Originally Posted by Switter (Post 2396965)

Meat department: I compared steaks at Sam's, BJ's, and Costco. Costco steaks are about 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" thick. At Sam's you're lucky if it's 3/4" thick. BJ's meat department isn't even worth mentioning. Costco has awesome sirloin, ribeye, and New York strip.

Bakery: the stuff actually tastes like it was made by a real bakery, not store-bought like Sam's. Again, BJ's bakery isn't even worth mentioning.

Originally Posted by mraines (Post 2396992)

I really don't know as I don't frequent any of them. I hate the big box stores and don't understand why retirees have a need for buying in large quantities.

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2396862)

Hmmm. Never driven (or been in) either of those :-)

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com (Post 2396915)

But the new one will be golf cart accessible!

Right now we are members of BJ’s but I'm looking forward to what Costco offers.

Originally Posted by Lynnesail (Post 2397013)

How do you shop at Costco in a golf cart?

Originally Posted by coralway (Post 2396958)

Check Costcos stock price, that will answer your question

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2396849)

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

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66 (Post 2396956)

I've been a Costco member for 30+ years. I've also been a BJ member for a year (didn't renew) and I'm an active Sam's member (2+ years) but used to "borrow" a friends membership for a decade before that.

Costco is unparalleled. You're essentially getting only top quality goods at a great price. They're return policy is probably the best in the US among all retailers. They will take anything back without question in most cases.

Sam's is good. Definitely better than 5-10 years ago. They sell good stuff but sometimes a little lower end things than Costco. When the Costco gets built here we might keep our Sam's membership for the great car wash and a few meat items that we like to buy sometimes at Sam's.

BJ's is like a mini version of both. Much less food selection. I don't see how they will survive here when the Costco opens up.

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66 (Post 2396956)

I've been a Costco member for 30+ years. I've also been a BJ member for a year (didn't renew) and I'm an active Sam's member (2+ years) but used to "borrow" a friends membership for a decade before that.

Costco is unparalleled. You're essentially getting only top quality goods at a great price. They're return policy is probably the best in the US among all retailers. They will take anything back without question in most cases.

Sam's is good. Definitely better than 5-10 years ago. They sell good stuff but sometimes a little lower end things than Costco. When the Costco gets built here we might keep our Sam's membership for the great car wash and a few meat items that we like to buy sometimes at Sam's.

BJ's is like a mini version of both. Much less food selection. I don't see how they will survive here when the Costco opens up.

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2397009)

Thank you for all of your insights - if Costco offers a "free" membership like BJ's did we'll try it for a year

Originally Posted by biker1 (Post 2397001)

By your own admission, you don’t regularly shop there so you probably don’t really know about the quantities. I guess you could consider buying 4 tires at their auto center to be buying in a large quantity ;-). There are many other available items that nobody would consider a “large quantity”. It is a good place to buy a TV, and other electronics, and you don’t have to buy a dozen TVs.

Originally Posted by JerryLBell (Post 2396893)

I've been members of all three. Sam's Club and BJ's are pretty good, having cheaper gasoline and pretty good quality meats (in bulk, of course!). Costco is usually bigger with more choices, perhaps a shade lower in prices. What I notice mostly is how enthusiastic and helpful Costco employees generally are in comparison to the employees at the other two. I guess you get that when you pay a better wage, offer better benefits and don't try to keep employees under 40 hours a week to keep them from getting benefits. Or maybe it's the fact that the CEO of the company makes something like 7 times as much as the average employee (I may have the number wrong; it's from a special I saw on them years ago) instead of 50 or 100 times as much.

Some people just freakin' LOVE the $1.50 quarter-pound hot dog-and-a-soda deal that Costco has had for years. I tried it once and I thought it was a tube full of gas instead of meat. But then, I'm annoyingly particular about hot dogs.

Originally Posted by JerryLBell (Post 2397039)

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."

Originally Posted by JRcorvette (Post 2397027)

In my opinion you can get a higher quality of items at Costco. As for food about the same but I believe that Costco has better meats. I don’t care of BJ’s at all and it is way too far from us. They picked an awful location.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2396916)

BJ’s has some deals, But one has to clip coupons, in the beginning no signage that that item was less cost with a stupid coupon. Once I returned home opened the ad book, I could have saved $36) Not a fan of their deli products, basically 4 items at snack bar. Good thing, nobody in the store and less lines for gas. Best thing for BJs WaWa’s in right in front. It was a one and done.

I have belonged to both Sam’s and Costco since opening in our area. Sam’s always easy to find parking, less people, our business membership got us in at 7am. Sams has certain items not found at any other box stores. Save on pets food, I like to buy just one meat, poultry, or seafood item counter. I buy their Salmon, office supplies. I don’t eat anything at their snack bar. Staff is few and far between if you need help it’s not at Sam’s.

