Warehouse "clubs" my opinion...

**pecunierrant** · 04-04-2006, 01:53 PM

Its similar at Costco, you cant pay cash directly. We buy the Costco cash cards at the register and they can be used to purchase gas (they have those card readers). Generally speaking the gas is less at Costco, theyre a ways away though so we dont always buy there.

Another thing I find there is the 25# bags of all purp & bread flour. I use to buy 50# bags at a food supply place but prefer the smaller sizes for quicker turnover.

One thing I havent been lucky with is the appliances. We've not had good performance from the Costco branded washer & frige we bought, even though they were made by a major brand for them.

**tervsforme** · 04-04-2006, 04:04 PM

I'm single and I love Costco. Their rotisserie chickens are only $4.88 and they are huge compared to the ones in the grocery store. I get 4 meals from it, plus soup! Also I have found that their sugar and flour is cheaper and I have a rice cooker and you can buy 20 lbs of rice for $8.00. Being single, it lasts me a long time and I have rice a couple of times a week. Also, I compared the vitamins and Excedrine with coupons and at costco, and it's much cheaper to buy them in large quantities at Costco, than even with coupons. I also agree with the bananas. I got 4 lbs for $1.30. Ate some, made banana bread with some and froze some. Their dog biscuits are a pretty good deal also, and with 3 large dogs, I go through alot of them!!

**QuilterMom** · 04-04-2006, 04:43 PM

We are members at Sam's and there are things there that we definitely cannot purchase cheaper elsewhere. Some of the things we buy...

- contact lens and saline
- cd's
- cat food
- freezer bags
- yeast
- vinegar
- baking soda
- pure vanilla extract
- olive oil
- tilapia
- organic apples
- organic pasta sauce
- organic sugar
- organic coffee beans

**chatterweb** · 04-04-2006, 05:55 PM

We are a family of 5: 2 adults 1 cat and 2 large breed dogs.
We shop costco every week, and are Executive members....
We buy:
Contact lenses
shampoo
dishwasher soap
laundry soap
paper products
pet food/bedding/treats
water
food
meats
We aslo get coupons from Costco and save even more!

We did try Sam's Club but went back to Costco
DH bought tires there and we also buy gas there.

**ironmaiden** · 04-04-2006, 06:03 PM

When we needed formula, we used a free membership.

But I stopped going there after we stopped using formula.
The reason being, my bill at the end of the trip was huge.
Because everything is sold in such mass quantity, every item costs big bucks and just put a few things into a cart and you've spent tons. So especially when I go into justification mode, the total was just way too big regardless of whether it was cheaper or not. And since I didn't do all my grocery shopping there, I was now making extra trips to a store. And sad to say, the best way to keep me on track is to keep me out of stores.

**dltquilter** · 04-04-2006, 07:21 PM

As I develop a price book, things I find cheaper at Sams are:

Olive Oil
Flour
Dishwasher soap
Hamburger (90% lean) nearly half grocery store price
the rotisserie chickens are 4-5 lb birds for 4.88 (salty, but good--great cuz you don't have to cook, and per lb less than average grocery uncooked)
trash bags
books and videos if you are buying those...
vanilla, spices (large containers though)
some produce, but have to check it carefully
PRILOSEC--way cheaper than anywhere else, unless you get a really good sale

I only go about once a month, or else I spend too much--but for some of these daily items I can't beat the prices.

**YankeeMom** · 04-04-2006, 07:29 PM

Forgot about YEAST! And spices. I can buy bulk spices there (and no where else sells them in bulk) for cheaper than even the commissary.

**ama** · 04-05-2006, 04:17 PM

My step-father just bought me a membership to Sams Club. He was worried about gas prices being so high -- after walking through and looking at all the prices, I wish he had just given me the cash!

**mom22grls** · 04-05-2006, 04:32 PM

I've found that the off-brand at Sam's is alot cheaper on some things. TP, dish soap, laundrysoap, trash bags, etc.

The flour and sugar are the same price as my grocery stores, but a much better quality. I used to buy the 5 lb bage of generic flour at the grocery store and I see an HUGE difference.......and it's about the same price within a penny a pound or so.

Normlly, though, meat & food aren't cheaper...just more convienent. I don't use alot of those things, though.

**Valerie in WA** · 04-05-2006, 06:43 PM

Some things are good and some are no-so-good. But sometimes, one thing is REALLY good and it makes all the difference. Case in point: I went to Costco last evening (with my friend, as I deliberately let my membership lapse), and found their store brand of Claritin (a non-drowsy antihistimine) for $12 for a 300 count bottle. The name brand Claritin was $22 for 40 count. Even if we don't use it by the expiration date (which is 2 years away), and even if I throw away half the bottle, I'll still be WAY ahead.

**amykay9377** · 06-05-2007, 05:03 PM

I LOVE my Sam's. (The closest Costco to me is 2 hours away, so I've never been there to compare).
I did the math on a seperate thread, but if I ONLY bought 2 milk, 2 oj and 1 bag of chicken (6.5lb), I save something like $180 a year! But I also save on eggs, cheese, meat, deli, pizza (fresh and frozen), paper goods and snacks (2 large--HUGE--bags of chips for under $5!).
Plus, where else can you get a 32 oz coke Icee for a buck? hehe

**mommymath** · 06-05-2007, 06:38 PM

We shop at costco because they are politically aligned on the same side as us, and are known as a company that treats their employees well -- they tend to have good prices on organic goods ... We get the best deals on: string cheese (much cheaper than reg stores even with coupons/sales), other cheeses, fruits (I often split the quantity with a friend), chicken potstickers (ds lives on them), frozen edamame (ds lives on this too), bread, and bagels. We are also teachers and sometimes treat our students to breakfast on presentation days and the $5.99 huge muffin box is well worth it!!

Annie

**Katybird** · 06-05-2007, 06:41 PM

We shop Sams for our paper goods, puppy food and office supplies. We don't purchase a lot of food there unless we are purchasing for a specific occassion, such as a party or a cookout. We are a 2 person household so it is just not real cost effective for us to buy in the huge quantities.

**Early Bird** · 06-05-2007, 11:55 PM

Car batteries!

When our KMart battery died within the warranty period, KMart didn't have our replacement in stock, so they refunded our money (about $60).

DH took the money to Sam's Club and spent approx $45 on a new battery. Better brand too.

**Neeley** · 06-06-2007, 12:08 AM

We have a business membership to Sam's. It allows us to shop 1-2 hours earlier than a normal membership would. In that time frame the meat department puts out the discounted cuts for the day. (90/10 hamburger meat at a deep discount, boneless skinless chicken breast as well.) Another plus for us is our membership is paid for by my step-father's business, so no cost to us.

We also do a lot of our grocery shopping there. Things like butter, shrimp, salmon, cheese, soy sauce, mayo, ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, fruit 20 drinks, Propell, bottled water, dog food, cat food, dog treats, mushrooms, etc....

We always get out tires from Sam's. We have been known to buy a shirt or pair of shorts. Last year I bought my deep freezer from there.

Gas is a must from the Sam's gas station. I like the fact it is always pay at the pump and you do not have to deal with someone blocking up a pump while they go inside a store to shop or to pay (major pet peeve of mine).