I’m one of those few — and slightly crazy — people who have membership at both Sam’s Club and Costco.
I’ve had my Costco card for years, back when I dated someone who could — and did — polish an entire 13-by-9-inch pan of cornbread in one sitting. (I literally had to hide food from him.)
And recently, I got added to an existing Sam’s Club account; meaning, it was free.
It’s interesting how similar — and surprisingly dissimilar — the two whole membership club retailers are.
Let’s start with price.
About three years ago, the website Cheapism, which finds and analyzes the best and cheapest consumer products and services, compared the two giants in 18 different categories ranging from gas to membership fees to health screenings.
It also looked at the price of 38 typical grocery items such as eggs, oatmeal and trash bags.
The verdict? Sam’s Club won the overall shopping competition, though Costco’s unit prices were slightly better.
And while price is important — hey, aren’t we shopping here to save a few cents? — it’s not the sole reason why people chose one over the other.
Sam’s, for example, takes more payment methods than Costco, which only accepts American Express, debit cards and personal checks. But Costco has the famous $1.50 hot dog and drink combo — something it introduced in 1985 at the same price.
And then there’s the parking situation, at least on Oahu.
I can’t even think about the parking lot at Costco’s Iwilei location without breaking out into a proverbial rash. (The Hawaii Kai store isn’t any easier. In fact, I’ve seen more yelling matches there than anywhere else, ever. And I lived in Chicago for a year!)
Sam’s Club, in my opinion, is slightly more sane, despite its location atop the stupidly stressful parking lot at Walmart on Keeaumoku Street. The stalls here seem wider, the crowd mellower. Overall, it’s a far less chaotic situation than at the two Costco stores in town.
People seem to have a strong loyalty to one or the other. It may be location — folks who live in Hawaii Kai may not see the point in trekking all the way to Keeaumoku Street to save a few bucks. Or it could be the products each offers.
Which do you prefer: Costco or Sam’s Club? Or do you hate them both equally?
15 Comments
Costco. Party based on reports on how the company treats its employees as compared to Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club.
just based on the way they do business and treat their employees, I’m with Costco. plus, gas
I’m going with Costco, also for the gas. I like many of the products better, and the ambiance is just better (if a warehouse store can even have an ambiance). I think you get used to the brands at locations at each store, and that becomes your preference.
My personal preference is Sam’s club, but it is 30 miles away. Recently BJ’s opened up about 5 miles from my house, prices are about the same selection is not as good but the travel time and distance make all the difference. There is no Costco in my area so I can’t compare the two.
Hello Cat,
I like the Sam’s Club gas station not only because I work just about across the street but there’s never a line, never, and the price is the same. I can just aways pull right up to the pump not like Costco where the line is to the street.
I don’t really prefer one over the other. I’m one of those who are members of both, and for some things I prefer to go to Costco and others I prefer to shop at Sam’s.
I typically get my ink, toilet paper, cereal, chicken, veggies, and gas at Costco and anything else I need I’ll find at Sam’s.
I find I stress less when going to Sam’s Club largely because getting in and getting out isn’t so much a problem for me. Ever since I decided I’d park on the 4th floor of the structure, I’ve preferred going to Sam’s Club even though I might be spending an extra $0.40 per item. Sure, it adds up across 10 items, but spending that extra $4 on Keeaumoku St. means I’m not fighting traffic and stoplights and hunting for a parking spot, and then fighting traffic and stoplights to get home. In my head, I’ve just saved $4 in gas, so its worth it.
I have a business membership with Sam’s so the convenience of shopping at 7 AM-10 AM with only business members in the store is a major benefit. With Costco, I have a regular membership so I have to wait until 11 AM.
Haven’t been in Costco for a while but Sam’s has self service checkout stations and I usually can find an empty one when I check out.
It seems that Sam’s has more local stuff than Costco but then I may be wrong on that point.
The two stores (Costco-Waipio Gentry) and Sam’s (Pearl City) are close enough together so either works for me other than Costco is easier to get to. Parking at Costco Waipio is open and plentiful.
