sam's club travel vs costco travel

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Should You Buy Your Vacation or Honeymoon From BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club?

These warehouse clubs may not be the first place you think of to buy travel, but they can offer big savings compared with booking directly with a hotel or car rental company

Illustration of 2 people with luggage in front of Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's boxes with travel items inside

At a time of high fuel prices and skyrocketing inflation , the savings BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club offer on gasoline , groceries, and other purchases may be especially appealing. But many people may not realize that they can also find great deals on travel at warehouse clubs along with their rotisserie chickens and 12-packs of paper towels.

And the benefits of buying travel from warehouse clubs aren’t limited to savings. In a December 2021 nationally representative CR survey of 2,073 U.S. adults (PDF), far fewer people reported booking travel through a big box store in the past three years (9 percent) than reported using a travel booking website like Expedia or Travelocity (42 percent). But when we asked people who had used each kind of service how they felt about it, big box stores had about twice as high a percentage saying the value and customer service were "excellent" compared with travel booking websites.

To find out how the stores compare with one another in terms of offerings and savings, we recently priced out a handful of car rentals, hotel bookings, and vacation packages. (BJ’s and Costco both also sell cruises, but we did not evaluate cruise offerings for this article.)

All of the warehouse clubs offered savings over booking directly in certain cases, but some of the clubs were clearly better than others, depending on the type of travel being purchased. (Note that hotel, air, and rental car prices change quickly and frequently. The prices and packages we found are a snapshot in time and may no longer be available.)

Rental Cars

According to CR’s December 2021 survey, rental cars were the most common travel purchase made through big box stores, with nearly half of Americans who had booked travel through one saying they had rented a car—compared with just one-third of those who booked anything through a travel booking website.

To get an idea of the savings warehouse clubs might offer on car rentals, we first searched for the cheapest rental offered by each warehouse club for a given location and time period and then compared that price with the lowest one offered when booking the same vehicle type at the same location and for the same time period directly with the car rental company.

All of the warehouse clubs offer cars from a variety of rental companies. Based on our experience, warehouse clubs do sometimes offer savings over booking directly and frequently offer prices that match the lowest offered by the rental car company’s website. But even when a warehouse club does not offer a lower rate, it may offer more generous terms than booking directly with a car rental company. For example, warehouse clubs may have more lenient cancellation policies than those offered when booking directly with a car rental company and the clubs may also not require advanced payment when rental companies do. (As with any travel purchase, always read the fine print before booking to avoid surprise charges.)

Scenario #1

An eight-day rental of an intermediate car (a Toyota Corolla or similar) from Miami International Airport (returning to the same location) with unlimited miles.

Scenario #2

A 7-day rental of an intermediate car (a Toyota Corolla or similar) from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (returning to the same location), with unlimited miles.

Hotels and Travel Packages

Travel packages offer the convenience of one-stop-shopping for the major components of many vacations: air, hotel, and rental car. When we compared the prices warehouse clubs offered when bundling some or all of these elements, we found that you can save significantly compared with booking directly with the hotels, airlines, and rental car companies. We also discovered savings when we tried booking only a hotel.

A Luxury Holiday in Hawaii

The details: Seven nights in an ocean view room at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea for two adults, with full-sized rental car and round-trip economy air from a New York City-area airport.

Booking directly Total: $23,741

The Four Seasons hotel site quoted a rate of $21,658, including taxes and fees. Alamo quoted a rate of $881, including taxes and fees. Economy class tickets on United from Newark to Maui for two (one stopover outbound and a direct return) cost $1,202, including taxes and fees ($601 per person).

Buying From BJ’s

Total: $23,425 (from JFK, returning to Newark) Savings over booking directly: $316 (plus a $1,000 in-store credit)

BJ’s initial package offered a different room with no ocean view, but the same ocean view room was $529 extra. Free cancellation insurance was available for a fee. There were round-trip flight options to and from JFK and LaGuardia, but not Newark. To choose the same Newark flight Costco offered was an additional $1,836 per person. The rental car (through Dollar) added up to another $6 per day. As a perk, BJ’s gave a 5 percent gift card on the total cost, which in this case comes out to roughly $1,000 to use in the store.

Buying From Costco

Total: $16,056 (for air, hotel, and rental car) Savings over booking directly: $7,684 (plus a $961 gift card)

Costco presented this in a nicely bundled package, with a flight from Newark to Maui via Chicago on the way there; nonstop on the way back. The car through Alamo included unlimited mileage and a second named driver. As a perk, Costco threw in a $961 store gift card.

Buying From Sam’s Club

Total: $23,705 (for hotel and rental car); $24,907 (including separately purchased airfare) Savings over booking directly: $0

Sam’s charged $22,660 for the room. The car was through Dollar ($1,045) with limited mileage and free cancellation. Sam’s does not offer flight booking. When we added the $1,202 cost of the flight, this option cost $1,166 more than booking directl y.

A Luxury Hotel in London

The details: Four nights in a superior queen room at the Savoy in London for two adults.

Booking directly Total: $4,087

The best price we found on the Savoy website was $ 4,087 , after converting from GBP, with penalty-free cancellation until 24 hours before arrival.