Costco best return policy than any retailer. My Dyson ($450) stopped working at 15 months. I asked at the desk if still available. Desk looked up my account saw the purchase, told me to return for full refund, and shipped same item to my house. I like their chicken, salad and soup better than Sam’s. We use their optometry department 2 pairs of glasses a year, buy tires, batteries for all 3 cars. Most of the items I buy aren’t bulk that some seem to think. Over 20 years, never paid a yearly membership, because my year end check is more than membership fee. I grab their chicken Caesar salad and frozen latte at the snack bar, on my way out to fuel up for the ride home. Their customer service is worth every penny.We had 7 Costco within 20-55 minutes from our house. So no matter where I had to be there was a Costco near by.

If I had to only pick one it would be Costco. (I buy my eggs at TJ’s if farm is not available)

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2396849)

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

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 2397058)

"Over 20 years, never paid a yearly membership, because my year end check is more than membership fee." Please explain what you mean by this. Tx

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 2397058)

"Over 20 years, never paid a yearly membership, because my year end check is more than membership fee." Please explain what you mean by this. Tx

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2397071)

For 25 years we have Executive Membership. For every dollar you spend you get a percentage in return 2 months before you renew you get a check. We take the check and pay our membership renewal for the next year. Our average with gas, business needs, optic, tires appliances just everyday items some years over $500 check.

...

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2396998)

You've obviously never been in the Sam's Club in Lady Lake.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2397080)

2% "Sam's cash" on in-club purchases for Plus members at Sam's club but doesn't apply to gas. To get credit for gas purchases a member also needs to have a Sam's club Mastercard. I wasn't interested in another card to carry until I looked at the details today... I might be applying for one soon.

Originally Posted by Lynnesail (Post 2397013)

How do you shop at Costco in a golf cart?

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2397014)

Right now you don't. The new one that is being discussed in another thread will be golf cart accessible once it is completed.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2397086)

We have Sam’s plus also, and always come close to membership fee. Although this year we will not get much back, since Clermont Costco. Sams renews in January I may not.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2397088)

I think poster is wondering how one gets all the bargains in a golf cart once Costco is in the bubble. Not that it will be the first golf cart accessible

Originally Posted by ehonour (Post 2396964)

Surprising (to me) answers to this question, most of them by people who don't shop at Costco. Gotta love it when people have an opinion about something they've not explored.

The difference is quality.

I've been a Costco member for well over fifteen years in other locations. When we moved to TV, I tried both Sam's and BJ's because they were close. Neither one came up to the same standards as Costco. So I continued to drive down to Tampa (now Clermont) to go to Costco. There are lots of boxed/wrapped commercial items (toilet paper, kitchen appliances, etc.) for which there is no difference. But most of the foodstuffs are simply better quality at Costco: better flavor, better choice, better price. I look forward to their opening here in TV.

Originally Posted by westernrider75 (Post 2396972)

I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned the travel benefits through Costco. Everything you book through their travel department earns you a cash card upon completion of your trip. We got a $400 cash card for booking our Alaskan cruise through them.

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2397012)

No need to drive or ride in either. The point is...............the Sam's/Costco debate is the same as the age-old Chevy/Ford debate. It's 100% opinions.

Originally Posted by NoMo50 (Post 2397098)

Right you are. We took a 10-day Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity. Costco Travel had the absolute best rate for the cruise itself, which was fantastic. Less than a week after getting home, we received a Costco Cash card for $920.00. We have found Costco Travel to also have, by far, the best rates for car rentals.

Originally Posted by NoMo50 (Post 2397098)

Right you are. We took a 10-day Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity. Costco Travel had the absolute best rate for the cruise itself, which was fantastic. Less than a week after getting home, we received a Costco Cash card for $920.00. We have found Costco Travel to also have, by far, the best rates for car rentals.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2397093)

Several articles I have read said location is the biggest difference between the clubs. Whichever is closest or most convenient is the one most people will use. I tend to agree. From the southern areas, an easy drive down the turnpike to Clermont might be preferable to a trek up 441 to Lady Lake. I live closer to Lady Lake so it's Sam's for me.

Getting to the location of the new Costco is pretty quick and easy for me today. I'll have to see what traffic is like once it opens and decide if I would use even a trial membership.

Originally Posted by JerryLBell (Post 2396893)

I've been members of all three. Sam's Club and BJ's are pretty good, having cheaper gasoline and pretty good quality meats (in bulk, of course!). Costco is usually bigger with more choices, perhaps a shade lower in prices. What I notice mostly is how enthusiastic and helpful Costco employees generally are in comparison to the employees at the other two. I guess you get that when you pay a better wage, offer better benefits and don't try to keep employees under 40 hours a week to keep them from getting benefits. Or maybe it's the fact that the CEO of the company makes something like 7 times as much as the average employee (I may have the number wrong; it's from a special I saw on them years ago) instead of 50 or 100 times as much.

Some people just freakin' LOVE the $1.50 quarter-pound hot dog-and-a-soda deal that Costco has had for years. I tried it once and I thought it was a tube full of gas instead of meat. But then, I'm annoyingly particular about hot dogs.