Sam’s Club -VS- Costco

[gahrajmahal]

We have been Sam’s Club members since 1991, wow! They have closed the store closest to us many years ago now so each store is a good 1/2 hour away. Two old retired persons don’t need many bulk purchases anymore but we do like the 4% gas rebate with their card.

Costco is closer to us and we could see going there if the benefit of membership is worth it.

What say you? Which do you prefer to shop at and why?

 

[jblnut]

Sam’s and Costco are equal distance from us. Each has a similar but different selection of stuff in all categories. Costco usually has a trial membership of sorts where you can go and buy once or twice before you buy a membership. I believe you can always go in and wander around but you can only buy with a membership.

We’ve been Sam’s members for a looooong time and checked Costco out when they came to town. My parents got a Costco membership and since my employer (me really lol) holds the Sam’s membership we’ve just kept going there. Well sometimes tag along with the parents to Costco but not often.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve never been to a Costco but they are building one near my hometown supposed to open in 2027. We have Sam’s Club and BJs. And I like both of those but I think Sam’s Club wins for meat and automotive product availability but of course I’ve never been in a Costco to confirm what they have or don’t have. Sam’s also has a cafe which is nice not sure if Costco does or not.

 

[yatg]

Never been in a Sam's.
Not as many out west (don't think there's any in Oregon) compared to eastern US.
Costco is all over.

Costco Visa card has 5% back on gas at Costco stations, 4% back on gas anywhere else.
But as I found out, there's only a 1% cash back if you get gas at grocery store affiliated stations like Freds/Vons/Safeway/etc.
Not all Costco stations have diesel.

Costco has a food counter.
1.50 hot dog and Coke (no Pepsi).
Soft serve sundaes.
Their pizza is good too.
Several years ago we stopped at the store in Portland (84/205) and they had gelato.

4.99 hot roast chicken in the store.
Go in the morning because by afternoon there's more buyers than available chickens and you have to wait until a batch comes out of the roaster.

HUGE pies and cheesecakes in the bakery section.

Auto center has tires and batteries and other stuff.
Usually get tires there, make an early appointment, show up, go shopping, eat hot dog, pick up car.

Each store is a little different and sometimes is geared to the local area.
My friend told me the store near SFO has a lot of Asian food.
If you go by a store you haven't been to and have extra time its worth taking a look.

I've got an "executive" membership, $130/year, but you get a 2% rebate on that.
Just shopping at the store regularly pays for most or all of the membership.

Quite a few things come and go, sometimes never to be seen again.
About a month ago grabbed a bag of "yuzu citrus" nuts for snacks and they were really good.
Can't find them now.

 

[mngundog]

Been a member of both off and on for decades, if I were to generalize I'd say Sam's club is somewhat cheaper, while Costco offer better quality products .

 

[sgrammel]

No Sam in my area...but since Sam is Walmart no chance I would go there if there was one near me

 

[MichaelP]

I'm a member of both for many years and would keep it this way. They offer different products. However, if I had to choose one, I'd stay with Costco.

 

[4xdog]

I love Costco. Their Visa credit card is terrific, and I buy anything I can there or on the card.

 

[JeepYJ]

Costco has free mounting and balancing of tires along with free road hazard warranty. The tires themselves are usually the same price as other places or maybe less but the free installation makes them far less expensive.

 

[N_Jay]

Sams is good, but a rung below Costco.

Starting with the carts, all the way through the meat.

 

[slow84lx]

We live less than a mile from a Sam's Club and have had a membership now mostly used for car batteries for years. The wife drives across town to Costco for most everything else. I avoid both at all costs.

 

[BonzoHansen]

I liked Sam's better, but they closed ours. It didn't have gas either. Gas savings pays for the annual fee

 

[mngundog]

For the non-snobs, Costco's got the better food court.

