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Costco vs Sams Club

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So assuming all things are pretty much equal on the small ticket stuff. Costco sounds like it has a good return policy. Would Costco save me much money if in say the next 3 years I plan on buying a washer and dryer, HDTV, Stereo, possibly some new furniture? Would that tip things one way or the other?
 
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No idea on the washer/dryer.
Costco has ok deals on HDTVs, but I'd recommend the online deal sites to direct you to much better selection and sales. Stereo is about the same.
The furniture options I've seen are limited, but I suppose you could get lucky and find just the right fit.

Have you been into both and tried to see whether either had more of your typical inventory?
 
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jwinslow;1112338; said:
No idea on the washer/dryer.
Costco has ok deals on HDTVs, but I'd recommend the online deal sites to direct you to much better selection and sales. Stereo is about the same.
The furniture options I've seen are limited, but I suppose you could get lucky and find just the right fit.

Have you been into both and tried to see whether either had more of your typical inventory?
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Can I go into either without a membership?
 
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Usually you can either get a 1-day pass or ask them if you can just look around as a prospective member... I did that at both Sams & Costco before joining (one each in successive eyars, stuck with costco).

The items they have in bulk vary a bit between stores (brands, types), so it might be as simple as finding out that one has a lot more items you would buy. I found that to be true at Costco.
 
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jwinslow;1112342; said:
Usually you can either get a 1-day pass or ask them if you can just look around as a prospective member... I did that at both Sams & Costco before joining each (I stuck with Costco).

The items they have in bulk vary a bit between stores (brands, types), so it might be as simple as finding out that one has a lot more items you would buy. I found that to be true at Costco.
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good call, that's what I'll do. much obliged
 
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FWIW, with both places you can buy a lot of different stuff off their website that they don't have in the store. Example: Costco has some great deals on caskets. :biggrin:

810224L.jpg


In God's Care Casket
by Universal
Standard Shipping

18 Gauge Steel

$924.99

Item # 810224

Shipping & Handling included

Costco - In God's Care Casket by Universal Standard Shipping
 
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I don't know about Sam's but I know at Costco you can buy a premier membership which pays you back something like 1 or 2 percent on your total purchases for the year. If you are really considering buying that many big ticket items it may be worth the extra 50 bucks to buy the premier membership. We got a check back from Costco for about 80 bucks last year which almost paid for the whole membership.
 
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The Sam's by us is a shithole so we go to Costco. I can't really compare the two, but we really like Costco. If you sign up get the membership with the AE card. you pay a little more, but you get 3% back on the card and if you don't make enough in cash-back over the year they'll give you back the difference in your membership fee. We got a $50 credit or something like that when we signed up last year so it was a no brainer.

Only problem is we can't get out of there without spending $200 so we try to limit our trips. Be sure to check out the monthly coupons and deals they send in the mail.
 
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exhawg;2190872; said:
The Sam's by us is a [Mark May]hole so we go to Costco. I can't really compare the two, but we really like Costco. If you sign up get the membership with the AE card. you pay a little more, but you get 3% back on the card and if you don't make enough in cash-back over the year they'll give you back the difference in your membership fee. We got a $50 credit or something like that when we signed up last year so it was a no brainer.

Only problem is we can't get out of there without spending $200 so we try to limit our trips. Be sure to check out the monthly coupons and deals they send in the mail.
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This man knows what he is talking about on the AE card. I have been members of both and I really like Costco better. I drive by Sams to get to Costco here in Indy. I find they are cleaner and appear to have a better clientele.

I like the Costco gas, not only for price, but my vehicle runs as well on it as it does Shell. We buy a lot of the 93/7 ground turkey as it is a great deal. Coffee is usually a great deal as well and I learned from my nephew who works for Starbucks in Seattle that the Seattle Mountain Coffee at Costco is Starbucks coffee. Kirkland that the Costco brand is named for is right there by Seattle. Also, most of the Kirkland liquors are name brands bottled under the Kirkland name.
 
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Costco absolutely mops the floor with Sams Club. Costco has a ton of organic items at reasonable prices, and many of their non organic items have very few preservatives and complex ingredients. even the chips often have five ingredients.

Sams Club is a bulk Walmart experience.

The meat at Costco is worth the membership by itself. Between the prime cuts of meat or the four dollar organic beef, they have high grade meat at bargain prices.

Costco has a wide variety of very good store brand items, Kirkland. Many are as good if not better than the name brand items and obviously come at a discount. Kirkland makes non food items as well, such as their quality luggage among many other things.
 
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the travel/vacation options.

I booked Part 1 of my Honeymoon using my future father in-laws Costco Membership. Got an exceptional deal on an all inclusive in Cabo!

I know their cruise deals are excellent too.
 
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Chowhound thread on Costco
The "panda" potstickers are always in my freezer just in case. I always keep a bag of Kirkland meatballs on hand as well. These make a nice addition to my daughter's pasta, a nice sandwich, or a potluck favorite in the crock pot.
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We lived on the potstickers before going low carb. Great item.

The Alaskan king crab is the best. 6/9 size(6-9 legs/10 pounds)is the largest you can get and for $10.99/lb-$11.99/lb you can't beat it.
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Agree with the King Crab...only better I've had was shipped direct from Alaska, but a $20/lb PLUS shipping...for the price, these were just as good!
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We live in a small town in central Mexico, so our Costco is a treat. We like the Nancy's frozen quiches. The bakery here makes a terrific Tres Leches cake. In the freezer section I got a 1.8 kilo bag of raspberries, marionberries and blueberries that I made into a huge cobbler for a party. They were fantastic. We also like Sabra hummus with garlic very much. Another party staple.
Finally we have USDA choice beef and terrific pork products.
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All true, the quiches are great for parties. They have a handful of top desserts if you don't feel like baking your own.
- Buy the guacamole, use one tub, freeze two more. I swear there's like 25 avocados in that product, yet it only costs $5. How do they do it???
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Sometimes it is on sale for $4.


Here's an example of someone listing the big savings over grocery
Rotisserie chicken -- cheaper and 100% better than any grocery deli counter
Eggs: bundle of 5 doz -- best price around
Kirkland butter - bundle of four 1 lb packs -- best price around
Kirkland coffee beans - 9.99 for huge bag
Boca burgers -- makes an excellent sandwich, nutritious, 100 cals ea, way cheaper than grocery stores,
Burritos: big bag of 30 -- very nutritious after school snack that our kids can make themselves
Egg rolls: large box of 18 -- ditto
Heinz ketchup - bundle of 3 lg bottles, 1/2 price over grocery
Stacy's pita chips - addictive, good with ANY kind of dip including guacamole
Marcona almonds
Excellent rhubarb pies when in season
Maple syrup -- way cheaper than grocery store
A-1 sauce -- ditto
Earthbound farms spring mix salad greens $3.50 (in a big plastic shoe-box like container) -- WAY cheaper than grocery store ($4.99 @ Walmart)
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