our only carries ethanol, is that considered "top tier ?"

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
our only carries ethanol, is that considered "top tier ?"

Top tier is separate from whether or not it has ethanol. It has more to do with quality control and detergents, IIRC.

We like Costco a lot and shop there for a variety of items. The auto program can be good depending on the brand. My biggest complaints are the produce is pretty meh and it's so f'ing busy all the time. Their cash back Visa is pretty solid too.

I was a member of Sams since they opened in Baton Rouge over 20 years ago. When Costco opened I tried it out and there was no comparison-dropped Sams quickly. The big difference was customer service and the check out process. Sams took forever to check out, and you could never get them on the phone to ask a question.

In fact, that would be a good test for you before you join. Call each and ask if they have briskets, what grade, and the price per pound. Or white bath towels. Your experience will be telling.

The busiest I've ever seen the Costco here, with 6-8 carts in each line, I still got out of there in about 5 minutes. Sams was taking what seemed like forever to check out, even when they weren't particularly busy.

I haven't been back to Sams since shortly after Costco opened. Sams did open a few new locations to deal with the Costco competition, and they may have improved; I don't know.

EDIT: I'm a long time Amex cardholder and was very unhappy about Costco dropping them, but it was worth using a different card to stay at Costco. I ended up getting a Costco Citibank card with a promotion when I bought new tires for my wife's vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
our only carries ethanol, is that considered "top tier ?"

It's about the additives.

In my experience, Sam's is just a bulk WalMart, and I do everything I can to avoid giving that corporation even a dime.

It's Costco only for me.

I 2nd the "get a day pass for each" & check the actual stores you'd be using. I have been to several Costco locations & they all seemed pretty much the same. My main issue with them is when they discontinue a product that you love & it seems they were the only place that carried it. It happens there a lot. I am very picky about toilet tissue & I do approve of their Kirkland brand toilet tissue. None of the employees seem very happy or helpful. (In my experience) Parking is always a pain.

I have only been to 1 Sam's Club & I worked there. It was in Daytona Beach, FL & they were some of the nicest people to work for. Employees were treated nice, they had a great training program set up, & we were a community. If there was a hardship (like my co-worker's kid having cancer) they'd have the hot dog sales outside & all the proceeds went to the person that needed help. The company donated all the food. We all seemed happy & we were always willing to help customers. They carried the name brand toilet tissue I liked. Had bulk eggs & some of the best blueberry muffins I've ever had. They never discontinued something that I usually bought. My dog was on a prescription medicine & it was very cheap there. They have some insane deals on electronics & matresses with some of their specials. Esp. on big screens during the Super Bowl time. Trying to explain some of the specials, some people thought there "had to be a catch". Parking was very well set up.

Where I live now, I am a member at Costco because I've only heard bad things about the Sam's Club closest to me. I drove by it once & even from the outside, it looks bad. If the Sam's Club was like the one I use to work at, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

We have memberships in both.

If I were to pick one it would be Costco.

BUT we live approx 40 miles from three large cities (east, west, south). Three have a Sam's and only one has a Costco. Shopping trips vary between the three locations.

Costco is the best for hearing aids in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
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.

I miss BJ's Wholesale Club, too.

In Salt Lake, the Costco is a Costco Business Center, and has a much larger selection of everything food related than any other Costco or Sam's in this area. They have a lot of commercial kitchen accessories, too, everything from small utensils to large TRUE refrigerators. At the time they expanded that location a few years ago, the Salt Lake Costco was the largest in the world.

I prefer Sam's for fresh produce. Each Sam's Club in the Salt Lake Valley carries slightly different products. I find Costco produce goes bad MUCH quicker than Sam's, but lately prices on some staples, such as milk, are higher at Sam's than Walmart.

Costco carries top tier gasoline. I prefer their gas many times over versus Sam's.

If I had to choose one or the other it would be Costco. The Costco Visa card offers some good deals on warranties and I think it is a good value.

I had memberships to both for a number of years. When I retired, I stopped going to Costco due to the distance(it was within a couple of blocks of my office). The Sam's Club is within 5 miles of my home, and I have no complaints with it.

Originally from the NW, home of the Costco. Was a member from the early 90s until I learned that Costco was one of the largest donators to Obama's campaign fund during his first run.

Dropped Costco and joined Sam's.

Only difference: I used to buy Kirkland brand jeans, now I buy Member's Mark jeans.

Everything else that I used to get at Costco, I still get at Sam's. NO difference whatsoever.

I think the return policy at Costco is very forgiving and thus edge out the Sam's Club. They will just about take everything back. I read last year some lady returned a live Christmas tree in January. Yeah. I thought the same thing. How do you do that with a straight face?!

My wife is half French and prefers Costco. Their meats are superior to Sams.

And customer care is better. They simply care.

Costco. No contest. Unless you like big Walmarts.

Costco

For all the reasons listed above.

HK Ag

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
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.

These are my 3xperiences also, and the Costco credit card offers great rewards but only pays them once a year.

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.

Mine too.

Worth noting that different Costco’s will stock different things, even different stores in the same town.

I belong to both. 3 SAMs within a 15 mile radius and each stock entirely different products for the area.
Costco has an amazing return policy, they tightened up electronics returns but everything else is great.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
In my experience, Sam's is just a bulk WalMart, and I do everything I can to avoid giving that corporation even a dime.

It's Costco only for me.

I agree with every word of your comment.

Sam's used to be an hour away from me, and I loved them. Then they built one 20 minutes away, and I loved them more.

Recently they closed the one locally to many customers dismay, but we will live on.

I've been to the Costco about 3 hours away, and I was impressed, but for the number of times I drive to Pittsburg, I can't justify a membership.