BJs or Sam's- Just moved

[disneymagicgirl]

We just moved from Charleston to the Atlanta area. We are costco members but the closest to our home (in Peachtree City) is about 40 minutes.
So right down the road (about 2 mins) is a brand spanking new Sam's Club. In the next town over (Newnan) there is a BJ's club...about 15-20 mins away.
I don't know which to join. I have never been to a BJs. What do you budget boarders prefer and why??

 

[snarlingcoyote]

If it helps any, I used to work for BJ's. They are not part of a larger conglomerate, have not outsourced a lot of their IT work to other countries the way other companies have, are open to buying from small businesses that have products they think people will want, and the CEO is ethical in his dealings towards his employees.

Their products are also better and I loved their bakery.

If there was a BJ's anywhere near us, I would drop my Sam's Club membership in a heartbeat.

 

[mkstlowe]

I have had Sam's membership forever. I recenlty signed up for BJ's 90 days free membership. I"m liking BJ's alot. BJ's has large but smaller sizes that fit more to my family. Prices I feel are the same. I think I might be going to BJ's. My membership for Sam's is up in 1 month.

Also BJ"s allows coupons and has in store coupons monthly. Sams does not.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I have had Sam's membership forever. I recenlty signed up for BJ's 90 days free membership. I"m liking BJ's alot. BJ's has large but smaller sizes that fit more to my family. Prices I feel are the same. I think I might be going to BJ's. My membership for Sam's is up in 1 month.

Also BJ"s allows coupons and has in store coupons monthly. Sams does not.

They take coupons? Nice! Do you drive further to get to one over the other?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have never been to a BJs.

Why don't you go there and check it out then before deciding?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Why don't you go there and check it out then before deciding?

We just went. It was trashy. Probably just the specific location. Oh well. Glad we at least checke it out.

 

[mrsstats]

I prefer Sams to BJ's. Cleaner but far.

 

[Halle]

I am a member at both....business members can access Sam's at 7:00 AM and BJ's doesn't open until 9:00 AM. B.J.'s accepts the major credit cards including AMEX, our Sam's accepts Discover or MC, I no longer have either so I have to have enough cash or a check when I go there. They basically have the same items at comparable prices so I think I'd choose based on ease of getting there.

 

[dd50]

I like BJ's much better than Sam's. BJ's takes coupons and seems to carry things I use more than Sam's. I like BJ's meat better. BJ's is only 6 miles away from me and Sam's is about 12. I would pick BJ's even if it was farther away.

 

[Swimalie]

I lived in a town with a Sam's. I was not impressed. Then we moved here and there is a Sam's and BJs about 20 min away. I picked BJ's (and Costco).

 

[kacaju]

I would see if you can do trial memberships at each, and then decide after you have gone to both. I have,Sam's, BJ's and Costco all within 1 mile (or so) of each other. I have been to all 3. I do like Costco the best, but they are so busy I hate going there if i am picking up just a few things, or on the weekends.
BJ's, liked the store, but HATE the parking lot.It is on a hill!! Last time i went there, I was pushing my full cart up the hill and I ran over a sewer grate and the whole cart almost tipped over....have not been back since.
Sam's is now my first choice...not crowded, ease of getting in and out.
Prices are all about the same.

 

[sookie]

with the price of gas, any savings by driving to BJ's to use coupons would be out the window. i would just go with sams club. however, if they were right next to your residence i would say maybe BJ's because you can use coupons there.
i live in OK so no bj's or costco for me. just sams club.

 

[eduk8r26]

We don't have BJ's, but have Costco. I belong to both Costco and Sam's. Sam's takes my Walmart credit card. Both stores offer things the other one doesn't carry, that's why I shop at both of them--and Costco has a gas station.

 

[Kim&Chris]

We just dropped our Sam's Club membership, in favor of BJ's.

I've also heard wonderful things about the way in which BJ's is run, and that they're better to their employees.

I'll stick with BJ's.

 

[mkstlowe]

My Sams Club and BJ's are same distance. I've been doing Bj's because of the coupons.
I also found out that BJ's gives you 14 months and Sam's is 12 months only.

As for cleaner. I think our BJ's and Sam's are both very clean. Time difference can stink if you like to shop early before 9am.

 

[Ali]

Sam's club member ship = $40
Bj's membership= $50

Bj's is closer but I like the foods better at Sams. I don't like Bj's meat, and they have a bad odor in the produce section. Bj's here is much less busy than Sams.

I like Sam's quick food place, photo finishing options, and bakery.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

We just dropped our Sam's Club membership, in favor of BJ's.

I've also heard wonderful things about the way in which BJ's is run, and that they're better to their employees.

I'll stick with BJ's.

The founder retired several years ago. His replacement opened the store on Thanksgiving day. The next Monday that CEO got booted for it by the board. The founder returned from retirement and stood in front of every single one of his employees (via teleconference) and said that so long as he was in charge EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES would have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Then, even though the company had lost money that year (although since he's been back they've made money hand over fist), he got the board to authorize a bonus to all his employees for their dedication and hard work.

That's the way to treat your employees.

 

[si-am]

I have family in Peachtree City and have been to that new Sam's a few times. It's really nice! Like it a lot.

The BJs we had near us closed recently, but we tried it out (with a free trial coupon) and weren't really impressed. The BJ's in Newnam isn't quite as bad, but not as nice as the new Sam's in P'tree City.

I'd go with Sam's.

Then again, I don't find either place to be a real value (for what we need), so I don't have a membership for either.
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