 

[MovingAlong]

Individual stores will have individual managers. It's the manager that holds the employees responsible for the presentation of both the products and the customer service. That my Costco is great doesn't mean yours will be... Also, people are unique. Folks in NJ are different than folks in TX. Depending on where you are from, folks in OH are probably a little different too.

In the end, they are all three (Sams, BJs, Costco) run by staggeringly large corporations. Their business models allow for wonderful bargains to be had - if you need what they are selling.

If you are having to chose between two stores in your area, buy a one year membership in both. Compare products, compare prices, compare service. After a year, drop one and renew the other.

 

[gahrajmahal]

We appreciate all the honest opinions. I’ll be sure the Mrs reads this thread!

 

[MOS3522]

If you don't buy in bulk for a large family, the best answer: none of the above. BJ's is the better choice if you are just a family of two. Sam's and Costco are geared for high quantity purchasing.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Costco for me! You get money back with the Costco credit card and the Costco "no hassle return policy" is excellent. I buy all my tires from them and love the road hazard policy.
Costco membership has surged because of the "lower cost" gas since the war.

BTW! We had a BJ's membership for years and stopped going there because of the selection of goods.

 

[N_Jay]

Have had Costco since it was Price Club.
Only have Sames because it is 5 min away and Costco is 35.
Had BJ's but dropped it because just few things we needed that couldn't get elsewhere.

 

[DrinkMan]

We belong to both Costco and Sam's. Each have their strengths. Sam's seems to have more SKUs in the store while Costco tends to have some higher quality items. There is a some overlap in what they sell and they charge about the same. We have the Costco Visa card and actually use it to buy things at Sam's and we get Costco cash back for shopping at Sam's.

Some logistical differences (which may vary depending on stores): Costco self checkout is not very good, only a few self checkouts and they have an employee checking your membership as you enter. They always have a lot of full serve checkout open and their employees are great. They still have someone checking your receipt as you exit the store. Sam's has very few full serve checkout and their self checkout are plentiful, very good and fast. Their employee quality varies more than Costco. Exiting the store is much easier. They have some portals that you walk through and it automatically checks the cart.

Online shopping works good with both. Both have some sale items that you can't see the price until you sign in with your membership number. Both ship quickly and do a good job. I have used the Costco "white glove" large item delivery where they bring in the furniture and assemble it. It is great. I don't know if Sam's has that because I tend to like Costco furniture quality over Sam's (impression from looking at items in the store).

 

[gtae07]

We have Sam's and Costco memberships (they're across the street from each other). Some things are better from one or the other.

Sam's has the pickup and scan-and-go which I appreciate; Costco has better deals on some things and carries beer I like (but why, Sweetwater, did you change the quantities in your "tackle box?" I like the hazy IPA more than the 420!).

When we lived a mile from the Costco in Savannah it was great for the short trip and because "go pick up a pizza or two and meet other families at the neighborhood pool" was easy. Their taco pack is a good quick dinner option too, when plans go awry or you don't have time (funny how often that happens with an active kid and a job).

 

[N_Jay]

Sams pick and go is great. Costco self checkout is so/so.
Sams cart-wheels ****. Costco's cart-wheels are near perfect every time.
Sams restrooms are hit and miss. Costco's restrooms are usually great.
Costco Pizza if better, and their roasted chickens are bigger.
Costco brand wine is hit and miss. Sames club branded wines have all been misses.

 

[rharman]

Have had Costco since it was Price Club.
Only have Sames because it is 5 min away and Costco is 35.
Had BJ's but dropped it because just few things we needed that couldn't get elsewhere.

Same here.

About 4 years ago, we decided to try Sam's as they had some things in stock that Costco was regularly out of. BUT.... Only because we found a deal for membership at $20/year. There are VERY few things we buy at Sam's but they're typically more readily available at Sam's than Costco. Honestly, the quality and "vibe" at Sam's just feels nowhere near that of Costco. We let the Sam's membership lapse most years and then sign up again a few months later when we need some of those limited items. Costco is 3 miles away. There are Sam's 2, 8, and 12 miles from us. The furthest one is, by far, the nicest. We'll check online for availability of what we're shopping for. Seems that none of them seem to have everything on our list in stock at one store.

