Kitchen

[FunkyHulaGirl]

I don't think you can say one is better across the board; they vary by location and I'm sure the local manager has a lot to do with how good the store is. When I first moved here we had only Sam's Club, so that's where I went. I was excited to see a new Costco opening near me two years ago, so I let the Sam's Club membership lapse and renewed my Costco membership. Well, that turned out to be a big mistake - whereas the Costco we had in Hawaii was wonderful and had a great selection of all kinds of products, including clothing, the one here was a major disappointment. One of my favorite things to look at had always been ladies' clothing, but this new one rarely had more than 5-6 different items to choose from, most of which were there for the entire season. Every time someone on the fashion board mentioned a clothing item in Costco I'd go and look...but this store never had any of it. OTOH, every time I went to Sam's I'd come home with a few cute, name-brand items.

So, I didn't renew my Costco membership, and frankly, didn't renew Sam's either - a friend of mine works across the street, so I just borrow her company card when I need it!

[Nickname1]

Costco was the first club I joined back when it was called "Price Club", but back then they were geared more to food service customers(they were more like Restaurant Depot). Then a BJ's opened up less than a mile away from that Costco, by that time we were starting a family and BJ's had more to offer for families(diapers, baby formula and such). Plus once I joined BJ's rewards membership I was getting back my membership fee and more. I still belong to Costco though and I do like their Kirkland brand items. What one doesn't have the other one does. Oh and in my area of Central NJ, there are now 3 Costcos, and 2 BJ's that are pretty much equal distance from where I live, and a Sam's opened up a couple years ago across the highway from my first BJ's.

[LadyJayne813]

On 10/11/2014 HonnyBrown said:

I noticed yesterday that BJs sells the razor blade refills that I like. 18 for $9. That's an awesome price! Costco doesn't carry them at all. They also don't sell ground chicken or kale.

Does anyone know if BJs sells frozen pepper and onion strips? That right there will seal the deal!

Yes! BJ's sells the frozen peppers and onions! I buy them all the time!

[HonnyBrown]

Thanks LadyJane!

I have been asking Costco to sell these. I go through bags and bags of these each week from the grocery store.

[Nickname1]

I think they all have good Customer Service. With Sam's I had a set of cordless phones that were giving me problems after having them for over a year, because I kept all the packaging I packed them back up and was able to return them for a refund. With BJ's I purchased the mini bike they had last September for my son for Christmas, I figured get it while they had it. Well comes November they send out a Black Friday flyer and in it the mini bike is reduced by $100, well stopped in to ask about it and with out question they gave me a $100 gift card.(They were still getting there $ back, but I saved the card and used it for when my membership renewal was due.)

[HonnyBrown]

Thanks, MScotty!

I made one return to Costco. Despite the fact that I didn't have the original box, I still got a refund, no questions asked.

[Nickname1]

On 10/13/2014 HonnyBrown said:

Thanks, MScotty!

I made one return to Costco. Despite the fact that I didn't have the original box, I still got a refund, no questions asked.

One time I had to return a VCR to Costco because while it recorded the video it didn't record the audio. Since it was with in days of purchase I still had the box, well when I returned it they took the VCR out of the box and compared the serial #'s from what was on the box to the # on the machine. I don't blame them, and they didn't give me any problem, I guess just checking to make sure I wasn't returning to them something bought some where else. But I have heard they will take back items no matter how long ago purchased, haven't had to do that.

[jaxs mom]

On 10/12/2014 debc said:

I have Sams and Costco cards, I like Costco the best for produce, but I have a business card for Sams and can go in before the general public. That's kind of nice.

We had a Costco business membership for years before we switched to executive. It was nice going during business hours as it was less crowded. But then over time when they built a closer Costco to me that one didn't have business hours. My current local store doesn't either.

[Hoovermom]

On 10/11/2014 HonnyBrown said:

KJPA, I bought the Costco Breakfast Blend K-Cups (box of 80 in the store) and it is soooo gooood! I can't say the same for the Keurig I bought from there.

I've seen the kale salad blend at Costco, but not bagged kale.

I browsed BJs online and there is one closer. I thought I was going to do the One Day Pass, but there is a 15% surcharge. I'll wait until next month when they come to my job.

Costco will refund your money if you are not satisfied with your Keurig. You don't even have to have the box for them to help with your return. What I like about their customer service for returns is that they can look up every item you have ever purchased from them. Take it back!!!

[AspenGrove]

On 10/11/2014 DiAnne said:

I don't have a BJs put do have Costco and Sams. I have been a Costco or Price Club member for well over 30-years. Used it extensively when raising family and even now that I am a empty nester I go there about three times a month (it is very close to me. I like that it is always clean and the employees are treated well. I will not shop at Sam's Club for the same reason I will not shop at Walmart. I think it is criminal that they are making mega bucks but have employees on food stamps and many without medical insurance.

DiAnne took the words right out of my mouth! Never heard of BJs, so it must be a regional company. I've shopped at Costco since it was Price Club, eons ago. They are a marvelous company -- to customers AND to their employees. I would not ever think of stepping foot in a Sam's Club (or Walmart) for all the reasons perfectly stated by DiAnne ... and I am beyond proud to say that I live in a community where Sam's Club had to close several years ago because people refused to shop there.