Costco or Sam's Club?
May 28, 2008 7:32 AM   Subscribe

Sam's Club or Costco? Which one is better? What are the differences? Can I get cases of Red Bull, water, etc at Costco? The website isn't much help.
posted by paulyballs to Shopping (44 answers total) 14 users marked this as a favorite
 
We routinely buy cases (a flat of 24 bottles) of water at Costco for consumption at home. I'm pretty sure I've seen Red Bull there, too, also in packs of 24. (And for ludicrously high prices, but still a lot less than you'd pay in a store...)

I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine that you could go to one of those places and just explain your predicament and ask if you could look around?
posted by fogster at 7:39 AM on May 28, 2008


You can visit both places and I think you can even buy stuff without a membership (they tack on a surcharge). I go with Costco. Their food is pretty high quality, as are their store brand goods. Electronics aren't a great deal, but occasionally there's some bargains. Also, Costco pays their workers a decent wage and they're supposed to be a great company to work for, if that matters to you.
posted by electroboy at 7:39 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Our office gets cases of Red Bull delivered from Costco.
posted by zsazsa at 7:42 AM on May 28, 2008


"Costco's average hourly wage is $17.25, employees contribute 10 percent of their health insurance premiums, and the turnover rate is 17 percent. The average hourly wage for full-time Wal-Mart workers is $10.11. A spokeswoman said the hourly pay at Sam's Club isn't necessarily the same, though she wouldn't say what it is. Citing company policy, she also declined to reveal employees' share of health-care costs and the turnover rate."*
posted by Floydd at 7:45 AM on May 28, 2008 [11 favorites]


Floydd has it.
posted by three blind mice at 7:59 AM on May 28, 2008


Aside from the fact that (IMO) Costco is less evil than Sam's Club, they tend to have somewhat more upscale merchandise and some locally sourced merchandise. I don't buy bottled water or Red Bull but I know Costco has it.

You can enter the store to look around without a membership card (you'll have to explain yourself to the greeter); you just can't buy anything. It's kind of overwhelming, but I saved back my membership fee just on coffee on my first visit.
posted by adamrice at 8:02 AM on May 28, 2008


I like Costco a lot better than Sam's Club. The only time I went into a Sam's Club, the store was a wreck and their selection of items was 3/4 that of Costco. Costco also has Costco Home, and another (Costco Office?). I know Sam's Club offers gas as well, but I don't know their prices. At Costco, I generally get gas $0.20 cheaper than the street corner gas station.

$50 gets you a regular membership, but if you spend a lot (we spend about $750 a month) the $100 membership will be well worth it as there is a 2% return on everything other than tobacco and gas. Last year, I received a check for $200 at the end of the year, which more than covered our membership.

The people are friendly at Costco and they do a pretty good job at keeping the general consensus items in the store (Red bull included). A case of water usually goes for about $4.50. Stop in and ask to look around. They will let you buy, but like Sam's Club, there is a surcharge. To even out that surcharge, just stop at every taste testing station (10 or more) and try out what they have to offer :-)
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 8:14 AM on May 28, 2008


"One analyst, Bill Dreher of Deutsche Bank, complained last year that at Costco 'it's better to be an employee or a customer than a shareholder.' " (NYT)

They have pretty much the same things, if you have a choice I would definitely go to Costco
posted by bradbane at 8:19 AM on May 28, 2008


If Floydd's reasoning isn't enough, check out Costco's return policy. I don't know how it compared to Sam's Club, but it's a whole lot better than any non-membership retailer I've ever been to.
posted by Nelsormensch at 8:19 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Costco by a country mile.

Not everything at Costco is super cheap in price or quality. For instance, I'm buying patio furniture there. It's a bit more expensive than Lowe's or Home Depot, but the quality is much higher. Costco also has a better shopping experience. Sam's Club is a disorganized mess. Costco has their act together.

Also, I'm not sure how Sam's food is. Costco has pretty good stuff, though a limited selection. I also like their pre-made items. Costco roasted chicken's are cheap, tasty and huge. We get those for a quick dinner pretty often.

One last thing, do both Sam's and Costco have gasoline where you live? Costco generally has the cheapest gas in my area. It's a bother when the lines are long, but over the course of the year you can save quite a bit.
posted by 26.2 at 8:24 AM on May 28, 2008


And yes, their return policy is, well awesome. Just yesterday I found the strawberries I bought Sunday had started growing mold. Wasn't sure where my receipt was, but I knew it wasn't going to be an issue as you shopping history is all on your card. Either way, went up to returns handed him the strawberries and my member card, and without being asked for a receipt or a reason, I was given $6.00 (on a $5.99 CC purchase mind you - YES!) back, in cash. I was at returns for no longer than 30 seconds.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 8:25 AM on May 28, 2008


If you have any issues with the greeter letting you (as a non-member) come in to look around, just tell them you're there to pick up a prescription and then browse the store at your leisure. At my local Sam's Club (no Costco around here, unfortunately), you don't have to be a member to get prescriptions filled, so I just tell the greeter my intentions on my way in and they let me pass with no problems.

