Costco > Sams. Went to Costco for the first time today

[AnyMal]

Looks like civilization has finally came to our boondocks (Louisville) :laugh: A brand new Costco (first in the state) opened today and I went for the Grand Opening. Aside from the mad crowd waiting for limited number of Elmo toys, it was a fun trip. I sure won't be going back to Sam's, not to mention Costco is about 5 minute drive for me versus 20+ mins to Sam's.

I know where I'll be doing most of my shopping from now on

 

[Pocatello]

Still waiting for one in my area. I don't understand why Costco opened a store in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho where it's more of a national forest than a city. but not in south east Idaho where we have more than 100K people.

 

[Baked]

Did they have enough hot dogs and polish?

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: Baked
Did they have enough hot dogs and polish?

Have no idea. Had TONS of free food samples. I walked out stuffed and without spending a dime

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: Baked
Did they have enough hot dogs and polish?

Have no idea. Had TONS of free food samples. I walked out stuffed and without spending a dime

They tend to do that a lot. You haven't truly seen the awesomeness of Costco until you have an issue with something you bought. A lifetime warranty on anything you buy is so great.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: Baked
Did they have enough hot dogs and polish?

Have no idea. Had TONS of free food samples. I walked out stuffed and without spending a dime

They tend to do that a lot. You haven't truly seen the awesomeness of Costco until you have an issue with something you bought. A lifetime warranty on anything you buy is so great.

I've been hearing about that a lot. Is it really that easy? Just seems like a perfect opportunity for all kinds of scammers.

 

[Trey22]

Love Costco, we eat dinner for free there every Friday nite.

I kid, I kid!

 

[Kelemvor]

I have a Sam's 10 minutes from me. We have no COstco's around here but they are supposedly building one but it will be at least 40 minutes away. Doubt I'll go there unless I know they have something special there.

 

[KarenMarie]

i am ready to go looking at costco after 10 years with sams.

i am tired of buying bags/sack of fruit and veg that are mostly rotten when I open them. I am tired of kids as managers who don't give a crap about customer service. and i am tired of trying to navigate a store that has all the products stocked with the spanish side out... as well as the aisle signs in spanish first. Not surprising, since most of the staff barely speak english. and I am tired of shopping in a dirty store. And to be honest... Wal-Mart is worse.

yep... i think i will start looking at alternatives.

 

[waggy]

man wish we had a Costco near where i live. Rockford really needs one.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Looks like civilization has finally came to our boondocks (Louisville) :laugh: A brand new Costco (first in the state) opened today and I went for the Grand Opening. Aside from the mad crowd waiting for limited number of Elmo toys, it was a fun trip. I sure won't be going back to Sam's, not to mention Costco is about 5 minute drive for me versus 20+ mins to Sam's.

I know where I'll be doing most of my shopping from now on

So you went, eh? Today was the opening?

I'm looking forward to it. It's very close to me.

 

[Kanalua]

Costco is about 15 minutes away from me, Sam's is about 2 minutes away. Sam's usually wins.

For some reason here in Hawaii, Sam's is the better store (at least the Ke`aumoku site)...better selection...

the winner for me:
1) Sam's has Spicy Ahi Poke (and its poke is cheaper than Costco).
2) Sam's has Dr. Pepper in its soda fountain (None at Costco, and harder to find most places in Hawaii).

Poke (wiki) and Spicy Ahi Poke

 

[SKORPI0]

Stopped going to Sams Club (7 miles away) mid 2005. Waiting for the Costco 2.5 miles away to open in a few weeks.

 

[ponyo]

Costco opened 27 new stores in 2006 and plans to open faster in the coming years. 37 new stores are planned for 2007 and more are planned for 2008. So those without Costco might get one soon.

Of course this is music to my ears.

 

[MixMasterTang]

We've got 4 Costcos and 4 Sams Clubs all within 25 miles of each other, 3 of each are right near each other. Certain areas the Sam's Club is better and certain areas Costco is better, but I prefer Costco since they take Amex.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Looks like civilization has finally came to our boondocks (Louisville) :laugh: A brand new Costco (first in the state) opened today and I went for the Grand Opening. Aside from the mad crowd waiting for limited number of Elmo toys, it was a fun trip. I sure won't be going back to Sam's, not to mention Costco is about 5 minute drive for me versus 20+ mins to Sam's.

I know where I'll be doing most of my shopping from now on

Lucky you. You'll love it.

 

[compuwiz1]

Yep, I have told many times, how I do not shop at Wallymart, or Sam's club. Too ghetto for me, plus I don't like how they have historically whored out prices and run the mom and pop shops out of business. And, they do not pay well, drive the rest of the retailer's wages down, and I could go on and on.

At least Costco is cleaner, while prices are good, they still pay a decent wage, and have good benefits.

 

[misle]

My Sam's card expired so I went to check out Costco. I didn't see what was so much better? They had a more limited selection and everything cost more. If I was going to buy a butt load of electronics (TV / Stereo / etc) I would join just for their warranty, but otherwise, looks like I'm renewing my Sam's membership.

 

[FoBoT]

i bought gas at costco today

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i bought gas at costco today

Did you save your penny per gallon?

Arco and Sam's are only 1c apart, based on what I saw driving by.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: misle
My Sam's card expired so I went to check out Costco. I didn't see what was so much better? They had a more limited selection and everything cost more. If I was going to buy a butt load of electronics (TV / Stereo / etc) I would join just for their warranty, but otherwise, looks like I'm renewing my Sam's membership.

That was my first impression as well. But look closely and you'll see the difference. Costco stocks higher quality luxury goods. Sams is trying and improving but not quite there yet. Costco has Kirkland house brand which are just as good or superior to national brands it carries. Costco usually has slightly better meat and seafood selection than Sams. Costco generally has better customer service and accepts Amex.

That said, Sams carries products better catered to small business owners and really tries to target that market by opening at 7am for business members. Membership is cheaper at Sams than Costco. Sams also carries products not carried by Costco and vice versa.

I shop at both and love both. I also own stock in Costco because I think it's a longterm winner and it's still in expansion stage.

 

[CTweak]

Where did they open the Costco in Louisville? I bet it's out towards the east end, right?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: CTweak
Where did they open the Costco in Louisville? I bet it's out towards the east end, right?

22 and gene snyder, near The Summit.

Of course it's on the east end, we get all the goodies.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Baked
Did they have enough hot dogs and polish?

$1.50 w/soda, same price as Sams

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: CTweak
Where did they open the Costco in Louisville? I bet it's out towards the east end, right?

22 and gene snyder, near The Summit.

Of course it's on the east end, we get all the goodies.

Yea I just found it, not too far from my parents house, but I believe they get free sams membership through work, so I doubt they'll switch. I want one in lexington now!