Costco vs. Sams Club

[sam_gordon]

We've only had a Sams club close (~25-30 minutes) to us for decades. For a couple years, DW's employer paid her membership. This year, we had to pay and we just renewed in May. We'll go there 1-2 a year (it's just not convenient to go more often).

Costco is building and is supposed to open in October. It will be MUCH more convenient (15-20 minutes, plus on my route to/from work). It looks like the memberships are a little more expensive, but other than that, does anyone have direct comparison information between the two.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

We prefer Costco to SAMs. We also prefer Bjs to both.

 

[mamacatnv]

I have a membership to both. My Costco is my membership and we go about once a week for fresh produce. My Sam's membership is through work and I've used it once in the past 1.5 years and that was for a new pair of glasses in optical. I don't like Sam's at all.
I love Costco

 

[Albort]

As much as i love costco, i think im gonna try out sam club because costco has just TOO MANY PEOPLE!!!

my other roommate has costco so i guess that balances it out, lol.

 

[Lilliputian]

Costco has a lot of organic products and the kind of stuff you can only find in health food stores or grocery stores with a big natural food section (flax seeds, coconut oil, etc.). If you eat those kinds of foods, Costco is much, much better.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Costco is know for its quality and standards. I have always seen its house brand (Kirkman Signature) rated high in Consumer Reports ratings. It also has a reputation as one of the best (lowest employee turnover) retail companies to work for.

Sam's Club is part of WalMart with the same WalMart quality.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....does anyone have direct comparison information between the two.

Great America---Disney World

Sam's Club---Costco



Well, maybe not exactly, but you get the idea. We had both memberships for years, now just Costco.

 

[NAB]

Here in Ontario Canada Sam's club didn't survive. I guess Costco won out.

The only difference I saw with Sam's vs Costco was Sam's had more brand name stuff , Costco has a lot of their brand name Kirkland. Not a bad thing, I always get the Costco toilet paper over the brand name that is always on sale.

 

[Micca]

Never spent much time at Sam's, but we're Costco members. We buy most of our "staples" there: paper towels, trash bags, OTC meds etc. The on-site made food items are really good, but usually sold only in quantities that don't work for us.
For those with bigger families it would be great.

In early 2012 I bought a laptop from Costco and was blown away by the customer service. There was a guy there who actually knew what he was talking about. Best Buy should be blushing.

Earlier this year I needed new eyeglasses. I got a price from my eye doc's retail store, and then compared at Costco. It was $300 less at Costco--the same thing.

The long lines at our local Costco checkout are handled efficiently so it never takes as long as you'd think.

I don't know that we get the full benefit of being Costco members that people who are buying for larger families do, but it ain't bad, and the shopping experience is enjoyable. I suspect Dan's comparisons may be spot on.

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

I highly recommend that you get a Costco membership. You won't be disappointed.

Costco has a great return policy. I bought a Shark vacuum and six months after I purchased it the motor started going out. I took it back to Costco without a receipt. They looked up my information and purchase history and gladly refunded the money to me.

Costco is an all-around great company that treats their members well.

 

[KristaTX]

Great America---Disney World

Sam's Club---Costco



Well, maybe not exactly, but you get the idea. We had both memberships for years, now just Costco.

Similarly, I always say that Sam's is to Costco as Walmart is to Target. If you prefer shopping at Target, then you'll probably prefer Coscto. If you prefer Walmart, you might prefer Sam's.

Costco is a more pleasant environment, and they are better to their employees. I've seen the same people working at Costco for YEARS.

http://www.businessweek.com/article...ds-the-cheapest-happiest-company-in-the-world

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

Similarly, I always say that Sam's is to Costco as Walmart is to Target. If you prefer shopping at Target, then you'll probably prefer Coscto. If you prefer Walmart, you might prefer Sam's.

So true. I love Target but loathe Wal-Mart.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

We have memberships to both and there is simply no comparison (unless you own a bunch of restaurants, which we do). Sam's Club has "restaurant" staples, so it is useful for that (we have a membership for our restaurant holding company), but it is a fundamentally unpleasant place to be. The quality is lower on "consumer staples," their employees are not passionate or caring and the entire experience is negative. I've gone there a few times, either because a restaurant had an emergency (rare) or because I was in the area and needed something and felt it would be easier to stop there than to go to Costco (which is much closer to my home), and whenever I've gone to Sam's I have always felt the need for a shower afterwards.

Costco, on the other hand, treats their employees well and in turn the employees work hard for the customers, has good quality products, is well-organized, and is a much more pleasant experience.

In short, I think you'll enjoy Costco much more than Sam's Club!!!

 

[ford family]

We were on the verge of joining Sam's Club a week ago but realised they don't accept VISA cards and that is all we have.

ford family

 

[KerriSue]

Costco has the best customer service hands down. That was the deciding factor for me.

 

[tvguy]

Sam's Club is part of WalMart with the same WalMart quality.

This is exactly why we let both our Sams Club and Costco memberships expire. Walmart has the same major name brands that we buy for a price that is usually about the same as Sam's Club and Costco without the membership fee. And Walmart is so big, even their Great Value stuff is made by the brand name manufacturers, so far, haven't found a product with the Great Value label that wasn't top quality.

 

[Chikabowa]

The average warehouse employee of Costco makes $17+/hour with excellent medical benefits. I shop almost exclusively at Costco for family groceries. We are a family of four (two adults and two young dd's). They are a great company to work for and I have numerous friends who are career employees (even working in the warehouse stocking) and love their jobs. Many have been there 10+ years.

If you get the executive membership ($100/year) you receive a rebate check annually for 2% of your purchases. Every July my check is between $150-$250 which essentially pays my membership + a week of groceries.

We eat a very regimented diet and go through produce quickly. I don't eat/buy any processed or boxed foods. I'm at our local store at least every two-three days. I'm a huge fan of the store and company.

 

[HsvTeacher]

We have memberships at both Costco and Sam's. I can't really say that we prefer one over the other. Each store has better offers than the other on certain items, and they're both equally convenient to work and home.

I do have to say that I'm jealous of those who say their Costco stores have excellent customer service. Every time we're ready to check out, they only have a few lanes open, and they're several (5+) people deep. However, there are always plenty of employees standing around "supervising" and having personal conversations. They refuse to open more lanes.

Also have to add that the gas prices at our Costco are usually several cents more per gallon that the surrounding gas stations. Sam's is always several cents less.

 

[minniebeth]

I'm needing to decide which membership to renew. We've had both. I love them each for different needs. I'm sure each store varies a little.

I hate, hate Walmart, but we have 2 good Sam's Clubs by us. The one closest to me has fantastic produce, and I'm very picky about produce. The prices are great as well. I will not buy any meat at Sam's. I feel their prices on everything else are reasonable~ prices and items we cannot get at our local Walmarts.

On the contrary, I love the meats at Costco and will no longer buy the produce there as it spoils almost immediately. I like a lot of their Kirkland brand items but find their prices overall higher than Sam's.

If we weren't on a tight budget, I would renew them both. I think Sam's will win out for us because it is closer and we use much more produce than meat.

Hard decision! Some help I am, huh?

 

[Albort]

We were on the verge of joining Sam's Club a week ago but realised they don't accept VISA cards and that is all we have.

ford family

I dont recall costco accepting Visa... only amex and debit cards... unless something changed recently...