As others have mentioned, you won't be able to buy anything (unless maybe you pay a surcharge?), but you can at least get a feel for what they offer and for how much.

Note: If your particular Sam's Club doesn't have a pharmacy, then YMMV in using this technique ;)
posted by illflux at 8:31 AM on May 28, 2008


Sam's Club is Wal-Mart is evil and exploits its workers (among others).
CostCo is its own entity and treats its employees very well.

I would never spend a penny at Sam's Club or Wal-Mart.

And CostCo has a totally kickass return policy.
posted by fenriq at 8:32 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Also, the meat, seafood, and booze is way better at Costco than Sam's club. Costco's employees seem more helpful. Costco seems to have higher quality goods.
posted by Comrade_robot at 8:36 AM on May 28, 2008


Piggybacking on bradbane, I could have sworn I read an article in the WSJ a couple of years ago that lambasted Costco for its employee-friendly policies, but after looking a bit I only found this one, which is (somewhat) more neutral than I recall.

I haven't been in a Sam's Club, but I can confirm that Costco definitely carries Red Bull...along with a mindbending array of everything else that can fit in a car. Oh, and the food samples are a treat.
posted by kittyprecious at 8:37 AM on May 28, 2008


The Costco has a very good deal on an amex credit card too- 3% cashback on gas, 2% on travel, 1% everything else and some other things are 3% cashback too. It has a yearly fee but it includes the costco membership, so it's essentially free.
posted by Large Marge at 8:38 AM on May 28, 2008


If you have dogs, be sure to try their dog biscuits. Even my really picky chihuahua will eat them.
posted by GlowWyrm at 8:54 AM on May 28, 2008


Costco also has an amazingly good deal on new car purchase (one of the lesser-known perks of membership). Through the Costco website you can get a no-haggle quote for a new car and a list of participating dealers. We got our Toyota for $100 over invoice (a much better deal than we could get at any of the dealers we visited). It really is no-haggle and a very pleasant experience. We called out local dealer and found that they participated in the scheme, even though they were not listed (I suspect the dealer-list is something that dealers pay to be on). We saved the cost of membership for at least 20 years(!), over the best price that we could obtain from any local dealer.
The electronics can sometimes be good, depending on what everyone has a surplus of. They frequently have excellent prices on external hard drives, flash SD cards, etc.. They do very cheap (about 2/3 the store price) deals on soda water and other drinks.
posted by Susurration at 8:59 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Another vote for Costco. when you go to check it out, go hungry, as their "food court" has amazingly cheap & delish takeout items. For instance, hoagie-size all-beef hotdog plus fountain soda - $1.50. No membership required for the food counter.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:05 AM on May 28, 2008


Along the lines Floydd and others, here's a Slate article comparing the two...

http://www.slate.com/id/2104988/
posted by aswego at 9:13 AM on May 28, 2008


Over the years I have developed a nearly unquestioning faith in Costco's ability to select products that hit the price/quality sweet spot. All the appliances/electronics/dry goods I've purchased from them have been impressively well made for the price. Also they have an excellent bakery, with pies and bread that are way better than anything I've seen in a grocery store.

And yeah, their too-good-to-be-true labor policies do seem to really be true, from everything I've ever read about them or observed in their stores.
posted by contraption at 9:20 AM on May 28, 2008


My friend insists that Sam's Club is geared towards families while Costco is geared towards businesses. I wouldn't know; I've been a Costco member since before their merger with PriceClub, so my recommendation is obvious. Also, consider the more expensive "executive" membership -- if you don't make back your $100 membership fee in rebates, they'll refund you the difference. Also, there are a number of items for sale on their website. You can return the items and get a full refund, including shipping and handling, at any of their warehouse locations.
posted by parilous at 9:24 AM on May 28, 2008


"One analyst, Bill Dreher of Deutsche Bank, complained last year that at Costco 'it's better to be an employee or a customer than a shareholder.' "

For what it's worth, Wall Street doesn't really hate CostCo so much anymore. COST shares trade at about a 35% premium to the Food & Drug comparable company universe (based on 2008 expected earnings and EBITDA). And of the 22 research analysts that cover the company, 6 have "buy" recommendations, 15 are neutral and only 1 has a "sell" recommendation. Dreher of Deutsche Bank is neutral on the stock but seems to think the company deserves its premium valuation.
posted by mullacc at 9:31 AM on May 28, 2008


No Sam's Club where I live, but I'll pile on the pro-Costco, uh, pile.

