Shopping at BJ's

[billethkid]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:

You don't have to clip coupons. Just use their app. No waste of paper needed. I got the sale price on the frozen bourbon salmon today, $14.99 instead of $17.99, without any coupon at all. If you're a member, you get that sale price.

I also got $2.00 a pound of sliced deli meat, and that did require that I touch my fingertip to a coupon on the app. The horrors - I was expected to actually do something to get a deal. I'm sure I'll be traumatized for life over this indignity.

[Keefelane66]

Yes, the horrors of shopping.

[Bogie Shooter]

OP is a long time member of TOTV and doesn’t deserve the tone of the responses.
His past contributions have been informative and beneficial.

[JSR22]

OP is a long time member of TOTV and doesn’t deserve the tone of the responses.
His past contributions have been informative and beneficial.

I agree he is a valued TOTV member, and the snarky responses were unnecessary.

[Bonanza]

Bogie Shooter -- I'm glad you said something. No one deserves nasty comments unless the poster was nasty, to begin with.

Kudos to you for saying something.

[Michael G.]

For my wife and I to shop at either BJ's or Sam's Club their containers/bottles/boxes are so large for two people.
There are things like gas and products we use a lot, we will purchase at either store.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

How long a person has been a member of this forum should have no bearing on their value as a poster. They posted an opinion of a place, and came to a conclusion based on having to do something they didn't have to do. They asked opinions. I provided mine. I thought it was a pretty silly reason to choose not to patronize that business. However I also did explain WHY I thought it was a silly reason - and provided a little tip on how to bypass that need to do that thing they didn't want to do.

Also many of the prices are lower in BJ's than in other stores in the area. I use those fluticosine nasal sprays (Fluonase, generic). They're around $15 for a single 144-dose bottle at most stores. At Walgreen's I could get a 4-pack for $30, which is terrific. At BJ's, it was $25, which is even better.

Plus the gas prices are significantly lower than anywhere else in the Villages, including Sam's Club.

[JoMar]

Did they make a change their Express Pay? Been awhile but last visit I had to go to a person to use coupons since they didn't work with Express Pay. Also, their checkout was much slower that Sam's Scan and Go. Considering also not renewing for the same reason as the OP.

[rhood]

Won’t renew as well for same reasons

[asianthree]

OP we have the same thoughts on not renewing. Reason it’s the coupons, the product does not even give you a heads up that a coupon is available. So just feels like BJs is trying to screw over (pun intended) their clientele by not informing money could be saved.

Plus If you do use a coupon there is a limit of 1. So if coffee is a coupon and one drink decaf, and the other drinks high caffeine, you have to choose who gets coffee.

Rather drive to Costco in Westly Chapel that cut out coupons

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Did they make a change their Express Pay? Been awhile but last visit I had to go to a person to use coupons since they didn't work with Express Pay. Also, their checkout was much slower that Sam's Scan and Go. Considering also not renewing for the same reason as the OP.

No idea. But I didn't have to go to a person. I use the self-checkout.

[HapEvillager]

I will not renew for the same reason. Clipping coupons in an app is not my thing. I am more of an impulse shopper. Same with Walgreens. I had about $100 in supplements but was told at checkout that I had to have clipped the coupons in the app to get the sale price. I left them and ordered from Costco instead at a better price. I am not a fan of this marketing strategy.

[Garywt]

OP we have the same thoughts on not renewing. Reason it’s the coupons, the product does not even give you a heads up that a coupon is available. So just feels like BJs is trying to screw over (pun intended) their clientele by not informing money could be saved.

Plus If you do use a coupon there is a limit of 1. So if coffee is a coupon and one drink decaf, and the other drinks high caffeine, you have to choose who gets coffee.

Rather drive to Costco in Westly Chapel that cut out coupons

So they cut them out for you? Do they stand at the registers to do this.

[Garywt]

We love BJ’s, been a member for over 32 years. The new store is very similar to the ones we shop at up north so it is easy to find everything. I never look at the coupons so I never cut them out or use them. A good number of items already have the price marked down without using a coupon. We will continue to be members.

