Let's talk Costco vs Sam's Club

Heavncentt · July 2011

When we lived in CA, I was a die hard Costco girl. When we moved, I used to make the trek to Costco about a half hour away. After a while, I decided to just do Sam's Club since my Mom could get me a free card and it was 5 minutes from our house.

But, lately I have been wondering if I am missing out at Costco. I haven't been there in so long though that I don't know what is great to get there. I know in the past they carried lots that Sams did not, many different brands and offerings.

If you shop Costco or Sam's.....tell me why you do (like or hate it) and what things you love to get there for good deals. I am considering paying for the membership again...but I would want the drive and fee to be worth it. Tell me what your favorite finds are so I can make a shopping list!

Dreamsicle23 · July 2011

None of the above...BJ's. You can use manufacturer's coupons.

robbins110808 · July 2011

Dreamsicle23:
None of the above...BJ's. You can use manufacturer's coupons.

THIS!!! The super jumbo packs of Pampers have $5 off coupons in them & the store almost always has an additional coupon for $3-7 off. LOVE BJs!!!

pregnantchica · July 2011

Sam's Club all the way...I feel as if Costco doesn't even have half the brands that Sam's has. There are two by me and both only carried Huggies diapers (I prefer Pampers) and they didn't even sell baby food....I asked for my money back bc it wasn't worth my membership.

bncmommy · July 2011

Dreamsicle23:
None of the above...BJ's. You can use manufacturer's coupons.

What's BJ's?

CD+AL · July 2011

Honestly, we just moved somewhere that gave us the option between both Costco and Sams, and this is the first time we've lived where we've had Costco as an option. I actually went and checked both options out before buying a membership to Sams. I finally chose Sams b/c it seemed like for the most part both stores were almost identical in terms of offerings and prices (even at their food courts), but if something was going to be a higher price between the two, it was higher at Costco. That was enough to convince me that for me Sams was a better option.

ETA: Also, when there was a price difference, it was just a buck or two, but I figured that plus the fact that Costco's membership was higher means that overall it would add up. I mostly buy our contact lenses and produce that we eat large quantities of at Sams.

Heavncentt · July 2011

BJ's isn't an option for us, there isn't one where we live. So my choices are between Sam's and Costco.

monlyn9 · July 2011

We don't have a Costco so I can't comment on which is better but there are several things that we buy regularly at Sam's. I buy a lot of produce there: Strawberries, grapes, organic spring mix lettuce, fresh broccoli florets, pineapple. I don't usually care for their bananas though. I also buy milk there most of the time (although the last couple of weeks I have been able to get it at Meijer cheaper) and shredded cheese. They have a roasted red pepper hummus that I love. We also buy Bisquick, peanut butter, dry pasta, bread, baby formula, and toothpaste there.

Angela814 · July 2011

We shop at Sam's Club. I love their produce. For some reason it seems to stay fresh much much longer than the regular grocery store.

There is actually a Costco being built about 10 minutes from our house, so we're debating switching. If they really only carry Huggies, I think that will be a deal breaker. They'd also need to carry Caribou coffee...

Lisacica · July 2011

Costco.

Sam's Club is owned by Wal Mart. I don't shop at Wal Mart.

MamatoJackson · July 2011

I just got a Sam's membership - I like them better.

A) Their annual fee is almost half the cost

They carry all the same things Costco does but they are always cheaper, if only buy a few cents - I like knowing that I'm getting the cheaper price

C) Their infant formula, which DD currently uses, is significantly cheaper

D) They carry stuff that Costco used to carry but no longer does - Like Aveeno Baby Wash

E) Our Sam's Club is ALWAYS dead... and Costco is always slammed.

Que*Syrah · July 2011

I have never shopped at Sam's Club so I can't compare them but I love Costco!

Chelz · July 2011

I haven't really checked out Sams and don't know if there's one near us, but at Costco we get:

rotisserie chicken, huge bag of spinach, blueberries + ground turkey (unless there's a sale at grocery store), Charmin toilet paper, Kirkland paper towels, 2 loaves of bread, gallon of whole milk for DS, 3- 1/2 gallon jugs of vanilla soy milk for our smoothies, eggs, love their cleaning wipes (better then Clorox wipes), used to buy Similac powder there, used to buy Huggies (now we're trying up&up due to blowouts overnight), great price on their wipes ($20) (also have Huggies wipes $24), - yes, only Kirkland brand or Huggies (Kirkland is their store brand), pumpkin pies, canned chicken (6pk for $12), I've printed photos there, you can order online... just wish the one close to us had gas. Sometimes they have cute clothes for kids. I bought DS winter boots there last year for $20 (Jack & Lily). Certainly they have a really good, very liberal return policy on everything exept electronics, which is 90 days. (I know someone that returned a couch after a year and we returned a vacuum after a few months/tried a different one). Sheet cakes for birthdays are a great price.

I don't care for their bananas unless I'm just cutting up to freeze for smoothies. If you shop the ads you can usually find produce cheaper at the grocery stores. They have a ton of unique items but doesn't mean pricing is great. (DH loves their pre-cooked steak chunks, turkey chunks, and those flavored chicken sausages).

And yes, it is almost always packed in there, lines are long and parking sucks. We find it best to go in the morning before 11 or at night about 30 minutes before they close.

ryry1977 · July 2011

We live within walking distance to Sams Club and Costco is a 30 min drive for us. We still belong to Costco over Sams, it is worth the drive for us. I find that we like the stuff that Costco has a lot better. The brands and such. We were very disapointed with Sams when we visited ours.

jlthompson19 · July 2011

I love Costco. We buy dog food, they have a grain free brand, Nature's Domain, that is very good for the cost. We also buy wipes, soda, medicine, tampons, cheese, pizza, chicken, veggies (lots of organic options) and inevitably a few random things we see and want. I'm sure you could get most of it at Sam's, but I prefer to not support Walmart and you can't get the dog food anywhere else.