BJ's ?
 

So the ones that went today, what'a think?

We were in the area for a doctor visit and thought we would drop it, what a horror show. Parking lot was mobbed, cars coming out in a steady stream and could not get out of Lowes parking area to cross 441. Will be a while before we go back.

Agree. Was very crowded. I was able to get a spot, bought a few items I needed. I tend to find BJ's will have items Sam's wont and vice versa. BJ's gives a military discount on membership so they get me to renew annually that way :) The "scan and go" function of the BJ's app was malfunctioning today. They said it was due to a systemic issue from too many shoppers.

Walked inside - almost got run over countless times in 5 minutes by mobility scooters. Wall to wall people. Large portion of the crowd pretending like they were the only ones there. Total rudeness not by the staff but by seniors. Then I realized what the "H" am I doing - this is a superspreader event. FYI - I was not impressed by the prices I observed in the short time I was there.

No offense, but I can't imagine anyone in their right mind going there on opening day.

My thought exactly!

Wife wanted to go but luckily my view prevailed for a change/

Sam's Club also has a military discount - $10 gift card on renewals.

I was there about 10. Crowded but not crazy. Basically the same as Sams. Higher on some stuff lower on others. Newer and better organized of course. More convenient for me because I can get there by golf cart in about 10 minutes.

:1rotfl::1rotfl: First Day!!!! :1rotfl::1rotfl: For What?

I made almost $7000.00 collecting tolls at the gate. The gate motor was overheating today!

It was a very dumb thing to do but I did get an education:

1 Don't go to a venue on opening day
2 Is it our generation they call the "me" generation ? If it is I understand it now.

I'm a leftie, so I'm always in my right mind.

As such, I went today. I went mostly for the ceremony of being there for an opening of a store. Didn't buy anything, but wanted to see how it was set up. It's exactly the way the one I used to go to up north was set up, so I'm so glad about that! There was another one a town away that was slightly different, but this was an exact duplicate.

I'll have no problem finding things in the aisles.

Having gas at a lower cost is a nice savings, considering we have two golf carts, a car, and a pickup truck to feed every month or two.

I got the coupon book they gave us when we signed up for our $25/year membership. Combined with manufacturers' coupons and the gas savings and I'll recoup that $25 expense in the first three months.

I was actually thrilled to see that they carry Poland Springs water, since that's all I used to drink up north and Staples is the only other place around here that sells it. There's a coupon for that too, so I'll end up getting a case of 40 for less per bottle than I was paying for a case of 28 in Staples. Huzzah.

That, plus shampoo/conditioner (with coupons), random Berkley & Jensen products from time to time, and (if they carry it still, I didn't check) their unscented store brand kitty litter, is really all I ever buy there anyway.

But it's a fun store to poke around in, sometimes you find things you didn't realize you wanted til you see it. And sampling - is always a good thing!

You can save even more on gas if you get their charge card, that's how they get you.
Otherwise, without BJ's charge card, gas is cheaper at Sam's club.

I can't get gas for my golf carts at Sam's. BJ's is only 4 minutes from my house by cart or car.

Depending on traffic, Sam's is between 8-15 minutes away by car, and not accessible at all by golf cart.

I have a better deal with my own credit card, so I wouldn't get a BJ's card anyway.

I'd rather pay 20c/gallon more for gas than wait in line at Sam's (and I assume for BJ too). SAM's is insane with people jockeying for "position" and sides of the pump. Constant horns blowing. Is waiting in line for 20+ minutes worth saving $3 or $4 or $5? For ME, NO. I'm far from financially loaded but sometimes saving a few bucks just doesn't make much sense TO ME. Of course YMMV. I just have no patience for that or any lines for that matter.

I happen to go around 1:00. Why you ask on opening day? Because I wanted to! Got a parking spot directly in front of the main entrance next to the golf cart only parking. Yes it was quite busy in the store however I managed to accomplish what I set out to do. I found every one who I encountered to be considerate and mindful to keeping the flow of shoppers moving along. The staff were extremely helpful & pleasant. Came time to cash out and I was directed to a cashier that had no one in line. So my going to BJ’s on opening day was very satisfying!

We were there when BJs opened. Easy peasy in and out. We MUCH prefer Costco and will keep Sam's membership as out local warehouse due to them carrying items that BJs did not have.

Sorry, but won't be keeping BJs membership after it expires as we do not want three warehouse memberships. Two is enough. I hope BJs does well in the long run. I don't like to see any business fail. Just wish it were Costco that opened up in this location.

