrets they allegedly made her keep from shoppers, including a $100 hack

One of the best things about TJ Maxx is that you never know quite what you’ll find on its racks. Tucked away between some of the ugliest dresses mankind has conceived can be some genuine bargains sold at a low price.

But now @sandrasmaxxing, who says she’s a former TJ Maxx employee, has come clean about three secrets she says the owners don’t want you to know, so much so that she says she was fired from working there for telling a customer.

In a TikTok video, she said she’s a former department lead whose job is to “make the store look spotless, even when it wasn’t.” The first secret she reveals (and apparently the one that got her fired) was warning a customer that not all products in the beauty section are as pristine as they appear.

“People open everything”

She says, “the beauty aisle is basically a graveyard of swatch products,” i.e. items that have already been used by customers. She insists, “people open everything”, and says if you’re buying from this section, you should never buy an item on the front of a shelf. Instead, you should reach to the very back of the shelf, where you’ll find sealed boxes untouched by grubby hands.

Secondly, she reveals that if you have a problem with a TJ Maxx product, that’s “low quality, tampered with, or disappointing,” don’t return it to the store. Instead, go to their official site, leave a detailed complaint, “and they’ll often send you a $100 gift card as a thank you for being a valued shopper.”

However, you should be somewhat careful, as abusing TJ Maxx’s returns policy has seen a Georgia woman face up to 75 years in prison.

The third secret is to have reasonable expectations about what’s on the racks. She says, “stop wasting time hunting for Chanel bags or Louis Vuitton”, pointing out these luxury brands have specific contracts that mean they’ll never be found on discount there. She advises customers to research which brands TJ Maxx actually works with, and base their search on that.

“They sell you the thrill of the hunt because it keeps you wandering aisles. But the insiders know if you shop smart you can skip the hype and get the real treasure.”

Replies indicate these tips have some merit. A comment from Berit Jerome said: “I used your technique and went on a Wednesday morning got a true religion leather jacket originally 200 dollar for 39 at ross next to my tj maxx”.

TJ Maxx did not comment on these claims.

Also, if you’re a bargain hunter, you should also be aware that great deals at Goodwill might not be exactly what they appear to be.