[MrChip72]

We first got a BJ's membership when we bought our place in TV. They had some decent stuff for getting our kitchen and other parts of the home equipped. What we found though is that BJ's is lacking in the food department. Very minimal offerings compared to Sam's or Costco in that area. The meat section is also quite small and has a small variety of items to choose from. It would be very difficult to get the bulk of your regular food shopping done there. Since we have a Sam's membership we're likely going to cancel from BJ's before it comes up for renewal.

[La lamy]

OP is a long time member of TOTV and doesn’t deserve the tone of the responses.
His past contributions have been informative and beneficial.

I agree.

[westernrider75]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:
You don’t have to physically clip coupons, you can just use the app to get the coupons and they come off automatically when you check out.

[La lamy]

There seems to be a lot of discontent about their coupon clipping marketing strategy. I hope those affected will take the time to let BJ know that this will make you leave. They need to know, since they want to attract customers.

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

For what it’s worth, I still believe Costco is better than BJ’s or Sam’s Club

[midiwiz]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:

if you use the app during checkout you don't have to do much of anything. and since you asked - we are used to larger BJs than this one our rule has always been go to BJs then go to Publix. even the BJs brand is far better product than other store brands.

get with it use the app.

[CosmicTrucker]

I will not renew once the Costco is built in Clermont Fl. I’ve tried different BJ’s branded store items from clothing to food and have not been happy with their quality. I’ve tossed out nearly every store branded food item purchased due to horrible taste or texture. The few clothing items began to fall apart after a wash or two.
I too was not a fan of the coupons either, but since I do use the express pay and scan app on my phone I’ve learned to trust it more.

Bottom line, Costco has a higher quality product, a painless return if in the rare case you need it and even buying online via the web works well and is convenient for items offered online.

[vinricci]

Also noted that the handicapped parking was a distance away from the entrance.

[rabranca@aol.com]

Last time I shopped at BJs I ordered online using the coupons then did curbside pickup.

I was able to search and compare prices with Sams before I purchased.

I found it easy to shop this way and just go to the side of the building and they brought my purchase out.

They picked good expiration dates on salad.

I recommend giving it a try.

[biker59]

I was put off by the gas policy: even being a member doesn't get you the discounted price, you have to have and use their credit card, too.
Thanks for the tip on coupons, hadn't realized they were needed, so I'm missing out on deals too.
Two reasons for me not to renew. I'll stick with Sam's.

[Maker]

Once you are stuck behind someone flipping through the ad flyer looking for a coupon, stopping their search to apologize to everyone for the delay they are causing (and making worse by not searching while talking) - You may not think coupons are a good idea anymore.

[The Chipster]

[QUOTE=billethkid;2177176]We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

You think it is a pretty nice store but won't go there again because you have to clip a few coupons? Wow.

[Pinball wizard]

I was put off by the gas policy: even being a member doesn't get you the discounted price, you have to have and use their credit card, too.
Thanks for the tip on coupons, hadn't realized they were needed, so I'm missing out on deals too.
Two reasons for me not to renew. I'll stick with Sam's.

That is not exactly correct. All members get the discount price, if you have the BJ's credit card you get some extra off.

[Johnsocat]

[QUOTE=billethkid;2177176]We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

My humble and simplistic view:
If a grocery store requires membership, then they should already have a fair price without coupons. Also, any sales should automatically be applied to ALL members.

[cjrjck]

BJ's seems to me to be less crowded than Sam"s and easier to check out. Gas lines are shorter too. As for the shopping experience it is close but I Iean towards Sam's overall. My wife and I will decide after our year is up with BJ's. If there was a Costco near here, it would win easily.

[Stu from NYC]

Long time member of Sams just joined BJ primarily due to deli counter. At this point think we will alternate between both.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Long time member of Sams just joined BJ primarily due to deli counter. At this point think we will alternate between both.

They really do have a terrific deli.

Sam's hotdogs are better - but you don't have to be a member to buy one at their little cafe area near the exit doors.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I was put off by the gas policy: even being a member doesn't get you the discounted price, you have to have and use their credit card, too.
Thanks for the tip on coupons, hadn't realized they were needed, so I'm missing out on deals too.
Two reasons for me not to renew. I'll stick with Sam's.