We gas up at Sam's all the time but have never heard one horn. Admit, sometimes there is a wait but it has never been more than five minutes. I guess we go at a good time and would never wait more than five minutes for gas anyway.

Well, there was one time when a woman yelled out of her window for my husband to "learn how to drive" when he politely and safely waited for the main road to clear before he "blocked the box" to get into the parking lot. She made me laugh out loud.

When a new store opens, I won't go there for at least a month . Opening days are worse than black Friday used to be.

You "never waited more than 5 minutes at SAMs gas" ?????????? I find that hard to believe. If there is only ONE CAR in front it takes more than 5 minutes to put in the 2 cards, fill on a low average of maybe 8 gals gallons gas and pay. We have never been there (especially recently with high gas prices) when there are at minimum 5 or 6 cars in each of the 4 (or 6?) lines. We are usually there mid-day which might not be the best time but still. If any gas station is totally empty it has to take more than 5 minutes for the entire process. Maybe time flies when you're having fun! :D

Did you get a free mug?:1rotfl:

Agree wait is usually more than 5 at least 10 minutes

So, after reading through this thread, it is really all good. Good for Lady Lake to have the taxes, good for people to have more options to shop, good for Lowes will bring more people into their area, all good.

Now all we need is for Costco's to get their act together and find a piece of land and build their store, although they are leaving it a bit late!

Personally, I have been very surprised that their management has missed the boat on TV.

I sure wish it were a Costco instead, but even then - I wouldn't fight the mobs on the first day. lol

Good thing we still live in a country were we can make choices.

I agree with you, BUT if other people decide to go there on opening day, that's their decision and their decision only.

Image if one of our golf courses would offer free golf for one day, would you go then??

"Image if one of our golf courses would offer free golf for one day, would you go then??"

You mean like Christmas Day at the Champ courses here? No!

Here comes the carnage speeches.

So true!:popcorn:

Usually only one car in each lane when I get gas at Sams, about 30 minutes before they close, plus nobody in the store either

Went to BJ this morning.

Took a few minutes to convert our membership to a card. Store was crowded but people well behaved.

Store well layed out and obviously everything very fresh.

Employees very helpful especially in the deli.

We will continue going back and forth to Sams and BJ.

Nope.

Crowds will die down once all the paid members go in and find out the BJ's isn't as good as Costco, or even Sams for that matter. Soon they will be giving away free 90-day trial memberships like they do everywhere else.

like on Christmas day? Yes.

Perhaps but they have things that Sams does not and that should keep us coming back.

Sam's has three pumps in each bay. We don't gas up at high times I guess.

As an aside.....we pulled into the gas area at BJs today. There is one gas pump per bay and there is no room for cars to que up. I felt it unsafe to be there and there were very few cars to begin with. We will not be getting gas at BJs simply because there is no room to maneuver. There is more room at WaWa and Circle K to line up.

At that hour it makes sense but I have no desire to drive down thee at 8 or 9PM about 14 mile round trip from my home to either shop and/or save $3 or $4 on gas.

Was there today shopping and at ~2;45 PM when we left there were at least 48 cars (wife stopped counting at 48) because we were trying to get out of the exit that was partially blocked by the lines. Their price was 30cents/gallon (that's a lot) less than Raceway across the highway where we stopped first. So my loss on a 12 gallon fill-up was a total of $3.60 but I was in and out of Raceway in under 10 minutes. Well worth it rather than sitting in line at SAMS or ANY gas station for that matter. I also have no desire to drive down there just before they close, we only go down there when we need to shop during the day. By 8PM I'm too wiped out. Just isn't worth the savings to wait. :D

If we had needed anything from a big box store on BJ's opening day we would have shopped at Sam's. That's not to mention the fact in about 10 days we'll be back in New England where we don't have a Sam's and will head to BJs. Add me to the list that it's too bad it wasn't a Costco that was built.

I have zero patience for lines myself, and I abhor the construction on 441 by Sam’s. For that reason, if we need to go for gas, Home Depot, Kohls, ABC or any other reason, we don’t leave our house until 7pm. We don’t shop at Sam’s, but the membership more than pays for itself w/gas savings.

Unfortunately, I much prefer Costco to either of the others. Just ended my relation with them because they are simply too far away to be feasible down here. Joined Sam’s. Refuse to make a special trip for gas and waited 1/2 hour to gas up at Sam’s club. Not worth it. Had a BJ’s card once and not too impressed with them so no reason to join.

Boobs
 

They had a seminar in the back with instruction on how to use real boobs to feed a baby……