topic Re: Costco opened up in my area... in Community Chat

Costco opened up in my area...

CoffeeNut — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:04:54 GMT

Costco opened up a couple weeks ago in my area and decided to get a membership since so many people rave about it. I'm a long time Sam's Club member so I wanted to compare.

Honestly, I was not impressed and can't understand the "Ahhhhhhhh" factory people rave about.

I spent about 3 hours in there looking around and comparing prices to Sam's. I buy a lot from Sam's and everyone of the same identical items I buy are cheaper at Sam's, even the gas. House brands such as Kirklands vs MemberMark were pretty much the same pricing and didn't vary that much.

I like Sam's Scan and Go with their App to bypass the checkouts. Costco does not have that so had to wait in a long line.

I did find a few unique food items to try and a nice shirt for the hubbie. But overall, not really impressed. I doubt if I renew my membership next year because Sam's and Costco are the same distance from the house.

Anyone else prefer Sam's or another warehouse club besides Costco ?

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Love my grandkids — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:08:26 GMT

@CoffeeNut I've been a member, has have all my family, for years and we all love it. There's no Sam's around here but I was in one, years ago, and I wasn't impressed at all.

Our Costco is huge, great prices, fabulous employees and excellent delivery service.

Edited to add: I think it's great that we all have choices like this! And I'm NOT being snarky.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Kiakc — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:08:24 GMT

I also have Sam's and Costco memberships. Sam’s is my favorite with free shipping, curbside pickup, and scan and go. I also think they are cheaper on many items. I still enjoy Costco and getting different items there. Costco also has monthly sales books whereas Sam’s has sporadic sale books.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

deeva — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:10:30 GMT

We started with Sam's back in the 90's, then dropped them and joined Costco.
Now we have both. I used to buy more at Costco, but this past year, I've been buying more at Sam's.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Foxxee — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:43:00 GMT

Agree.

That also was my impression when I went into Target the first time. After all the hype and calling it Tarjay, I thought I'd be walking into Neiman Marcus with big box prices.

Then I heard shoppers glorifying it, as well. An exciting Saturday event became shopping at Target.

The Target bag became a status symbol.

Walked in and said, "You have got to be kidding!" I felt like I had been scammed. I was.

It was no different than Walmart and KMart? It still isn't.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Carmie — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:51:18 GMT

We have memberships at both Sam's and Costco. Sams was here years before Costco.

We shop at both places. Recently, Sams has been low on inventory. Their shelves are empty as is their refrigeration section. They are closer to me, but often it is a waste of gas to drive there because they do not have what I want and I have to go to Costco.

I do agree that Costco sometimes has higher prices on some things, but they offer better quality items and have more to choose from. They have higher end offerings in the meat and seafood sections.

Costco employees are nicer and more willing to help you. They treat their customers better.

My granddaughter and I went to Sam's to get one item. Well, we ended up buying a cart full. One of the things we got was a book for her. $7

We paid for our items and left the store. While putting the items in the car, I remembered that we forgot to get the item we went there for.

So, back into Sam's we went. My bookworm granddaughter was eager to start reading her book( price tag removed) so she walked along with me while reading it. We got the item we went in for, checked out at a register, not self check out, and an employee stopped us at the exit doors when she checked my receipt.

She wanted to see the receipt for the book. She had no way the to know that is was a Costco book as it was a popular book that was part of a series and available everywhere.

i looked for the receipt, but couldn't find it. I was nervous. i said it was maybe in the car with the items I previously bought 10 minutes ago.

i asked the employee to look up my order on the computer. She refused. She was gloating like a crazed nut, so happy to catch a shop lifter.

Finally, I dumped out my purse on the floor and went through everything. I found it!!!

We were allowed to leave. When we got outside, my GD remarked that the lady at the door seemed upset that I found the receipt...and she was.

At Costco, CS would have looked up the previous order and not made a big deal out of it. They go out of their way to give good service.

If you are not happy with Costco, they will return your membership fee and will pro-rate it even if you used it for a few months no questions asked.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

decaf — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:23:24 GMT

Sam's is a subsidiary of Walmart. That's the #1 reason why I prefer Costco. Besides, their prices usually beat Sam's and of course, you can't get a hot dog and soda for $1.50 at Sam's.

Don't forget to get a refund for your Costco membership. You can easily call their 800# for that.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:23:24 GMT

@deeva wrote:
We started with Sam's back in the 90's, then dropped them and joined Costco.
Now we have both. I used to buy more at Costco, but this past year, I've been buying more at Sam's.

Same for us. But we spend a bit more at Costco on higher-end items. Sam's Club is closer to our home so is convenient if we run out of something.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

chickenbutt — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:34:20 GMT

I have been a member of Costco for somewhere between 3 and 4 decades and have never had any kind of negative issue.

Their Kirkland brand products that I've used over those decades have always been excellent quality.

I joined Sam's Club, some 25 years ago or so (not sure exactly, but at least that long ago) when they first came to town. They had gone around giving business people a free year membership so I figured what do I have to lose.

