Is one any better than the other?

My wife was looking to join Costco, but they no longer accept Amex so I said that's a deal killer. That leaves Sam's Club.

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think BJ's is located in Salt Lake City. Growing up in NJ, my family always shopped at BJ's so that's the only experience I have with wholesale clubs.

In general, I think the quality of Costco produce and meats is better. Their house brand (Kirkland) (food stuffs and alcohol) I think is of a better quality also. Electronics and apparel I think is about even. Never compared pharmaceuticals.

We have been Costco members for many years. A new Sam's Club location opened near us so we went to check it out. Selection and quality seemed to be far better at Costco. Sam's did not really seem to be all that different from Walmart. We stayed with Costco.

Re American Express, I don't see that as an issue. With Costco membership you get a no-fee Citi VISA that is a cash-back card:

• 4% for all gas purchases, whether at Costco or other merchants
  
  
• 3% for restaurants
  
  
• 2% for Costco purchases (other than gas)
  
  
• 1% for just about everything else

We were Sam’s Club members in the past, but didn’t have access to a Costco in the places we lived. We visited a Costco or two with family members and just thought they were nicer, the food quality looked better and the seasonal items just seemed higher quality. We drive 50 miles to use our Costco membership, there’s a Sam’s 10 or 15 miles away...of course, we live way out West in Wyoming so 50 miles is “just down the road.”

I like Costco the best but I was satisfied with Sams until Costco moved closer. All things equal I'll take Costco for the Kirkland coffee and toilet paper.

Costco member here, since my wife does all the shopping we had a free Sams membership thru work years ago. Wife said deals are not there since you can buy same stuff at Walmart for a couple pennies more. Both are very close to our house.

We are members to all three.
A new BJ's just opened up in town and we went there last week to check it out.
Here's my assessments...

BJ's is really competing with your regular grocery chain like Kroger and it does beat their pricing.

Sams' has better pricing and more availability that BJ's and does have a few things that are better priced than Costco.

Overall Costco has the best price and their signature brand, Kirkland, is very good so Costco is our preferred place to shop. Unfortunately, it is about 100 miles away and we only stop when we are traveling which is fairly often.

We are getting the membership specifically for grocery shopping. I've heard pretty good things about Costco meats which is why we looked there first. Our cook on the ship shops at Sam's, and the meat he gets has always been excellent so I don't have too many complaints from that standpoint. He's an excellent cook though.

We might just have to see for ourselves I reckon. Trying to convince a French woman though that food (particularly meats) from what is essentially Walmart is quality food is the challenge.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

Re American Express, I don't see that as an issue.

It's an issue for me.

we belong to both. some things are cheaper at Costco, which overall is surprising- items like soda water, and keurig coffee pods. Some things are cheaper at Sam's like beef. Our costco does not have 1% milk, whereas the Sam's does.

Chicken breasts at Sam's here are 15% solution or tenderized, or otherwise not just chicken. At Costco, the chicken breasts contain chicken (some water may be retained during chilling process). I prefer to not use the treated chicken. the price differential is almost non-existent between Sams and Costco, so the choice is easy.

You really need to know what you want and its price before you shop.

We will maintain both memberships as we have a large family.

We have had both for a few years, I have only kept the Sam's at the wife's request. Don't know why. We buy all of our pet food, Tp, paper towels, beer and meat at Costco. Help at Sam's is just a hair better than the crappy service at Maomart.

Costco by a long shot

I have and shop both, but Costco over Sam's at least 10 to 1.

That said, there are a few things at Costco that annoy me. Eggs are "cage free" and thus more expensive. Apples are "organic" and thus more expensive.

quote:

there are a few things at Costco that annoy me. Eggs are "cage free" and thus more expensive.

My Costco has plain old eggs.

I used to shop at both years ago prior to moving to another area but I preferred Sam's out of the two. Now where I am located, we only have a Sam's Club and BJ's. Sam's has a better meat selection but BJ's has better everything else and at better prices,especially with the coupon books.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

there are a few things at Costco that annoy me. Eggs are "cage free" and thus more expensive.

My Costco has plain old eggs.

Not Fairfax anyway. At which one do you shop?

Been a member of Sam's since the 80's or 90's whenever they opened in Cincy.

Joined Costco a year and a half ago.

First, let me say all Sam's Clubs are not equal,. IMO, the Sam's Club with the best employees in the Cincy area closed, the Fields-Ertl club.

I work less than 5 minutes from the Tri-County Sam's and Costco. In fact, you can get to both of them off of the same drive, off of Kemper Road, if you snake between the Target that separates them.

Between the two Tri-County clubs, I would say the employees at Costco are much better. They have smiles on their faces, they genuinely seem to care.

However, the employees at the Costco-Fields-Ertl road are far and away the best club employees I have ever seen. They are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and just give a crap. They push a ton of customers through on any given day, and do so with a smile. I do not know how they are paid, or if they receive any kind of bonuses, but they really are the best I have ever seen.

If I could only keep one of the cards, I would keep Costco and let Sam's Club go.

YMMV.

I've been a member of both and would give the nod to Costco.
They seem to be better quality and have very good dog food if that is an issue.

My advice is to visit both and decide. I became member of Sams in 1997 while in college. 2 years ago I wanted to switch to Costco because everyone else seemed to shop there. My wife likes a few specific items at Sams and I assured here there was a substitute at Costco. We switched to Costco and she hated it. They did not have a substitute for what she wanted, and the Costsco is packed all the time. It's crazy how packed it is.

My wife does 90% of the trips to Sams. She made us switch back after 1 year.

It's all personal preference on what you buy. We buy brand name toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags... so if we get it at Sams or Costco it really doesn't matter.

Get a 1 day pass for both and see which store has more items you want.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:

Get a 1 day pass for both and see which store has more items you want.

I think we may end up doing this. I'm still not 100% decided. But the amex thing is giving the edge to Sam's. A visit to each though should ultimately help us make a final decision.

I appreciate all the feedback.

its very "hit and miss" with both stores.

nothing ( it seems) is a constant when it comes to B & M stores these days.
both places have 9 great employees that may or may not on shift , when you show up.

Both have horrible staff that will most likely be there during a visit.

Both will carry crap that you love and will purchase regularly , then for no apparent reason discontinue it

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Costco has top tier gasoline and I don’t believe that sams has top tier.