I've been a Costco member for many years, and it's fantastic. They have merchandise for both business and home, and they seem to focus more on higher quality items at good prices, rather than cheap items at even cheaper prices. They also have a ton of restuarant-quality food, which you may or may not have to purchase in restaurant-quantity amounts. Sometimes this is not practical, but on some other items it can be a huge savings.

They do indeed sell all kinds of beverages by the case, so I wouldn't doubt they have Red Bull. I have noticed, however, that some major brand soft drinks, although consistently lower than "regular" price, are not much less than the sale prices at gorcery stores.

As said above, they will give you a day pass if you ask. Or, you can always go with someone who already has a membership.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:37 AM on May 28, 2008


An illustration of why Costco - their customer service. I had to plan a professional event last year that required centerpieces on a tight budget. I called Costco to see if I could pre-order their bulk flowers, and was told yes. I was given the cell phone number of the employee in charge of flowers, and then spent 20 minutes on the phone learning more than I ever needed to know about purple & white flowers. We talked about what I needed, and told me to show up on the morning of the event and meet her by the coolers. When we got there, she had an entire freezer rack full of purple & white flowers for me to choose from - I made my selection and then she taught me how to assemble the centerpieces, and sent me home with roses and filler flowers for 8 centerpieces for less than $80. She called the day after the event to make sure that everything went ok - and now I tell absolutely everyone I can that if you need bulk flowers in our area, to go to Costco. It was truly one of the _best_ customer service experiences I've ever had.

All other things aside, their house brand (Kirkland) is of good quality, and even in a house of two adults (with two cats - we save big on bulk kitty litter) we make our membership fee back in the first months of each year. Their premade foods are solid and quality, their bakery foods are tasty, and their employees are helpful. We were there one night that there was a cross store scavenger hunt by employees for a toddler's lost shoe. Also, at the holidays their selections of gift baskets are actually higher quality brands - I've been really pleased with each that we've purchased. Even if we didn't boycott Wal-Mart, we'd still shop at Costco for the service and quality.
posted by librarianamy at 9:59 AM on May 28, 2008 [2 favorites]


I maintain a Costco membership and the S.O. maintains a Sam's Club membership. Between the two, I prefer Costco by a long shot. I bought a 42" LCD TV there, had a problem with it over a year later, took it back and bought a now much cheaper 47" and they handed me about 1200 bucks cash for the difference with no hassle at all.

I think they've changed their return policy since I bought the first TV, but it''s still probably pretty good. I do buy bottled water there, and I know they have Red Bull.

The only problem for me is that Costco is a much longer drive.
posted by lordrunningclam at 10:06 AM on May 28, 2008


Nth-ing Costco. They've really bent over backwards to keep us happy customers over the years.
posted by bunji at 10:11 AM on May 28, 2008


This is why I switched to Costco a few years back:

Costco Chief Executive Officer Jim Sinegal, 68, is a Democrat who says President Bush's $1.7 trillion in tax cuts unfairly benefit the wealthy. He opposed the Iraq war and supports Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts for president.
posted by Doohickie at 10:29 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


(oh. Forgot to say.... "Your politics may vary.")
posted by Doohickie at 10:31 AM on May 28, 2008


Politics got me in, but Nthing what everyone else says about Costco service. At my local Costco, several of the employees actually know me well enough to call me by name even when I don't have my card out. I attribute that to an overall better attitude on the part of valued workers coupled with the fact that there is far less turnover at Costco than at Sams.
posted by Doohickie at 10:34 AM on May 28, 2008


Amd we have Costco in the UK. Which is great actually.
posted by ninthart at 11:08 AM on May 28, 2008


Costo wins, no question. Service and Quality go beyond the extra mile.
posted by jjb at 11:10 AM on May 28, 2008


If you go to Costco and tell them you're considering a membership they'll give you a pass to go in and look around, that'll tell you if they have what you're looking for. I know you can get cases of water, Coke, etc.
posted by dagnyscott at 12:46 PM on May 28, 2008


I used to be a member of Sam's Club, and am now a Costco member. The merchandise in Costco is, as others have noted, much higher quality, IMHO. The worker treatment/pay, low gas prices and the car/tire center are also big draws for me.

As for whether they'll have Red Bull-- I used to be kind of addicted to SmartWater, and one of the Costcos that I frequent (I work near one and live near another) had it while the other didn't. So some merchandise is definitely related to tastes in the area.
posted by weezetr at 1:48 PM on May 28, 2008


In California you can buy alcohol there without a membership. When I walk through the door I just say I'm there to buy booze if I don't feel like pulling out my card.

