Issues with Sam's Club, to say the least...
 

Because there is no Costco close by, we joined Sam 's. We decided to have a positive attitude and were anxious to check them out and get used to the store, layout, stock etc.

it hasn't been a positive experience so far.

The day we joined, it took over 45 minutes at the customer service desk. Their system did not recognize the 32163 zip code. Huh??? The registers froze up and 2 managers needed to reset the registers and the line behind us grew and grew. The managers finally found a "work around" by entering another Villages zip code.

We thought the hard part was over. So we grabbed a cart and started shopping. Their inventory does not compare to Costco, but we stocked up on some things we needed and headed to the registers.

2 registers open. Seriously??? Lines were 8-10 people deep. We waited in line tag teamed each other in the line and got our ritual hot dog and coke. Long shopping trip, a bit frustrating but any store can have a bad day, right?

We survived that first trip and headed back last night for another shopping trip. This might be our last.

We got there about 6:30pm. It wasn't crowded. Guess Friday evening at Sam's is not a popular time. Good for us, we thought! Loaded up our cart and headed to the registers again.

I swear it was an instant replay, slow motion play by play. 2 registers open. Managers solving problems on each. No movement for over 20 minutes. I headed to the snack bar to order our ritual shopping hot dogs. They were out of hot dogs. (What? Can you repeat that? I'm sure I heard you incorrectly!)

I reported back to hubby still shifting his weight from knee to knee in line. NO MOVEMENT! No apologies or explanations, no extra help called to open additional registers.

After a total of 30 minutes in line we walked out.

Is this store always a disaster? Are they poorly managed? Computer/registers out of date?

I don't think we will even bother going there again. It was so frustrating both times!

We expect crowds and possible delays at big box stores. But this has been unacceptable. What is really concerning is that this is the slow season.

I think we will be scheduling trips to Altamonte Springs. We have never had such poor service at Costco. Sam's just made a really bad impression! Is this normal??

We've been members since day 1 and to be honest, we have never encountered any problems with shopping. I've got to say there is no reason they should ever be out of hot dogs or any other item on their menu.
We do prefer Costco but Sam's is what we've got.

We have been members of Sam's here and before we moved here...and of Costco. We like both equally. We haven't had problems such as you described.

Was a member in California, so was quite happy when Sam's opened here. Have had an occasional glitch but nothing like you've described. But it does sound like the experiences I've had with Costco in California.

It's why they say they charge cheaper prices. Not enough help and those that are there are low paid over worked. Costco pays their employees what they are worth and the employees make it work for the customers. We are long time Costco members and as you we only joined Sam's Club cause there is nomCostco close by. In Phoenix we had 3 within 6 miles of us!

Go to sams at least once a month and have never had the issues that you describe and in my opinion it has the best beef you can buy, better than any of the grocery stores we have here.

We belong to both, but SAMs is what we have. But have never had a problem

Have to agree with the majority of posters - been members since day one and have never encountered problems like yours. We shop early, as soon as the public can get in because we find the shelves are fully stocked and the meat counter has a huge selection. We also do self paying (or whatever it is called) and there are about six of those to use.

Prefer Costco if it was here, but Sam's were quicker getting into this area!

I came back to this post to add this ........... my very expensive new glasses have not fitted correctly since I purchased them, even after taking them back several times .............. one day I stopped to ask the optical department at Sam's if they could help. He fixed them and cleaned them for NO CHARGE - now that's service. I will be using their optical department to get frames in future.

Actually, we like BJs in Clermont better. Plus they take coupons. That being said, Sam's is closer. One of our big problems with Sam's is that do not take our credit cards- American Express or Visa.

I am a Costco fan - went there Friday in Atlanta before our trip to TV. I googled mileage and it's 39.39 miles from TV.

We are planning to keep our membership once we move full time in December.

Wait! Atlanta is 39.9 miles from TV? Did they move it recently? Good Grief,Gainesville is 50 miles from TV

We were at Sam's yesterday evening. A storm had caused the computer systems to go down. When they came back up they weren't recognizing the "plus" members cards and we weren't getting the added discount on advertised items. That is what the managers were trying to help the cashiers figure out.

I felt so sorry for our cashier. She was visibly shaking. I didn't know what was happening. We told her to relax that it wasn't her fault and did our best to help her calm down. We joked and told her that we weren't in a hurry. She said she had chosen this job and she wasn't blaming anyone but she'd been living in a rural area of the Ocala National Forest and wasn't use to a lot of people. In her mind, she said, she understood people didn't want to wait in line and she could watch their faces and by the time they got to her...some were really mean to her and took waiting personally...but she needs the job.

I'm going to try to remember her the next time I'm in a hurry and waiting in a line, getting impatient and getting that look on my face. It can be frustrating.

My Google says Atlanta is 389.9 miles from TV

I am a Costco fan - went there Friday in Atlanta before our trip to TV. I googled mileage and it's 39.39 miles from TV.

We are planning to keep our membership once we move full time in December.




What I meant to post was Costco was 39.39 from TV. I said I went to Costco in Atlanta on Friday before coming here. The "it's" in my post was referring to Costco.

Happy Sunday!

