I also watched that 20/20 episode I am happy shopping there. I like that they pay their employees according to the show 40% more than Sams Club. They also have the lowest turn over employee rate, which says a lot in retail.

Leighann

We only have a Sam's club, so that's where we get our items that we use in bulk - toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, etc... I also buy my milk there because it is $1.00 a gallon cheaper than anywhere else ($2.84/gal versus $3.79/gal).

We don't buy a lot of extras there. We tend to get our PB and coffee there, plus I get juice boxes for the kids as well as the organic chocolate milk for DSs lunch box. We don't tend to buy clothes or other stuff there.

I think it's worth the $35 membership fee b/c I save that much in just a couple of visits.

But I must admit, that if Cville had a Costco, I would prefer to shop there. I just like it better - better selection.

We belong to both warehouse stores but go to Costco almost every week. We only keep Sams b/c there are a few specific items we go there for, plus in a pinch, it's just down the street. First, warehouse shopping overall saves me money & gas & money via my time. I have an elementary age child, preschooler & infant so my schedule is already busy without having to sit & compare ads, then drive around town, get the kids in & out of the car to use coupons I don't have time to clip or stay on top of the dates. I love that I buy dryer sheets, foil, ziploc bags & garbage bags once a year, just to name a few. You have to be able to store these bulk items and we have an additional freezer, but I know I'll never run out of tp or paper towels or other essentials including meal staples.

No one has mentioned Costco's awesome guarantee that any item can be returned for any reason. We've returned little things & big things including fax machine, cell phone & portable dvd player. We then repurchase that item at Costco again. Their customer service is better, they take more forms of payment, have coupons several times a year on items that you really do need. Their offerings of organic products is steadily growing (very reasonably priced too) & they also have their own line of "Kirkland Signature" brand products that are top quality: tp, paper towels, cleaning wipes, dishwashing liquid, diapers & baby wipes.

We have the $100 Executive membership with the 2% rebate that in the end makes the cost comparable to Sam's plus we use our Amex card with a reward points program. On a regular basis we buy milk, eggs, egg substitute, string cheese, shredded cheese, bananas, apples, salad, bread, sandwich meat, frozen chicken breasts, frozen salmon fillets & kids snack and school lunch items. We get our gas there which is usually at least $.05 cheaper if not more per gallon (if only that were included in the 2% rebate!!!) Their package pricing for kids' toys at Christmas is spectacular. Their meat selection & prepared meals is good, they also offer ground turkey. We eat fairly healthy with particular products we can usually get at Costco. I do go to a local market for most of our veggies. They have rotisserie chicken for $4.98 and they're home of the $1.50 hot dog(big) & drink combo! Oprah loves their already-made-but-not-cooked chicken pot pie

If there's something we need, we'll see if Costco has it first, for cost & warrantee reasons. Our future big purchases there will be: digital camera, tv & possibly furniture. They're online too and have a photo place which can be downloaded online as well. We know the CEO's story & believe they do take care of their employees who in turn take care of the customer and are proud to be Costco employees. We love & live Costco. Hope this info helps.

We shopped at Costco before we moved and miss it. Sams isn't as good in our opinion. I wish we had Costco and BJ's. BJ's carries alot more variety of children's items from food & diapers to gear & clothes. I didn;t know they take coupnns also. I may be saving up for when we visit my Mom and use her membership more than I have in the past!

We are Sam's Club members because the closest one is 1.3 miles from our house. I prefer Costco, though, to tell you the truth. Costco is almost 10 miles from me and I know if we changed our membership to theirs that I would never go. I think their quality and selection is better than Sam's, and like calimari, I like the fact that they aren't affiliated with Walmart. When I'm shopping in Sam's, I feel like I could get the same deal at Walmart, but for some things that we go through quickly, like laundry soap and dishwasher tabs, it's just easier to buy in bulk. Also, as others have said, milk prices at Sam's Club are by far and away better than the grocery store - they even surpass Walmart.
If we ever move closer to a Costco, I will quit our Sam's membership and join them. Also, last October, we got hit with Hurricane Wilma and most of our area was without electricity for at least a week. The very next day after the storm, Sam's Club was open, and DH was able to go stock up on some things, which we couldn't have done without a membership. Their freezers and refrigerators weren't working, but we bought juice, crackers, fruit bowls, etc. He was even able to get a pizza because they were cooking all the ones they sell in the cold cases. That was a big plus!

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The best things in life aren't things. - Ann Landers