With an American Express promotion giving targeted AmEx customers a free Sams Club membership (in the form of a statement credit), we had nothing to lose. Easy to get a space on the busiest days. It was always packed with customers when we went. They no longer sell ANY good flour, just a cheap AP flour in a plastic bag. They are life-long employees and Costco only promotes from within. I had formed an opinion, but I wasnt sure if I had done that subconsciously in order to be a creature of habit. In light of the 2018 news of Sams Club closing 63 stores and laying off 10,000 employees without warning, I feel even more strongly about this verdict, and highlighted how to get your Sams Club membership fee refunded and switch to Costco. View cart for details. 1. How is this helpful. We have both clubs. Winner: Costco. My sister-in-laws father is a farmer and rancher selling organic products and the supposedly better for you, and them, meats. I agree that Costco has the edge, however, the fact that they dont have Scan&Go yet, is a total deal breaker for me!! First to go was bread flour. It was located between 2 decent size cities. The same with produce. I agree with you. Not as big as traditional ag but still very large. Costcos latest earnings show only 0.11% loss in goods in causes from shoplifting and cashier errors. Im an optician so in the middle Ive also worked a couple of other corporate places. They couldnt even get back inside to get their personal items without a escort. Verified purchase: When sales fall Sams knee jerk reaction (company policy) is to cut employee hours and impose hiring freezes, thereby providing diminished customer service and lowering employee morale. If we could get an even greater share of our groceries there, we would, but sometimes 96 ounce jars of mayo just arent practical. Youll find many types of bulk paper plates and disposable dinnerware at Sams Club. Ive not bought apples at Costco for years because of that. Consequently, the quality of the gasoline at Costco is better than that at Sams Club. They even come in fun, festive prints! Sams also has online order of groceries with delivery to car at the curbside of the store. These factors enable Costco to keep low prices. The number 888-287-5343 asks for some password, clearly the wrong number. However, I find auto department employee seems to be less well trained than that of CST. I love Scan and Go at Sams! For those items that we dont buy every week, but as needed: clothing, office supplies, seasonal items; Costco has better quality and more appealing products. I will drive out of my way and continue to use my Sams Club membership. Sams also links employee compensation and hours to sales, where Costco does not. For me Sams Club wins! Is Costco CEO pay low for a CEO. They cut that out years ago. Popping open produce containers so you can eat some? Costco will sell you auto batteries but they wont install them for you, where as Sams Club will. There are fruits and vegetables I never really liked, like pears and plums, bok choy, chard and other greens, which have a whole different taste. but Sams Club Will repair flat tires no matter where you got the tires. I noticed this when I got them home and opened them. the people in their optical department are very friendly and helpful. But here, we are so happy to have Walmart. I feel like it is a management problem with the Costco, my coworkers have told me to go to other Costcos but I dont feel like driving 30 more min to get to a store when theres an amazing Sams Club 3 min away. I usually save close to $2 every time I fill up at Sams over the other local pumps and filling up weekly, well you can do the math. I always bought them from SC CST mostly did not carry what I need until fairly recently. No one works on commission like an outside retailer so a patient will get the product that suits them best without being up sold or getting a product the technician is only selling to get a spiff. I live 20 miles from both, so Im not going to be able to just run back and exchange it. Our Costco in San Diego at Morena Blvd has finally installed self-checkout stands (assume it is similar to Scan & Go at Sams Club) and it really helps reduce the lines. Sams Club has a nice big store with a store sign and the price of their gas is labeled nicely for others to see, but to find Costco I have to know exactly where it is located. Most of the products that we purchase are basically the same at both stores. We joined Costco when they opened where I live in the summer of 15. But hey, take solaceyou have been joined in the comments by a bunch of other doofaci. I have now worked at Costco 2.5 years. 