Atlanta? Glad we got that cleared up.

Good news. I'd rather go to ATL than Gatorville. Now that ATL is closer I'll go more often.

Now if we could just move Boston.....

When we move in next year we too will keep our Costco membership. To us it's worth the drive maybe once a month to stock up. Plus we have an extra freezer so I always buy my meat there and divide it up when I get home. We will put a cooler in the car and go. I also found that there is one in Clearwater Beach so I thought now and then we could go to the beach for a couple hours, then go to Costco and home. I know that's a long day but we love the beach and we love Costco. We certainly wouldn't do that every time but now and then it would be fun. What the heck we'll be retired. A 39 mile drive isn't bad. I think the quality Costco sells is worth it. IMHO.

Sorry, Dotti. I've never experienced problems like that in Sam's Club but I can understand the frustation. We usually go there a half hour before closing and it's pretty calm. We always use the self-check. A few weeks ago all the registers were down at Wal-Mart when I was waiting to pay. I believe my patience limit was around 7 min before I abandoned the cart and walked out.

Never had any problems at SAMs. I went to Costco with a friend and they too had long lines and more traffic getting there and parking. Both stores are clean and easily navigated, and employees at both stores are pleasant and helpful. Costco's potato salad is far superior! It's not likely that I would travel to Costco unless there was a Home Goods next door! I would like to add the I have a plus membership at SAMs and go before the store opens to everyone. More relaxing!

We stopped in a costco in Tallahassee and wanted to see what they were all about. They don't give out guest passes. You can always count on lines at SAMs and Walmart however over the last year Publix seems to falling in line with long lines and no cashiers.

Not a heavy, frequent Sam's shopper. So take it for what it's worth. But I've had only the expected occasional, minor glitches. Nothing like you described.

I used to go to Sam's regularly, but now only go for big-ticket items where the savings are substantial. On my last "regular" trip to Sam's, I needed EVOO. They had an abundance of ginormous bottles, but only 1 smaller bottle and I took that one. I did not realize that part of the barcode sticker was torn. The bottle wouldn't scan, so the checker sent a runner to get the barcode. I told the runner that there were no more bottles on the shelf and they would have to scan the shelf tag. The runner returned with a barcode written on a scrap piece of paper, but it scanned at the price for the ginormous bottle. When I told the checker that was the wrong price, she said I had 2 choices - pay the higher price or not buy the EVOO at all because she couldn't let me "tie up her line." I decided then that I would pay the higher price and go immediately to CS to complain - not about the higher price but about the checker's attitude. While waiting for the CS manager, I discovered that the checker had removed another item from my cart - a food item that sells at a "2 for" price. I had only wanted 1, and when the checker told me that I had to buy 2 I told her just to scan the 1 item twice. Instead, she just took it upon herself to remove it completely without even telling me.

It is hard to believe that Costco has not opened a store near TV. They would be very successful with a location there!

Could be wrong, but I believe the Costco in Altamonte Springs has a Home Goods store about a block away.
P.S. Sam's Club is switching from the Sam's Discover card to a new Sam's MasterCard. I received the new card in the mail and will no longer be able to use the old one. This change over was scheduled for the end of the month (August). Perhaps this caused a computer glitch which accounted for the recent cash register malfunctions.

WE have too get phone #so when I go. I can pick up what you need I go there every other month. I miss Costco still use there paper towel and toilet tissue and many other things

I've been a member for over two years. I'm not a big fan, but I've never experienced problems like the OP presents.

Not enough cashiers is a pet peeve of mine. I find it to be pretty standard operating procedure at most large corporation stores. They all try to keep payroll at a minimum.

I belong to Sam's Club because they are the only game in town unless you want to drive and hour and fifteen minutes to Costco in Altamonte Springs. The gas spend would offset any savings. In fact, I often wonder if we are saving much more than the $100 annual membership fee at Sam's each year.

If you use the self checkout at Sam's with your new Mastercard, you should be aware that there is a chip on the front right of the card. The card has to be inserted in the bottom of the card reader with the chip up. It will not work if you slide your card in the strip reader. We went in a few days ago to pick up three items and couldn't get the reader to work. After about five minutes of playing with this thing, an associate came over and helped me out.

I'm disappointed that this wasn't explained when I got my new card or that they don't have clear instructions at the card reader. But, it was a one time thing.

Another issue that I have is that I used to use the self checkout every time. One day we went in and they had changed the self checkout lanes to ten items or less only. Now I get inline and wait while I see four or five self check out lanes empty.

We have not had the problems you have encountered, except if you have to go to the membership or return desk..... we go to costco in Alamonte Springs about every 4-6 weeks and now that is about 7 miles from Trader Joes.

What OP described happens everywhere and will only get worse in prime time here. Costco membership is higher and many of their products more than SAM's but like all shopping you need to pay attention

Where we lived there was a Sams and Costco within a mile of each other. Because of this they competed very heavily on items such as TVs and eyeglasses/contact lenses and many other smaller items.
We found the Costco always cleaner and the staff and systems better.
Since Sams is the only one in town they are not pushed to improve.
Have not had problems here, but still can wish that Costco may start here!

Taking blessed's post a tad too literally, whot?