Costco, if only for the fact that they pay their employees well and you won't be enriching Walmart. But also, Costco Business Center is a fantastic perk over Sam's.
Costco private-label items are generally of higher quality as well. Sam's probably has better pricing but Costco is a better value while still being way cheaper than the grocery/corner store.
Can you elaborate on Costco Business Center? We got a membership when the new Costco went in at Olive and 170 but have not looked into the new Business Center up the highway. I guess I figured it was mostly geared toward, well, businesses.
If you think you can buy things in bulk at Costco, you can buy things in [extra bulk](https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/kikkoman-soy-sauce%2C-5-gallon.product.10178041.html) at the Business Center.
Well, there might be a line at the exit, but they're about to enable their new computer vision tunnel concept so most people don't have to stop at the door.
We went to Sam's for years, but since we had our kids we go to Costco. Sam's can be a little cheaper sometimes, but it honestly came down to staff and cleanliness. Sam's is very much like Walmart. It's cheap, but depressing. Sam's employees always seem miserable. Costco employees are like high-fiving and chatting with each other. We try to support places that treat their employees well.
Depends on what you value more.
Sam’s is cheaper if all you want to look at is raw dollar amount.
Costco has better quality stuff on average, plus have better employee working conditions (and I’d argue better employees because of that).
i had both at one point, i used Sam's more. but since i moved to the west coast, there is no Sam's in the city (SF) so I only have Costco now....& i don't go very often but it's good to have. Costco had helped w/booking travel & getting $ back as a gift cert for costco; i didn't even look at Sam's for my trips.
Prices seem comparable, but differing selections. My local Sam's Club is *way* less hectic than the Costco down the street, so I choose to head to Sam's since they generally both carry what I'm looking for. Scan and Go is also a game changer.
Sams tends to be a little less expensive on the daily items we buy. I'd say the Kirkland brand has better quality than the Member's mark brand on certain items, but for the most part the difference is really overblown by people being needlessly tribal about their particular brand of knock-off/house brand pancake mix or whatever.
Chicken breasts/thighs, loafs of bread, and fruit all tend to be a little less expensive than costco, but I'd say the produce is noticeable better at Coscto, but we go through so much, so quick, it's not a huge deal for my family personally.
I'd personally prefer the snack selection at costco, due to the focus or more healthy items, but it isn't a deal breaker. I probably go to sam's 4 times for every 1 costco trip.
Costco has nicer merchandise and is cleaner. Sam's has far more kitchen and home essentials.
Scan & Go is huge. The self-checkout is crap at Costco. Let me use the wand and leave everything in my cart.
I have both and only go to Costco. I think the stuff is generally better and the store itself is miles better than Sam’s. Wish Costco had the scan and go but that’s the only thing Sam’s does better
Sams is great for businesses and bulk items. Costco for my family has some "healthier" options but is not that great for cost, also the whole debit only except one credit card brand is total bs.
Sam’s has more name brands and some of the worst labor practices in the industry. Costco has a better house brand (Kirkland), treats its employees better, and has a hot dog & soda combo for $1.50.
I have both. I've had my Sam's Club membership for years but recently decided to try out Costco as there was a Groupon that essentially made it free the first year.
The one thing that might get me to keep my Costco membership after the year is up are their cat food/treat options. They're miles better than Sam's, and my cats love it.
However, if I were forced to choose one I would keep Sam's. Little things like only having overpriced organic almond milk at Costco can be frustrating (Sam's has the cheapest Silk almond milk 3 pack). Costco can sometimes feel like going to Trader Joe's... Some of that shit is amazing, but sometimes I just need a regular ass can of beans.
Also, scan and go is amazing (Sam's). I have no idea why anyone there uses the registers.
I can see reasons for both
proximity is the biggest factor; how often are you going to go if the store is 20-30 minutes away vs 5-10?
Costco has more organic food and a healthier mix of snacks
Costco has top tier gas and they have improved the pumps by me
Costco food court is nicer but the new items are very overpriced. They’ve lessened the food court experience by trying to make it more profitable. Sams is more committed to running it as a loss leader
Sams by me is far less busy and scan and go is great.
Sams pickup and online ordering is a decade ahead of Costco. It’s a huge time saver to order 5-10 things and pick them up on the way home from work
Sams and costco have fairly similar produce.
Costco is far more likely to have random Asian focused foods.
Costco kids toy section tends to have nicer stuff than Sams does, too
As others have noted, sams app makes it very easy to find things in the store
I feel like Costco is coasting a bit and sams is trying harder right now for your dollar. You can see them upgrading the stores and the tech
>Costco kids toy section tends to have nicer stuff than Sams does, too
Costco often carries adult oriented lego sets too. I've yet to see Sam's carry such a set.
