Sams vs. Costco

Ask yourself: How badly do I need a gallon of ketchup?

Never been to a Costco.

However, I can give my feedback on Sam's.

I half the membership with my mom. Each person who signs up gets two cards. They can have both cards in their name or one in theirs and another in someone else's. My husband normally doesn't go shopping and if he does, it's just to tag along with me. So it works out better for us to split the membership since my mom isn't married.

Our Sam's is about 30 minutes away and $45.00 a year for just the plain jane membership. I pay $25.00 and my mom pays the other $20.00. To me it's worth it. I save $10.00 on TurboTax alone every year by going there and buying it. I shop at other stores as well, but buy select stuff in bulk there, such as baby wipes, household stuff, certain foods, etc.

Now my absolute favorite place to shop is Aldi. Boy do I love me some Aldis.

Costco has a lifetime return policy on everything, including membership. Except TVs, camera, and computers.

Costco actually pays their workers a decent wage (my friend was paid $11/hr at start selling hot dogs, and this was 9+years ago) while Walmart/Sams doesn't. For that reason, if I had a choice I'd go with Costco. Plus they have deals on other things like vacations, insurance, etc.

Costco is by far the best store IMHO. It is NOT always the lowest price, but is generally cheaper or has added value on many products. Also, there is no other store I will buy general goods or electronics from. Their return policy is too good. Others say no hassle, but Costco truly is no hassle.

Down side could be said that you have to pay for membership, but I've always had the Executive membership and get a percentage of purchases back, which more than pays for the membership each year. You can also add in the Costco American Express card and get even more money back.

The other down side is that it can get crowded and have long checkout lines. Then again, I've seen that at Sam's too.

I love costco. I have one of the executive memberships which costs twice as much but you earn a percentage back for it. Even on the years where I don't buy any big ticket items I at least earn more the 50% back so it was worth it. I tend to go to get a variety of things but you really have to watch what your getting. The produce is great and at a great price but you need to be able to use what you get or it's not worth it. The Meats are top quality but you can find it cheaper. I have gotten things like flooring for my house and tires for the car at great prices making it all worthwhile. Oh and the fact that it's a good honest company help me feel better as well.

We have a costco membership, and used to use it quite a lot, but don't really use it any more (we aren't planning on renewing it when it runs out later this year).
Its ok but a lot of the stuff isn't actually that much cheaper than other places (in the UK at least). And the fact the prices are given not including VAT can make stuff seem a LOT cheaper than it actually is when you add the VAT on.
Now we mainly shop at aldi instead, its really good value.

ETA: I have no idea what Sams is, I don't know if we have them here.

I love our Costco! To echo the Wolfman- Costco give you a rebate every year for 2% (I may have to get the Amex since we have an exec membership and would like 10% too).

My household is just my husband and I so we don't load up on ketchup and such, but we get great deals on meat and produce. Also, we buy a lot of the ready to go meals. Best tatziki too.

I will warn- the food court has footlong hotdogs and a drink for $1.50- hard to pass up.

I love Costco! But I have to be careful - it's easy to just pop-in for some steaks* and come out having spent $400 on stuff you didn't know you needed!

Never done the Sams thing, but then I try to stay away from Walmart too.


*They have great prices on their meats, but I do find their ground beef goes off quickly. I divide it up and vacuum pack some to stick in the freezer if I'm not using it right away.

My best friend has a membership to Costco. It's pretty decent. I, on the other hand, have a membership to BJ's. I tend to like it, however, when you do the unit price vs. what I can get individually, sometimes it's far greater than if I go to a small place to get it. For instance, the Whey protein I get at Walmart, though 18 bucks for a 2 lb bottle, I can get a 5 lb bag for $32 at BJ's. So, I'm saving almost 2 bucks in the long run. Whereas, it's going to take me $2.00 in gas to go there to buy it. But things like my Brita filters - mega cheaper to buy in bulk. And BJ's takes coupons!! So double score.

I like Costco better because1) they treat their employees well 2) are not a WalMart company and 3) their food is better.

This.

Costco steak mui bueno!
And many locations have grass-fed!

I have to add that the Kirkland brand vodka is fabulous (rumored to be repackaged Grey Goose) and their wine isn't too shabby either.

I have seen Costco when traveling but have never shopped there. We don't have it in my immediate area so it's off my radar.

As for me personally I would NOT consider Sam's Club if it was a 45 min drive from my home. It is 5 min from my home and I still do not have a membership.

I'm childfree by choice (married no kids) and my husband and I have ZERO need for anything from Sam's Club. I got a membership in the past to get a set of inexpensive tires there (which my automotive-inclined husband says are CRAPPY). Walked around the store 3-4 times and all I saw that suited my tastes was a 3-pack of Laughing Cow wedges and some cheap bananas.

Sam's kind of makes me sad in a way. All of the people rushing around and having like 4 choices on giant bottles of shampoo acting as though this is going to save them so much money and be such a boon to their budget. Um no.

My dad on the other hand (also in a couple household w/o children) loves Sam's. He has a business membership and enjoys going in the early hours before others are allowed in. I think that's the biggest part of the attraction for him ;-)

Also...I detest Walmart and therefore not inclined to go back to Sam's. I had an interview there 2 years ago for a part-time cashier position during the holiday season and their wage was crazy-low and expectations were insane. Like sell x number of memberships every shift - as a regular cashier - so probably most people coming through your line would already be members, right? Ugh. I literally laughed when they told me the wage and I knew that part-time temporary retail wasn't going to pay big bucks. Unimpressive.

I love Costco! But I have to be careful - it's easy to just pop-in for some steaks* and come out having spent $400 on stuff you didn't know you needed!

We call it the $100 Costco Cover Charge. lol.