Which is cheaper, Sams or Costco? (Mart: coupons, credit card, to buy)

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by nmnita

that depends on the store, not the chain itself. The newer Sams are huge and very clean, just like the newer Coscos. The older ones regardless are like anything older, not quite as nice.

To the OP, I realize you didn't ask about which one was cleaner, you asked about which one was cheaper. That depends on what you are buying I think. For the most part the prices are quite similar. One will have something for $5.75, the other the same item for $6.15 but another item will be the opposite.

We belonged to both in Texas, when we moved to NM we decided to stick with only Sam's cause we didn't think we needed both and we had been members of Sams longer. That was our sole reason, nothing else. Of coures here in AR we have no choice. It is Wal-Mart world.

Oh and I will add one thing, dumpy Wal-Marts, that again depends on where you live and how new the stores are. The new ones in Dallas and here are far from dumpy.

Sam's versus Cosco, it is simply a matter of preferance, maybe location, maybe something else. I think they both offer a good product for the $$.

Nita

yes. i think that you are right about that. when i posted the original, i was thinking about the sams in corpus christi. it is the ONLY volume discount store in CC, so i suppose that they don't HAVE to look clean.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by davi78239

We have been Costco members for going on 2 years and are very pleased with it. My wife recently went into a Sam's and said she wasn't all that impressed and that Costco was better. All the people I have spoken with all seem to prefer Costco over Sam's but I guess it's personal opinion. I think Costco might run things a tad pricer than Sam's but then again Costco (and I've read this before in the Business journal when they were coming in the SA market) is suppose to appeal to a more "upscale" crowd and has more of a Higher end product than Sam's. I also think that Costco might sell more clothes, sheets for bedrooms, pillows, and other stuff like that more so than Sam's does from what I've heard. I myself haven't been into a Sam's since 1993 when they use to let anyone in. I've been wanting to get in somehow just to compare the two and see for myself. Also, not to long ago, I saw this article on AOL I think it was and they had ranked about 63 grocery chains, supermarkets around the country and I believe Costco came in at #7 overall while Sam's and Walmart rounded out way down in the late 40's or 50's. They came up with this based on store cleanliness, Customer service, quality, and price just to name a few aspects. Maybe that'll help you decide a little bit but like I said, it's all personal opinion. Kinda off topic, HEB ranked #19 in this same survey.

Boy, we have belonged to Sams for almost that long and to my knowledge they never let everyone in. Maybe the first year or so, I can't be sure of course. Price club is now Cosco, so maybe that is what was free for awhile. I don't know. As for selling more white items like sheets I don't know, but cloths you could be right.

I don't put too much into those articles. Here is one example, Cosco stores are relativel new compared to Sams, so I am sure overall they may be a little cleaner looking or maybe period.

I still, after belonging to both see little differnece. I do agree, because of the newness Cosco stores are nicer. The same can be said about the newer Sam's stores. As for attracting a more upscale crowd, don't tell that to people in Southlake, TX or Flower Mound.

Nita

[cheermomof4girls]

I have a Costco membership and my sister in law has Sam's. She is talking about changing to Costco, because she said she likes it better. I remember hearing somewhere that the Costco brand, Kirklands, has several items that rank high in comsumer reports vs Sams.

[lonestar2007]

Doesn't the yearly membership fee cost more for Costco vs Sams? I belong to Sams and the membership fee is $35.00 and I believe the Costco is $50.00. When Costco first opened in Fort Worth they were giving out trial memberships and I went a few times, but they are farther away from me vs Sam's and I didn't see that much difference in what they carried and the price. Like everyone has said, cheaper on one thing, higher on the next...no different than grocery stores.

If there is a $15.00 difference, you might want to take that into consideration. Let's say a box of laundry soap is $1.00 cheaper at Costco's than Sams...it's going to take 15 boxes to make up that difference.

I know spices are so much cheaper at Sams than at the grocery store (where they are sky high) and that alone makes a big dent in the inital membership fee. They come in large containers, but no problem, I just take out an amount and put it in my small jars and store the the rest in the freezer. It's a good savings. Ditto on a lot of stuff.

[outafocus]

Sam's is $40, and Costco is $50. I have both, but the Sam's will expire in October. I am not going to renew it. Costco is worth the extra $10.

ALL the Kirkland products are EXCELLENT. Kirkland bottled green tea is better than Lipton or Nestea, and you can get 35 bottles of it for $9.69! Costco has higher quality name brand products, too.

The only thing Sam's has over Costco is the size of the drinks you get with a hotdog at the snack bar. Sam's gives a 32 oz drink for the same price Costco gives a 20 oz drink.

[Huckleberry3911948]

gota be careful at both, pick and choose the sale items often i walked next door to walmart and did much better.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

gota be careful at both, pick and choose the sale items often i walked next door to walmart and did much better.

Huckleberry, I have found the same. I watch everything I buy. Usually Sam's is cheaper, but I have seen many times where our local small grocery store is better. One thing Sams has over most other stores, their meat. It is really good.

Nita

[Politicalguru]

I have found Costco to be cheaper, and gave up my Sam's membership. Costco also carry's a higher end product in their furniture and specials merchandise.

[Politicalguru]

Oh and if you buy enough the executive membership pays for itself (2% back on everything you purchase) and you still get a check at the end of the year. Mine was over 300.00 this year!

[lonestar2007]

You are right on the mark here.

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

gota be careful at both, pick and choose the sale items often i walked next door to walmart and did much better.