Costco or Sam's Club?

[DonBo]

We're considering getting a membership to one of these. We had a Sam's club years ago, before you people got me hooked on the smoking bug.

Didn't do a lot of meat shopping then, but now it may be one of the main reasons for going back. Is it worth it? Are there deals to be had for meats? Which one do you prefer, and why?

[delcecchi]

We're considering getting a membership to one of these. We had a Sam's club years ago, before you people got me hooked on the smoking bug.

Didn't do a lot of meat shopping then, but now it may be one of the main reasons for going back. Is it worth it? Are there deals to be had for meats? Which one do you prefer, and why?

Costco is more consumer oriented than Sam's in my opinion. Sams seems a little more oriented to the small business type customer. I have both and find mostly we go to Costco. Meat might be a tiny bit cheaper at Sam's but Costco stocks more specialized stuff, like prime beef in addition to choice and more seafood.

Here is an example that might be of interest to some folks here. Both Costco and Sam's sell Hormel Pre-cooked bacon. The package is about a pound at both stores (costco is exactly a pound). Sam's has 72 thin slices, and Costco has 48 thicker slices. If I was running a diner or serving bacon at a group home or B&B I might like the 72 slices. At home I prefer the 48.

Go look around and see which you prefer. They don't mind.

[Getanet]

We have a Costco membership and I really like it. Just bought a pot/pan set for Xmas that was about $50 cheaper than anywhere else I could find it, even Amazon.

If you like to smoke big cuts of meat, or buy in bulk to separate and freeze, you'll like it. Their meat always looks fresh and handled with care to me.

Personally, sometimes I just go to Costco for lunch. A huge hotdog and soda for $1.50 or a huge slice of pizza and a soda for a little over $3 I believe. Those savings alone make pay for our membership.

[mrklean]

We have both, found a groupon for Sams and it was cheap so we thought we would try it. What I have found they carry much of the same stuff but at times they are different sizes, but when we really looked at the pricing everything we buy was almost the same price. We live closer to Costco so whenever the Sams Club one expires we will stick with Costco. One thing we did notice Costco seems to run more deals/rebates compared to Sams.

[leechlake]

I can't speak for Sam's but Costcos steaks are really good and I'm picky. They are half the price of Lunds and as good if not better.

I think the convenience of location would be the deciding factor for me.

[leech~~]

We're considering getting a membership to one of these. We had a Sam's club years ago, before you people got me hooked on the smoking bug.

Didn't do a lot of meat shopping then, but now it may be one of the main reasons for going back. Is it worth it? Are there deals to be had for meats? Which one do you prefer, and why?

All I can say is my buddy has Costco and he brings up some hellashs packs of steaks and thick Chops for hunting. We eat good up there! I think I would spend way to much at that place if I had a membership!

[JP Z]

Hey Don, they both have great meat. The proximity is the factor I would use. I have a Costco in town, the closest Sam's is over an hour away. There are some deals to be had with meat, honestly though I find cheaper deals at Target or Cub. But the quality of the meat at Costco is by and far the best around.

[Big Dave2]

Over the years I have had a membership at both places, most recently it was Costco through work. I never end up shopping at these places enough to justify keeping the membership alive. I prefer the meat at my local hometown meat market so I would never buy meat at either place anyway.

People are free to do what they want but I like to shop local and cut the large national chains out of the mix as much as possible. That's getting harder and harder to do......

[nofishfisherman]

I've had good luck with meat from both but I really only go there when I need a large amount for a party otherwise I go try to stick to local meat markets as much as possible.

[bobbymalone]

The wife and I have a Sam's club membership. I can't remember why we went with SC over costco, other than I told the wife to make the call. We went to both stores and gave them a walkthrough.

The decision to go with Sam's may have been related to my wife asking the old guy at the front of Costco for some info about membership and he said, "Do you have a parent with you?" Which infuriated her to no end, while I was giggling my head off.

The point is, why not go walk through the stores, compare, and then make the call?

[LightningBG]

The decision to go with Sam's may have been related to my wife asking the old guy at the front of Costco for some info about membership and he said, "Do you have a parent with you?" Which infuriated her to no end, while I was giggling my head off.

You should have told him "I'm her daddy"

[bobbymalone]

You should have told him "I'm her daddy"

Unrelated, but another time the wife and I had some engine trouble out on 'tonka and we were putt-putting back to the launch with the trolling motor. We basically got rammed by a big cruiser in a channel and I literally had to push off his bow. The driver apparently thought we were fishing in the channel which is grounds for being rammed. So I launched into a four letter word tirade at this pastel polo shirted jagoff wannabe JFK Jr. and he says, "you talk like that in front of your daughter?"

So the wife says, "I'm his wife" and proceeds to link together swear words in ways I have never dreamed of. She's super classy.

Anyways. Costco vs Sam's club.

[Walleye Guy]

We have both memberships. We recently got the Sam's Club on a Groupon deal. Costco is the better store in my opinion. We will not be renewing the Sam's membership.

The meat at Costco is excellent across the board in my opinion. Their NY strips and ribeyes are as good as any local meat counter I have been to and the prices are extremely competitive and bordering on cheap in some cases. Their seafood is very high quality but wouldn't say it is cheap.

The one thing I have noticed is that Costco is always busier than Sams and we have been to both on the same day. It may just be the locations we go to however. This means the check-out lines at Costco are usually longer than Sam's.

One other thig you may want to consider is the credit cards the stores accept. Costco only accepts American Express. I don't remember what Sam's accepts. Obviously the both accept cash and checks.

[Getanet]

Yes, the payment situation can be a pain. But at Costco you can use a debit card if you have one. Not sure about Sams.

Plus as a Costco member you can but a Waygu prime rib roast. $110/pound, 11 pound minimum order. Hurry while supplies last!

[rundrave]

we have both as well, my take on it is that when I go to Sams and buy groceries I actually feel like we save $ on stuff. I dont feel I save any $ on groceries at costco but they have a lot of specialized stuff.

Sams is always the same stuff, costco will sell stuff for a while and then bring in new stuff.

costco has good premium gas, sams just sells 87 octane with 10% ethanol or 89 with 10% ethanol

costco executive membership gives you %2 back on all purchases, if you dont recoup your costs of the higher membership they guarantee you the difference of the lower membership, I am not sure if Sams has the same option.

[delcecchi]

Sams takes discover and mastercard. Not visa. Or they take checks.

[Todd Caswell]

Costco, I really like (and the dogs like) there grain free food, meat is excellent. And I can't stand anything that has to do with wally world..