2022Sam's West, Inc. All rights reserved. I use to love Costco and would only go to Sams for a few specific things. I used to have the executive costco membership but downgraded to basic this year as I wasnt able to recover the $60 fee additional fee through cash back rewards. Ive been to that club over 300 times. I was impressed in getting some of my staples that COSTCO has not had for the last few months. Per FTC guidelines, this site may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising & affiliate partnerships, such as the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Impact, CJ, Quinstreet, etc. I tend to be pretty judicious when it comes to what I put in my body and Costcos food selection is much more focused on items that are organic, with simple natural ingredients with less preservatives and fillers, and raised with a more sustainable focus (e.g. Their overall selection of food is much healthier than Sams. Within a year or so it was bought out by a German company that tried to class it up and ended up in bankruptcy. Most Costcos have large parking spaces. Winner: Costco. Costco used to have a GREAT spice collection. We get reimbursed with Costco membership with my dhs eyewear alone. Its not always about the money. I decided to stick with Sams Club and go with my neighbor to Costco. What NO ONE has mentioned here is, Walmart AND Sams both are priced he SAME per ounce for the food products they sell and often at walmart, the price is higher per oz for the SAME product in a larger package. I have shopped at Sams on and off for years but like most not gotten much there until I found out about the prescriptions. Alcoholic items, such as spirits and wines, can not be scanned in our state and have to be checked out separately with the assistance of a clerk; everything else is scanned when it goes in the shopping cart. They carry thick sliced, which I find disgusting (its a texture thing) or low salt. I have been a member at SC 20 years, my DH 25 years. The next largest town is 115 miles away. And then we put this into our body, these things that are killing all of these animals and insects and birds and I choose organic because I dont believe that we should be putting these things in our body. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Now Sams spice section is WAY better, not because they got better, but because Costco got so much worse. (I love the Chicken Cordon Bleu at Sams. 3. The meat we buy bulk and the eggs we buy from my DHs partner at work. new I did continue to shop there and especially bought gasoline at the pumps there and the fuel savings alone pays for the membership yearly. We used to be Costco members but switched to Sams Club a few years back. Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and Chewy.com all have established new distribution centers in Dallas, helping to expand the citys tax base, increase sales tax revenue, and create new employment opportunities. bestnatu83. He told her what she could do with it I was confused because I wanted to stuff. The Sams Club credit card has a really sweet perk in 5% cash back at all gas stations that might make it worthwhile, even if you dont regularly shop at Sams (note: to get cash back rewards, you must be a Sams Club member). Because they have stopped carrying so many items I used to buy there. I was an employee with Sams for over 10 years several years back. Many of us do, and that is a major, MAJOR, factor in choosing things, and not just foods. I will drop my membership and will never again become a Sams member and oh yes, Im a Sams Plus member for most of those 30 years and no one never did answer the phone and believe I let the phone ring for more than 10 minutes. I like that I can pop open a grape container and taste a grape before buying. Every 2-3 years I go with a neighbor to Costco to reevaluate. Organic is a huge multi-billion dollar industry. Costco is for first-time membership only. We had more than $500 worth of groceries so he started loading it on the Belt. All they did was take that away from other benifits. I didnt notice any material price differences. There are many benefits of buying bulk plastic plates at Sams Club. The only gas was sold at Costco. So now I dont have the $2000 bed I bought and no refund and it doesnt seem that I will ever get one. One thing that kind of bugs me though is I have to drive past Sams Club to get to my Costco store. Maybe. Head to Sams Club, where you can rely on an excellent selection of disposable paper plates and plastic plates. SC (Sams Club) tends to have smaller but their produce appears way less fresh often giving me second thought about purchasing. Always make sure its certified organic and highly regulated, that way you know its really worth that high price you are paying! Then we went down to one income and it was time to pick one. There are some frozen food items I liked very much that CST doesnt carry, BTW. All that said, we agree that Costco is better and heres why: the quality is a major factor for us. Nothing has been mentioned about the pharmacy except to say they each have one. I have never shopped at Costco so I wont comment on that. Also, the idea that organic has less of an impact is definitely not true either. Costco will only repair flat tires if you bought the tires from Costco. #1 reason: Sams has early opening hours for members at $100 level. But on paper goods and nuts SC wipes the floor with Costco. What about clothing? But the real winner in this comparison is the difference in corporate mentality. I get the feeling that, in any given product category, whoever is choosing which SKUs to stock takes extra care to make sure theyre choosing something of very high quality and reasonable price for their customers. A brief story. 2. - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab, - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, Learn more about earning points with eBay Mastercard, - eBay Return policy - opens in a new tab or window, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new tab or window. I typically have received better customer service at Sams. Its all about price or we wouldnt shop at these stores. I admit I was not super impressed though with some items I compared. I wear 2xL size shirts and rarely can I find any. Well, this is all the information I need. He does the whole no soy organic, they just roam around his property. You could have saved a lot of time by just informing your readers that Sams Club is owned and operated by Walmart and that both should be avoided on principle because of both their quality and business practices. I dont have to unpack just to have it repacked. I think I will give Sams a trial run just to see if I can find the same kinds of things. Ive never noticed an issue with mold on the produce or problems with product quality at our Sams Club. Spices. For this comparison, I think its important to look strictly at how the card benefits you at the retailer, versus its other perks. Ive been a member of both Sams and Costco. Look no further than fast food: as soon as they start demanding $15/hr, now you see kiosks popping up everywhere. I currently have both memberships. Handle and bowl: 7L. I have found that some of my mothers meds are still cheaper if I dont use her insurance and only use the SC Plus. Vickery Meadow Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. That is despicable!!!! You want $15/hr? Ive never been to a Sams Club, but the quality of Costco items (especially Kirkland Signature) for the price seems unbeatable. They carry most of the same products Daisy Sour Cream, for example and most of those seem to be less at Sams or at least no more expensive. Sam Walton was too dam smart for his generation, he wanted a great product too the masses. So helpful! As someone who works for Sams and has interviewed with Costco, I will say that Costco employees are paid higher however they expect you to be available 24/7 with no schedule. Sams Club stocks more for the small business owner. I probably will not renew next time $60 bucks or $115 when both are $15 bucks cheaper at Sams and I can use scam and go, or wait in LONG lines at Costco its a no brainer. The Costco was about 1.5 hour drive away in one city, we continued shopping there the first couple of months. Over the past few years, the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development has worked to secure new e-commerce businesses. I wish Costco still took Amex. I will be asking Sams to please seal their produce more effectively against people like you. However, were just going to compare here on straight up price, not value (since everyone has a slightly different perceived value). Frozen items have a better selection and quality than Costco. Buying tires one year, the savings at Sams club paid for the year membership. I know that is less important, but my family likes to make an afternoon of going to Costco and sampling things because we feel its one of the benefits of spending for a membership! I still have a bone to pick with you about the organic thing! A very well thought out review! If Im a customer and have to know right where they are located to find it, how will new customers find them? Ive had a Costco membership since they were still known as Price Club. Like when a pound of whole wheat pasta is .78 cents. Im a member in both of them and I do like them both. Yet, you declare Costco the winner. More times than not the salad is in bad shape and I have to pick through it to find a decent looking bag. But Richards wanted the energy and convenience a central Dallas location would provide. We do have a Sams Club in Shreveport and another one in near by Bossier City, La. So I returned them with no hassle, but then I started really looking and was surprised to find that most of the products in the fruit sections had mold growing inside the packaging. Oops, forgot they are the largest employer in the U.S.. Even apples and oranges are so much more juicy and delicious. SC has more varieties of tire brands and more options of battery models. 4. I know that Costco is affiliated with Square Trade for extended warranties. Because of proximity to my business. are you kidding me? You should update your information please. You have a 2.5 year old bed that needs warranty replacement and you are angry with SAMS and not the manufacturer? When I want new glasses, I go to Sams Club. The slightly more convenient location, as well as the scan and go app, seal the deal for us. Organic crops have lower yield than traditional which means more land, more chemicals, and more work (= more CO2 emissions) are required to produce the same amount of food as conventional ag. Sams is a mess! I dont have to wait in long lines where usually its hot. Produce and milk is much better at Costco. Read more - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about. I was a Costco Dedicated OTR Truck Driver for several years and cross country before that. Its also been said that Costco pay increases happen more frequently and there is a much higher cap than with Sams Club/Walmart employees. But for me Sams wins when comes to check out on busy days and holidays. In my opinion, Sams is better because of their travel and auto buying benefits. Costco was the clear winner. Use the up and down arrow keys to move through the results. We are considering switching to a Sams membership this year. There will always be people who disagree with it because they believe its just the government trying to get us to spend more money or whatever. The biggest negative to Costco, I have both memberships, is the