Buying From BJ’s Total: $3,129 Savings over booking directly: $958

BJ’s also offered considerable savings, though not as much as Sam’s. The rate is also fully refundable until three days before arrival

Buying From Costco Total: $4,306 Savings over booking directly: $0

The price is actually $219 more than booking directly with the hotel, though it includes round-trip private car transfers between London Heathrow airport and the hotel, and a $400 credit toward excursions with Golden Tours, which can be applied to anything from a hop-on, hop-off bus around London to a visit to Stonehenge. So, you could end up saving, depending on whether or not you would purchase private transfers and a tour or two anyway.

Buying From Sam’s Club Total: $2,868 Savings over booking directly: $1,219

Sam’s offered a deeply discounted room rate and the stay was fully refundable until three days before arrival.

A Midlevel Honeymoon Package in the Bahamas

The details: Seven nights at the Royal at Atlantis on Paradise Island in a premium double queen terrace view room, departing from Chicago.

Booking directly Total: $4,149

The Atlantis website offered a rate of $2,698 for the room alone (no airport transfers included). Adding economy class main cabin flights on American Airlines with a layover in each direction brought the total to $4,149.

Buying From BJ’s Total: $4,063 Savings over booking directly: $86

BJ’s first showed a rate of $3,844, but that price included a return flight of just over 12 hours with a nearly 4-hour layover in Panama City. Changing to the same, more convenient, American Airlines flights with a main cabin fare we used for all of these scenarios raised the price to $4,063. BJ’s offered a private van transfer to and from the airport in the Bahamas for an additional $120, which would bring the total to $4,183. Because this package cost $69 more than Costco’s when transfers were factored in, we deemed it less of a value.

Buying From Costco Total: $4,114 Savings over booking directly: $35

The package on the Costco website included private car transfers to and from the airport in the Bahamas and the same American Airlines flights we used to price booking directly. The included airport transfers mean you would likely save much more compared with booking directly, unless you found a way to get to and from the airport at no charge.

Buying From Sam’s Club Total: $4,149 Savings over booking directly: $0

Sam’s offered the room for $2,698, identical to booking directly. Sam’s does not offer flights. Separately booking the same American Airlines flight itinerary we used for the other itineraries added $1,451 to the price, for a total of $4,149.

How the Warehouse Clubs Compare

While you can find travel savings at all three stores that will easily cover the cost of joining (typically $45 to $60 for a basic membership), each store excels in different areas. Here are the pros, cons, and extra perks you can find.

BJ’s BJ’s offers a vast selection of hotel and flight options and is best for savvy or flexible travelers who are willing to scour the multitude of options for the best value and most convenience. If savings is a priority over convenience, BJ’s sometimes has the advantage.

Pros: We found that the BJ’s travel site was the easiest to navigate and had the nicest interface, with plenty of useful filters to help you find what you want. In terms of value, BJ’s sits right in the middle. It’s rarely the cheapest, but it may offer fully refundable options when other sites do not. BJ’s offers 5 percent cash back on “qualifying” travel bookings in the form of a store e-gift card. (The company did not respond to repeated requests for further information on this program, including specifically what travel bookings qualify.) According to its website, BJ’s offers a 110 percent Best Price Guarantee on vacation and cruise bookings within 48 hours of purchase. You must meet several conditions for the guarantee to apply, so read the fine print carefully.

Cons: Sometimes the cheapest option is completely impractical, like the one-stop, 18-hour journey from Miami to Aruba the site offered us. To avoid a nightmare itinerary like that, you need to pay close attention to search results.

Costco Costco is a good choice for those who want a one-stop shop for ready-made trips to popular destinations like Hawaii, the South Pacific, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It wasn’t always the cheapest (though it did offer thousands of dollars of savings in one instance), but it adds on a lot of extra perks, like airport transportation, room upgrades, or a store credit. Sometimes these justify a higher rate compared with its competition, but sometimes they don’t.

Pros: Costco has the most price transparency of the warehouse clubs we evaluated. It gives the total price up front, including taxes and fees (which can change the total cost significantly). We didn’t find any hidden fees or other surprises on the final itinerary. If the hotel requires any fees paid to them directly (like parking or a resort fee), Costco flags that clearly when you try to book. Their refund policies vary from booking to booking, but those are very clear as well. Costco Executive Members qualify for 2 percent rewards on Costco Travel purchases. The Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi card earns 3% cash back on eligible travel purchases.

Cons: We found that Costco offers fewer hotel options than Sam’s and BJ’s, and that it does not offer any hotel-only options in certain destinations. Travelers looking only for a hotel room and who want the widest selection of hotels to choose from may be disappointed.

Sam’s Club In our experience, Sam’s is best for hotel bookings. In one instance, it offered a savings of more than $1,000 compared with booking directly with a luxury London hotel, though it did not deliver savings consistently. According to a spokesperson, Sam’s core members are families with children who tend to buy tickets to major theme parks like Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Studios. We did not evaluate these offerings.

Pros: Sam’s offers a very wide variety of well-priced hotel options around the world, as well as tickets (some of them discounted) for day tours, Broadway shows, Disney, entertainment options (like movies, theme parks, concerts), and other tourist attractions. With a Sam’s Club Mastercard, members receive an extra 3 percent cash back on any travel or entertainment purchase to use at the store. According to Sam’s website, it offers a Best Rate Guarantee within 24 hours of booking, but with a $150 maximum refund and a lot of fine print.

