I have never done this warehouse shopping but I would like to try it. Is there any discernable difference between Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club?
In my experience, Costco has better quality generally and larger sized food quantities. Costco also has better car rental rates and nice prices on cruises. The merchandise selection between Sam’s and Costco is slightly different, tho there is some overlap.
@HarvestMoon1 , We had a Sam’s Club open up recently( closer to us than our Costco that we have been members of for years). I mentioned checking it out but my husband wants to stick with Costco. He says they seem to be known for treating their employees well, better than Walmart and Sam’s Club. Not sure if that is true but that is his perception and since I like Costco, I see no reason to push the Sam’s Club idea on him! I did check out Sam’s Club by myself when they first opened ( with a pass they had for checking things out). The store was fine but not interesting enough for me either to switch from Costco.
We have gotten great filet of beef roast from Costco the last three years for Christmas. Delicious with horseradish cream. We have gotten a two pack of small spanish olives for years for $4 something. When we went to Costco the last time, they did not have them. I sure hope that was temporary and they bring them back!
@sevmom, where I live there’s a distinct difference in clientele between Sam’s Club & Costco. The latter absolutely appeals to the more upscale shopper while Sam’s Club is very much geared toward the more frugal Latino shopper. (I live in Denver where there are lots of Latinos.) Costco attracts a more multi-ethnic, but still a more well-to-do, clientele.
Here is an article I found that is interesting in terms of Costco vs. Sam’s Club. I do like Costco and we have been members for many years. We don’t go often and focus on what we need and use when we do, trying to steer clear of buying too much. I do much more of my general shopping at my local grocery stores but like having Costco there. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/16/sams-club-vs-costco_n_5332306.html
I love Costco and if I could only pick one, that’s the one I’d pick. For a few years I worked near a BJ’s, and it does have a few things to recommend it. At the time, it took Visa and Costco did not (about to change) so I could just buy gas at the pump. Costco involved buying a gift card and then using that. BJ’s has many things in a more convenient size. Our BJ’s also had a deli that was wonderful, better than the local grocery store and cheaper. You could buy a gallon of milk and not two. Many options for cheese and salads without having to buy enough for 6 or 8 people. BJ’s also takes manufacturers’ coupons.
Eye glasses? Costco is better. Cakes? Toss up.
We have no BJ’s in HI, so I don’t have an opinion about that. We do have a Cosco that is visited by us at least once a week, often more. It does have more upscale shoppers in our experience than Sam’s Club.
The nearest Sam’s Club to our home is directly above WalMart. Our health insurer is right next door. The insurer has noted a huge uptick in violent crime since the two stores were built beside them.
We don’t have BJ’s, but I would not trade my Costco membership for another club. I get greeted by people working at my local warehouse who have been working there since before we joined 22 years ago! 
We have used Costco for annual plants, rose bushes, glasses, contacts, jewelry, vacations, cars, tires, TVs, bedding, towels, luggage, and furniture in addition to groceries. What I appreciate about Costco is that they vet the products they offer so that you will never get anything that is objectively bad. If Costco decides to offer a product or service, it’s generally at least OK and often excellent. There is so much choice out there in our consumer economy that it gets exhausting. The value of a Costco membership is that they do the vetting for you.
On a regular basis, I buy coffee, cereal, hummus, pretzel chips, milk, fresh produce that lasts awhile (i.e. apples, brussels sprouts and asparagus), bread ( I put it in the freezer), unsalted nuts, meats for the freezer (chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, ground beef, beef filets), figs, cheese, OTC medications and vitamins, body lotion, toothpaste, underwear and socks, canned vegetables (including tomato products),and cleaning products.
Our local Costco does not offer wine/spirits and gasoline, but I know some do.
The best things, IMHO opinion about costco are the super friendly staff, overall high quality of merchandise, reasonable prices and exceptional return policy.
We had BJs for years because they were closer. We have switched to Costco because the quality and selection were so much better. We do not have Sam’s Club close so can’t compare. Besides that, they treat their employees right and we support that http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/reasons-love-costco_n_4275774.html
I belong to both Costco and BJ’s and have tried out Sam’s club when they have a membership sale that makes the cost next to nothing. Costco is my favorite, but it’s also the furthest away at 45 minutes, and why I joined BJ’s. BJ’'s is maybe 10-15 minutes away by back roads and it’s new and clean. I agree with the above posters with reasons to prefer Costco - I like how they vet their store brand products and how they value their employees enough to pay them a living wage and offer health benefits. I’ve bought prescription glasses at BJ’s and Costco and found the quality comparable. I’ve bought tires at BJ’s and Costco and think the Costco ones were better with a better warranty.
I have both BJ and Costco memberships, and their stores are equidistant from my house. I prefer some of the grocery and meat items carried at BJ. I like that BJ has a deli section where I can order my deli meats sliced to order. I prefer their milk selection compared to Costco. I like that BJ has items other than in the large bulk sizes than Costco, and with more name brands. I buy my tires at Costco, and also the large electronic purchases like the TVs with their extended warranties that Costco provides at no cost.
The BJs here is too far away to be practical. The only thing that was the least bit attractive is that they take coupons. I gave up our SAMs membership years ago. Only keep Costco.
Costco and Sam’s is within a mile of each other here and I go to both. Keep thinking that since we longer have kids living here I only need one and although I do shop at Costco more often, I can’t give Sam’s up yet. Their packages of meats, bread, fruits and vegetables are just slightly smaller, they carry the rice I like and at Christmas time, their selection of gifts tends to be what I like. The cost of membership at Sam’s is less so I will keep it up for awhile.
So what do I buy? Fruit, Tires, gas, printer ink, flowers.
Has Costco started sending out the new cards yet?
We got ours.
Ours came in the mail yesterday.
We just got ours. Due to lots of issues my folks have had with Citi, I won’t be using their credit card but use my CapitolOne Visa instead.