crowd. I disagree with the writers conclusion. Its night and day. I just received my $60 renewal notice in the mail for COSTCO. Did you know you can find sets of matching tableware at Sams Club? However, the argument between the difference of buying organic vs. inorganic would be a great article to write next! Overall, I prefer Costco due to the quality of the produce and food compared to Sams, but I currently live in an area that only has Sams. Everything else is a Costco item. Their other products at either store are not the best. Sams club huge parking lots. Very competitive pricing. I dont bluff. The scan and go app is seriously amazing, I can be in and out of the store with all my kids and a full cart in 30 minutes. For example, the Kirkland mens underwear is more comfortable and longer-lasting than the Members Mark equivalent; the Kirkland denim pants are more comfortable and fit better. Both stores have a massive quantity like; ; 5 gallons of soy sauce which will last me > 20 years, 30 bunches of green onion which I will not be able to consume before it spoils. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disclosure: Information provided on this site should not be considered professional financial advice. Its so interesting to read everyones takes on this. They both contain the same amount of chemical. . I live in a rural community that appreciates the help given by Walmart. At Costco the pick ups are schedueled pre-loads, and un-loads are usually strict Lives! Now I dont know about the rest of you ppl but to me a warehouse should ALWAYS BE CHEAPER than a grocery store/supercenter price. Scan and Go is so amazing. But here is the big one for me my local costcos DO NOT CARRY REGULAR BACON ANYMORE. Sold by: I know my parents use both in Colorado Springs and they do like Costco better for some things. I will continue to give Costco a chance, but likely Sams will continue to get the majority of my business due to those conveniences. Winner: Costco. Third, I read your bio and it seems you dont have kids. Noting its success, a competitor, Costco, started up in 1983 and also expanded rapidly. They stopped carrying it and tried to make my buy chewables ALL of which have sugar in them instead. Seriously, my milk needs to come in a jug, and a box!?!? You got it! I felt that Sams club thought it was somehow my fault that they did not properly order the return of the set. What about gasoline price differences? Same Day. The clothes area is always a wreck and things arent stocked well and its pretty dark due to lights being out. My Sams club & Costco are in Maryland & SW Florida. I hate standing in lines, but love zipping around people checking out (and knowing the exact cost of the items in my cart). For them, Sams is right down the street from them but Costco is on the opposite end of town so its easier and more cost effective to use Sams more often. I went to Sams Club for the first time in a very long time. As far as location they are both right next door to each other. He replied oh thats my wifes card shes just grabbing something shell be right up here just start ringing. Screw your low salt bacon! I thought I was imagining how good food was all those years ago. Im pretty sure Sams actually stopped carrying the bread flour as well. And then theres reputation. I have had a SC membership for years but I recently purchased a Costco membership because there is one on my way home from work. It was an instant success and expanded rapidly to hundreds of stores. The gal said no, within seconds I arrived and she said oh now I can bring it. 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Sams Club is in that closer city, so we got a membership there. In contrast, Ive had so many bad experiences at Sams Club Ive lost count, but Im absolutely certain Ive had over 50. My wife now hates shopping at Sams because she doesnt like that they do not care about customer service and want you to use the Scan and go. Thats why most ppl will want in those lines for that reason. hormone-free, cage-free, grass-fed dairy, meat, and eggs). What Im feeling from your post is that Sams Club doesnt follow that model. TABT. Trash bags at one store its 100 bags, the other its 125. Conclusion: I prefer Sams and felt it had better customer service and a wider variety of products I need. They hire people that need a second job, not a career (unless they are management with a college degree). Now, I called several times before their closing time and the customer service counter, just let the phone ring and ring and ring. I would buy it throughout the year but for some reason they only carried it at Xmas. Good job Noob. I have bought organic carrots 10 pounds for about $5.50 BUT the date of the product is sometime A MONTH OLD A month old carrots organic or not, Ill pass. But I follow EWG DD and get items like lemons, limes, onions at SC. Ive had so many sour experiences with Costco in the past 4 years that this last year I didnt renew my membership because I dont plan on going back. Sams does have a great quality house brand, Members Mark. https://www.barrons.com/articles/costco-earnings-shoplifting-51559067930, Several Sams Clubs in Los Angeles and in 63 other locations abruptly closed and left a note on the front door for arriving employees. As much as I hate to I have been throwing my hard earned money at Amazon. Costco standards are DEFINITELY DROPPING. How much cheaper is the