Cons : Sam’s does not offer flights, so anyone looking for ready-made vacation packages that include air will need to shop elsewhere. Some of the rental car offerings we found did not include unlimited mileage. Sam’s doesn’t include the taxes and fees until check out, so if you’re comparison shopping, it’s harder to get the full picture until the very end. Sam’s also doesn’t include resort fees (or anything else payable to the hotel, like parking), which is explained in the fine print but, again, may make it difficult to know how much you’re going to pay in the end.

Keep In Mind When buying travel from any third party, including a warehouse club, assistance may be limited if you run into a problem, such as a flight cancellation. Customer service representatives aren’t travel agents and, though a company may say that travel experts are available around the clock, that was not our experience. Bottom line: If you need to reschedule a flight or there is an issue with the hotel, you should be prepared to deal with the travel provider directly and not assume that the warehouse club will come to the rescue.

Always compare rates with the hotel directly. A hotel website may offer special packages that could include extras like breakfast or spa credits that could actually make them a better deal than comparing the room rate alone.

Finally, always check the fine print. Cancellation and refund policies may differ between sites and even among different travel purchases on the same site. Double-check the terms of any booking before you pay.

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Everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money

Costco isn't just the place where you can buy toilet paper in bulk, inexpensive gas, cheap hot dogs and gift cards. You can also book great trips via the company's online travel agency, Costco Travel.

I know, I know: At TPG, we're often staunchly against booking travel through third-party sites , as there can be tradeoffs versus booking directly. But in recent years, I've become a big fan of the travel deals I can find via Costco Travel.

When planning our annual beach trip back in 2022, my best friend found a few options for Mexican all-inclusive resorts on Costco Travel and shared the links with me. I promptly told her we'd probably be better off booking directly and brushed off the idea of booking through Costco — neither of us even had a membership at the time.

However, comparing the prices and benefits at a few of the resorts proved my initial reaction wrong.

I actually got a Costco membership to book the deal since the cost of the membership was less than what we'd save by booking through Costco. We saved around $300 on a three-night stay at TRS Coral near Cancun (one of TPG's best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun ), not including the free hydrotherapy spa circuit and the $241 Digital Costco Shop Card included in the package.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madison Blancaflor (@madison_ave18)

Our stay was fantastic, and I officially became a Costco Travel convert.

If you're curious about how to use Costco Travel to find deals, here's everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money on travel.

What is Costco Travel?

All Costco members have access to the Costco Travel booking platform, where you can find and book a wide range of travel — from vacation packages to hotels, cruises and rental cars. You can even book theme park vacation packages to Disney and Universal or specialty vacations such as an African safari.

Related: Costco cruise deals: How to save money booking travel at a warehouse club

Once you log in to Costco Travel, you can search for specific dates or destinations or browse through available deals and featured destinations. I personally love perusing the limited-time deals when I know I want to plan a getaway but don't have a specific destination in mind.

Trips booked through Costco Travel are often discounted and/or include perks and benefits you may not get by booking directly or through other booking portals. Usually, a trip booked through Costco Travel will also include a Digital Costco Shop Card (essentially a type of Costco gift card) of varying value.

What travel can you book through Costco Travel?

You can book hotels, cruises, rental cars and vacation packages through Costco Travel. Vacation packages range from hotel-only offers to all-encompassing packages that include airfare, hotel stays and rental cars. You can even build your own package.

However, one thing to note is that you can't book stand-alone flights via Costco Travel. There is an option to book flights through some vacation packages, but if you're only looking for airfare, you'll want to head to Google Flights to check out your options and book.

You can book Costco Travel offers both online and by phone.

Do you have to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel?

Yes. Costco Travel is an exclusive service for Costco members.

There are two personal membership levels: Gold Star and Executive. Gold Star costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120. The basic membership will give you access to all of Costco's services, including Costco Travel, while the Executive membership also comes with a 2% reward on all Costco (and Costco Travel) purchases.

I've found that the Costco Travel deals alone are worth paying the $60 Gold Star annual membership fee, even though I don't regularly use Costco for my grocery store runs.

Check sites like Groupon for discount Costco memberships, as you can sometimes save on that rate — or get an included gift card that helps offset the cost.

Is Costo Travel worth it?

Costco Travel has its pros and cons, but there are definitely times when it's worth it.

For example, let's look at a five-night stay in Maui in early April. At the time of writing, Costco is currently offering a hotel and rental car package for Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Chateaux affiliated property and one of TPG's favorite Maui hotels .

Here's one cost comparison breakdown of Costco Travel's deal versus booking directly:

Even without including the additional benefits, you're already saving more than $400 via the Costco deal. Add in the value you get from the card, daily breakfast and resort credit (which is more than $1,000 in value if you maximize all benefits), and you're looking at $1,442.45 in savings by booking through Costco Travel versus directly.

And since Hotel Wailea isn't a member of any major hotel loyalty program, booking through Costco Travel wouldn't mean missing out on elite night credits or other loyalty program benefits.

Here's another example — this time for a Universal Orlando theme park trip from June 4-6 for one adult and two children from Houston. The total cost when booking each part (hotel, tickets and airfare) individually came to $2,701.35, while booking it as a package via Costco saved just over $300.

That's a fair amount of savings you could use for some frozen butterbeer or even a new wand inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter .

When is Costco Travel not worth it?

Not every offer on Costco is worth booking.

