Are wholesale clubs like CostCo and Sams Club worth the money?
Money January 7th, 2006
I was a Sam’s Club member for several years. I always felt like I was getting a deal but there are always the naysayers that claim that the deals are sporadic and you often get screwed. Today I joined CostCo not because I think its better than Sams. Actually they feel identical to me except for the fact that the CostCo checkout line seemed to move faster. I joined CostCo because my wife and I recently moved to Chapel Hill and CostCo was much closer. I spent a total of $606.48 today not including my CostCo membership of which I paid $45. $310.29 of my purchase was business (a fireproof safe for my office).
I decided to figure out how much money I saved by shopping at the wholesale club. I accomplished this by comparing prices with those listed online for my local Harris Teeter that I regularly shop at.
The bottom line was far better than I ever imagined. The only item that wasn’t a bargain was the laundry detergent.
Total savings: $292.21
Gain Detergent
0.094 per load
0.117 per load
-$2.40 savings
Pepsi
0.42 per 12 oz. can
0.24 per 12 oz. can
$6.48 savings
Post Raisin Bran
0.15 per ounce
0.07 per ounce
$6.48 savings
Beano
0.17 per tablet
0.09 per tablet
$9.60 savings
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars
0.34 per oz
0.14 per oz
$14.22 savings
Red Bell Peppers
2.99 each
1.00 each
$11.94 savings
Thomas’ English Muffins - Original
0.25 per oz
0.14 per oz
$3.39 savings
Boca Meatless Burgers - Original Vegan
0.36 per oz.
0.16 per oz.
$11.20 savings
Boneless Whole Pork Tenderloin
6.99 per lb.
2.99 per lb.
$16.80 savings
New York Strip Steak
9.99 per lb.
6.89 per lb.
$8.65 savings
Cascade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
0.07 per oz.
0.055 per oz.
$6.87 savings
Generic Pepto Bismol
0.32 per oz.
0.12 per oz.
$3.79 savings
Viactiv Multi-Vitamin Soft Chews- Chocolate Supreme
0.13 each
0.09 each
$4.80 savings
Philips Longer Life Bulb
0.62 each
0.28 each
$5.44 savings
Boneless Pork Loin Chops
4.99 per lb.
2.29 per lb.
$16.20 savings
Ocean Spray Cranberry Blend Juice
0.06 per oz.
0.03 per oz.
$6.39 savings
3.0 cubic foot Fire Safe rated at 1 hour at 1700 degrees F (http://www.safe-mart.com/fify30cuftsa1.html)
449.95
289.99
$159.96 savings
Total savings: $292.21
I did not include all items I purchased only b/c I couldn’t find them on the Harris Teeter site.
May 27th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Comparing Harris Teeter and Costco grossly inflates the money you save because Harris Teeter is a ridiculous rip off to begin with. I can save money over Harris Teeter just by choosing any nearby competing supermarket instead.
October 9th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
I feel your comparisons are completely misleading. You began talking about comparing Costco to Sam’s Club and ended by comparing prices from Harris Teeter. How about comparing the prices between Sam’s Club and Costco? Then compare the membership fee to join each club.
October 10th, 2006 at 8:10 am
“How about comparing the prices between Sam’s Club and Costco?”
Because I’m not interested in those numbers. I’m a member at both and as I stated above I feel they are nearly identical.
There is nothing misleading about what I wrote Debbie.
