Sams club or BJs??

[wallawallakids]

I hope someone on the Dis might have some tips for us. We lived on the west coast for 10 years and fell in love with Costco. We shopped there for our organic fruit/veg, organic beef/chicken, cheese, milk, and got gas there. Basically whatever I couldn't get a better price using coupons at my local store, I got at Costco. We are a good size family, so we don't shy away from bulk. My kids eat a LOT. We just moved to Maine in December. No Costco. The closest things to us is Sams club and BJs. Both are about 45 min from our house. Does anyone shop at either place? How are their prices and customer service? Do you see a real savings? Does either place sell organic milk, veg, fruit, or meat? Thank you so much!

 

[JB2K]

If given a choice, it's definitely Sam's Club - they are nationwide, and since they are part of the Walmart empire, they're not going away, anytime soon.

BJ's, OTOH, is confined to the East Coast and has been closing some wareouse stores, in recent times...

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have a membership at both. Last fall I did a price comparison. I wrote down all of the bulk stuff we buy such as toilet paper, laundry soap, toothpaste, shampoos ect. I had a column for both clubs and found the items listed in the BJ side to be lower. Then add to that they fact they take coupons makes the price even lower than Sams.
When they sent my renewal notic in Jan they also showed how much we had saved over the last 12 months which was $453 and this savings represents the coupons I used or the instant product coupon.. Normally the receipt will print the savings at the bottom but to see the grand total I was happy.

 

[dizkids]

I have a costco and bj's membership and have only visited Sams' with a friend a few times. I like Costco better, but have been with BJS for about 15 years. Prices are very similar if you want to compare
Bj's to Costco being you shopped there. I know at BJ's you can use manufacturer coupons combined with the BJ's store coupons.

 

[hydrotony]

Each place occasionally has 1-day membership coupons in local papers where you pay a 10% surcharge (or whatever). Try both out and make a choice. You can also just go in and look around, tell the greeter that's what you want to do before buying a membership.

 

[wallawallakids]

Each place occasionally has 1-day membership coupons in local papers where you pay a 10% surcharge (or whatever). Try both out and make a choice. You can also just go in and look around, tell the greeter that's what you want to do before buying a membership.

I didn't know this! Thanks. I think I will try that. Does anyone know if they sell any organic produce or is that only done at Costco?

 

[herdtoDisney]

I know my Sams has some organic veggies on occasion, and always has organic milk (horizons, I think). I have not regularly seen specifically organic meat.

I prefer Sams to BJ's. The Sams here is always cleaner and well-stocked, and ours has a really nice fresh meat/cheese/veggie dept.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

At BJS you dont even need a pass to go in and look around!!!

 

[wallawallakids]

At BJS you dont even need a pass to go in and look around!!!

Great! Thank you.

 

[wallawallakids]

I know my Sams has some organic veggies on occasion, and always has organic milk (horizons, I think). I have not regularly seen specifically organic meat.

I prefer Sams to BJ's. The Sams here is always cleaner and well-stocked, and ours has a really nice fresh meat/cheese/veggie dept.

Thank you. Milk is really expensive here, so good to know that Sam's club sells horizons or something similar. Thanks.

 

[momof3ds]

We prefer BJ's. They accept all coupons and issue their own and you can combine them.

They do have some organic items and have recently added organic meats to the meat department.

BJ's also has a great deli counter whereas sam's club does not (unless this has changed recently?)

Bj's also accepts all forms of payment, sam's club does not.

 

[stacie_d]

We have Sams local. Unless it has closed, there is a Costco a couple hours away in Pittsburgh region. I went in once, and with a few different features that I did like, it seemed very similar to Sams. I've not seen a BJs anywhere around here.

I've been very happy with the customer service at Sams. Not too long ago we bought a dining room set from there. After getting it home, we noticed a piece broken underneath. We called, and they said we could bring it back for exchanged, but it was the last one they had...they volunteered a gift card for the problem. We've never had a bad experience with them.

They have the best produce in the area. Meat is really fresh too.

 

[cyndik1111]

This vote is for BJ's

We have both in our area. I think they are similar.
But there are two BIG differences

1) BJs take manufactures coupons. They also issue their own coupons (by mail and in racks at the front of the store) These can be a HUGE savings.
an example- Charmin toilet paper- huge pack for $19.99....$1 manufacture's coupon and $4 BJ's coupon. So it cost me $14.99 for 36 family sized rolls. Their coupons are amazing. I also get $10 coupons in the mail to use at BJs if I use my master card to pay. And then we got their premium membership which costs double the regular membership ($100). And because we spend so much there, we get checks twice a year for close to $100 to spend at BJs on anything. I am amazed how much I save there.

2) BJs sells gas so much cheaper then the local stations. Usually 10 cents or more cheaper.

And yes, they have lots of organic stuff, including horizons milk.

 

[wallawallakids]

This vote is for BJ's

We have both in our area. I think they are similar.
But there are two BIG differences

1) BJs take manufactures coupons. They also issue their own coupons (by mail and in racks at the front of the store) These can be a HUGE savings.
an example- Charmin toilet paper- huge pack for $19.99....$1 manufacture's coupon and $4 BJ's coupon. So it cost me $14.99 for 36 family sized rolls. Their coupons are amazing. I also get $10 coupons in the mail to use at BJs if I use my master card to pay. And then we got their premium membership which costs double the regular membership ($100). And because we spend so much there, we get checks twice a year for close to $100 to spend at BJs on anything. I am amazed how much I save there.

2) BJs sells gas so much cheaper then the local stations. Usually 10 cents or more cheaper.

And yes, they have lots of organic stuff, including horizons milk.

Thank you.

 

[mhsjax]

I have had memberships to Coscto, (my fav), Sam's and BJ's. I won't go to BJ's. It feels somewhat dirty to me, and not very well stocked. I purchased meat there one time, and when I got home the inside of the hamburger meat was sort of greenish brown and smelled. I know this can happen anywhere but it just turned me off, along with what I said about if feeling dirty. I do like Sams and continue to go there sometimes but Costco is my absolute fav.

 

[cah5525]

At Christmas time, our BJ's offered a free trial pass. Because their unit pricing is in ounces and
The places I usually shop do their unit pricing in pounds... I took paper and pen with me, recorded the pricing for all of the items I normally buy, took it home, did my multiplication and everything but coffee was more expensive at BJ's.

 

[momof3ds]

I don't know what other folks are saying but we stopped shopping at sam's club due to lack of customer service.

Both BJ's and Sams here are clean. I never have a problem with BJ's customer service or cleanliness. I do think the bathrooms at BJ's are cleaner than Sam's around here.

 

[kimmyann]

We have a Bj's & a Sam's in my area & we have a Bj's membership.

1. Bj's offers awesome coupons that you can use in combo with manufacturer coupons.

2. Bj's accepts all payment types, Sam's only takes Discover, not even Visa. (this was a huge deciding factor for me)

3. Bj's meat (steak in particular) is amazing. Wherever they get their meat from, no other store can come close to the quality. We won't even consider eating steak out anymore, we can make it better at home.

4. The Bj's store here has always been clean & everything fresh, never a problem after years of membership. Go in & look for yourself before deciding. Idk about Sam's, but Bj's you can walk in & look around.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

BJ's offers a 60 day trial membership ~ http://www.bjs.com/savings.content.springmap11.D