Sam's Club...

[C.Ann]

I received a complimentary membership that is good until July 30th of this year..

What kind of good deals can I get there? Considering it's just DH & I at home, I don't have much use for the extra-large packages of food and such, but I was wondering what other kinds of things they carry..

Thanks!

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

We have a membership to Sam's and there are just 3 of us here.

Stuff I regularly buy:

Gallon of milk- less than $2
bunch of bananas $.97
frozen chicken breasts $10
18 eggs $2
You get the picture

Plus we buy tons of books, DVD's, etc. They have a good deal on photo processing but we don't use that anymore since we went digital.

I didn't think we'd get a good deal there at first. But, we do.

 

[paladin]

It's just my husband and I also. We use Sam's Club for toilet paper, paper towels, trash and storage bags, cooking oil, soap, tooth paste and brushes, deoderant - lots of staples. It's a great savings.

 

[arminnie]

It's just me and my dad. I buy toilet paper, paper towels, dog food, etc. They also have great prices on meat and cheese which I will repackage. I like to bake so I buy butter there.

I buy clothes there fairly often. You can't try them on but you can return them. I've gotten Jones New York tops and pants.

It's a good place to shop if you need any kind of small appliance.

When my aunt died on the weekend and the funeral was first thing Monday morning, none of the florists were open. I went to Sam's and bought a bunch of flowers and made several beautiful BIG arrangements for what one would have cost from the florist.

I'm getting ready to get new glasses there - way cheaper and very nice also.

I can do almost all of my Christmas shopping there in one trip. I often stop in for a really cheap lunch.

The best thing to buy there right now though is GASOLINE - cheaper than anyone else in town.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

forgot all about the gas!

 

[maryssasmom]

sams club is great - for just about anything. even for a mattress, we got a really nice set for really inexpensive. you can't beat it. especially the milk and eggs!! way cheaper.

 

[DMRick]

Great deal..can you share how you got it? I just got a BJ's good for 90 days. I had a "test" card for Sam's once, but it had an upcharge. I joined with another group, but then the price wne up so I dropped it.

I don't save a lot on food at either of the club's, unless I buy for family meals..especially Sam's, since it's a hike for me. It just comes in too big of packages, and I try not to keep a load in the freezer, since it tends to sit there. Or I find I put a lot of "junk" in my basket, just because it's a good price. Bulk cheese when I'm buying (again) for a group function is cheaper, as is Canadian bacon and egg beaters (the smaller packs are hooked together). Meat platters (always looking for a good price for company LOL) are a great savings. I do Desk Top Publishing, so my printers, ink and paper (when I'm not getting it for free from Office Max in exchange for empty ink cartridges) are usually good deals at the "clubs", and sometimes I get deals on appliances..but often I do better or the same at their sister store Walmarts. The best deal is the calling cards. With their car it's less (I belive) than .04 a minute long distance, and only .10 a minute to call my son in Ireland. No extra phone taxes..and it's refillable on phone. If you don't mind putting yoru own tires in a cart, buying them and then going around to their garage, tires are a good deal, as are car batteries.

My biggest complaint? I find something I like, and when I go back, they no longer carry it.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by DMRick
Great deal..can you share how you got it? I just got a BJ's good for 90 days. I had a "test" card for Sam's once, but it had an upcharge. I joined with another group, but then the price wne up so I dropped it.

-----------------------------------------

It was sent to me in the mail - directly from them.. Funny thing is I almost tossed it out - thinking I wouldn't use it - but for some reason I kept it.. Then when I asked on here about calling cards, someone mentioned Sam's Club so I went and dug it up..

Did you get the BJ's thing in the mail? If so, maybe Sam's Club decided to do something along the same lines.. I haven't gotten anything from BJ's though..

Now am I correct in assuming the things like paper towels and such are name brand?

And EYE GLASSES? Never heard that before - I wonder if the one here offers that?

Maybe I'll check it out just for the heck of it - and HOPE I don't spend a bunch of money just because things "look" like a good deal...

"Look hon - I bought a package of 50 rolls of toilet tissue - but now I can't buy gas for the car this week.." LOL

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

They do sell name brand toilet paper (Charmin comes to mind). But, I find that toilet paper and paper towels are cheaper at the regular stores.

 

[DMRick]

Did you get the BJ's thing in the mail? If so, maybe Sam's Club decided to do something along the same lines..

We went online at Christmas after my BJ's ran out, and got a one day pass...ever since then I get the offers and they always say something like..you requested the one day pass, thought you would enjoy a longer time, etc.