For one, you won't necessarily find the same availability on Costco Travel. For example, flights booked through Costco may have some seats blocked off, and certain dates for hotel stays may be unavailable. Additionally, not all rental car companies are bookable through Costco Travel (such as Hertz*, which is my preferred rental car company due to the perks I get through my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ).

Plus, some hotel stays have a minimum stay requirement. If you're on the hunt for a long weekend getaway, you may not be able to take advantage of some Costco Travel deals.

Even when you do find availability, you should always price-check what you can find by booking directly or through your credit card travel portal and hotel programs.

After booking our fantastic stay at TRS Coral just north of Cancun through Costco, I looked at booking through Costco again in 2023 when planning our annual beach vacation.

While Costco had a deal available for the same resort, we happened to be booking when the resort chain was having a Mother's Day sale for anyone booking directly. We were able to try out a new TRS resort closer to Playa Del Carmen, TRS Yucatan; we saved more than $100 on an even nicer suite than Costco Travel offered by booking directly (even when considering the Digital Shop Card we would have gotten by booking with Costco).

Something else to consider when booking hotels through Costco Travel is loyalty program rewards and elite status. There are a lot of hotels available to book through Costco Travel that are part of major loyalty programs, from Hyatt Honors to Marriott Bonvoy to IHG One Rewards and more. But booking through Costco Travel — just like booking through most other third-party services such as Expedia — means you likely won't earn loyalty rewards, elite night credits or have any elite night benefits honored.

You'll also have to use Costco customer service if you run into any issues rather than going directly to the brand. This is especially important when considering booking a vacation package that includes flights, given the higher potential for delays or cancellations.

Why I love Costco Travel

I am typically a staunch proponent of booking directly, but Costco Travel is an exception. I've found that the benefits I can get by booking some trips via Costco outweigh the cons (some of which include having to go through Costco for any customer service help or occasionally losing out on elite night credits).

Digital Costco Shop Cards

My favorite thing about booking trips through Costco Travel is the Digital Costco Shop Card I get after booking. The card's value varies from trip to trip (generally depending on how expensive the package you book), but you can get hundreds of dollars back to use at Costco.

The Digital Costco Shop Cards can be used for Costco warehouse purchases (a game changer with grocery prices so high due to inflation), but you can also use them toward future Costco Travel bookings. And remember — Costco doesn't just carry bulk grocery items. You could use a Digital Costco Shop Card to buy a new flat-screen TV for movie nights and game days, a new outdoor patio setup ahead of summer or even Costco Pharmacy prescriptions.

I admittedly don't use Costco for groceries often (buying in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense for someone who lives alone), but I have used shop cards to help pay for Christmas presents and future Costco Travel trips. I've actually been looking into using my most recent Digital Costco Shop Card on a new pair of AirPods and a new TV mount for my living room.

Deals on non-points hotel stays and all-inclusive resorts

When I'm looking at booking a hotel stay at a brand like Hyatt or Marriott, I generally choose to book directly in order to earn elite night credits and points. However, when looking at properties not part of a major loyalty program, Costco Travel is often a go-to anytime I can find a deal.

Costco Travel has a nice deals section, and I usually look there first if I'm not sold on a specific destination for a getaway. While deals found on Costco generally have a narrow booking window, I've found that many offer a lot of flexibility for the actual trip dates.

A few examples of limited-time deals for January include Hotel Wailea from the example earlier in this guide, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico's Riviera Maya, and Disney and Universal theme park packages.

Simplifying group vacations

I'm often the travel planner in my friend group (which makes sense, considering what I do for a living), but not everyone is an avid points and miles user like myself. For group trips where we're splitting the cost of hotel rooms among multiple people, it often doesn't make sense to use points and miles to book.

Costco Travel vacation packages offer a way for all of us to save money, and it makes narrowing down potential destinations and hotels easier. Rather than everyone having to spend hours researching ideas and prices from across the internet — which might be my idea of a fun Wednesday night but isn't for some of my friends — I typically just send them to Costco Travel to see if any of the featured deals catch their eye.

Having reservation information for multiple aspects of a trip, such as a hotel and rental car package, makes sharing and saving the itineraries a breeze.

Bottom line

Whether or not you currently have a Costco membership, you shouldn't dismiss Costco Travel as just another online travel agency.

If you know where to look and are willing to price-check the deals you find, you can save a lot of money with Costco Travel deals. I've personally had a lot of success booking friends getaways to popular destinations like Mexico through Costco. Using the service has helped me save on other expenses with the Digital Costco Shop Card I've gotten with my bookings.

For me, the $60 annual membership fee to Costco has been more than worth it to utilize Costco Travel.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through Dec. 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Buying travel at Costco? What to know about wholesale club deals.

Cruises and car rentals are among the top deals

Brian O’Connor and his wife joined Costco after their son, Casey, was born, expecting to use their membership in the warehouse club to save money on diapers and formula. But then they discovered something even better: They could also book their trips through Costco.

During last year’s car rental shortage, O’Connor found a $380 weekly car rental through Budget, a 52 percent savings. Late last year, he booked a vacation package to Orlando that included a hotel suite with a full kitchen and a rental car for $980. O’Connor priced the items a la carte and calculated he was paying just $400 for four nights at the Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas.

“That was quite a feat during high season,” says O’Connor, a freelance financial writer from Sylvan Lake, Mich.

