Sam's Club vs. Costco

[Cubsfan]

I'm a Sam's Club member, and my membership is coming due in a week. There's a Costco about an hour away from me (Sam's is about 10 minutes away).

Which do you like better? I only go once every three weeks or so, so the extra travel time wouldn't be a terrible problem. I'm particularly drawn to their 'forever' warranty/return policy. Any opinions on which is better? How much is costco to join? I think my Sam's membership is $40/year

[MikeD]

I'm a Sam's Club member, and my membership is coming due in a week. There's a Costco about an hour away from me (Sam's is about 10 minutes away).

Which do you like better? I only go once every three weeks or so, so the extra travel time wouldn't be a terrible problem. I'm particularly drawn to their 'forever' warranty/return policy. Any opinions on which is better? How much is costco to join? I think my Sam's membership is $40/year

Wife and I joined both. Sams is cheaper, but the quality of Costco stuff appears to be a bit better. The Costco near us is cleaner and larger as well, though they may not be the case everywhere.

Sams caters more to small businesses, Costco to the consumer. If you're just a casual shopper, you probably won't notice much difference though.

[brainsmile]

Pizza tastes better at Sam's

[guiseppewv]

I have had a Sam's membership for about 7 years or so. The Sam's club in Fairmont, WV was great....the ones around here suck. The people are slow, not friendly, not helpful....bottom line their service sucks around here. I am switching to Costco. I have gone a few times with friends and they are much better in every way.

[DarkFury]

Sam's near me has worked out fine... and it is much closer to my house than the nearest Costco.

2 hours drive worth of gas (going and coming back) doesn't seem reasonable as a basis of a decision. You'll waste your "spending savings" in gas money to get there.

[Cubsfan]

2 hours drive worth of gas (going and coming back) doesn't seem reasonable as a basis of a decision. You'll waste your "spending savings" in gas money to get there.
You're absolutely right, but I happend to be in the area often enough that it wouldn't very far extra.

I guess the main reason I'm interested is the generous return policy. For instance, I would have definately bought my iPod there if I was a memeber. Do any of you find this to be of significant value?

[MrGreg]

I bought some 2-way radios for snowboarding at Costco in November. Last month one of them stopped holding a charge. I took them to costco, without my receipt, and explained the problem. They were able to look up my purchase and replaced them with a new set within about 10 minutes, and absolutely no hastle. I love Costco.

When I was living in Redondo Beach, I had a membership to Sams for a while. When it expired, I switched to a Costco that was closer. I found that for me, Costco was cleaner, the help was friendlier, and they had more items that I wanted to buy.

[DarkFury]

You're absolutely right, but I happend to be in the area often enough that it wouldn't very far extra.

I guess the main reason I'm interested is the generous return policy. For instance, I would have definately bought my iPod there if I was a memeber. Do any of you find this to be of significant value?
Me personally... that wouldn't be worth it unless you are buying something HUGE (I'm thinkin' Big screen HDTV here type huge)

But then again, I go to Sam's probably every 2 - 3 weeks (or as needed because it is close and they have some good deals on the stuff that I use frequently ... like washing powder, kitty litter, family sized portions of meat and other foods, etc...)

[Jeffbx]

Costco, without question.

People are friendlier & really seem to enjoy working there - I see the same people working there year after year. Store is cleaner, stock is better, plus the return policy can't be beat.

I has a Sam's membership for one year & never renewed it, but I shop at Costco all the time.

[kgsilvas]

...Any opinions on which is better? How much is costco to join? I think my Sam's membership is $40/year
I far prefer Costco over Sam's. The clean stores and far superior customer service are well worth the $45 annual fee for a general membership. We upgraded a year or so ago to Executive and it more than paid for itself.

The non-business consumer has a better selection at Costco IMHO. They offer a wide range of services to members too.

[LegendKiller]

In my eyes sams = wal mart. Wal mart = evil. Sams = evil.

Costco.

[wung]

the last time i checked, computers are no longer part of the 'forever' return policy ... i believe you can still return/exchange computers within 6 months though.

[ramazank2]

Pizza tastes better at Sam's

I have to disagree on this one. Costco pizza is superior, but not by much since they are both quite plain.