The Photo people know me there so I don’t have to deal with copyright releases and usually will hand me my order when I walk in (I prepay on line).
I go to Sam’s Club gas because of the lack (usually) of lines like M says.
The thoughts of another townie with Costco and Sam’s Club memberships. (These primarily apply to the Iwilei Costco and Keeaumoku Sam’s Club, since I frequent those locations most regularly.)
Costco:
– parking ranges from pretty busy (an hour before closing on weeknights) to downright ridiculous (every weekend, the day before three-day weekends, and before major holidays).
+ decent, cheap hot dogs
– Pepsi products at the soda fountain
+ customers have common courtesy (i.e., know not to block traffic in the middle of aisles)
+ good tasting bakery items
+ good selection of beers (e.g., Sam Adam’s small batch variety cases)
+ fresher and better quality fruits (compared to Sam’s)
– long check-out lines
Sam’s Club:
+ parking structure never seems to be full (maybe because so many people live in the neighborhood and walk)
+ soft pretzels (I still can’t believe Costco stopped selling pretzels)
+ Icees
– customers roam around the store like confused cattle (oblivious to others, and with no sense of urgency)
– bakery items aren’t as tasty as Costco (even though they look more attractive), with the following exception
+ dobash cake from Napoleon’s Bakery
+ snacks are well-sized and priced for selling in the office snack area
+ self-checkout
– customer service line is ridiculously slow
Costco for gas. I think also for better quality produce. Everytime I used to go to Sam’s, the fruits & veggies never were as fresh or lasted as long as Costco.
I think I like the parking better at Costco. I hate parking structures.
I like the unit packaging of a lot of Costco products.
On the other hand, DVD selection seems to have fallen off over time at Costco (probably due to Netflix).
It sucks that Costco now has Pepsi Products at the concession.
Main reason I gave up my Sam’s membership is that the Walton’s have a bad rep as far as taking care of their employees.
Hi Cat! I go to both. Sam’s club is only 6 minutes away and I buy the basis items from them. I head over to costco for the meats and higher priced items. Both places serve my lunch hot dogs. Thanks for the comparison blog!
I’ve been a member of Costco since its opening (10 years?) ago. I am not with Sam’s.
Although parking at Iwilei can sometimes be a problem, I still like Costco because of the way it treats its workers, especially on the mainland. Did you know that Sam’s does not provide health insurance for many of its workers? And their wages are substandard?
I do most of my shopping for household and everyday goods at Costco. This means I have reduced my shopping at other stores such as Long’s and the Supers. Mostly its because of price. I should add that I’ve substantially increased purchasing on Amazon too.
My only grip against Costco: I wind up buying more stuff than I intended prior to entering the store.
Hey Cat: Well, I used to be one of the crazies that had double membership … but I let my Sam’s membership expire … and I really don’t miss it …
… But I liked a lot of the food snacks at Sam’s and they had a better variety of some household items like Ziploc bags … but I can do without those or get a reasonable alternative from somewhere else …
… but I’d really miss Costco … I buy most of my household stuff there … from the paper towels … to the plastic gloves … to the paper plates … to the variety pack muffins … yeah, I probably can get most of the same stuff at Sam’s …
… I guess I’m just more comfortable with Costco …
i remember when Cheap Tickets had a booth in the Sam’s Club parking deck. Speaking of which I hate going to Sam’s Club because it is a pain to get in and out of and love Costco because it is easier. Other than that they are a lot alike in some ways.
We are members of both each store has their own specialties and we like the options.
since i moved right next to Sam’s club on Keeaumoku I got a card for convience. Being a Costco customer for over 15 years then making this switch to Sam’s was very upsetting in the beginning. But then i started to realize after a couple months that Sam’s is actually better All around. The best part is if there is something that’s too big for me to buy at Sam’s, i can just go to WalMart down stairs and get a smaller less bulky version to make my shopping complete.