Our Store Troopers compare Sam's Club and Costco -- Which is better?

Which is better definitely depends upon each person's individual needs and preferences. I have shopped at both stores and prefer Costco. I have found more organic and low-sodium/low-fat products which I like at Costco. Both carry NutriGrain bars, but I prefer the combination of flavors sold at Costco to that at Sam's. The gas is cheaper at Costco (Woodbury's Sam's Club is usually more than other metro locations). Unsalted butter at Sam's club is solid while Costco has quartered. Costco has self-checkout lanes for a faster exit and they take coupons (I don't think Sam's does). I was able to order personal checks as a member service for a little less than Sam's. Also, regarding Sam's Club costing more, I got a $10 store card when I joined Costco, so the membership was equal at $40. Finally, Costco is more convenient to drive to than Sam's Club.

U guys need to call Jenny

We love Costco. Everyone is trying to make do and get as much as possible for each dollar spent. Lately my family and I have been doing more research before buying anything, and have also done more online shopping and looked harder for better deals. We have not stopped spending, however.

One of the online sites we have found to be useful is: http://www.uberi.com

They do have some interesting bargains listed that are not available even on price search engines. We were able to get more for each dollar. Hope that's useful info for some.

For what it's worth we spend our winter in So. Cal. and have both a Sam's and Costco directly across the street from each other and have membership in both. Costco for meat, bakery and produce is far superior to Sam's. Good luck trying to find a parking spot at the Rancho Mirage Costco during the day. The help at Costco is better and if we had a Costco in the Dakota County area we would drop our Sam's membership in heartbeat. The Sam's in Eagan is nice, but we wish we had a Costco.

I was cheated at Sams Club twice. Once on tires and another time on a coupon they passed out. I hate getting cheated by the big guy especially when the wont answer your complaint.

johnjuan wrote:

I was cheated at Sams Club twice. Once on tires and another time on a coupon they passed out. I hate getting cheated by the big guy especially when the wont answer your complaint.

Please tell us more...

You feed your kids pop tarts on a regular basis and you're going to judge a store on the basis of whether it carries pop tarts or a pop tart like product? How about how they have cage free eggs for almost the same price as regular eggs? Or the cost of milk is significantly lower? Or the fact that you can get a package of four steaks for $25?
Costco has also been introducing a lot of organic products--which is very nice to see. Again, they're reasonably priced in comparison to regular products.
They also pay a livable wage and provide good benefits to their employees. We should all support business who treat their employees well.

Well....I have been a member at Sam's for years. I have made the switch to Costco because they have better groceries. I don't buy clothes and electronics from Sam's or Costco, so that stuff doesn't weigh in on my decision.

The meat is much nicer, they have wild caught fish,...a healthier choice. The best part is the prices are very close to the main-stream products.

If you feed your family pop tarts then you could probably shop at a gas station and be just fine. My family chooses to eat healthier and Costco makes it much easier to afford.

The livable wage thing is huge. Sam's has comparable prices and pays their employees $7 per hour less....something wrong there.

You can get a 160 GB Ipod at Best Buy for $249.99. And, you don't have to be a member.

And, if you're a Rewards Zone member, you would get $12.50 in Best Buy bucks.

anotherdad wrote:

You feed your kids pop tarts on a regular basis and you're going to judge a store on the basis of whether it carries pop tarts or a pop tart like product? How about how they have cage free eggs for almost the same price as regular eggs? Or the cost of milk is significantly lower? Or the fact that you can get a package of four steaks for $25?
Costco has also been introducing a lot of organic products--which is very nice to see. Again, they're reasonably priced in comparison to regular products.
They also pay a livable wage and provide good benefits to their employees. We should all support business who treat their employees well.

All well and good, but just be aware that if it is a certified organic product, that doesn't mean that it is any better for you...

Sarah Bober, you are an idiot. "If I didn't have an issue with Sam's Club's conservative leanings..." Really? You don't shop at Sam's club b/c they lean conservative? If people followed you reasoning the entertainment business (movies, music) would cease because half of the country would not view/listen because they "lean" liberal. Good lord.

Adam wrote:

<quoted text> All well and good, but just be aware that if it is a certified organic product, that doesn't mean that it is any better for you...

Absolutely true. I bought Organic Oreos at Costco. They are still oreos and still bad for you even if they are made out of ingredients that are better quality.

But the idea of having organic product, good or bad for you, available at a reasonable cost is what we all need. Then you can make the choice without having cost be a major factor.

anotherdad wrote:

<quoted text>
Absolutely true. I bought Organic Oreos at Costco. They are still oreos and still bad for you even if they are made out of ingredients that are better quality.
But the idea of having organic product, good or bad for you, available at a reasonable cost is what we all need. Then you can make the choice without having cost be a major factor.

GOOD POINT!

Just double checking- Costco takes coupons? I am a Sam's member and don't see myself making the drive to Maplewood for Costco but if they take coupons I would definitely be waiting to sign up if a store opened a little bit closer to home.

Costco has much better quality meat than Sam's Club. Everything else is pretty much the same.

We have a membership at both Sam's and Costco. Prefer Costco. The only reason we keep the Sam's card is we love their Border chips and I get my Slim Fast there. Doesn't sound like a good conbination, does it? But within reason.... Costco has a better meat dept., love their organic 1% milk. Nicer clothing. Better quality all around. Got an office mat at Sam's and it was a disaster so took it back and got Costco's. Better quality. Oh the other reason for having a Sam's card is our daughter lives in Clarksville, Tenn. and when we visit there twice a year the closest Costco is in the Frankin area. So Sam's is more convenient. Gas is cheaper at Costco, also.

Dee wrote:

We have a membership at both Sam's and Costco. Prefer Costco. The only reason we keep the Sam's card is we love their Border chips and I get my Slim Fast there. Doesn't sound like a good conbination, does it? But within reason.... Costco has a better meat dept., love their organic 1% milk. Nicer clothing. Better quality all around. Got an office mat at Sam's and it was a disaster so took it back and got Costco's. Better quality. Oh the other reason for having a Sam's card is our daughter lives in Clarksville, Tenn. and when we visit there twice a year the closest Costco is in the Frankin area. So Sam's is more convenient. Gas is cheaper at Costco, also.

if YOU QUIT THE BORDER CHIPS YOU WOULDN'T NEED THE SLIM FAST..........

Sarah wrote:

Just double checking- Costco takes coupons? I am a Sam's member and don't see myself making the drive to Maplewood for Costco but if they take coupons I would definitely be waiting to sign up if a store opened a little bit closer to home.

I have only used "Costco" coupons, but it is worth a call. The coupons Costco sends out monthly are awesome....great deals.

I am going to Costco today, so I'll ask about the coupons and post an answer later.

Been buying gas at Costco for years. Always .15 less than SA or BP.

Dropped the Sam's membership a year ago, low cost food wasn't worth the real cost. Sam's feels like walking into some dirty ally in a bad gangster movie to buy food under the table. Everything that should be fresh smells odd, and everything in a box looks like it fell off the back of a truck and was just thrown on a shelf. And every time you buy something there your kicking an minimum wage worker in the groin.