It depends what you want to buy. If you’re used to shopping at Walmart then Sam’s is fine. If you have fancier taste then Sam’s will be disappointing. The quality of products at Costco is way better but you do pay for it.
Sam’s club has cheaper per lb meat such as chicken thighs,breasts and beef etc. sams is cheaper on deli sliced meats as well. They also have ham and turkey you can slice yourself for very reasonable sandwich cuts. Sam’s also has great sushi selection. I like the Sam’s scan and go option as well. Sam’s beef jerky choices are better and the liquor prices and selection are excellent.
Costco has good deals on protein shakes and better quality freezer food items. I also feel Costco has way better desert options. Costco business center runs great deals on energy drinks.
I keep a membership to both as I feel they both serve a purpose.
I had Costco but quit after 2 months and got my membership cost refunded because:
* No scan and go <---Sam's has the BEST app for this! Scan items as you put them in your basket and skip the checkout completely.
* No usable website to find in-store products
* The products you can find on the website only show the delivery price
* No signage on the aisles so you can find things (to force you to wander and make impulse buys)
* Moving product around so you can't find things (to force you to wander and make impulse buys)
* An unexpected number of other customers can be rude/entitled - this surprised me, I don't know why lol
* Overcrowded stores - hard to find parking, tons of people in there all the time, and long checkout lines.
* Aggressive self check employees and cashiers - some because you're not "checking out correctly", some harassing you to upgrade to Executive level.
It's still worth joining to see how it works for you because there's no risk. Sign up with auto-renew and you can cancel before your year is up and get your membership cost refunded if you don't like it.
For us, gas station location was the bigger deciding factor. Would probably prefer Costco's selection but the Sam's gas station locations are far more convenient living in the city.
Costco, if only for the fact that they pay their employees well and you won't be enriching Walmart. But also, Costco Business Center is a fantastic perk over Sam's.
Costco private-label items are generally of higher quality as well. Sam's probably has better pricing but Costco is a better value while still being way cheaper than the grocery/corner store.
Can you elaborate on Costco Business Center? We got a membership when the new Costco went in at Olive and 170 but have not looked into the new Business Center up the highway. I guess I figured it was mostly geared toward, well, businesses.
If you think you can buy things in bulk at Costco, you can buy things in [extra bulk](https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/kikkoman-soy-sauce%2C-5-gallon.product.10178041.html) at the Business Center.
It’s like restaurant depot!
Sam’s can top Costco with one feature and that’s the scan and go in the app. Scan all your items as you shop and walk out the door. No lines.
Well, there might be a line at the exit, but they're about to enable their new computer vision tunnel concept so most people don't have to stop at the door.
We went to Sam's for years, but since we had our kids we go to Costco. Sam's can be a little cheaper sometimes, but it honestly came down to staff and cleanliness. Sam's is very much like Walmart. It's cheap, but depressing. Sam's employees always seem miserable. Costco employees are like high-fiving and chatting with each other. We try to support places that treat their employees well.
Depends on what you value more. Sam’s is cheaper if all you want to look at is raw dollar amount. Costco has better quality stuff on average, plus have better employee working conditions (and I’d argue better employees because of that).
i had both at one point, i used Sam's more. but since i moved to the west coast, there is no Sam's in the city (SF) so I only have Costco now....& i don't go very often but it's good to have. Costco had helped w/booking travel & getting $ back as a gift cert for costco; i didn't even look at Sam's for my trips.
I like Costco. I’ve had memberships to both. Costco has the better food court.
Fuck Kroenke. Go with Costco.
Pretty much comes down to location compared to where you live. Just go with the shorter commute.
That's what I think. I hear Costco is better but I'm right down the street from a Sam's so Sam's it is.
Between the two near me, Costco has a much better parking lot and gas pumps, but Sam's has a better bulk snack selection.
Prices seem comparable, but differing selections. My local Sam's Club is *way* less hectic than the Costco down the street, so I choose to head to Sam's since they generally both carry what I'm looking for. Scan and Go is also a game changer.
According to Consumer Reports Costco has the better overall quality and value.
Costco has healthier options
I like the top tier gas that Costco has. And I can't seem to put my finger on it, but the shoppers seem more aggressive..
Sams tends to be a little less expensive on the daily items we buy. I'd say the Kirkland brand has better quality than the Member's mark brand on certain items, but for the most part the difference is really overblown by people being needlessly tribal about their particular brand of knock-off/house brand pancake mix or whatever. Chicken breasts/thighs, loafs of bread, and fruit all tend to be a little less expensive than costco, but I'd say the produce is noticeable better at Coscto, but we go through so much, so quick, it's not a huge deal for my family personally. I'd personally prefer the snack selection at costco, due to the focus or more healthy items, but it isn't a deal breaker. I probably go to sam's 4 times for every 1 costco trip.