meat or produce? If Costco were to move in to the area, the only thing holding me back would be the Scan and God app (and the frequently ordered website feature where you can quickly load up a cart and pick it up later, saving a bunch of shopping time). Should they build a Costco in my town, with fuel pumps, Sams would be gone. I feel much better about maintaining a cost of membership at Costco and dont believe I will renew my membership at Sams unless they significantly increase their organic selection in the next year. Id kill for a Costco in my area. If I say I will do X if Y doesnt happen, that is exactly the way things will go. If there was a Costco near my business, Id stop going to Sams Club entirely! It appears that Costco discriminates against people who live alone. In my area, its like a meat market. On my 5 prescriptions I saved enough to pay for my upgraded membership plus my basic membership. Amazon did the same thing. That is well below industry averages. SAD since SAMS deliveries are Always a simple Drop and Hook! When you compare Costco gasoline with that of Sams Club, you need to realize that Costco sells Top Tier gasoline whereas Sams Club does not. Note that if you are military or retired military, both clubs give give an incentive for joining, but only Sams will give the same reward upon renewing your membership. Winner: Sams Club. The only reason I kept Sams is just because it was closer to work. No matter which ones you choose, the clean-up will be a cinch! I was shocked at the amount of extra packaging that most Costco items seemed to come in. I do all of my shopping at 8:00am as soon as I drop the kids at school. Thank you for this review. We do still shop one other stores for the big sales and stock up on those staples. The results are loyal employees, good attitudes, few sick calls and also low shrinkage-cashier errors and internal theft. Thanks to the cash back on their store cards (AMEX and now Visa) we have earned $300 to $500 rebates every year (Executive members). I did not buy these items. As for the commenter who doesnt believe the organic labeling there are many farmers who strive to produce better food and want to protect their [our] environment, they deserve support! I drive 96 miles past 4 Sams Clubs to get to Costco. And I love how they run their company. There are associations that have guidelines for their members, a little research is needed. Until there is consistent and proper regulation you have no idea what you are truly getting. Better stores, more variety in products, and great prices. You are blinded as to the fact that Costco is no better than Sams club in the areas that make you feel better. So they are not paying out more to employees. They also give so much to our community. Even with that decision made, given his companys prestige, Richards was courted by many in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The nearest Costco to my home is over 20 miles away and Sams is just under 2 miles. They are a minor convenience at best. The things that are missing are mostly salad mixes that I dont buy anyway. I saw 6 bulbs of 22watt CFL for 99 @ SC Seattle without rebate several years ago. And in regards to taste, there have been studies done on this as well. Costco member since 2004. Sams truly does keep taking away benifits and pay each year. I will not be renewing my Sams club membership this year and heres why! With 5 kids at home, its an easy option. With the cheaper membership, this puts them over the edge as the clear choice and winner. I actually brought in my Costco receipts and used my phone to compare prices on similar items (i.e. He was expecting it to be in this past Xmas too. Winner: Inconclusive (but possible slight edge to Costco). But we havent even gotten around to checking out the Sams Club and there are a couple of things we use that are of a particular brand toilet paper for example that I do like to stock up on, and others I cant find other places. Ive got a Starwood Amex Card and use it for free stays at hotels often. Costco has a terrible selection. Gas is cheaper than Costco, The national brands are about 5% cheaper, Better meat than anywhere else. Great post, by the way! In a very limited sample size, I found Costco to come out ahead about 2 out of every 3 apple-to-apple comparisons (excluding brand name), looking at cost per volume. Beef, bison, bacon, pork, and eggs. The same scientific agencies that you trust on issues such as anthropogenic climate change and vaccine safety/efficacy also concur that GMOs are safe. Even BEFORE I was diabetic I couldnt eat one of those, and they were overpriced per pound on top of it all. For the time being, there isnt any compelling reason for us to consider switching to Costco. At Sams, there was more than one person available and I was seen and assisted immediately. Strap: 4L. The guy lives out in the middle of nowhere and raises goats and chickens. Do the lists look similar? Do your research before posting nonsense. That isnt going to happen. Was to read.Scan and Gohate auto correct. Costco has them back in stock now thank goodness. Thank you all for the reviews and comments. Be that as it may, more locations increases the potential that there will be a closer location to your residence. 6. It may or may not be true about the nutritional part. They have a strong customer first mentality. 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