Do you have a preference? My Costco membership is about to expire for the year. We do not have a Costco or Sam's Club in the city we just moved to I would have to travel about 20 mins to the next town but they have both. I have never been into a Sam's Club. Is there a difference and if so what? The only advantage to retaining my Costco membership is that there is one right next to where DH works so he could pick-up things on lunch or after work.

TIA

By Yjja123 on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 03:34 pm:

We have both I prefer Sam's. Here Sam's has a better selection and more produce.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 04:47 pm:

Sam's is too far away, for it to be practical. There was talk about them building a Costco, about 35 miles away, but I don't know what's up with that. I know, near to where my sister lives, they are building something. It might be the Costco. I'm not sure. I have no advice.

By Jewlz on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 05:11 pm:

we have both also and depends on what it is were after a few things are sold at both just under thier names. Other things are a bit cheaper at one or the other. We dont pay for the memberships cuz of family jobs so that helps or im not sure if wed keep them up. I like the idea of buying in bulk and mostlyit works out for us. At times i have to admit i buy alot of things i normally wouldnt buy when i go into there so i have to stick to alist wiht in reason. I think u have evaluate the two stores ur self as per ur personal shopping habits. also if u ahvent been in either one they will give u one day passes to check them out.

By Breann on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 06:01 pm:

My MIL has memberships to both of them. She prefers Costco.

I don't find that I save any money shopping at either one. I can get groceries cheaper at wal-mart.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 06:42 pm:

Our Walmart does not carry the same things Sam's does. They have the best produce at Sam's. Milk is over a $1 less than other stores. The savings in pet food alone is worth the membership for us. We also buy all of our meat there. They have excellent steak for a lot cheaper than the grocery stores. I am not a fan of Walmart--yes I know Sam's is the same company. At Sam's I get excellent service. At Walmart service is nonexistant.

By Heaventree on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 07:08 pm:

We don't have a Walmart here, it's coming soon within the next few months. People here fought Walmart coming in, they hate what Walmart stands for and how they put small companies out of business, but I guess you can't stop progress if you can call it that. I didn't realize that Sam's and Walmart are the same company.

I do like shopping at Costco, especially for meat, the quality just seems so much better although I don't often have a ton of money to drop at one time and I do find I'm more likely to impulse shop in those kinds of stores. Even the more upscale grocery stores. I find if I stick to the more basic grocery stores I spend less money overall because they are less expensive and they just don't have the variety of the speciality stores.

Does Sam's carry their own brand of diapers? Is the same brand that Walmart sells. I buy the Kirkland brand at Costco as I still have two in diapers.

By Melanie on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 07:10 pm:

It is my understanding that Costco has a much better return policy than Sam's.

By Hol on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 07:43 pm:

We don't have a Costco here, but we do have a Sam's and a BJ's. Both are about 30 miles away. We have a Sam's membership, and my DD has a BJ's membership through the hospital where she works.

I, too, find that I drop an awful lot of money if I just wander around Sam's, so I have to go for just specific items and that's it. I buy the large boxes of Saltine crackers. For some reason, we go through a lot of them. I buy my Citrical (calcium tablets) there, as a big bottle is much cheaper. In the winter, the boys go through a lot of instant oatmeal, so I buy the huge box with asssorted flavours in it. I also get my Tide there (the big jug), and some paper products.

I like them mostly for big ticket items like electronics (TV's, stereos, cordless phones, etc.). I also get my printer cartridges, Scotch tape, pens, phone cards etc.. Granted, you have to buy enough to open your own Staples store, but it lasts.

The thing I like the most about Sam's is that it is only cash, check or debit card. The only credit card they accept is Discover and we don't have one, so that is a good thing. I think that I would buy more stuff that I don't need if they took credit cards. And, yes, they do have their own brand of diapers. I think it's called "Members Mark".

Because they are so far away, I only go if I am going north anyway to other stores like Barnes and Noble or DSW shoes. I know the memebership is $40.00 per year for a family.

BJ's is a New Engalnd warehouse club, and they have more "normal" sizes of things. My DD does most of her shopping there.

Yes, that's a good idea to get a free guest pass for the day to check them both out.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 08:52 pm:

We don't have a costco here, but we do have sam's. I think shopping at the regular Walmart is also cheaper. I had a membership one year at Sam's and never renewed it because it didn't pay me to. I never bought meat there, but I have heard they have a nice meat selection.

On a side note...it's funny to me all this talk about Walmart...how they put small businesses OUT of business and the whole sweatshops thing. I just go where the deals are because it's what's best for my family's budget.

By Karen~admin on Monday, October 30, 2006 - 07:18 am:

Never been to a Costco, but I go to Sams and I've never had any problems returning anything - including some meat that was bad. Of course, I was in a rage, and asked for the store manager. LOL

By Kaye on Monday, October 30, 2006 - 08:12 am:

I have shopped at both, shop at neither now. What you have to do, to make it successful, is to go in with a list and stick to it. In a grocery store if you fail it cost an extra 2-3 dollars, at Sam's if you fail it adds on 10-20 dollars. Sam's does a good job with photo developing, you can get prints for 12 cents. Really you have to just look around and see what you buy. For example, years ago they carried name brand diapers, Sam's had pampers, costco had huggies. They do carry name brand stuff in other areas, so what do you prefer. I think the general thinking is costco is a little higher end (affliated with nordstrom's i think).

By Yjja123 on Monday, October 30, 2006 - 08:18 am:

I have returned things at Sam's no problem.
We also have bought high ticket items from them (computer. Tv's, etc) and have been pleased with them. I imagine they can be different everywhere. I do spend a lot there but my supplies last longer. If I buy a package of steaks, I will cook them all at once. We will have steak (in some form) for three meals. Sam's makes my life easier because by bulk shopping I am not shopping as often. We have 2 large dogs and 4 cats (plus strays I feed) so the pet food is a huge value.
I guess, you need to figure out what works for your family.