You're not understanding their policy then. Their policy - is that in order to buy gas at BJ's at all, you have to be a member. With membership only, you will typically pay 10-20 cents less than any other gas station in the area. With the BJ's credit card, you get an ADDITIONAL discount.

Their gas prices are always cheaper than Wawa's and the Circle K across the street, usually by 15 cents or more. Without using the BJ's credit card.

Same thing with the coupons - those are for an ADDITIONAL price reduction. Their prices tend to be cheaper "per unit" than the same thing in other stores. Per ounce, per pound, per each, per pack of 30, per "whatever a unit is, on that particular product."

Their deli prices tend to be cheaper than any deli in the area and the products just as good (or bad, if you consider that deli foods are generally not healthy).

[Redsmom]

Just today I called to make sure that I would not be auto-renewed for my membership at BJ’s. They asked why?

Let me begin with their entryway. An elderly community is utilizing this store and so they head directly to the entrance often with walkers and canes only to find out they have to walk another 40 steps to their left to get a shopping cart. Who designed this?!

Clipping coupons!? Who the heck does this anymore? Whether it’s paper and scissors, or being handy enough to figure out which product you’re buying requires you to click to have an electronic coupon, why are they putting me through this?

Buying gas at a discount is a wonderful thing, except for the process of just trying to get it in my tank. Who the heck designed the lineup for the cars to get into these stalls?! Who decided it was a great idea to put the word DIESEL on the far right stalls making it look like those lines are only for guess what, diesel!? Then it takes 15 attempts to get your card to scan, I guess you have to hold your tongue just right. So once you jump through all their hoops to get the machine to say yeah, you’re gonna get some gas today, you’ve got to try to get the nozzle into your gas tank and push it in really really hard, or it will not seal, and it will not pump gas. I have never seen such a process. And apparently I’m not alone because I have had to coach other people to this ridiculous process as I wait in line behind them. Oh and a good percentage of the time, if you have the audacity to ask for a printed receipt, it’s out of paper and tells you to ask the attendant. You’ve got cars lined up behind you and you’re gonna go find the poor attendant that is trying to deal with all these lanes of people who are struggling to get gas into their tank.

Oh and concerning prices, they might be better than your typical grocery store, but I stood in the spices aisle and looked up spice after spice at Sam’s Club only to find that Sam’s was cheaper on most all of them.

But the reason I called BJs today to make sure that they did not auto-renew me was because my husband made a clerical error when paying our bill a couple months ago and shorted them by, Wait For It, one cent. We have been charged a two dollar fee every month since. Doesn’t matter that we have never paid less than full payment, on time, every other month since we became members.

I have never seen a company work so hard to drive away customers. In our case they were successful.

[Carla B]

When BJ's announced that memberships for new members would be $25 for the first year and I applied they said husband was not eligible because we were already members. How could that be? I didn't ever remembering going there. Where had we signed up? Now I think it may have been in North Miami where we spent a few weeks at a marina before leaving offshore to sail to the Caribbean in 1999. One visit was the likely extent of our over 20-year "valued membership." So I applied for my own $25 membership. I also find the coupons annoying and so will probably not renew. I wonder how long they plan to keep us on the books this time

[inda50]

Well I've read a lot of valid claims. But there is one thing I am very sure of maybe 2.

1. The parking lot seems to me, easier to navigate, find a place park and not as crazy as
Sams or Walmart.

2., And this is important, I have always been able to find a shopping cart. I often need a
handicap shopping cart, they keep them clean, well stocked and charged. The
opposite of Sams and Walmart. BJs sees to it.

[merrymini]

I have used BJ’s, Sam’s and Costco. Costco is the winner. By far.

[westernrider75]

That is not exactly correct. All members get the discount price, if you have the BJ's credit card you get some extra off.

Kind of correct, if you have the credit card you get additional money back to be used in the store, not at the pumps. You only need the membership card to get the discounted price.

[midiwiz]

Also noted that the handicapped parking was a distance away from the entrance.

thank the golf carts for that one

[midiwiz]

I have used BJ’s, Sam’s and Costco. Costco is the winner. By far.

thanks I needed a good laugh this morning

[B-flat]

For what it’s worth, I still believe Costco is better than BJ’s or Sam’s Club

I agree Costco is better but we don't care to drive the 140 mile round trip to Wesley Chapel just to be in a better store. We did join when I needed hearing aids, they have a great deal on their Kirkland branded aids made by
Sonova who also makes Phonak.