November 1st, 2006 at 12:27 pm
it’s not misleading just because your google search brought up this page. he claims to be comparing X and Y, and compares them. everyone complains that he doesn’t compare X and Z. settle down and make your own comparison.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:26 am
The point about comparing Costco with Harris Teeter is valid, though. I’d like to see a comparison of Costco with Food Lion…
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:52 pm
nothing wrong with comparing any of the stores. howver i find shopping at ht a much more civilized experience. i hate grocery shopping anyhow - at any store.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I THINK SAMS CLUB AND COSTCO ARE THE SAME THEY HAVE THE SAME STUFF AND SAME PRICE AND ACTULLY I GO TO SAMS CLUB AND IT IS REALLY CHEAP
October 27th, 2007 at 11:35 am
WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I don’t quite know what it is that Debbie doesn’t understand. He started out commenting on other people’s statements that you don’t really save by shopping at wholesale clubs. He then proved them wrong. His comparison to his local grocer vs. Costco is legit. I could compare Sam’s to Kroger, or Von’s, and it would be a credible argument. To say that you can shop someplace cheaper than Kroger or Von’s wouldn’t validate her argument, because they are real stores, with many, many real customers. Sure, I may be able to save a little more over them by going to some of those stores with much less strict standards when it comes to cleanliness, or selection, but, no thanks. So, do your own comparison, using a Sam’s or Costco, compared to where you would shop if there were neither around. You can do it on the net. If you save, join. If you don’t, don’t. Stop bashing without reason.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Costco and Sams are pretty much the same on items that they both carry — by brand. Where the differ is that Costco carries higher end goods than Sams. If you are looking to save a couple of cents on a big box of Cheerios, don’t bother — unless you eat a lot of Cheerios. If you want first quality meats and high quality dry goods, join. Costco if there is one where you live, Sams if that is the only option. Between the two, I’d pick Costco. Better goods, service, and attitude all around.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The problem is that Debbie didn’t read the entire intro. I made the same mistake. But, I think we should still make fun of her.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I think you missed the point, you should of compared to wal-mart. Pretty much only people that want to throw money away shop at H.T.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I don’t shop at Wal-Mart. I shop at Pathmark and Acme (I live in Newark, DE) and other regular grocery stores, so this comparison was quite valuable to me. It also makes me feel better about the Costco membership I purchased last night :0)
April 21st, 2008 at 11:30 am
Everyone keeps talking about whether or not this makes sense, whether or not it is valuable to THEM?
All this is useless, what ever happened to the good ol’ Debbie bashing? I am with Austin on that one.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
He did just that, compare the prices of two different lcoal he markets. I buy from Costco, and I get my bargain, but being a student, some time buying in bulk is unecessay because certain items can be wasted. How ever laundry detergent, and veggie, are vaulable to me, and EVERYone ignore JOSH he is a FOOL!
May 19th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Hei guys I am going to get ether sam’s club or costco membership I have no idea wish one to get can you guys give me an idea wish one is more convenient for me or does’t matter leave opinion I buy like toilet papar,kitchen towels,cleaning staff,laundry soap tank you
June 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Sam’s vs. Costco. If you can stand (or like) shopping at Wal-Mart and dealing with the unfriendly service, unclean store, long lines, rude customers, then select Sam’s. If you’re looking for a much more positive experience like helpful staff, shorter lines, more courteous guests, then select Costco.
For commodity items, they’re both comparable. Costco seems to have better deals on non-commodity items like furniture, seasonal plants, etc. For example, I just ordered a pair of earbuds from Costco.com (need a membership) for $25 and the cheapest I could find the same pair on line was for $69.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:23 am
It’s not even close…Sam’s. Costco’s basic memebership is 20% more and the cost of comparible goods can be as high as 10% more. Costco is struggling to keep their prices from going up farther, which is due to take a big chunk out of future profits. Sam’s can affort to offset inflationary pressures because its part of Walmart. It can play the game of keeping and obtaining members longer than Costco on price alone. I’ve been to both places(through memberships and friend’s membership)and, outside of the recent rice insanity, Sam’s has kept prices in check while Costco has not. Inflation is gonna kill all them eventually, but you have to think who has reserves to win what there calling the ‘infationary food cost wars.’ Its Sam’s because its got the biggest checkbook since its part of the retail bully that is Walmart. I don’t care about the nonsense Costco’s PR says about Walmart, its about my wallet and my family. And understand I don’t like either Sam’s or Costco, I like BJ’s Wholesale (better service and selection than the big two), but they aren’t going due too hot at controlling prices if things get as bad as there predicting (6% inflation on food for 2009, yikes).