This cheap flights expert thinks you should be booking trips earlier

In an economy where inflation continues to run hot, warehouse clubs have become go-tos for travelers trying to save money. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco and Sam’s Club offers deals such as Hawaiian resorts and deep discounted Caribbean cruises. But is it worth joining one of the warehouse clubs to buy travel?

What do wholesale clubs offer for travelers?

BJ’s offers options like cruises, vacation packages (including escorted tours, all-inclusive resorts and build-your-own outings), chain and boutique hotels, car rentals and day tours. BJ’s Travel has one of the widest selections of cruises among the warehouse stores — more than 30 — and most cruise purchases qualify for a BJ’s gift card of up to $500. The membership club also offers a 110 percent “Best Price Guarantee” on vacation and cruise bookings, meaning that if you see a lower price, BJ’s will match it, then add another 10 percent discount, according to BJ’s spokesman Peter Frangie. You must be a member to qualify for the discounts, and you can book through its site, via the BJ’s app or by phone.

Costco offers what it calls “buyer-curated” vacations to destinations such as Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. “We feature cities across the United States, such as Orlando and Las Vegas, and also offer hotel-only stays and build-your-own bundles to hundreds of cities in the U.S. and Canada,” says Costco website merchandising manager Penny Anderson. Costco is well known for its cruises and car rentals. It offers sailings on 11 cruise lines and a rental car “low price finder” that lets customers compare prices between four rental car companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise), then select the one that’s right for them. Membership is required to qualify for the deals, and you can book online or by calling.

Sam’s Club offers hotels stays, rental cars, tickets for theme parks and experiences such as water parks and ski resorts. You can also buy add-ons to your vacations, such as CityPass tickets and day tours. Sam’s is best known for its hotel and theme park discounts. Members can get discounts of up to $35 on gate prices at Disneyland, $100 off gate prices at Disney World and up to $65 off gate prices at Universal Studios. Hotel discounts may be as high as 60 percent, according to Doris Davis, a senior merchant at Sam’s Club. The discounts are only available to Sam’s Club members and are accessible online (you must be logged in), through the Sam’s Club app or by calling.

What are the perks of buying travel through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club?

BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club leverage their buying power to negotiate lower prices on cruises, hotels and rental cars. Then they pass those savings along to their customers. “Warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club offer exceptional deals on travel to help you save big,” says Andrea Woroch, a budgeting expert .

7 things to know about booking travel through Costco

Buying through one of the membership stores allows you to lower your travel costs in several ways. For example, in addition to discounts, hotels often waive their resort fees for members who buy through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club.

Woroch recently booked a hotel on Kauai through Costco, saving $300 off the listed room rate. The hotel also dropped its $35 per day resort fee, and she received a $230 Costco Shop Card, which she used to buy groceries and sunscreen. Costco bundled a rental car for $50 per day through Budget — far less than the going rate of $130 per day on the Hawaiian island.

How to budget for your dream trip this year

Are there disadvantages of buying travel through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club?

The travel products you find from BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club are limited — or “curated,” as they like to call them. You won’t find every hotel or tour operator, but rather a selection of the most popular ones.

Although the prices are often lower, you get service levels that are comparable to those of an online travel agency, such as Expedia or Booking.com, but not the same level as those of a human travel adviser, experts say.

“You’re buying a ticket — and that’s all,” says Dan Leonard, a travel planner with Key to the World Travel . “They’re unable to help with the more detailed planning services that travel advisers provide. They’re also unable to help you if a problem arises with your booking, before or during travel.”

Brandi Taylor, a travel adviser who runs Brandi the Travel Genie , says that, for many travelers just looking for an inexpensive hotel or airline ticket, that’s fine.

“However, for a specialized location, I wouldn’t recommend it,” she adds. She says a warehouse sales agent can’t match the years of experience travel advisers like her have in terms of product knowledge and personal service.

She also said travel products booked through warehouse clubs can have terms that differ from those booked through an online agency. They are sometimes more favorable and flexible, but it helps to be aware of them.

What are the best deals at Costco and other clubs?

When the topic of saving money through one of these companies comes up, it invariably leads to Costco’s rental cars and cruise deals.

Jill Kaiserman, a retired teacher from Wayne, Pa., always does her homework before booking a rental car. She has discounts through AARP and is a frequent renter with several companies.

“Costco is always the best deal,” she says.

You can buy a private jet membership at Costco

Kaiserman estimates that she routinely saves between 30 and 40 percent off the cost of a vehicle when she rents through Costco.

Also, members rave about the cruise discounts and some of the perks they receive, such as a BJ’s gift card. All of the warehouse clubs offer deep discounts on cruises, but BJ’s is known to have one of the widest selections.

I’ve shopped at all three warehouse clubs but am not a member, because I live abroad. But one story I hear repeatedly is that members were saving hundreds of dollars per rental during the rental car shortage, which more than paid for their memberships.

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Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Membership Is More Worth It?

One significant difference could be your deciding factor.

Israel Sebastian/Getty Images

Life seems more expensive than ever these days. One easy, reliable way to save money is by buying in bulk. So, if you’ve been thinking about joining a warehouse club, it’s probably worth the cost of membership.

Two of the most popular membership clubs are Costco and Sam’s Club , which is owned by Walmart. While they sell many of the same household items, you might be wondering which one makes the most sense for you and your family. Here are the differences between the two wholesale stores if you’re currently on the fence.

