Kitchen

[vicki is ok]

Hello all! Well our membership to Sam's Club will be running out in a couple of months so wanted to get your opinions. We have never belonged to Costco, but there is one about the same distance as Sams. My bff belongs to both as they have a business, so I have gone with her to Costco. As I said, they are both about the same distance and both have a gas station so I am considering switching to Costco when the time comes.

Maybe it's just our clubs, but the Costco seems more roomy and cleaner to me. I also think their grocery store dept. is larger than Sams. I can't think of anything at the moment that I buy at Sams that I couldn't get at Costco. We don't do a huge amount of bulk shopping, but there are some things I like getting at the club.

If any of you have ever belonged to both, what is your opinion on one over the other?

Thank you for any help you can give me

Vicki

[evergreen]

We belong to both because we have Sams locally but have to drive 100 miles for Costco. I much prefer Costco because of the cleanliness and the employees are so helpful. They have wine under their own label (Kirkland) and it is superb. When they get Napa Cabernet wine they can't keep it in stock because wine enthusiasts know a great buy and tend to buy it by the case. They also carry some prime meats which we splurge on occasionally. I understand they pay their employees a good wage which I think is important. Whenever I read Consumers Report the Kirkland label is usually rated close to the top so it's a label I trust. Hope this helps.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

When the Costco opened here, we carried memberships there and at Sam's for a year. We found ourselves going to Costco more and more. We let the Sam's membership go and I'd recommend Costco hands down without hesitation. We have an Executive Membership which offers more benefits. Please do a search in this forum and you'll see lots of good input. I made a post about all the benefits of the Exec. membership and also the benefits of carrying a Costco American Express card. I wouldn't be without it (LOL).

[decolvr]

We belong to both. Costco is closer to us.....on the way home from work.....very convenient. We have to travel a bit more to go to Sam's.....but, we still like going there as well. The gas, for us, is cheaper at Sam's, as it is in a different county and the taxes are lower, hence, cheaper gas. We will retain memberships at both.

[luvzchiz]

hi we belong to costco, sam's and bjs.

all have their strengths: bj's for paper products, name brands and the ability to use store coupons.

sam's is great for dairy products and seasonal items on discount. their ground turkey is the best, and their produce lasts a lot longer than costco's.

costco, however, wins hands down re customer service and variety of products for sale. as mentioned, their kirkland wines are excellent and can rival name brands. i also use their gas.i too have an executive membership and find that it is really worthwhile.

i do travel around the country and have been to three or four costcos in one week's time. no i don't work for them, but perhaps i should!

all have been great; although, the products they sell are sometimes regional. that means when i find someting i like in one costco, i might not find it in another. this is especially true of food products. i do like their in store coupons, but i have found that sometimes they discontinue an item without any advanced notice.

hope this helps.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

Here you go....check these threads out:

http://community.qvc.com/SearchResults/tabid/55/SearchTypeID/C16/SearchFilter/Costco/TypeID/1/Search...

[debic]

Belong to both. I imagine it would depend on what you want and where you're at. Sam's business cards have benefits. No tax, you can go in early. They have items that Costco doesn't. Where I am Costco has the best meat and produce, not sure why they bother with business cards there's no perks to it. If I could only have one, I'd pick Costco.

[Deadeye Daisy]

We do all three. Each has some things that the others don't. BJ's takes manufacturers coupons. On a six pack of something like beans, you can use 6 manufacturers coupons, as well as the BJ's coupon.

Costco doesn't carry the Squirrel snack items. Love the snack mix, and usually order 4 from Sam's online when they have it. FAR less than buying at Q. This week, Sam's has it on sale online again.

You can utilize the pharmacy and liquor departments at any of them WITHOUT being a member, with no upcharge on liquor. Costco does come out less at the Rx department when you register your Costco card with them. Cost will be about 20% less than without registering your card.