Back in the day Sam's had great chili dogs.......

[Itsme]

We have been with Costco here in Southern California for 10 years and love it. Once a year we get a "free day" coupon for Sams Club, so we go check it out and buy a few things (brands) we don't see in Costco...but have not seen anything great enough to make us want to change.

[zippyjuan]

Costco attracts better employees because they pay them more.

[bachviet]

Costco because of its return policy.

My co-worker returned a 42" Vizo plasma after near a year used because it had problem.

[Cheesypuff]

I also resonate with LK, SAMS = EVIL!!!

costco has the MOST lax return policy. I was the tresurer for the Chinese club at my college. We bought heads of cabbage for a fund raiser but didnt' use all the heads we bought....so we returned them to costco...AND THEY TOOK THEM BACK!!! :)

[Jenny]

No Costco around here. :(

[oblongmelon]

OoooOooo I love Sams!...
Great for discounted books, (but they need a bigger selection!)
Great Pork Loin (in taste and price)
Great for Halloween Candy supplies
Great for Dog and Cat food
Great for everything!
They give out so many samples you can go there and have your lunch from them all..
and speaking of lunch..I'm slightly addicted to their Hotdogs!

[Prisoner 24601]

I remember when a Sam's Club was open here in the Valley area and it closed pretty quickly because they had ONE of each thing (ie- no variety) so you HAD to take the ONE detergent, shampoo etc... they might have improved but in your case, I would stick with it just because of the drive!
I agree with the above that Sam's Club is evil. Price Club was 50xs better!

[Ladogaboy]

I haven't noticed much difference between the two, though I only go with friends.


I remember when a Sam's Club was open here in the Valley area and it closed pretty quickly because they had ONE of each thing (ie- no variety) so you HAD to take the ONE detergent, shampoo etc... they might have improved but in your case, I would stick with it just because of the drive!
I agree with the above that Sam's Club is evil. Price Club was 50xs better!

There is still a Sam's Club in "The Valley." It's up by the 118 in Sylmar/Pacoima.

[yippiekiyeh]

yep costco is great... where else can you get a plump hot dog and a drink for just a $1.50!!!

[MikeD]

where else can you get a plump hot dog and a drink for just a $1.50!!!

This begs, just begs, for a joke...:lick:

[ShawnLee]

This begs, just begs, for a joke...:lick:Hahaha! :lmfao:

I'm about to go off to Sam's right now. Yay! I like both.

[bendogg]

I'll vote for Costco as well. Their cakes are awesome and the pumpkin pies are to die from, uh, I mean for! Their gasoline is low-priced (it helps bigtime if you have an AMEX credit card) and so on. We only have one Sam's in San Diego and I was not overly impressed. They gave all the local residents a free 1-yr membership but I did not renew.

[Itsme]

I'll vote for Costco as well. Their cakes are awesome and the pumpkin pies are to die from, uh, I mean for! Their gasoline is low-priced (it helps bigtime if you have an AMEX credit card) and so on. We only have one Sam's in San Diego and I was not overly impressed. They gave all the local residents a free 1-yr membership but I did not renew.

There's a Sam's Club in north county - Vista.

[RIVERWIDOW]

In my eyes sams = wal mart. Wal mart = evil. Sams = evil.exactly rightCostco.Boo Hiss on Sam's club

[ski]

Sam's Club - I work across the street from one, and they have the same/similar food shop as Costco, so I can get the $1.50 deal from time to time, I like that :)

Costco - the closest one is 10 miles away, and I haven't joined it yet. I prefer to shop at Costco because Sam's seems to sell things in quantities that are overly abundant for a single guy living on his own (caters more to small biz)

[bendogg]

One quick note on the gasoline at both: You don't actually have to have a membership to get gas there. Sam's sells gas for a halfway decent price to anyone, and gives members 5 cents off per gallon. Costco requires a card, but just tell the gas station attendant that you don't have your card with you and they'll swipe theirs. Neither station takes cash.

[Nija]

In my eyes sams = wal mart. Wal mart = evil. Sams = evil.

Costco.
:stupid:

[Jihforce]

Costco. Never really liked anything related to Walmart. Walmart = low quality. Sams is just Walmart, with more low-quality stuff.