Membership Cost

Costco has three membership options. The two least expensive tiers are the Gold Star and Business Memberships, which cost $60 per year. The only major difference between the two is that the Business Membership allows you to add affiliate cardholders for $60 each.

Costco’s Executive Membership costs $120 annually and offers additional benefits and savings for Costco’s services, as well as 2 percent back on all qualified purchases.

Sam’s Club has two membership levels: Club and Plus. The cost of the Club membership is $50 annually, while the Plus membership costs $110. The upgraded Plus membership gives you free curbside pickup, discounted same-day delivery fees, free shipping, and 2 percent back up to $500 per year. So, it may very well pay for itself.

In-Store Prices

According to a 2022 review by Business Insider , Costco has better prices. However, other sources say Sam’s Club is more affordable. That said, it doesn’t matter how good a deal they have on steak if you’re a vegetarian. If you’re unsure where you’re more likely to save, check the prices online for the products you intend to purchase most frequently.

Return Policy

Each store has a 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed return policy. However, there are exceptions, such as electronics and major appliances, which must be returned within 90 days. The only major difference is for cell phone returns: Sam’s Club gives you just two weeks.

Sam’s Club Has One Major Advantage Over Costco (And It Could Be a Deal Breaker)

Don’t like Costco’s notoriously long lines? You're out of luck. Sam’s Club, on the other hand, gives you two ways to get out more quickly. Sam’s Club offers curbside pickup as well as a “Scan and Go” option in the Sam’s Club app. It even gives you a running total as you shop, making it easier for those on a budget. These may be reason enough to opt for Sam’s Club over Costco.

The Verdict

Unless you’re very loyal to a specific product from Costco’s Kirkland or Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark private label brands, it probably makes the most sense to join the one that’s most conveniently located or has the lowest prices on the products you buy most frequently.

However, it may also come down to convenience. Costco has more locations, with 876 warehouses worldwide, while Sam’s Club has approximately 600 locations. Either way, you’ll still save money shopping at these wholesalers versus traditional retailers. So, there’s really no wrong decision here.

Still Not Sure Which One to Choose?

If you have a friend who's a member of either store, you can go along with them to get a better idea of the shopping experience. Another option is to shop with a gift card, although gift card purchases are marked up 5 percent for Costco and 10 percent for Sam’s Club.

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Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Is Better?

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Which Is Better: Costco or Sam's Club?

Product Price Comparison
Membership Costs and Tiers
Shopping Experience
Product Selection and Brands
Online Shopping and Delivery Options
Furniture and Home Goods
Electronics and Appliances
Financial and Business Services
Health Services and Pharmacy
Payment Methods
Return Policies

Sam's Club vs. Costco: An Overview

The bottom line: costco wins.

A head-to-head comparison between Costco and Sam's Club reveals a host of similarities. When pressed to declare a victor, we settled on Costco — by a hair. Sam's Club started with a very narrow price advantage: While products are around the same price at both stores, the cost of annual membership is $10 cheaper at Sam's Club. However, Costco has a larger in-store selection (particularly for organic and health foods), higher-end and better quality merchandise, discounted prescriptions at the lowest membership level, and greater rewards at the higher membership level. For its part, Sam's Club excels in online shopping, provides more payment options, and has more locations, winning in four out of 15 categories.

(Note: We did not include BJ's Wholesale Club in this comparison, because it lacks a nationwide presence.)

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Product Price Comparison

To compare Sam's Club and Costco prices, we selected 10 everyday staples at two Los Angeles area stores. Item for item, we tried to make our comparison as fair as possible, picking the same in-house brand products at each wholesale club. We also calculated the price per unit to account for differences in package size.

Winner: Tie

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Locations

As of 2023, Costco operated 861 clubs , including 270 located abroad. Of the 591 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, nearly a quarter are in California . Costco locations also tend to cluster in urban centers. Sam's parent company, Walmart, announced the closing of 63 clubs in 2018 , but it currently lists 599 Sam's Club locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Winner: Sam's Club

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Membership Costs and Tiers

Both warehouse clubs have two membership levels for consumers who join. Costco offers separate household and business memberships within those tiers, while Sam's Club has streamlined its membership options to only two. While there isn't an obvious winner, Sam's Club just barely beats Costco because of its lower membership fees and premium benefits.

Club Membership ($50/year)

Two complimentary cards
Add up to eight additional Club cardholders for $45 each

Plus Membership ($110/year)

Two complimentary cards
Add up to 16 additional Club cardholders for $45 each
Extra savings, including 2% cashback on qualified purchases up to $500 a year
Early-bird shopping hours
Free shipping on most items online
Free curbside pickup

Gold Star Membership ($60/year)

No additional cardholders

Executive Membership ($120/year)

Extra savings, including 2% cashback on qualified purchases up to $1,000 a year
Monthly Costco magazine

Business Memberships ($60-$120/year)

Add additional cardholders for $60
Can resell Costco products

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Shopping Experience

Using the Sam's Club app and its Scan and Go feature , members can scan and pay for items themselves, skipping long checkout lines. And with its pickup services, Sam's Club shoppers can place an order online and schedule a pickup time at the store.

Costco does not have in-store pickup or Scan and Go, but it does have a same-day-delivery partnership with Instacart for groceries and household supplies in some metropolitan areas. There is an order minimum of $35 and additional delivery fees apply. There is also a two-day delivery service for non-perishable groceries and household supplies. This one is available nationwide and is free for orders of $75 or more, although prices may be higher than those you'd see if you shopped in store.

