[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Agree!





Agree again.

I would also add that it's been my experience that Costco employees are nicer and more helpful in general and the store brand (Kirkland) to be on par with, but less expensive...than many national brands.

Others experience(s) may differ.

Because the company culture values employees as an asset rather than an expense. Employee turnover is low because they are compensated fairly. Their attitudes are a reflection of this.

[graciegirl]

You see, I WAS right. Sooner or later it gets around to politics.

I have gone to both for a long time and the only person that I see regularly in either store is the check out person. It is self serve. Both places. I wouldn't know if they were nice or going to ax murderer classes. Oh and the folks who sell me the hot dogs and the yummy cold yogurt slurpies, I see them, but not long talks or anything. Once in awhile someone will help us unload some big ole something. We always thank them and they say you are welcome and return to the store.

To me it is money. Saving it and getting good value for it. I like Sam's Credit card. I like Costco's Furniture. I like meat at both places. Sam's is here, I'm good.

[xNYer]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You see, I WAS right. Sooner or later it gets around to politics.

I have gone to both for a long time and the only person that I see regularly in either store is the check out person. It is self serve. Both places. I wouldn't know if they were nice or going to ax murderer classes. Oh and the folks who sell me the hot dogs and the yummy cold yogurt slurpies, I see them, but not long talks or anything. Once in awhile someone will help us unload some big ole something. We always thank them and they say you are welcome and return to the store.

To me it is money. Saving it and getting good value for it. I like Sam's Credit card. I like Costco's Furniture. I like meat at both places. Sam's is here, I'm good.

Since when does saying their employees are well compensated and turnover low become political?

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by xNYer

Since when does saying their employees are well compensated and turnover low become political?

I was wondering the same thing.


I also like Nordstom's for their exceptional customer service.

[laryb]

Originally Posted by outahere

Where did you see that a new BJ's is being built? I couldn't find anything online about that. We joined BJ's when we lived in Mass. and have kept the membership. We go to the store in Clermont, or the one in Melbourne when we go over there to visit our son. We also belonged to Costco, for a year or two, when we lived in Mass., but we like BJ's better (just our opinion).

For what it's worth, I asked an associate at BJ's in Clermont about them coming to The Villages, and she told me that someone from corporate that was there told her they were doing traffic studies on Rt 44. Did not ask for her name or ID, just asked about TV. For me, it's: #1 Costco, #2 BJ's, #3 Sam's, with the latter 2 close. Bj's gets #2 because they have a good deli with excellent prices.

[skyking]

I have had memberships to both Costco and Sams for many years as they don't carry the same things and there is no conveniently located Costco to the Villages. In my experience the staff, the efficiency and service at Costco have been far superior. Also there are many items (more upscale) that are stocked at Costco that never appear at Sams.

[graciegirl]

The concensus of opinion is that Costco does score higher on customer service and Sam's is a little cheaper.

What I learned that I didn't know before is that Costco is placed closer to more wealthy Suburbs than Sams and they do carry more high end goods.

Here is a pretty good article about both;

Sam's Club vs. Costco Comparison | Cheapism

I am still happy. I tend to be happy. I like Sam's Nathan's Hot dog for a quick lunch when I am shopping and their Angus ground beef is excellent. I bought the things at Costco that I wanted last time I was there and they were bigger THINGS rather than day to day food.

I don't care what either pay their entry level employees. I believe that if you work hard enough you can climb any corporate ladder if you have common sense and the work ethic and don't abuse substances.

[Villager Joyce]

I think the drive to Costco in altamonte springs is delightful. We go once a month. It is a pleasant ride on 44/441. We plan it around lunch so we can have the infamous hot dog and drink. There are brands we only find at Costco, not SAMs. The fish and meat IMHO are far superior at Costco. Just pack a cooler and go. When it's cooler you can do Costco and trader joes in one trip. Now that is heaven.

[JerryLBell]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

I think the drive to Costco in altamonte springs is delightful. We go once a month. It is a pleasant ride on 44/441. We plan it around lunch so we can have the infamous hot dog and drink. There are brands we only find at Costco, not SAMs. The fish and meat IMHO are far superior at Costco. Just pack a cooler and go. When it's cooler you can do Costco and trader joes in one trip. Now that is heaven.

My wife and I bought a house in TV last year and hope to move there next year. We have a Costco very close by and shop there regularly. The wife also love some particular food items at Trader Joes. With neither in TV, we were planning on packing a cooler and heading for Orlando on a monthly basis and wondered if we were just being weird about these stores. Glad to see we're not alone in our thinking!

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by xNYer

Since when does saying their employees are well compensated and turnover low become political?

Because only a certain class of citizen thinks they are the only ones allowed to make a decent living. All others go suck an egg. Hence, the political.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by laryb

For what it's worth, I asked an associate at BJ's in Clermont about them coming to The Villages, and she told me that someone from corporate that was there told her they were doing traffic studies on Rt 44. Did not ask for her name or ID, just asked about TV. For me, it's: #1 Costco, #2 BJ's, #3 Sam's, with the latter 2 close. Bj's gets #2 because they have a good deli with excellent prices.

"I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was!" Toby Keith


So true, great song.

[MikeyBoo54]

Originally Posted by PTennismom0202

Think of the population base needed to sustain a store the size of Costco. These Costco cities have a million or more people. It's not feasible that they will come to a community of 120,000 seniors (in high season). And most of us don't buy in the quantities they provide nor do we have the storage for it. My husband and I go to Costco in either Orlando or Tampa Bay almost every month because we love their products. We time our airplane travel around it, and some of our health care visits.

There is a very successful Costco in East Peoria IL. Th whole MSA in Central IL is only a little over 385,000 residents.

[ColdNoMore]

While a huge Costco fan, I've never considered using their travel service.

After reading this, I will at least take a look at them next time.

Costco Travel is my new go-to for booking vacations - Business Insider

[graciegirl]

Bonanza?

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by JerryLBell

My wife and I bought a house in TV last year and hope to move there next year. We have a Costco very close by and shop there regularly. The wife also love some particular food items at Trader Joes. With neither in TV, we were planning on packing a cooler and heading for Orlando on a monthly basis and wondered if we were just being weird about these stores. Glad to see we're not alone in our thinking!

When we lived on Maui, a trip to the "mother ship" AKA COSTCO, took an hour there and an hour back. We'd pack the cooler and make a day trip out of it. Maui has a population of only 155,000 but most of the residents tended to be at COSTCO whatever day we chose to go.