[asianthree]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

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.

It has been mentioned by a few that Costco travel insurance for medical is not only at a better price, but the policy surpasses and other companies. Any experience?

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

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.

Yes, I forgot about those things. We never rented cars from any one else. And the food is such quality that when my husband was living by himself as a bachelor, he still shopped there.

Costco has a very successful formula. In my northern area, people buy a house based on its distance from Costco (not too close obviously). And, for example, when you land in Honolulu, and you’re staying a while, you first load up at the Costco near the airport.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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.

I have never known Costco to offer trial membership, like BJs and Sam’s almost has to. Costco no so much

Sadly we would never make that list.. up north we would drive an hour to the base for protein, the stop at Costco, Sam’s, TJs on the return. Mind you we could have stopped at 5 other Costcos.

True Costco shoppers will tell you every store has different stuff and it’s worth the drive

[Deden]

Ha ha ha I like the Blueberries (Not bulk)

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JerryLBell

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.

If that is TRUE that the Costco CEO makes only 7 times as much as the average Costco employee, I would prefer to shop there. A few years ago I read that Japanese CEOs want to make less than TEN times their average worker.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by bopat

Sam's club seems to have more fresh fruit and vegetables than BJ's. BJ's seems to have more seasonable items than Sam's club. Costco has everything.

Sams Club has bicycles and other sporting goods stuff that I think BJs does not. I have not been to Costco in 20 years, but I think that they do have sporting goods.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by LuckyS

I’m convinced stores like Costco, Trader Joes, etc., are phycological wants more than a need. We all came from places that had an abundance of these stores, and we just miss that feeling of knowing we can go to them without taking a one hour or so drive.

Most people that shop at those stores are purchasing quality food items. Not anything you're going to find at Save-A-Lot or Walmart.

Does that make it a want instead of a need? I think it's ok for higher quality products being a need to some.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by ehonour

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. We might have someone here that does this on the regular. Mostly about golf carts.

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.

My former co-worker, a solid trustworthy guy told me about his father-in-law. His FIL was a meat salesman. Not a butcher, but a wholesale guy, like Santa Monica Seafood. They supply restaurants. He said there are absolutely quality differences between prime, choice, grade, etc. He said the 5-star restaurants, and some 4-star are getting their best stuff. The grocery stores usually got 3 star quality stuff. The other 3 and 2 star quality stuff went to lesser restaurants like chains (think: Chilis) and mom and pops. Places that offer the $10 sirloin steak.

He then told me, you know who else gets the top quality 5-star stuff. The very highest end stuff? Costco. I have been buying steaks, crab, lobster, ground beef, and ribs there ever since. Outstanding stuff, very fresh - not resealed and repacked like grocery stores might do as the meat turns gray.

Just throwing this out there.

[Garywt]

Originally Posted by biker1

Hot dog and a soda at Costco: $1.50
Hot dog and a soda at Sam's: $1.38
Hot dog and a soda at BJ's: not sure they even offer it

I can say one thing, I don’t go to any of these stores for lunch or dinner so I do not care what there hot dogs are.

[Garywt]

For 35 years I have just liked BJ’s better. It has always been a cleaner store and has the items I want.

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

[Normal]

I wonder how many south of 44 will ever go there. We currently use the Costco in Clermont because it’s a little less than a half hour drive. Also Traders isn’t far if we feel like the extra drive.

I think this Costco will be just as far?

[allsport]

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

I actually am a member of all of three. I buy gas at BJ's and some food at both. Costco is my favorite but a long drive right now. Costco has lots of options that are healthy and you do save money when buying in bulk. Their appliances are terrific and the warranty is second to none. BJ's is a wanna be, Sam's is blue collar and Costco is the leader of the pack. An opinion from a member of all.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

My former co-worker, a solid trustworthy guy told me about his father-in-law. His FIL was a meat salesman. Not a butcher, but a wholesale guy, like Santa Monica Seafood. They supply restaurants. He said there are absolutely quality differences between prime, choice, grade, etc. He said the 5-star restaurants, and some 4-star are getting their best stuff. The grocery stores usually got 3 star quality stuff. The other 3 and 2 star quality stuff went to lesser restaurants like chains (think: Chilis) and mom and pops. Places that offer the $10 sirloin steak.

He then told me, you know who else gets the top quality 5-star stuff. The very highest end stuff? Costco. I have been buying steaks, crab, lobster, ground beef, and ribs there ever since. Outstanding stuff, very fresh - not resealed and repacked like grocery stores might do as the meat turns gray.

Just throwing this out there.

I spent many years going to stockyards, then slaughter house. Learn quickly beef grades, and what to look for. Most of Our beef, pork, comes from family farm. Raised, grass feed, then off the butcher (learned young not to name stock) then family picks up their pack. Rarely do we eat beef out or buy in grocery. Product is just disappointing. I find our pork not that much different than some grocery, except for bacon. Ours is smoked with multiple wood combinations, along with brisket.

[rustyp]

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

Costco has the best singing candles.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by asianthree

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

It’s amazing how much stuff can fit in a golf cart with a rear cargo carrier that fits into the golf club bag well and retention straps, the passenger seat and floor space, the accessories basket, the cooler, the overhead storage shelves, and the drivers lap. If it wasn’t for the tunnels, stuff could also get strapped to the roof.