Yes, the paper towels are name brand, but seriously, watch the Walmart/CVS sales, etc...the sales are better than Sam's prices.

 

[Jaklackus]

If you have a restaurant/janitorial supply company in your area, call and see if they have a store open to the public or sell directly to the public....you still need to comparison shop...but some of the prices are unbelievable even compared to even BJs..some may even deliver directly to you if your order exceeds a certain dollar amount. And they don't charge membership fees. Perkins in Taunton Mass has a store open to the public right on premises and a great supply of paper goods, spices, cleaning supplies, frozen foods(french fries, chicken tenders, hamburger patties, etc) kitchen equipment, etc. Not too long ago, I bought a big 5 pound bag of shredded cheddar for $5 and a 5 pound bag of mozarella(Sargento) for a little over $8.

 

[jgates]

Boxes of Quaker Oatmeal packets
Special K Bars
Kudos (although they didn't have last trip)
Mustard
A1
Peanut Butter
Cheese Cubes
Juice Bottles

All cheapest for me at Sam's.

Oh yeah....they have Atkins yogurt (peach/strawberry) there too. I can't get it in my town.

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by DMRick
My biggest complaint? I find something I like, and when I go back, they no longer carry it.

That's one thing with Sam's. If you see it, don't hesitate because next time it won't be there. Their specials are truly specials.

Our Sam's has been selling cases of strawberries at unbelievable prices. They are the best strawberries we have ever tasted.

One trick we use is to go first thing on a Saturday morning. They mark a lot of their meat down "reduced for quick sale". All of Sam's meat is good quality and when you can pick it up at a reduced price, it's even a better deal.

Right after a holiday, DH has brought home items which didn't sell so well and they were looking to clear their inventory. DH has brought home boxes of candy, clorox wipes, bleach...all sorts of free goodies. I've heard they do this with their precooked chickens at the end of the night too although we've never been there at that time.

Definately the savings on a gallon of milk pays for our membership in a year. We go through at least 7-8 gallons a week. It adds up.

 

[Microcell]

I like Costco myself, seems nicer and has CHEAP B-day cake!!! Gas too. It is like Sams but the brands are different

 

[DMRick]

We don't have CostCo up in our neck of the woods : (

 

[robsmom]

I belonged to BJ's and now to Sam's. I have found that you have to know the prices of things and what you can get on sale other places and then some items are good deals and other are not:

NOT good:

soda - always on sale of supermarket .69 or .79 but .99 at sam's
toilet paper and paper towels
cereal

good

dvd's, cd's, computer games etc - they have lots of kids stuff
birthday cakes - 1/2 sheet at the bakery was $19 versus $34 at the supermarket. Cakes are good and decorated in a theme.
drug store stuff - vitamims, tylenol, etc.
atkins shakes - can buy by the case (although lately these have been on sale at the supermarket as well).

 

[Kaa]

We go before a driving trip to WDW to stock up on bottled water (in the sports bottles) and for paper goods (towels, plates, bowls). They usually have good prices on film and ink for my printers as well. I love their croissants!

 

[ceecee]

I have noticed on toilet paper and paper towels that they are higher than Walmart or Meijer's sales. Same with detergent, etc. We got DD's playset there for $500.00, that was a good buy, they have seasonal stuff that is usually nice. For the most part I buy Fruit2O water there (the only place that carries it in a case around here).

 

[scanmom]

you do have to watch out, some things are cheaper other places. We got our US/IOA passes through sams.com, and saved about 70.00 on 7 passes compared to the next cheapest place I could find. That alone more than paid for our yearly fees to be a member.

 

[Mic]

A little-known fact about Sam's Clubs: you do not have to be a member to purchase eyeglasses, contacts, or go to the pharmacy. When you enter the door, if there is someone there checking for member cards, just let the person know you will be shopping in optical and/or the pharmacy. I wasn't aware that I did not have to join to buy contacts for my teenage daughter(the contacts at Sam's are a dollar or two less per box than typical Walmart prices). Since the nearest Sam's is almost an hour away, I do not shop there but a few times a year(Christmas or special events). I do agree the milk is cheaper there...most grocery stores are charging $3.19 a gallon, but it is $2.49 at Sam's. If anyone is interested in milk prices in Florida, the Winn Dixie near downtown Disney had 1 gallon for $2.99, or 2 gallons for $5.68 last week. I usually purchase some snack-type stuff in bulk from Sam's to take on a Disney trip, but for other things(perishables), I wait until I get to Florida to purchase.