BJs vs Costco

[BostonEd]

Hi. I see a LOT of posts here and elsewhere mentioning various travel discounts people find at Costco.

I haven't joined any of these "clubs" because I haven't felt the value was there for the few times a year I would go.

However, I've just received a discount mailing from BJs offering their membership for only $25. This, coupled with the fact that a BJs is much closer to me than a Costco, is piquing my interest.

But even for only $25, I still would like to know: does anyone know if BJs has simliar travel deals as Costco?

Thanks.

 

[princesscinderella]

Costco has way better travel deals than BJs. If you plan to book a lot of travel get the executive membership where you get a percentage back as a rebate check (2% I think) to spend at Costco. Most years my checks are at least double the cost of membership making the membership free with savings along the way. I book all my Disney cruises through Costco and get a cash card to spend when we get home, it’s the best discount available besides the on board booking discount and they can be pared together if you say Costco is your agent when booking onboard. BJs has smaller quantities of groceries if you don’t like to purchase as much in bulk as compared to Costco and it’s a savings over the grocery store. Ex BJs organic milk comes as a 2 pack vs Costco has 3.

 

[_19disnA]

Never shopped as BJ's since there are none where we live, but the times I have been to Costco with friends who are members, they strike me as a store that tricks you into buying HUGE quantities of items thinking you are getting a bargain. Unless you know your unit prices, not sure of the benefit to buying 20 rolls of paper towels (for example) for $20 when the grocery store has the same brand for $1/roll.

For items with a limited shelf life, if you buy 1lb of garlic powder and it goes stale before you use it up, then you haven't saved anything. Probably need to see how much you might actually save on travel deals (and how often you travel) to see if any of their vacation discounts are more then the annual membership.

 

[cvjw]

I have been a member of all three, with Costco being the only one we love. Sams and BJs were a one and done for us. We have been Costco members for years and years. We buy most everything at Costco and book all our Disney cruises thru them. We are an executive members and book using our Costco citi card, and we routinely get 14% back on our cruises from Costco and citi. Best deal we have found.

And, Costco carries great brands. I have purchased uggs, Birkenstocks, Patagonia, etc in their warehouses. I make my $120 yearly membership back from Costco many times over.

 

[mrsstats79]

I belong to all 3 and BJ's would be the one I would get rid of 1st. But it is less than 1 mile from my house and I do use it a lot for eggs and cold cuts. I have not used them for travel except rental cars and Costco always beats them for that

 

[sheilafri]

Back when I still traveled, I always used Costco for rental cars. Couldn’t be beat, anywhere. We’ve belonged to Costco for many years and feel it is worth it even just for two of us.

 

[BostonEd]

Thanks, y'all. Not sure I'll join anywhere, but Costco seems to be the winner. I guess there is a reason BJ's discounts their membership!

 

[mikehn]

The savings on gas alone is enough to warrant a Costco membership. The 4.99 roasted chicken is a bonus.

 

[kwdw]

I saved greater than the cost of yearly Costco membership on one car rental deal one year. They didn’t always have the best car rental each time I booked, but they were often the winner. This was all pre Covid as I haven’t rented since then.

We are just a couple, no kids, and we do buy some grocery/household items in bulk at Costco at prices better than the typical sale price at our local grocery stores. We stick to the things we really use and will use up without the product going bad. But you have to know your prices and usage to smartly shop there.

 

[Mousemom234]

I've had BJ's for many years, and used them for auto rental discounts, and some bulk shopping. My card was a 'tack-on' from a family member.
These days, the nearest one is about 80 miles away, in a different state. So no more shopping, but I always went online for discount rental deals.

The rental discounts from BJ's weren't bad, sometimes quite a bit better than any other I could get.
But I didn't have access to Costco, so I can't compare them.
Overall, though, I'm not thrilled with the idea of signing up for a Costco membership, as it seems a bit expensive for as little as I'd use it.

 

[182tink]

It depends on what you are looking for. I have memberships at both. Here in Maryland the BJs has a ton of snacks and candy plus decent frozen and produce section. Mine also has it's own deli counter. I keep the membership because many of the items my kids like in bulk are at BJs and the gas station is right by work and is a lot cheaper then regular gas stations. I love Costco for everything else like travel, clothing, pet supplies, fresh meat, produce and frozen items. The Costco is closer to home but never use gas station because the line is always crazy.

 

[elgerber]

The savings on gas alone is enough to warrant a Costco membership. The 4.99 roasted chicken is a bonus.

Agreed. Dh fills up every 4-5 days or so, and we easily save 30+ cents per gallon, every fill

 

[georgina]

I saved greater than the cost of yearly Costco membership on one car rental deal one year. They didn’t always have the best car rental each time I booked, but they were often the winner. This was all pre Covid as I haven’t rented since then.