We are at Costco ALL the time. And, as some have mentioned, the Costco VISA card is great. We use it extensively. The rewards easily pay for the Executive membership and then some.

So, for us, Sam's fills a niche but a full priced membership wouldn't be justified for us. Their Scan & Go is great (we do charge it to our Costco card ). But, Costco is our go-to.

BTW... Sam's hot dog was awful the one time I tried it.

 

[yatg]

Costco self checkout is so/so.

Most of the time when I go through self check, there's somebody standing there that asks "can i scan that for you". The first time I was a little annoyed, but then saw they scanned everything while it was in the cart and I didn't have to unload and reload the cart. "please do". Just remember to grab an empty carry box or two on your way out to the exit "receipt checkers".

 

[JeepYJ]

Sams cart-wheels ****. Costco's cart-wheels are near perfect every time.

Hair in the wheels?

 

[rharman]

Most of the time when I go through self check, there's somebody standing there that asks "can i scan that for you". The first time I was a little annoyed, but then saw they scanned everything while it was in the cart and I didn't have to unload and reload the cart. "please do". Just remember to grab an empty carry box or two on your way out to the exit "receipt checkers".

Costco's self-check is, obviously, not as convenient as Sam's Scan & Go. But, we always use Costco self-check (with one exception noted below) and, yes, sometimes they'll offer to scan. It's handy. The only time we don't use self-check is if we're buying something that needs to be picked up - like software or gift cards or when we are redeeming a rewards/rebate voucher - those have to be at a regular cashier.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Thanks all for your opinions! We appreciate it and will probably let our Sam’s Club membership lapse in July and give a good trial of our local Costco. We dread changing credit cards, but after a sufficient time will do that too.

 

[rjn2649]

We are in the camp that Costco has better quality then Sam's club.

We got a membership to Sam's a few years back. Wanted a TV and at that movement Sam's membership was on sale, the TV was a few dollars cheaper than Costco, and IF you got the credit card from Sam's it was like 0 interest for some length of time. We applied got approved BUT COULDN'T USE THE CARD THAT DAY! ? It was a big circle jerk, wasted lots of time. Couldn't get real customer service, and I really don't ask/expect much. The Sam's by us also just seems dingy and dirty. We went back to Sam's a time or two, but never renewed the membership.

 

[N_Jay]

We used to live 5 min from a Costco and that was about the only place we bought gas.
Now 5 min for a Sams, and that is where we buy gas. The Sams card is almost as good as the Costco card.
You just have to pick one and stick with it.

This is going to sound crazy, but Costco is also our long drive rest stop.
Cheap gas, Clean restrooms, Decent food (at a decent price), and a place to stretch your legs out of the weather.

 

[shoot summ]

Sams is good, but a rung below Costco.

Starting with the carts, all the way through the meat.

Except when it comes to the scan and go app, haven't waited in a line at Sam's for years, COSTCO makes you wait in a line.

 

[yatg]

Except when it comes to the scan and go app, haven't waited in a line at Sam's for years, COSTCO makes you wait in a line.

Costco is starting to roll that out.

Its not like they had 10,000 retail stores like WalMart does to experiment with.

Costco Scan-and-Go Technology Is Finally Here - Cheapism

Years after Sam's Club incorporated it, Costco scan-and-go technology is being tested at warehouses around the country. Here's what we know.

www.cheapism.com

 

[PhantomEB]

Been a Costco member for decades, my rewards card always pays for the next year’s membership and then some.

Bonus for me it’s always the cheapest fuel in town and it’s only 5 min out of my way to work.

only places I buy my TVs too!

 

[Spindifferent]

One other thing to mention about the Citi Costco credit card: there is a 5% discount on gas purchased at Costco and 4% on gas everywhere else. Our Costco gas always seems to be around 10 cents less per gallon than everyone around them, and then you subtract 5% from that with the Citi card...