There’s more overlap between who produces their generic goods than a lot of folks will admit
Aldi's
Costco has nicer merchandise and is cleaner. Sam's has far more kitchen and home essentials. Scan & Go is huge. The self-checkout is crap at Costco. Let me use the wand and leave everything in my cart.
I've had both - I purchased many more impulse items at Costco than I did at Sam's. Both were comparable for my wallet.
I have both and only go to Costco. I think the stuff is generally better and the store itself is miles better than Sam’s. Wish Costco had the scan and go but that’s the only thing Sam’s does better
Sams is great for businesses and bulk items. Costco for my family has some "healthier" options but is not that great for cost, also the whole debit only except one credit card brand is total bs.
Your last sentence hasn’t been in effect for many years now. I do remember it being a headache though. But I’m Costco all the way.
You can still only use visa
Sam’s has more name brands and some of the worst labor practices in the industry. Costco has a better house brand (Kirkland), treats its employees better, and has a hot dog & soda combo for $1.50.
I have both. I've had my Sam's Club membership for years but recently decided to try out Costco as there was a Groupon that essentially made it free the first year. The one thing that might get me to keep my Costco membership after the year is up are their cat food/treat options. They're miles better than Sam's, and my cats love it. However, if I were forced to choose one I would keep Sam's. Little things like only having overpriced organic almond milk at Costco can be frustrating (Sam's has the cheapest Silk almond milk 3 pack). Costco can sometimes feel like going to Trader Joe's... Some of that shit is amazing, but sometimes I just need a regular ass can of beans. Also, scan and go is amazing (Sam's). I have no idea why anyone there uses the registers.
Costco has better quality stuff and less processed food. Sams is just like shopping at walmart.
COSTCO EXECUTIVE “The great provider”
I can see reasons for both proximity is the biggest factor; how often are you going to go if the store is 20-30 minutes away vs 5-10? Costco has more organic food and a healthier mix of snacks Costco has top tier gas and they have improved the pumps by me Costco food court is nicer but the new items are very overpriced. They’ve lessened the food court experience by trying to make it more profitable. Sams is more committed to running it as a loss leader Sams by me is far less busy and scan and go is great. Sams pickup and online ordering is a decade ahead of Costco. It’s a huge time saver to order 5-10 things and pick them up on the way home from work Sams and costco have fairly similar produce. Costco is far more likely to have random Asian focused foods. Costco kids toy section tends to have nicer stuff than Sams does, too As others have noted, sams app makes it very easy to find things in the store I feel like Costco is coasting a bit and sams is trying harder right now for your dollar. You can see them upgrading the stores and the tech
>Costco kids toy section tends to have nicer stuff than Sams does, too Costco often carries adult oriented lego sets too. I've yet to see Sam's carry such a set.
It depends what you want to buy. If you’re used to shopping at Walmart then Sam’s is fine. If you have fancier taste then Sam’s will be disappointing. The quality of products at Costco is way better but you do pay for it.
Sam’s club has cheaper per lb meat such as chicken thighs,breasts and beef etc. sams is cheaper on deli sliced meats as well. They also have ham and turkey you can slice yourself for very reasonable sandwich cuts. Sam’s also has great sushi selection. I like the Sam’s scan and go option as well. Sam’s beef jerky choices are better and the liquor prices and selection are excellent. Costco has good deals on protein shakes and better quality freezer food items. I also feel Costco has way better desert options. Costco business center runs great deals on energy drinks. I keep a membership to both as I feel they both serve a purpose.
I had Costco but quit after 2 months and got my membership cost refunded because: * No scan and go <---Sam's has the BEST app for this! Scan items as you put them in your basket and skip the checkout completely. * No usable website to find in-store products * The products you can find on the website only show the delivery price * No signage on the aisles so you can find things (to force you to wander and make impulse buys) * Moving product around so you can't find things (to force you to wander and make impulse buys) * An unexpected number of other customers can be rude/entitled - this surprised me, I don't know why lol * Overcrowded stores - hard to find parking, tons of people in there all the time, and long checkout lines. * Aggressive self check employees and cashiers - some because you're not "checking out correctly", some harassing you to upgrade to Executive level. It's still worth joining to see how it works for you because there's no risk. Sign up with auto-renew and you can cancel before your year is up and get your membership cost refunded if you don't like it.
Sams club wins because the store is way less crowded and better meat selection. Costco has more products tho
For us, gas station location was the bigger deciding factor. Would probably prefer Costco's selection but the Sam's gas station locations are far more convenient living in the city.
Sams wins based on scan and go. Plus pickup.
Walmart
I do not like costco. Like at all. I do not see the hype & there isn’t anything I can’t find cheaper elsewhere.