[Duke-SRT]

One of my peeves about Sam’s is to get your deposit on 5 gallon water bottles you have to have your receipt and wait in line at the front desk with all the other people waiting there. At BJ’s you walk in with the empty bottle and they give you a 5.00 coupon right there.

[LeRoySmith]

We've tried both, Sam's is our preferred and the one we've had a membership the most. Both are getting too busy to offset the benefits. For some reason Sam's optical treats me the best.

[Stryker]

Quality of the merchandise. Costco is #1 by far, then BJ’s, then Sam’s Club.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I have never been in a Costco store, but many on this forum wax lyrical about them.

What are the main differences between a Costco and the other two?

Thank you

many reviews have been done and available on the internet, however to sum it up -

Sams is just a big wally world, products are far lower end in comparison
BJ's is the better house brand (see articles on who makes them for Costco and BJs), better in organics, and several reviews have them as the lowest price. Only 1 problem here, this BJs isn't all that it can be. I've been in larger and they are far far better.
Costco, some of the products as noted above are private label yet made by someone major. Pricing is higher that BJs on average .

for price and quality etc, BJs and Costco easily outrank Wallyworld.

[jack_pine]

Sams has scan and go. Thats a game changer for us.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by jack_pine

Sams has scan and go. Thats a game changer for us.

I recently joined Sam's. How do you do scan and go?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I recently joined Sam's. How do you do scan and go?

Get the app and at the bottom will be an icon for "Scan & Go"

When you are ready, either while shopping or just before you leave, use your phone to scan each of the items you are buying. Follow the prompts to checkout and pay (usually with your stored credit card) then head for the door. There will be a QR code on your phone that the person at the door will scan, then they will likely scan three or four items in your cart and you're out the door.

Very easy and much faster than waiting in a checkout line.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jack_pine

Sams has scan and go. Thats a game changer for us.

So does BJ's.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Get the app and at the bottom will be an icon for "Scan & Go"

When you are ready, either while shopping or just before you leave, use your phone to scan each of the items you are buying. Follow the prompts to checkout and pay (usually with your stored credit card) then head for the door. There will be a QR code on your phone that the person at the door will scan, then they will likely scan three or four items in your cart and you're out the door.

Very easy and much faster than waiting in a checkout line.

So I have to connect my credit card to the app on my phone??
Also if I may ask. When I went to Sam's today and got gasoline it asked me about a car wash. Is the car wash free?
Thank You.

[Velvet]

Not a problem for me, I’m a “self-scan” virgin. I rarely shop on a hurry and don’t mind chatting in line.

[HORNET]

Some people buy Ford, some Chevy !

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by New Englander

So I have to connect my credit card to the app on my phone??
Also if I may ask. When I went to Sam's today and got gasoline it asked me about a car wash. Is the car wash free?
Thank You.

Car wash is not free

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by jbartle1

Poor neighborhoods, not care to associate with, hmmmm!

Yes, was that strange or not ? Don't want to get too close to those "poor people", WOW ! Plus, do people actually "associate" with poor people in a store ? I thought people in all stores just walk around, back and forth, don't really get into is "poor" or not "poor". Strange remark for someone who probably lives right here in a middle class working class retirement community. Oh well.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by JerryLBell

Don't hold your breath on getting a "free" membership. Costco charges a fixed markup on all their sales and that markup is just enough to cover the cost of doing business (the building, the employees, power, etc.). ALL of their annual profit comes from the sales of memberships. Expecting them to give those away is like saying, "I'll only buy from store X if they make absolutely no money from my purchases."

Is there a link for this statement?

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

BJ’s offers a 2% cash incentive on their credit card so we use it for everything. We use it so much we didn’t pay for anything the last two times we went and we still have over $600 in credits.