Costco edged out Sam's Club in the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index , earning second place in the survey's supermarkets category, but both wholesale clubs claim fans and detractors. Although consumer experiences vary from location to location, Sam's Club is dogged by concerns about the employment practices of parent company Walmart, while Costco was lauded as one of America's Best Large Employers in a 2023 survey of 45,000 workers conducted by Forbes and Statista.

Winner: Costco

Closeup of a Costco Shopping Cart in the Foreground and Front Exterior of a Costco Wholesale Store in Indianapolis, Indiana in the Background with Parking Lot

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Product Selection and Brands

Product selection, availability, and quality also affect the shopping experience. Costco fans enthuse about the quality of the in-house Kirkland Signature brand , and indeed Costco has more entries than Sam's on our list of store-brand foods that beat their name-brand competitors . "Costco has more 'high-end' offerings, more organics, and their Kirkland brand seems to be higher quality than Sam’s Members Mark brand (in most cases)," writes one Redditor in a 2023 thread.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Online Shopping and Delivery Options

Despite the popularity of e-commerce in the digital age, shopping at Costco.com isn't a great experience. That's because of a few idiosyncrasies, such as a limited online catalog and higher prices. But along with the drawbacks come a few advantages. Even if you're not a member, you can shop for some products on Costco.com (with a 5% surcharge), and the store's same-day grocery delivery is a convenient time-saver, though both non-member and delivery purchases have added surcharges.

Online shopping is a far more pleasant experience on Sam's site. Not only is the user interface more attractive and intuitive, but you can also arrange for curbside pickup as well as same-day delivery. However, depending on your membership level, both will cost you. Curbside pickup is $4 for Club members and free for Plus shoppers. And same-day delivery from your local warehouse comes with a $12 fee for regular members and an $8 charge for Plus cardholders.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Automotive

In the auto departments at Sam's Club and Costco, a similar selection of tires and accessories carry largely equivalent prices, but the available services vary somewhat. Both stores offer free rotation, balancing, and flat repair for the life of the tires they sell. Sam's edged out Costco in our tire installation comparison partly because of its 24/7 roadside tire changes.

But Sam's Club and Costco also have auto-buying programs that offer haggle-free vehicle pricing for club members. Costco offers breaks on car insurance through Connect and 15% off parts, service, and accessories at participating service centers.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Furniture and Home Goods

The two warehouse giants offer an impressive selection of furniture and home goods, whether you need a new mattress, sectional, or decorative rug. And while both retailers sell a range of products, from budget-friendly buys to pricier options, Sam's Club has more lower-end home goods. A queen bed from the Sam's Club in-house brand costs just $249. The Kirkland Signature equivalent? That'll set you back $1,099.99. It's a similar story for couches and sections. Of course, a head-to-head solely based on price isn't necessarily a fair comparison given the likely differences in quality. (For what it's worth, consumers have good things to say about both retailers' furniture ).

Rather than pick a winner, we'd say that homemakers can't go wrong with either store, though those with tight budgets might prefer Sam's Club.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Electronics and Appliances

Both clubs offer a large variety of electronics at similar prices. The cost of an 85-inch Samsung TV, for example, was $1,099.99 at the Costco warehouse and $1,198 for the same model at Sam's Club. That's around a $100 difference. The prices for a smart LG top-loading washer were even closer, though Sam's had the advantage: It was $849.99 at Costco and $845 at Sam's. The two warehouse clubs also offer extended warranty plans on select products through Allstate, though they limit the return window to 90 days for most new electronics.

However, while their selections and prices are comparable, Costco has an edge over its rival thanks to its two-year extended warranty through Costco Concierge Services.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Financial and Business Services

Most large retailers these days have their own credit cards, but these two stores feature an array of other financial services, as well — many that you may not know about. Costco offers check printing, water delivery, health plans, and payment processing.

Sam's Club offers a similar menu of services, including check and other business printing as well as point-of-sale services from Clover. The average shopper probably won't join Sam's or Costco to take advantage of these services, but they're worth checking out.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Health Services and Pharmacy

Costco shoppers at any membership level can get between 2% and 40% off medications when not using insurance coverage for prescription drugs by signing up for the Costco Member Prescription Program . Sam's Club members paying out of pocket for prescriptions must upgrade to Sam's Plus ($110 a year) for benefits that include a 30-day supply of over 600 generics for $10 or less as well as a handful of free medications. Both pharmacies provide flu shots, and you don't have to be a member to receive one. In our 2023 comparison of flu shot prices , Costco was the cheapest at $20, though Sam's Club shots were similarly priced at $20 to $23 for the same shot.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Travel

Many consumers look to Costco for travel planning and discounted travel booking online and over the phone. Members get reduced rates on hotels, vacation packages, cruises, and rental cars from a number of companies. Costco's executive members get a 2% reward on travel services, too.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Payment Methods

Paying for a full shopping cart can be tricky at Costco warehouses. The store only accepts Visa cards (the club's exclusive partnership with American Express ended in 2016 ). When we shopped at Sam's Club, on the other hand, American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover were all accepted. Cash, check, debit, and EBT are valid options at either club, and both retailers accept different payment methods for online purchases.

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Return Policies

Thanks to 100% satisfaction guarantee policies, both stores do not set return deadlines for most merchandise, with the exception of electronics (many of which have 90-day return windows). Although both stress that a receipt is preferred, they will attempt to process returns without one.