We are just a couple, no kids, and we do buy some grocery/household items in bulk at Costco at prices better than the typical sale price at our local grocery stores. We stick to the things we really use and will use up without the product going bad. But you have to know your prices and usage to smartly shop there.

I was wondering if we would still use Costco as much once the kids left home, but we find plenty of savings still. The nearest Costco just put in a gas station, although we are retired and don't drive much anymore. Rental cars, bakery items, meat, soup, vitamins, frozen items, cleaning supplies, I could go on and on. Now that we live in VA (used to be in PA) we can buy beer and wine there at savings. I think the DC ones sell hard alcohol, might have to check that out. DH gets his glasses there. I love only having to buy TP once a year, and I like the Costco brand.

 

[leebee]

We don't have Costco up here, only BJs and Sams. I prefer Sams for most things, but right now gas at BJs is 50cents a gallon cheaper than at the regular gas stations. I think Sam's is about the same price. We had dropped the BJs but DD got a $25 membership offer and put us on as the second card, so we use the BJs card almost exclusively for gas.

 

[JayMass]

Where I live in the north of Boston suburbs we have both BJs and Costco. Because BJs is really close, we tried them for a year but missed our dear Costco. We also have the option of hitting the Nashua NH Costco where there's no sales tax.

Costco is my choice hands down on all fronts. (Incidentally, they are also consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the country. That makes the customer service experience sooooo much better!)

 

[WDW Lover]

I have only ever belonged to Sam's Club. My brother swears by Costco. I don't think there's a BJ's anywhere near me in Texas... so that would be out... but along the same lines as the original post.... which is better? Costco or Sam's Club. I am not a big-time shopper and rarely go anyway, but when I do I like the hot dog combo for $1.50 at Sam's Club! We get our cat litter cheaper there than we can at the Pet Store. I like Sam's Club's gas prices usually. Ummmm, I like their meat selection typically and prices are decent as well. So, with those limited things in mind, is Costco better? Or it doesn't really matter because I hardly buy anything?

 

[JayMass]

Now that we live in VA (used to be in PA) we can buy beer and wine there at savings. I think the DC ones sell hard alcohol, might have to check that out.

In Massachusetts the Costcos sell hard alcohol, so if it's allowed by law in DC I'd assume they have it. I lived in NH for a while and they did not because NH law only allows state run liquor stores to sell hard alcohol. I know the law is similar in NC, so maybe that's what's going on in VA.

 

[Judique]

I have only ever belonged to Sam's Club. My brother swears by Costco. I don't think there's a BJ's anywhere near me in Texas... so that would be out... but along the same lines as the original post.... which is better? Costco or Sam's Club. I am not a big-time shopper and rarely go anyway, but when I do I like the hot dog combo for $1.50 at Sam's Club! We get our cat litter cheaper there than we can at the Pet Store. I like Sam's Club's gas prices usually. Ummmm, I like their meat selection typically and prices are decent as well. So, with those limited things in mind, is Costco better? Or it doesn't really matter because I hardly buy anything?

One year due to promos for Sam's (free membership) and BJ's $25 membership and they had 1 item I couldn't get anywhere else close by at the time, I had all 3 memberships. My ranking, Costco #1, Sam's #2 and BJ's #3. Overall, I like Costco but I've certainly found things to love at both Sam's and BJ's. I do find that BJ's is more expensive unit for unit. And that Sam's charged more for the little Babybel cheese by selling a package with less pieces than Costco. Can't say I compared anything else by number of pieces in a package! My stores are all within 5 miles of each other.

The gas prices usually run the same.

 

[Judique]

I was wondering if we would still use Costco as much once the kids left home, but we find plenty of savings still. The nearest Costco just put in a gas station, although we are retired and don't drive much anymore. Rental cars, bakery items, meat, soup, vitamins, frozen items, cleaning supplies, I could go on and on. Now that we live in VA (used to be in PA) we can buy beer and wine there at savings. I think the DC ones sell hard alcohol, might have to check that out. DH gets his glasses there. I love only having to buy TP once a year, and I like the Costco brand.

I've been to the DC Costco and it's a great store, plus their liquor, wine and beer selection is a lot bigger than the location in Virginia where I sometimes pick up a few bottles of wine, down Route 1 near Mount Vernon area.

However, I find it so congested going there and into their parking area. So, I haven't been back in quite a while. Plus the tax on the alcohol bought there is 10.25%. I think it is 6% on wine at the Mt Vernon location. Here in Maryland, Costco is dry.

 

[YachtClubWoman]

I have both memberships- there are things that I can get at BJs but not Costco
Such as individual hand soaps and the deli

Costco has a better selection of ready made foods to heat up - chicken pot pie, street tacos etc and the food court

I get gas at both depends on where I am going when I need it - the 2 stores are 10 min from me in either north or south