Costco or Sam's

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: zixxer
I have costco because it's very convenient, the sam's here is a PITA to get to..



I like sam's better though - they're a little more expensive but have a LOT more variety.


Costco has better meat/steak/food though. Costco is very frustrating in that they carry things for like 2-3 days sometimes, so you have to buy something if you see it or it could be gone.



Also, costco is debit card ONLY

unless you get their American Express card. my parents use the AE CC just fine.

exactly.

They take my regular American Express, both in the store and at the pump.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: zixxer
I have costco because it's very convenient, the sam's here is a PITA to get to..

I like sam's better though - they're a little more expensive but have a LOT more variety.

Costco has better meat/steak/food though. Costco is very frustrating in that they carry things for like 2-3 days sometimes, so you have to buy something if you see it or it could be gone.

Also, costco is debit card ONLY

unless you get their American Express card. my parents use the AE CC just fine.

You can use any American Express branded card at Costco.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: bigj3347
From my experience, Sam's has a wider selection of things, whereas Costco has less selection but cheaper prices. For example, Sam's might carry the Swiffer Wipes Refill for 12.99 a set and Costco would sell basically the same thing branded under Kirkland Signature, and sell it for 10.99. Costco sells a lot of Kirkland Signature stuff, which is basically Costco's own brand. This is how Costco keeps their costs lower. They also keep their costs lower by purchasing more quantity of fewer items, thus getting better prices from the manufacturer.

According to one of their marketing VPs which spoke to my marketing class many moons ago, their target quality for Kirkland Signature is the market leader. So, if you were to buy a Costco-brand mattress, you'd theoretically be buying a Sealy at a really cheap price.

I should add the disclaimer that I'm a huge Costco fan and I would take Costco over any other retailer save Nordstrom (I shop bargains, but when it comes to important stuff I'm willing to shell out). I buy my clothes, furniture (just bedding, for now), much of my food and other consumables all from Costco.

 

[bleeb]

COSTCO!

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: bigj3347
From my experience, Sam's has a wider selection of things, whereas Costco has less selection but cheaper prices. For example, Sam's might carry the Swiffer Wipes Refill for 12.99 a set and Costco would sell basically the same thing branded under Kirkland Signature, and sell it for 10.99. Costco sells a lot of Kirkland Signature stuff, which is basically Costco's own brand. This is how Costco keeps their costs lower. They also keep their costs lower by purchasing more quantity of fewer items, thus getting better prices from the manufacturer.

Kirkland Signature is basically the generic version of whatever the thing is. Usually the quality is fine, and it's much cheaper for Costco to sell. I have some KS white shirts and I really like them.

Also Costco works in a sort of woot.com way - they buy lots of a few items and put them on special or something, then when they run out Costco doesn't buy them anymore, they just get other stuff.

Yeah, thats the reason they have the disappearing items that people like. Basically, they carry one or only a few of any given type of item and try to find the best deal on that item. Once it sells out, the best deal may be on another brand. They also keep an eye towards quality with a lot of their products.

 

[Jikininki]

Coscto ftw!

 

[captains]

never been to costcos

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: captains
never been to costcos

You haven't lived.

 

[Gibson486]

Sam's Club in Framingham/Natick closed. That only leaves me with costco and BJ's.

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Sams b1tches! Of course we have no Costco round dees parts

 

[Shawn]

Costco > every other warehouse store > dog poop > Sam's Club

 

[lokiju]

I've had a Sam's membership for a few years now and while they are cheaper to join, I still prefer Costco's selection more, now that I moved and have a Costco like 2 miles from me and the Sam's is about 10, I'll be switching to Costco once my membership with Sam's expires.

 

[caboob]

Costcoooooooooooo!

They do a good job of selling high quality items at relatively cheap prices. These days, I buy the majority of my clothes there because it's such a good buy.

 

[Xecuter]

Sams Club = Walmart = terrible employee treatment.

Costco if anything, I wouldn't buy from either.

 

[d0ofy]

I don't know about Sam's Club but I love Costco's return policy.

 

[ScottFern]

There is no comparison or argument here. Costco is hands down the best large warehouse company around. Their return policy speaks for itself. I love that place!

 

[Babbles]

Costco blows away Sam's.

For more quantifiable support, in the recent issue of Wired they have their list of the top 40 companies in the world - all companies across all sectors. Costco was on the list, but I don't recall seeing Wal-Mart/Sam's on the list.

Years ago we had a membership to Sam's and it was perfectly meh. Then Costco came to town and I got that membership and stayed with it for a few years. However I moved across the country to an area that does not have a Costco but there is a Sam's. So I went ahead and got the Sam's membership, and I still think the Sam's stores just suck compared to Costco. Heck I think they suck compared to about any store.

 

[thirtythree]

I prefer Costco, but I'm pretty sure it only costs $35/yr around here. Might as well stick with Sam's if you have no complaints.

 

[daveymark]

Costco > any other retail outlet > Crutsty piece of banana bread > monkey excerement > Liberals > Sam's club

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: savoyboy
Costco > Sam

 

[EvilYoda]

My mom always used to shop at Sam's for almost 10 years but we've been going to Cost Co ever since they opened up around here...maybe 5 years? From what I remember, Cost Co is cleaner too...but I can't speak to their selections and prices.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: Mellman
costco, only I wish they'd stick to their suppliers, I hate when they carry a product, and it seems everyone and their brother enjoy's it, and purchases it, and then a few months down the road they stop carrying it....Also the difference in products that stores in the same region carry astounds me, oh well at least I live closer to the "good" one.

Exactly.

they have stopped carrying McCormicks Crushed Red Pepper. Haven't had them since last december. but for some reason has 3 stacks worth of garlic powder.

They also stopped carrying family size chips. NO doritos, lays, ruffles. Just the small snack size ones.

And lastly there this one item I have missed for years. It was an Oreo ice cream cake. People loved it. It disappeared one day.

I even asked nabisco but they do not know of the product.

as for OP, I pick Costco. I have only visited sams club once and I didn't like it. They did have some items that costco doesn't carry but at least the club I went the service seemed terrible. I do like the business hours starting 7am though. sounds better than costcos 10 to 11.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

COSTCO FTW!

 

[Conky]

I used to like Costco best but then I met the manager of the San Diego Costco.

So, my vote is for Sam's. At least they don't hire fat drunks to run their stores, lol.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Aflac
The Costco near us is more organized and has better prices than the Sams near us. It also has more products (unfortunately, Sams has more computer parts stuff).

I had memberships to both places for years and after a while I quit shopping at Sams. Costco treats me better, has better stuff, their rebates are hassle free (I love rebates from Costco), and better deals. You can easily save $100-600 on a high end HDTV. Costco also does stock trades, home improvements, high end furnature (not the cheap Sams SH*T), and much much more.

Costco = Quality Stuff
Sam's = Trailer Trash or Bulk Wal-Mart

Costco has better Customer Service and Costco has better prices on higher quality goods.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Mellman
costco, only I wish they'd stick to their suppliers, I hate when they carry a product, and it seems everyone and their brother enjoy's it, and purchases it, and then a few months down the road they stop carrying it....Also the difference in products that stores in the same region carry astounds me, oh well at least I live closer to the "good" one.

The Costco in my region no longer carries Snapple. Now I have no source for the delicious goodness that is Snapple Apple because no one around here carries it

There is only a Costco in my area, but in my old town we had both. I preferred Costco