<p>IMO Costco has better quality products. This certainly turned out to be the case with their respective “store brand” pet foods.</p>
<p>I am currently a Sam’s club member because I came from an area that did not have a Costco. However, now (for going on to years) I live in a very large city where both are available. Does anyone know what is the difference between the two, if there is any? Is one cheaper than the other or have better products? I know I could probably do the research myself i.e try to visit a Costco, but I work long hours. Just looking for your input because I have a hunch that the CC crowd has a lot of experience with this. :)</p>
<p>I have memberships to both… I have to say I like Sam’s a little better for food stuff.</p>
<p>We’ve belonged to both for about 15 years; Costco for almost 25 (since when it was Price Club.) When we lived in NJ, the Sam’s was about 2 miles from my house and the Costco about 15 miles (which in Central Jersey traffic could take 45 minutes) plus my FIL’s business membership allowed us to join on for Sam’s for only $5/year. I’ve always preferred Costco.</p>
<p>Where we live now, the Costco & Sam’s are within about a mile of one another. We have the Executive Membership for Costco so that costs $100 but we get a percentage back at the end of the year which usually ends up just about $90. We buy all our contacts, eyeglasses, and tires there. I think the Costco meat department is a much higher quality than Sam’s. In addition, the Kirkland brand (Costco’s house brand) is usually ranked above national brands by Consumer Reports. I buy Kirkland laundry detergent, fabric softener, dishwasher liquid, cashmere sweaters, etc. </p>
<p>The reason we have both, is that there are a few items that Sam’s carries that Costco doesn’t and they’re things that we like & use. We could probably find smaller packages of them at WalMart since they’re the same corporate family, but the higher cost over the course of the year justifies the $40 annual Sam’s membership. Plus their gas is almost always the cheapest in town.</p>
<p>I’ve been told that Costco has better employment practices, if you care about that (I do!). We have no Sam’s in our state that I’m aware of. We have a Costco about half an hour away. For us, I think any savings would be eaten up by gas costs.</p>
<p>I am always struck at how long folks have worked at our local Costco. There are a number of folks who have been there since it opened in 1992. My understanding is that folks are paid well, treated well, and given opportunities to grow. Works for me!</p>
<p>Plus, I have become fond of their non-fat chocolate frozen yogurt.</p>
<p>I’ve also been a member of both for over 15 years. Now that we have no kids at home, I keep thinking that I’d give up one but I can’t decide which. I do like the Kirkland brand and the coupons from Costco, but Sam’s has stuff that Costco doesn’t carry and I would have a tough time giving those up.</p>
<p>When I originallly posted for some reason I was in the mindset that I should be a member of one or the other. Now I realize I should look at the cost-benefit of maybe having both…distance from my place to Costco or Sam’s is not an issue which is why I was looking for input on the differences between the two. I’m in Houston which is not only big, but you need to drive a good bit to get anywhere!</p>
<p>We belong to both, but I prefer Costco. The benefit of the Sams near us is that it is never very crowded whereas Costco is always a zoo.</p>
<p>Anyone who complains their local Costco is a zoo needs to try the Crystal City (Washington DC) Costco. Think Black Friday crowds on a regular day…</p>
<p>For more upscale stuff, Costco hands down.</p>
<p>We belong to both Sams and Costco. We generally find Costco has better quality merchandise than Sams. Costco meat and produce is restaurant quality at a cheaper where Sams is not and is often priced less. Costco is also the best place we have found to purchase electronics even leather furniture. The only drawback to Costco that we have experienced is a recent change in some stores on the West Coast and one in our state where the stores have recently changed to a Costco business center…it is totally useless to us.</p>
<p>Some items we love from Costco: meat, produce, furniture, electronics, towels, sheets, seasonal items, Christmas decor, ink cartridges, printers, cameras, GPS units, Kirkland brand items, satisfaction guarantee on each and every purchase or your money back</p>
<p>turbo, you should try the Kirkland store (the one near the former Costco headquarters, hence the name Kirkland Signature; the headquarters have been moved to Issaquah, but I guess not too many folks living outside of WA can pronounce “Issaquah” properly). The parking lot around that one… Oy.</p>
<p>I won’t set foot in our local Costco on the weekends. Am glad I can get there during the week and avoid the mobs.</p>
<p>Lol, BunsenBurner. I used to sneak in the back way and park by the gas station at the Issaquah Costco, but now that they’ve added more pumps I’m trying out new easy ways in and out of that parking lot.</p>
<p>I’ve stopped getting meat at the grocery store because Costco’s is so much better. My mother belonged to Sam’s Club back in the Midwest, but she switched after I took her to Costco during a visit. Isn’t there an old thread about what people buy at Costco?</p>
<p>Costco has a significant majority of eployees in unions, but it has union peace since it treats it’s employees well. Starting salaries are at lest $10 an hour–well above minimum wage–and health insurance is available to any employee. The CEO takes only a six figure salary, which means the wage disparity between the shop floor and the executive office is far less than in peer corporations, although, to be fair, that CEO has significant stock holdings, so he is quite wealthy on paper. </p>
<p>[Costco’s</a> love of labor: Employees’ well-being key to its success - seattlepi.com](<a href=“http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Costco-s-love-of-labor-Employees-well-being-key-1140722.php]Costco’s”>http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Costco-s-love-of-labor-Employees-well-being-key-1140722.php)</p>
<p>I have a local Costco, which is a delight. I buy fruit, baking supplies, cooked chickens, books, DVDs, and look for seasonal items. Employees are here for years. Some people come to eat lunch, as that line is usually long. Oh yeah, I get my prescriptions there. When I was packing lunches, I’d buy snacks and breakfast bars. When son was in HS, I’d pick up fruit platters or vegetable platters on Friday. We usually do well buying tvs or monitors, paper goods.</p>
<p>When I lived in CA, it was a long drive to Costco, and the lines to buy or return where very long. I only went on occasion to stock up on tissues, T.P., paper towels, or to purchase new tires.</p>
<p>Here is a comparison:</p>
<p>[Costco</a> or Sam’s Club](<a href=“http://www.cheapism.com/sams-or-costco]Costco”>Costco vs. Sam's Club: Prices for 31 Popular Products & Services)</p>
<p>If you have a BJs Wholesale in your area, I would recommend adding them to the comparison. Some of their products are better than both Costco and Sams. For other products, Costco may be the best. It’s all a matter of personal preference.</p>
<p>We have been members of Costco for over twenty years first joining the Price Club in Fairfax VA in 1990. I don’t believe that I have ever been in a Sam’s Club. </p>
<p>When I moved from NoVA to Madison WI in 2004 I missed two things from the DC Metro area–my wife and Costco. The nearest Costcos were in the Chicago area and I used to do Mapquests plotting out routes to places I was totally unfamiliar with. I could never seem to manage to do the drive. I was living in an apartment then by myself and I wasn’t sure where I would put 24 rolls of toilet paper. </p>
<p>My wife joined me in Madison in 2007 and Costco came to Middleton shortly thereafter. I felt I had everything I needed.</p>
<p>Interesting Costco vs. Sam’s article . ^^^^ I didn’t know you could book rental cars through Costco - has anyone done that???</p>
<p>I originally belonged to Sam’s, decided to try Costco when it came to town for a year. Haven’t been back to Sam’s since. In our town, Costco seemed better quality items and just a much more pleasant shopping experience - it’s busy, but somehow flows better - check out is fast and organized well.</p>