 

[Tchicken]

I have never thought much of the deal of paying some store in advance to buy things from them. But then I don't need 30 packs of toilet paper, or hot dogs while I shop.

 

[Two Door]

Costco pharmacy is excellent, and low priced. Most importantly, you don't need a membership (or Visa card) to use it, so it is a good way to check out the store. Just tell the guy checking membership cards at the door you are there for pharmacy business.

 

[Aaron_W]

I've never even been in a Sam's club as there just are not that many in the state. I've been a Costco member for many years, the gas savings alone more than pays the membership. Locally I find it to be $0.30-0.50 / gallon cheaper or 10-15%. I'm only about 2 miles away so about the only time I go anyplace else for gas is when I go out of town and go past one of the Indian casinos where gas can be as much as $1/gal cheaper.

Costco has free mounting and balancing of tires along with free road hazard warranty. The tires themselves are usually the same price as other places or maybe less but the free installation makes them far less expensive.

I used to buy my tires at Costco as they had some of the best prices on good brands of tires.
The issue I ran into is long wait times. Not a big deal for new tires, but Big O can usually get me in for a tire repair as a drop in. At Costco it can be a few days to get an opening.

If you don't buy in bulk for a large family, the best answer: none of the above. BJ's is the better choice if you are just a family of two. Sam's and Costco are geared for high quantity purchasing.

Costco has gotten a lot better about the bulk. They have come a long way since Seinfeld.

They've mostly dropped the big commercial size cans for packs of normal size cans. Fresh food has come down to sizes appropriate for a family of 4-6 instead of being able to feed a Boy Scout Troop. I can remember my Mom buying flats of fruit, like 24+ apples or peaches. Now they sell smaller bags / boxes with like 8-12, and 1-2 pound containers of berries instead of 10-12lbs.

Have had Costco since it was Price Club.
Only have Sames because it is 5 min away and Costco is 35.
Had BJ's but dropped it because just few things we needed that couldn't get elsewhere.

Price Club and Costco were separate companies, they merged in the 1990s. My Mom had a membership at both since we had one of each, and they were close together.

 

[N_Jay]

I've never even been in a Sam's club as there just are not that many in the state. I've been a Costco member for many years, the gas savings alone more than pays the membership. Locally I find it to be $0.30-0.50 / gallon cheaper or 10-15%. I'm only about 2 miles away so about the only time I go anyplace else for gas is when I go out of town and go past one of the Indian casinos where gas can be as much as $1/gal cheaper.



I used to buy my tires at Costco as they had some of the best prices on good brands of tires.
The issue I ran into is long wait times. Not a big deal for new tires, but Big O can usually get me in for a tire repair as a drop in. At Costco it can be a few days to get an opening.



Costco has gotten a lot better about the bulk. They have come a long way since Seinfeld.

They've mostly dropped the big commercial size cans for packs of normal size cans. Fresh food has come down to sizes appropriate for a family of 4-6 instead of being able to feed a Boy Scout Troop. I can remember my Mom buying flats of fruit, like 24+ apples or peaches. Now they sell smaller bags / boxes with like 8-12, and 1-2 pound containers of berries instead of 10-12lbs.



Price Club and Costco were separate companies, they merged in the 1990s. My Mom had a membership at both since we had one of each, and they were close together.

I started shopping at "Price Club" (on my brother's membership) before Costco existed.
I got me membership in Price Club about 86, and carried the membership though the Price/Costco days.
Yes, they have become a lot more "consumer friendly", and now they have opened several "Costco Business" stores with bigger packaging. (Whole Lamp, 5lb and bigger blocks of cheese, etc.)
I remember buying their (excellent) tortilla chips in 5LB (garbage) bags, soft corn tortillas in about a 1 foot tall stack, a new copy of whatever "Using Microsoft DOS/Windows "book was just released, and annual copies of "Thomas Guides" for each of the SoCal counties.

