SAM's Or COSTCO?

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C

Caveman

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,539
35
91
We have both here in town (Huntsville, AL) and I'm about to buy a membership to purchase some Michelin tires. Sams' price saves me a few more dollars and I've never been a member so I thought about trying it out...

I was a 1 year member of Costco which started with a purchase of an Infocus 4805 projector... Overall experience was fine...

So what if any advantages/disadvantages do these places have vs one another...???
 
40Hands

40Hands

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2004
5,042
0
71
Costco is much better. Good prices, good service, and they treat their employees well.

Sams = Wal-Mart
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Life time warranty on EVERYTHING you buy from Costco. Costco wins by TKO.
 
L

Lola

We had a sam's membership for many years and then the store by us just went down hill. The quality of the staff was not there. We never really found good meats... it was just ok for typical stuff.

We were so annoyed with Sam's one weekend we went to Costco. It was refreshing. We were greeted by a nice man who helped us get our membership quickly.
The steaks there are just wonderful. so is the fresh "exotic" fish. The wine selection is better and so is their hard booze selection.
I like the baked goods at Costco better as well.

All in all, both stores are fine, but i love Costco. The major thing i wish Costco had is Frozen Cokes. :(
 
spacejamz

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,000
1,755
126
Originally posted by: Baked
Life time warranty on EVERYTHING you buy from Costco. Costco wins by TKO.
Click to expand...

Except computer hardware which has a 6 month return window. By gauging the discussions on Fatwallet and AVSforum, big ticket electronics such as big screen TV's may not be far behind.

Location might also an important factor. Which one is closer? Which one has more 'traffic' around it?

For us, Sams in 5 minutes away while the Costco is 15 minutes away and is by the mall that has every major retail store known to man right around it, so the traffic sucks there.

That being said, right now we are members of both...

also- basic membership at Sams is $35 and basic membership at Costco is $50.
 
F

Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
14,090
2
81
I prefer CostCo simply because their employees are friendlier. I don't buy into the whole "Evil Wal-Mart" thing. Cust. Service I just feel is better at CostCo.
 
rivan

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
Sams = Wal-Mart

That, if nothing else, should send your butt to Costco. I drive past three Sams Clubs to get to my Costco. It's get killer meats, excellent wines, and oh... isn't owned by the Waltons.
 
jadinolf

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
I belonged to both for years but I made a decision to dump Sam's the end of April.

At least here, there is no advantage to belonging to both.

They are a quarter mile apart.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Personally, I would pay a *little* more to support a very successful company...THAT TREATS THEIR EMPLOYEES VERY WELL FOR RETAIL.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,104
462
136
Originally posted by: Baked
Life time warranty on EVERYTHING you buy from Costco. Costco wins by TKO.
Click to expand...

EVERYTHING except for computers which is limited to 6 months.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Costco employees are very nice and helpful, while Sams' employees are just meh.

Also, Costco is generally cheaper. It's also more organized where I am.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Costco - One of the most reponsible corporate citizens in the world. Great prices, and unbeatable return policy.

Sam's Club - Owned by the Waltson, of Wal-Mart fame.

Any questions?
 
spacejamz

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,000
1,755
126
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Baked
Life time warranty on EVERYTHING you buy from Costco. Costco wins by TKO.
Click to expand...

EVERYTHING except for computers which is limited to 6 months.
Click to expand...

I don't think Big screen TV's are too far behind on this...see my post above :)

However you want to call it (taking advantage of or abusing Costco's return policy), alot of TV's seem to be getting returned (per Fat wallet and AVS forums)...

I get the feeling that many people who bought an RPTV in the past 1-2 years will be using this policy once the lamps in their TV's need 'replacing'... :(
 
J

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
/start ATOT socialist mode

choose whichever you think is the less evil corporation

/end ATOT socialist mode

*shudder*
 
J

jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,264
0
0
Costco is great, but I HATE shopping there because its ALWAYS packed. It takes like a minute to move your cart ten feet.
 
S

SophalotJack

Banned
Jan 6, 2006
1,252
0
0
Advantage of sam's is that they have lots more stores and (to me) it seems like they have some good stuff on clearance more often than costco.

Costco has a superior return policy. Hell you can probably blow up a computer with fireworks and still return it if you prove your case to the CS rep.

I use them both, because things you can't find at costco, you can find at sam's and vice versa.

 
OutHouse

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Costco - One of the most reponsible corporate citizens in the world. Great prices, and unbeatable return policy.

Sam's Club - Owned by the Waltson, of Wal-Mart fame.

Any questions?
Click to expand...

Jim the CEO is a awesome dude. he only pays himself 400K a year and his contract is only one page. His desk is a fold out table and he does his own faxing and phone answering. he is a honest guy who truly belives in treating his employees right.
Costco stocks about 65-70K top quality items where as Sams is well over 100K items of crap.

I spent 400 bucks at Costco on sat.
 
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