Sam's Club or Costco ???

I REFUSE to shop at Sam's Club. I have a boycott of Walmart and they own Sam's Club. I really like Costco and if it wasn't for the fact that I have no where to put bulk products, I'd have renewed my membership.

Don't get me wrong, they sell some good stuff, I can't fault the product, but I don't like the people that work there (as a rule) and I don't like how the company treats their employees. Every time I've ever left the Sam's Club near me or the Walmart near me (before my boycott), I would feel like I needed a shower because I felt dirty. I had to read a book for a sociology class a few semesters ago and a woman went under cover at various stores in various cities and states, and one of the places she worked was in the women's clothing department at a Walmart store and she was warned that if she complained about store practices and safety issues, she'd be fired. The last time I was at Sam's Club, an employee knocked over something from the shelf, it broke and instead of getting something to clean it up, he just walked away. When I walked past the aisle twenty minutes later on my way out, the mess was still there, where as when I go to costco, there is never a shortage of employees working the floor and spills are cleaned up right away.

I actually had both for a while but finally gave up Sams.
For the things I buy, I prefer Costco. I bet I'm there on average once a month, sometimes more and sometimes less.

I am a bargain hunter. My mom was brought up during the 1st Depression (not this one) and she learned to pinch a penny until Lincoln begged for mercy. She taught me.

I had to buy things for a church dinner and shopped all of the local grocery stores and compared prices, including those at Sams and Costco. (I actually wrote them down so I would remember every detail.) I looked for 9 items at Costco and Sams. Sams was cheaper on 7 of the 9 items. Costco was cheaper on one item and they tied on one item.

People say Costco quality is better or Sam's quality is better, but they can't tell the difference in blind taste tests. If you can't tell the difference, WHY pay the difference? I've heard people brag that one store's gas is better than the others gas. I don't believe it.

Sams base membership is $35 per year. Costco's is $50 per year. The only credit card Costco accepts is American Express. Sams accepts Visa and Discover.

BTW, when I went to actually buy the items for our church dinner, I didn't use Sams or Costco for any item. Everything was cheaper at other grocery stores because everything I needed happened to be on sale. If you shop the sales, you won't buy at either Sams or Costco. If you don't shop the sales, join Sam's. (Example: Some store here has chicken breasts on sale for $.99 lb. At Sams they are $1.29 lb. That's 30% more than a common grocery store without a membership fee.)

Good luck to you and yours.

I go to BJ's and LOVE it there because you can use coupons!! So, I find them cheaper then Sam's just because of that! Not sure if BJ's is an option for you or not...

Whichever is closest to you and that you would go to more.

For me, I don't like driving long distances just to go grocery shopping.

I use Costco.

Costco hands down. There is no comparison.

Costco!!! Have tried both, there's no comparison!

Costco over Sam's, but BJ's is my favorite. Living in different places, we have been members of all three. The main thing I didn't like about Sam was the quantity, everything came in huge containers. BJ's and Costco tended to have smaller containers and each item included two to three of the smaller ones, which I liked better. I think go with whichever one fits your needs the best.

Costco is my fav have had them both!

Depends on what you buy and if you only want to save money. I've had memberships to both. I now only buy Costco and have boycotted Sam's Club and WalMart for reasons others have stated. Plus I have relatives that have worked for Costco for over ten years and they are very treated well. They have WAY more organic produce, better quality food, and the stores are generally cleaner, brighter and more orderly than Sam's. I feel like I'm doing my part to support a greener, more environmentally minded company by shopping at Costco. Even though the membership is more, I buy the Gold membership because it pays me back 1% on all my purchases and I always get a check double for what I pay on my membership or more, so I'm getting a free membership, plus cash back, plus coupons. I buy the bulk of my groceries and household items there and generally spend $75-$100/week.

Sams is cheaper, but I've heard that Costco takes coupons. SO...do you use coupons? Does Costco have their own brand like Sams? I've never shopped at Costco, but that's one way I saved at Sams.

I go to Sam's club at least once a month. My kids love the food there plus they accept food stamps so its more helpful in stretching my husband's disability check

I used to get a discount for the Costco card through where I worked, but now I shop at Sam's because it's closer. Mostly I buy the fresh fruit like pineapple or blueberries.