 

[rharman]

Thanks all for your opinions! We appreciate it and will probably let our Sam’s Club membership lapse in July and give a good trial of our local Costco. We dread changing credit cards, but after a sufficient time will do that too.

Costco pharmacy is excellent, and low priced. Most importantly, you don't need a membership (or Visa card) to use it, so it is a good way to check out the store. Just tell the guy checking membership cards at the door you are there for pharmacy business.

I started shopping at "Price Club" (on my brother's membership) before Costco existed.
I got me membership in Price Club about 86, and carried the membership though the Price/Costco days.
Yes, they have become a lot more "consumer friendly", and now they have opened several "Costco Business" stores with bigger packaging. (Whole Lamp, 5lb and bigger blocks of cheese, etc.)
I remember buying their (excellent) tortilla chips in 5LB (garbage) bags, soft corn tortillas in about a 1 foot tall stack, a new copy of whatever "Using Microsoft DOS/Windows "book was just released, and annual copies of "Thomas Guides" for each of the SoCal counties.

@gahrajmahal - I was going to say you didn't need to switch cards but then saw that Sam's is a MasterCard. They obviously take VISA as we use our Costco card in their app. But, Costco only accepts VISA.

@Two Door - We use Costco pharmacy as well for meds and vaccines. BTW... It's federal law that they have to allow access to everyone for pharmacy but that is not the case for optical or hearing. A former employer of mine was a regional membership department store with a huge pharmacy business. Our busiest store had probably 6-8 pharmacists on duty at any given time. The pharmacies were all located up front to provide an external entrance. The access to the store was monitored so non-members could not get in. Some membership stores with pharmacies will have someone ****** you to/from the pharmacy to limit access. At Costco, you could probably wander around as you mentioned but can't buy as proof of membership is required at checkout. The exception is if you have received a Costco gift card. That'll get you in and allow checkout without membership. You could also get a guest "viewing" pass at customer service to just wander around.

@N_Jay - There is a Costco Business location near us. We go there semi-regularly as they carry some items not available at the regular store. It's nice to have that option. Kind of freaked me out the first time I saw the whole lamb or goat in the freezer.

 

[Dig Doug]

Surprised

Nobody said anything about Costco Meat Dept !

Excellent quality - ribeye, fillet, New York steaks & chicken / pork
baby backs in a 3 rack pack

Rib eye roasts are awesome

Favorite place to buy steak!
we get home, un package the steaks & slightly freeze the steaks on a cookie sheet in preparation for a vacuum pack sealer

date and label the package !
Boom done

 

[Dig Doug]

@gahrajmahal - I was going to say you didn't need to switch cards but then saw that Sam's is a MasterCard. They obviously take VISA as we use our Costco card in their app. But, Costco only accepts VISA.

@Two Door - We use Costco pharmacy as well for meds and vaccines. BTW... It's federal law that they have to allow access to everyone for pharmacy but that is not the case for optical or hearing. A former employer of mine was a regional membership department store with a huge pharmacy business. Our busiest store had probably 6-8 pharmacists on duty at any given time. The pharmacies were all located up front to provide an external entrance. The access to the store was monitored so non-members could not get in. Some membership stores with pharmacies will have someone ****** you to/from the pharmacy to limit access. At Costco, you could probably wander around as you mentioned but can't buy as proof of membership is required at checkout. The exception is if you have received a Costco gift card. That'll get you in and allow checkout without membership. You could also get a guest "viewing" pass at customer service to just wander around.

@N_Jay - There is a Costco Business location near us. We go there semi-regularly as they carry some items not available at the regular store. It's nice to have that option. Kind of freaked me out the first time I saw the whole lamb or goat in the freezer.

We have a business center by us and swing by all the time

Bought a $1800 under cabinet ice maker & upright freezer

They have different things than the regular Costco

 

[Two Door]

It's also worth noting that the occasional Costco provides propane refilling - obviously subject to the zoning and other regulations of the area.