BJ's had a MUCH better selection of both name brand and store brand personal care items, and more books for less than either Sam's or Costco. Sam's and Costco will let you return an item forever, and can look up your purchases for the last 15 years. BJ's can't do that. If you order online from either Sam's or Costco, you can return to the store. Not BJ's.

Only reason I have all three is we get free executive membership renewals every year through out Credit Union.

If it plugs in, I generally buy from Costco.

I buy my undies from Sam's. $12 for a three pack of microfiber that wear like iron, and don't give you wedgies. I buy Gloria Vanderbilt jeans from Costco for $13 ($15 if you order online). These are the ones that are similar to Isaac Mizrahi with 14% spandex. I also buy my 'fluffy' socks from Sam's. I tend to use them as slippers, so I wear them out fast. Sam's also has a better seclection of T-Shirts and the like.

Sam's often has their own $2 coupon for Mexican Coke. Costco, rarely. Sam's also has a selection of extra value gift cards with FREE FedEx shipping. I've gotten Ruth's Chris, Buca de Beppo, Olive Garden (Darden), Disney, etc. Generally you get $100 in cards for $74. Have rarely seen these at Costco.

Both carry Kind Bars for about $1 each, but ONLY Costco carries Corazones. 72 for about $62.

I prefer to buy racks of ribs from Sam's, also brisket. They sell the whole ribs, which have way more meat. Also they sell the entire brisket with the cap. At Costco, I buy the boneless short ribs. I buy a whole beef rib roast, and cut down at home to my own specifications. I grind my own ground beef using a combination of brisket and boneless short ribs, sometimes with trimmings from the rib roast.

I generally buy whole chickens from my egg lady, but when I want a lot of thighs, I purchase at BJ's. They sell a package of 16, packaged with 4 each to a vacuum sealed pack. Runs $.89 a pound. I won't buy any poultry from either Sam's or Costco.

Costco carries sliced smoked salmon, which I bring home and divide up and freeze. They also carry the Ghiradelli double chocolate brownie mix. Box has 6 packages inside. Used to be $5.47, but price has gone up. Unless you buy yours at a store that is having a BOGO sale and double coupons, you still can't beat the price at Costco. They also carry Nonna's products.

Sam's and BJ's have a FAR better selection of interesting filled pastas, but rarely have the same one next time you go in. Just got several packs of lobster and crab ravioli at Sam's. Sam's also seems to have a better variety of Cabot cheese than Costco. Their Reggiano is also $1 less a pound as is the fresh mozzarella. Our Sam's also carreies fresh pasta if you're not into making your own. They also carry Ajinomoto pot stickers, which EASILY rival the ones from Q or Trader Joe's. Also, far less costly.

If you REALLY need Philly cream cheese in individual packs and your local super isn't having a sale that you can combine with double coupons, price at Sam's is far better than at Costco. Costco carries the block version and an off brand, whick suc*ks.

Sam's carries Cavanaugh's smoked sausages, which are TOPS.

I prefer Sam's for produce, except for when I buy my annual 25# of bing cherries for making bounce in June. The ones at Costco are better.

I have to go the same distance in three directions to go to any of the three, so where I head usually depends on what my other destinations are on that day.

I don't think I could actually choose only one. I could make do with Sam's and Costco, I suppose. But, I do make $50 when shopping BJ's for market research. BJ's often has freebies - around Thanksgiving, you get a Butterball turkey; at Easter time, a ham. In summer, free ribs.

[vicki is ok]

A BIG Heartfelt thank you to all for replying so quickly!!! I think from reading everything here that my choice will be Costco!!!!

This is why I love these forums. You can always count on others to give you the best, informed information. Jean Louise thank you for the search.

Vicki

[DiAnne]

I think you made a wise decision. I did not chime in on this because I have never belonged to Sam's Club because they are part of Walmart and I do not like how they treat their employees. Costco employees are well paid and have benefits. Many of them in my Costco have worked their for years and are familiar faces.