We use to have Costco card, and we loved it. Than we moved and our nearest Costco is now like over an hour drive, so we stopped going there.
Now we go to Sam's club and we like it too. The prices are about the same. We go once a month.

I've tried both and it's COSTCO by a mile! They have higher quality products and more high-end products. Their wine, beer and prepared foods are much better than Sam's. Costco doesn't take regular coupons, but they do send out coupon books that give you some really good deals on items in the store.

I worked for Costco for 13 years and my Husband for 19 (and going) so I am a little biased. IMO Costco has better products and great deals. The comapny will not sell an item that they cant get for members cheaper (they almost stopped carring all coke products because of this when the company tried to raise price). Also everything you get is 100% satisfaction garanteed. If you buy a product, use some, dont like it, return for refund. The only time limit on item is tech items which are 90 days but they gave a conceirge dept incase it breaks where if they cant fix it they replace under manufactures warranty. The membership is also refundable so if you try for a couple of months and its not for you, you can get a refund on memership. I am not a big fan of Sams club (also not a fan of Walmart which os same company). You can shop at Sams without being a member but you pay a higher price then members pay. Costoc does take Costco issued cupons books which come out about once month (cupons are good for 4 weeks and then a week after a new one comes out) usually 30-40 items in a book. You can go to Costco.com and check out whats on cupon right now. They strive for great customer serivce and really take care of their employees. Like I said I am biased but wanted to share my inside opinion for you.

Costvco does take food stamps now and they do have a house brans (Kirkland Signature is house brand)

I have memeberships to both. Even though Sam's is much more convienient, I go to Costco 90-95% of the time. I've found that Costco has MUCH better meats and produce. I also love the coupons that they send out every month or so for added savings. One big reason we go the Costco card in the first place is that they automatically add a year to the warranty on big electronic items (add a second year if you use a Costco American Express). We have bought 4 TV's (one was a gift) plus other electronics there (like a Blu-Ray player) for just that reason.

I like some of Sam's clothes better and they sometimes carry things that Costco doesn't (like Instant Breakfast in vanilla).

I probably shop Costco at least 4 times a month and Sam's about 1 times every 2 months.

Good luck!

If the distance to both is the same and they both appeal to you, in terms of their merchandise, then please go with Costco. Costco pays their employees a decent wage that a family can actually live on. Unlike Walmart (aka Sam's Club), which helps it's employees sign up for public assistance because they do not by any means pay a decent living wage.

In terms of which company has a "good conscience" and is a "good corporate citizen," hands down it's Costco over Sam's Club.

We have a Sam's Club membership. I haven't really compared it to Costco much, as we don't really shop at Sam's as much anymore either... haha

My sister has a Costco membership, so we kinda help each other out. If I wanted to find something at Costco, I can go with her. If she needs something from Sam's, I take her. :)

Do you know anyone else with one of the memberships? Maybe you could help each other out too!

Costco for sure, and they even have gas stations w/ excellent prices! Best return policy around, too. I just returned a gift that my mother-in-law gave me from Costco, w/ no receipt. They gave me cash. Can't beat that. My brother was also having problems w/ a flat screen tv that he bought there. He'd owned it for a year, couldn't get the manufacturer to fix it and Costco took it back after a year!

Just an FYI - at Sam's, you get a "courtesy membership" for a member of your HOUSEHOLD - ie, husband, etc. But, they have never checked addresses, so if your friend who took you does not have another person on her membership, you can say that you are sisters and you moved in with her, and you can join on hers for free. Have her check it out.

Currently I have both memberships but if push came to shove I would keep my Sam's and give up the Costco. I feel they truly do have different offerings but it all depends on what you will use it for. When I think Costco I think more organic and more trendy foods. If you entertain a lot I feel Costco has more selection. The prices truly are pretty close between the two clubs.

One thing you may want to consider though...Sam's almost always offers guest passes so you could go stock up a few times a year even if you have to pay a small upcharge while Costco does not give you this option. They will let you walk in and look around but you are not able to purchase anything without a membership card.