[JMintzer]

thank the golf carts for that one

How do golf carts affect where they initially placed the handicap spaces?

[chrissy2231]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:
just click on coupons on-line, & they are put on your card

[ronwinger]

We are members of Sam's and Costco. The last I want to do is to Jump Hoops (mess with coupons) while shopping at BJ's. Remember we are paying to shop at these stors. As far as taking my phone in to BJ's or any other store or restaurant, that is not for me. Life is getting confusing enough. I think if BJ's wants to use coupons, they can come up with something easier than I am hearing here. Have a great day!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Kind of correct, if you have the credit card you get additional money back to be used in the store, not at the pumps. You only need the membership card to get the discounted price.

The price at the pump with ONLY the membership card is the price EVERYONE who uses those pumps can get. It's not "discounted" for members. You can't pump there if you aren't a member. There is no "non-member" regular pricing. That gas is members-only. That's their price. That price is cheaper than the regular price anywhere else in the area. But if you want that price, you have to be a member. Non-members are not allowed to pump the gas there at all.

The BJ's credit card gives them a discount on top of the already-low price.

[MrFlorida]

I don't mind the coupons, it's the rebates that always bugged me....so glad they don't do that anymore.

[PurePeach]

OP we have the same thoughts on not renewing. Reason it’s the coupons, the product does not even give you a heads up that a coupon is available. So just feels like BJs is trying to screw over (pun intended) their clientele by not informing money could be saved.

Plus If you do use a coupon there is a limit of 1. So if coffee is a coupon and one drink decaf, and the other drinks high caffeine, you have to choose who gets coffee.

Rather drive to Costco in Westly Chapel that cut out coupons




Me, too! :BigApplause:

[jump4]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:

I agree, very nice looking store. But clipping in-app or paper coupons is inconvenient. Savings are offered at most other stores without this inconvenience.

Also, I find the value is better at Sam's and Costco. Frequently, the price at BJs is about the same but is a smaller product size.

[asianthree]

Just came from Sam’s, busy as usual. Lines for gas was over the top. But parked, picked up what I needed, all registers were open, out the door in 21 minutes.

They did have something new, I hadn’t noticed couple weeks ago. There were few items with large signs, informing you that if you bought that item on scan and go there was a significant savings.

[mkjelenbaas]

We have shopped at BJ's two or three times since their opening.
It will take more visits to start to know what is where in the store.
I will not get used to the need to clip coupons to get sale prices.

Because of the coupon clipping we will most likely not renew when the renewal comes due.

Overall it is a pretty nice store.

What are some other opinions/comments about BJ's?

_______________________________________________

:censored:
You know they have an automatic renewal program - UNLESS - you visit the store and tell them at customer service to not do it - and that is what I have done!!

[retiredguy123]

You know they have an automatic renewal program - UNLESS - you visit the store and tell them at customer service to not do it - and that is what I have done!!
You can do that online. No need to visit the store.

[hizzonner]

You can’t use the app if you are buying alcohol!!
!QUOTE=OrangeBlossomBaby;2177178]You don't have to clip coupons. Just use their app. No waste of paper needed. I got the sale price on the frozen bourbon salmon today, $14.99 instead of $17.99, without any coupon at all. If you're a member, you get that sale price.

I also got $2.00 a pound of sliced deli meat, and that did require that I touch my fingertip to a coupon on the app. The horrors - I was expected to actually do something to get a deal. I'm sure I'll be traumatized for life over this indignity.[/QUOTE]

[billethkid]

You can do that online. No need to visit the store.

I cancelled the auto renew on line, confirmed by email back from BJ's customer service.

[Garywt]

Just came from Sam’s, busy as usual. Lines for gas was over the top. But parked, picked up what I needed, all registers were open, out the door in 21 minutes.

They did have something new, I hadn’t noticed couple weeks ago. There were few items with large signs, informing you that if you bought that item on scan and go there was a significant savings.

I guess I never knew that Sams had gas.

[Stu from NYC]

I guess I never knew that Sams had gas.

We all have it.