Sam's, or Costco??

[Freeman]

If you have or had a "membership" to these places, can you tell me which you prefer & why? I think I'd primarily use a membership for food & baby stuff, including clothes, etc. I'm having twins soon and already have a 5 and 2 year-old (yikes!)

[cschick]

Originally Posted by Freeman

If you have or had a "membership" to these places, can you tell me which you prefer & why? I think I'd primarily use a membership for food & baby stuff, including clothes, etc. I'm having twins soon and already have a 5 and 2 year-old (yikes!)

Which one is closest to your house?

We have Sam's but simply because I've always worked somewhere with a Sam's corporate membership sign up. (You can put up to 8 employees on a Sam's corporate membership and it's $35 per member rather than $40 per member.)

I've checked out Costco (because it's closer to my house!) and it seems that probably about 90% of what Sam's carries, Costco carries. They have some slightly different vendor agreements.

I don't think either of them is good for clothing though. I can get much better deals on kid's clothing elsewhere. They carry really expensive kid's clothing at a price that is a discount from really expensive, but still not worth the money. I go to the outlet mall (Carters, TCP, Gymboree are all there) or haunt the clearance racks at Old Navy/Target.

[staceychev]

I don't have a membership with either, but have shopped both and they seem pretty comparable. That being said, I'd choose Costco any day of the week because I appreciate their corporate values in terms of their employees and, believe it or not, their food monitoring standards (especially for meats).

[TiredX2]

100% Costco based on employment practices. Sam's is Walmart

[xJewelx]

I've always shopped at Costco and have a membership there now, so I can't really compare the two. I've been to Sam's Club maybe once, but that was years ago. I buy a lot of my food at Costco, especially fruits and veggies. In my area, they carry a good amount of organic items, which I love. I generally don't buy clothing there, but they have great quality clothes for a good price. If you're looking for cheaper prices on clothes, Costco wouldn't be the place. At Costco, they have a membership that gives you 2% cash back on your purchases at the end of the year, so if you're going to shop a lot, I'd recommend that one.

[Ola_]

We also have a Costco membership instead of Sam's due to the employment practices issue and the fact that Sam's is owned by WalMart. We actually have to go to the next town over for the Costco whereas the Sams is in our town, but it is worth it to me (and those bulk/stock-up trips are not something we do each week anyway).

I find the store very good. Here in Canada we don't have as much cool stuff as in the US stores, less selection in organics, etc. But the Kirkland brand stuff I've tried is excellent quality. I also really like that they stand behind everything they sell - so if you need to return items even way later for a good reason they will do it. We also get our prescriptions there and the fees are much lower than I've found elsewhere.

I second the recommendation to get the higher membership to get the percentage back (ours is $100/year instead of the usual $55). Here what they do is if you don't earn enough money back to make up the difference between the two (i.e. at least $45) they will give that amount back to you. So it's a win-win IMO unless you won't get even close. The membership fee is also refundable if you decide you don't like it, which I liked because I wasn't sure if we'd use it for just DH and I (but we get stuff for our pets and for family there so it is worth it).

[artgoddess]

Never been to a Sam's Club (won't shop walmart) so I can't compare. We do have a Costco card I'm about to give up, I can just ask my dad to take me when he visits, which is monthly. We like the meats, I buy a bulk package of pork roasts and freeze them etc. I have gotten some good deals on carter's clothes for the kids. I just don't know that I shop there often enough to actually save more than $50 a year plus the gas since it's 15 minute drive to Costco and I can walk every other store I shop.

[KariM]

I've had both over the years and right now we only keep up the Costco membership.

For baby clothes, I like the brands and quality at Costco better than Sam's Club.

For healthy foods, I like the options at Costco better.

For toys, I like the offerings at Costco better (more natural-ish toys and toys I'd be more likely to buy for our kids).

I've also found that I prefer the Kirkland (Costco store brand) baby wipes better than Sam's Club. In general, I really like the Kirkland products.

[leavemealone]

I've been a member at both places and I think Costco is way better than Sam's. Better selection of food and better quality of their store brand. I don't think I have ever bought anything Kirkland brand that I didn't like as well as the brand name.

[jewelsJZ]

Both stores will let you have a pass for the day and look around. Maybe you could see what each one has and then decide. I think it really depends on the types of products and the brands that your particular family would use.
For example, if you buy Pampers brand diapers, Costco doesn't sell them. They also no longer carry Coca-cola products.
I like all of the organic things that Costco offers, their store brand wipes and diapers, dishwasher soap, toilet paper, etc. So that is why we stick with Costco vs. the Sam's Club that is the same distance.

[leavemealone]

Originally Posted by jewelsJZ

They also no longer carry Coca-cola products.
I like all of the organic things that Costco offers, their store brand wipes and diapers, dishwasher soap, toilet paper, etc.

Thankfully, the Coke situation has been resolved! DH is a major Diet Coke consumer and when it's not on sale at other stores, he gets it from Costco. I don't know if he could live without his Diet Coke. LOL They didn't carry it for a couple weeks, but it's back in Costco now - I saw it there over the weekend. Costco also changed their diaper wipes recently and I don't like them as much now, but others may have a different opinion.

[mumkimum]

We've had a Sams membership in the past (and kept it longer than we meant to just for a particular brand of tortilla chips we loved there ). We currently have a Costco membership for the past few years.

For us, it's closer and we've come to like the produce and organic eggs. Never used baby stuff from there (though sometimes there are decent car seat deals). Kids-clothing wise, there's been some okay stuff we've seen and gotten at Costco - carter outfits and kirkland brand organic cotton pj's. Sometimes shoes.

[Fuamami]

A friend of mine was just telling me that the average (so this includes the CEOs) salary at Wal-Mart was ~$9/hour. Costco's is ~$17. I didn't check it out, though she's a pretty reputable source.

[feminist~mama]

As other posters have mentioned, Sam's is Walmart... Costco does pay employees well, which makes me feel good about shopping there. I'm not sure about Sam's, but Costco also carries a few locally made products, which I love!

[chiromamma]

This is an excellent piece from the NYT about what a good company Costco is.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/bu.../17costco.html

[34me]

We have memberships at both. Even though I hate it, there are 2 Sam's Clubs on my way hole from work while I have to go almost 50 miles to get to Costco. Sam's has a lot of organics in my area which is awesome and their meat is butchered in house. Costco has much better prices on Odwalla juices and they carry Mexican Coke (no HFCS). Around the holidays Costco also carries giftcards at discounted prices.

[Freeman]

Which has the better deals on diapers? I'd like to say I'll be CD'ing, but with twins and a 2 year-old, I'm sure I'll need some paper dipes and pull-ups, too.

[EFmom]

We don't have Costco around here or I'd join. Sam's is Walmart, so no way I would ever join,even if they gave away the stuff for free.

We do have BJs. I've had a membership on and off, but currently don't have one. In general, it doesn't save a great deal of money as I can find most things cheaper on sale.

[bjorker]

As others have said, 110% Costco based on their business practises. They are based in my area and I've heard a lot about them-- none of which is bad. Nothing. Which is farrrrrrrr from what I can say about Walmart.

[jewelsJZ]

Originally Posted by Freeman

Which has the better deals on diapers? I'd like to say I'll be CD'ing, but with twins and a 2 year-old, I'm sure I'll need some paper dipes and pull-ups, too.

I'm not sure what Sam's carries, but I do like the Costco brand diapers. They are comparable to Pampers, IMO. We use them when we are not using cloth. I did a price comparison between Costco, Target's Pampers prices and a couple other stores. IMO, Costco's Kirkland brand diapers were the best quality for a great price.