If you like to get enlargements of your photos, Costco is blindingly cheap and fast.
posted by 26.2 at 3:02 PM on May 28, 2008


I have had both memberships and I chose Costco. I waited awhile to have one in my area and do not regret it at all. Each Costco has a certain amount of freedom in its selections so you may find certain things available at one branch over another. For instance, the Richmond Coscto in the Bay Area has a good selection of cookbooks while the San Francisco one has an even better one. The Northern California Cosctos have great wine available while other Costcos maybe meh.

I would say that Costco has the overall better products. I thought that the Sams Club stuff was the lowest price point and it showed. Costco, if you give them the chance, will have products literally from cradle to grave to sell you. They have excellent customer service and I thought the staff were more on the ball. Costco purposely get a treasure finder vibe by stocking items that are fabulous and if you do not get them now will not be available until lord knows when. Which leads to what I call, "Costco Fever", where you rationalize buying a half palette load of Rice-a-Roni though you don't eat the stuff because its so damn cheap or that damn, Thomas the Tank Engine battery operated toy.

So if you have a full service Costco with the pharmacy, gas station, photo processing, flowers, bakery, deli and all that then you are very well off.
posted by jadepearl at 3:26 PM on May 28, 2008


I became a member of Costco to save $500 off my Michelin tires last winter (when compared to the price quoted at the dealership), and I am staying because the products are good, the prices are right, and the downtown Vancouver Costco is only minutes from my home. And it makes me feel good to patronize a store where the employees appear happy and are treated well.
posted by seawallrunner at 7:56 PM on May 28, 2008


Costco is the one for me. Better everything as far as I can tell and I compared them head to head. I guess paying people fairly goes a long way. Costco has some of the best beef I have ever stuck in my mouth and saves me a ton of cash to boot. On top of that, if you pay attention, you will find some awesome stuff- one day I managed to spot some fresh mozzarella cheese from NYC (I'm in Atlanta). How they pulled that off is beyond me but it was delicious!
posted by bkeene12 at 7:58 PM on May 28, 2008


Our local Costco has helpful and competent staff. I also notice they have a very low employee turn-over, which I take as a sign that they treat their employees well.

They also tend to carry higher-quality stuff (including food) than any Walmart I've been in.
posted by D.C. at 8:40 PM on May 28, 2008


It's super hip to love Costco, but it is just a warehouse store. Selection varies, pricing isn't consistently great, and their in house products aren't consistently great either. And they don't take credit cards! (Except their own AMEX) Like anything else, it's trial and error. You still have to be a smart consumer to not get screwed. I'm still trying to work off 40 pounds of dishwasher detergent that was singularly raved about, that sucks. I don't care if it's half the price- if it doesn't work, what's the point?

And they have plenty of Chinese crap in there too, just like everyone else.

So, as always, buyer beware. I have a membership, but I rarely go. I can get cases of water cheaper at the local gas station. I've found that being a smart shopper and looking for sales elsewhere nets lower prices, just about every time. Especially if you remember to count in the cost of the membership fee.
posted by gjc at 8:44 PM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


They take all amexes in california: I'm sure they take visa/mc too.
posted by lalochezia at 10:39 PM on May 28, 2008


Also, the Kirkland potato chips that Costco sells are some kind of magical, kettle-cooked ruffly religious experience. Get a day pass, buy some of those chips.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:52 AM on May 29, 2008


It's super hip to love Costco, but it is just a warehouse store. Selection varies, pricing isn't consistently great, and their in house products aren't consistently great either. And they don't take credit cards! (Except their own AMEX)

2 points:

1) Awesome! Finally I am super hip!

2) It's true that Costso did take only their own AmEx, but here in backwater Montana, they started taking Visa/MC/Whatever in the last year or so.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 11:08 AM on May 29, 2008


I'm sipping a Costco Red Bull as I type this...

As others have mentioned, Costco tends to be a bit more upscale, and on the whole, their "house brand" stuff is pretty good. That being said, they do tend (around here at least) to have a bit less selection of some national brand foodstuffs than Sams does -- for instance, if you have a family member that you want to (reliably) buy Oscar Mayer coldcuts and Frito Lay chips, you'd best go to Sams -- they might appear sporadically at Costco, but you might find yourself paying supermarket prices many weeks if they're a must-have in your household.

On the other hand, if it's no problem to "trade up" to up scale merchandise, Costco usually has better stuff at a great price (for instance Boar's Head instead of Oscar Mayer).

If you're buying a lot of stuff over the course of a year, and have the time to shop both, an extra $30 for a Sam's membership in addition to the Costco might be worth your while. I've done both at times, but now that the kids are older/moved out Costco is plenty for me.
posted by nonliteral at 1:13 PM on May 29, 2008


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