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 BrianL99 (Post 2396912)

I haven't been in the other 2 for years, but I believe that Sam's Club is the only one where you can watch them squeeze orange juice, then buy it and take it home.

I happily pay the membership fee, just for the OJ. 3.5L/week. My Dr. says it's not incontrovertible scientific evidence, but I haven't had a cold since the 90's.

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 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 Rocksnap (Post 2396981)

2 things that stink about Costco. Much of their meat is “blade tenderized”. Meaning it’s poked full of holes by dozens of needles as it passes down the processing line. To me, that’s a seriously hi chance of contamination.
Then there is Costco announcing their W0ke policy. When that seems to be in the opposite trend than it recently has been. As many other companies have rethought that policy, as it had a negative impact on their business.

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 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.