My first impression was eh, not bad. But when I would come back the same items would go up in price each time. I would not purchase meat or produce from them, knowing how things were at Walmart stores, especially with dying old meat and putting new dates on it.

I let that lapse after that first year.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

scatcat — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:37:22 GMT

You should cancel your membership and get your money back. No need to have both Sam's and Costco especially if you weren't impressed with Costco.

No Sam's by me. I wouldn't say Costco is "Ahhhh" but their gas is 20¢ cheaper than anything else around me (top tier gas and 4% back on my Costco cc), their meat, coffee and produce is really good for the price. Some alcohol is a steal. DH loves their 1/4 zips and pants.

For me, it's just another store to shop. I don't enjoy shopping but on certain items their prices are really good.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

patbz — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:54:43 GMT

I've been a Costco member since they were Price Club. Five years ago I added A Sams membership, primarily because their gas stations were convenient on frequent, long trips ( I live 2 hrs from nearest Sams and three from Costco). I still prefer Costco for in store shopping but we've bought a lot of canned veggies, laundry detergent, TP, paper towels and have them shipped at no cost ( usually here within three days).

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

drizzellla — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 13:41:57 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
@deeva wrote:
We started with Sam's back in the 90's, then dropped them and joined Costco.
Now we have both. I used to buy more at Costco, but this past year, I've been buying more at Sam's.

Same for us. But we spend a bit more at Costco on higher-end items. Sam's Club is closer to our home so is convenient if we run out of something.

We belong to Sam's and Costco. I prefer Sam's. Sam's has a much better selection of food items. And they have quite a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Costco is closer to my house. But often find that there was an item or more that I was not able to buy at Costco. So I have to drive to Sam's. I keep thinking why didn't I just drive to Sam's in the first place. And Sam's is generally cheaper. And sometimes the amount is quite a difference. For example, one time I priced Welch's jelly, Sam's was $2.00 cheaper than Costco. Plus I can get smaller containers at Sam's. If I want cream cheese at Costco I have to buy one 3 pound tub. Sam's I can buy 2 tubs that are 16 oz. each. That is more manageable in our house.

PS - Sam's also has a feature on it's website. You can go online and select any store and find out if an item is in stock.

I use that feature frequently. It is so helpful. My son likes Yoohoo drink. Since Covid, Sam's has ordered it but doesn't aways get it in stock. It is in the cans and I know for a time aluminum was difficult to get. It is also prepared in a Pepsi facility. I am guessing that it is a low priority item. You can find it in the small juice boxes but not cans.

So I check to see if it is in stock. Sam's is the only place I have found it in cans and if it is in stock, I make a beeline to the store. It is funny, there are generally other people doing the same thing. Sam's doesn't even have to put the skid away. The product will

disappear quickly.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Duckncover — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 20:27:02 GMT

Had a Sam's membership but didn't renew because I was so impressed with the higher quality of most Costco choices. Have been going to Costco since they opened here many years ago. They have self checkout if you prefer that. They have brands there we can't get elsewhere for the quality/quantity or price.

AREDS/Natrol Festiv/Premier Protein/Michelin Tires/Car rentals/prescription eyeglasses/ reading glasses/rotisserie chicken/coffee.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

meem120 — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 20:37:49 GMT

The Kirkland brand of Vanilla Ice cream is the best Ive tasted in years. Its like ice cream use to taste. They also have a delicious cheescake. Very good.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

On It — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 20:51:13 GMT

My son is a big Costco fan and insisted we join. We have always shopped at Sam's. I think it is a matter of which store you feel more comfortable. We know the layout of Sam's and can get curbside delivery so we shop there more often.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Meowingkitty — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 20:57:00 GMT

We have a Costco and a Sams practically next to each other and 10 minutes from home and I prefer Costco. I joined Sams when they opened because they offered a half price membership but I only went once or twice and never renewed. I've never had a problem with Costco. Lots of my clothes come from Costco. I like their meats, paper products, vitamins etc.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

tansy — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:09:19 GMT

The Sam's I visited had nowhere near the choices of products or good bakery items, meat and produce. Costco employees are treated well and it shows.

Costco will refund your membership if you ask, OP.

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

sann — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:45:57 GMT

The nice thing about Costco if you aren't happy with your membership they will refund your money in full anytime you are dissatisfied.........I love shopping there, but I also shop at Sam's ..........

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

Love my grandkids — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:42:20 GMT

Our Costco is less than 1.5 miles from home. I've gotten my glasses there and my hearing aids. Excellent service in both departments.

And delivery to my home is always free. I don't know if it's because I'm so close or what!

Re: Costco opened up in my area...

DiAnne — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 01:39:32 GMT

There used to be two Sam's Clubs in the area but they both closed long ago. This is Costco country. I hate to think the amount of money I have spent at Costco over the years. Now that kids are gone and I live alone I go twice a month. I still save money. I recently bought new tires there. I buy all paper products, cleaning products and laundry products there. This morning I made chicken salad from their rotisserie chicken with apples, celery and pecans. I started out in Cali with Price Club and when Costco bought Price Club moved on to Costco.