Both retailers accept returns of online purchases in-store. The difference is that refunds for online orders from Costco include shipping and handling fees. Sam's Club refunds the shipping cost only if the return is the result of an error.

While you can't go wrong with either retailer, Costco has a slight advantage over Sam's Club when you consider its top-notch shopping experience, high-quality products, and enticing return policy. That's not to say that the warehouse store is right for everyone. If you do a lot of online shopping and want a seamless checkout experience, it makes sense to pick Sam's Club, as the retailer's curbside pickup and Scan and Go offerings let you skip the line. But when it comes to selling premium goods and services at cut-rate prices, Costco has Sam's Club beat.

References:

American Customer Satisfaction Index - Supermarkets
Forbes' List of America's Best Large Employers in 2023

Sam’s Club vs. Costco: Which Warehouse Club Is Better?

While there are plenty of similarities between the two wholesale clubs, we break down the differences between them and offer our winning choice.

Sam’s Club vs. Costco

Woman shopping for groceries in a warehouse

There’s a lot to love about Sam’s Club and Costco, two of the most popular warehouse clubs that offer members-only savings on everything from bulk toilet paper to new tires. But which is a better fit for you, and are Sam’s Club and Costco memberships worth the price ?

Discount gas, prescriptions, free shipping, and inexpensive food courts are some of the numerous perks that may make a membership fee worth it for you. If you’re thinking of joining a wholesale club, read on for everything you need to know about Sam’s Club and Costco.

What To Know About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart and has almost 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, many of which have a fuel center. With average savings of around 30 cents per gallon, it’s no wonder everyone loves Sam’s Club gas . Besides cheap gas, there are plenty of reasons to shop at Sam’s Club. Shoppers can find items from many trusted national brands as well as the club’s own Member’s Mark brand at great prices, and if you’re planning a vacation, you can score exclusive discounts on a number of theme parks and attractions, including Walt Disney World.

If you’re leaning toward a Sam’s Club membership, you may want to look into their store-issued credit card, which has no annual fee and can be used at Sam’s Club and Walmart locations in the U.S. Plus Membership tier members who opt for the Sam’s Club Mastercard will earn up to 5% back in Sam’s Cash on club purchases using the card. All Sam’s Club members will earn 5% back in Sam’s Cash for club gas purchases up to $6,000 per year and then 1% after that during the same year. All members can also earn 3% back on dining and takeout purchases using the Mastercard.

What To Know About Costco

Like Sam’s Club, Costco boasts almost 600 warehouses across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Besides discounted prices on a huge selection of private brands as well as its own Kirkland brand products, there are plenty of perks to having a Costco membership.

Members rave about everything from Costco’s famous $5 rotisserie chickens to the company’s generous return policy and discounted Top Tier gas. Members can also get exclusive deals on travel, home and auto insurance , countertop and flooring installation, and more. Costco is also a great place to buy appliances and home goods .

If you think a Costco membership may be for you, then you may also want to consider applying for its Anywhere Visa Card through Citi. It offers up to 4% back in Costco cash rewards for eligible gas and electric vehicle charging up to $7,000 per year and 1% after that within the same year, as well as 1% to 3% back in Costco cash for club purchases, travel, dining, and other purchases.

Costco Membership vs. Sam’s Club Membership

Both wholesale clubs offer two different membership tiers for individuals to fit your needs and budget. Each tier includes a variety of money-saving perks, access to their members-only gas stations, and an extra membership card for another member of your household. Both clubs’ upgraded memberships offer a cash-back incentive, although the rewards can only be used at the respective clubs.

Sam’s Club Memberships

A Sam’s Club annual Club Membership will only set you back $50. With this membership, you’ll enjoy curbside pickup at $4 per order, same-day delivery at just $12 per order, and access to its warehouses, gas stations, and tire and battery centers. If you have a Sam’s Club MasterCard, you’ll earn 1% in Sam’s Cash back on all Sam’s Club purchases when you use the card.

Should you opt for the $110 Plus Membership, you’ll enjoy all of those perks plus 2% back on qualifying purchases up to $500, free shipping for most online products, free curbside pickup, $8 same-day delivery, pharmacy and optical savings, as well as 3% cash back on all Sam’s Club purchases with your Sam’s Club MasterCard.

Costco Memberships

Costco’s Gold Star membership will set you back $60 for the year and will allow you to shop in-store and online, where you can receive free two-day shipping on purchases of $75 or more. You’ll also be able to save on gas, prescriptions, glasses, and travel.

Meanwhile, its Executive Membership, which costs $120 annually, gives you a 2% annual reward up to $1,000, discounts on services, and the monthly subscription to Costco Connection magazine mailed to your home (it’s also available to other members online), in addition to the perks offered to Gold Star members.

Does Costco or Sam’s Club Have Cheaper Prices?

Though Costco’s membership fees are more expensive than Sam’s Club’s fees, the difference is negligible, as it’s only $10 more for both the basic and top-tier memberships. And while Costco and Sam’s Club prices on food and other items such as clothing, books, and toys are close, Costco’s prices are generally a bit cheaper.

Costco has more stores worldwide, but Sam’s Club has more stores in the U.S.
Costco’s membership fees are more expensive, but its prices tend to be slightly lower overall.
Sam’s Club carries more national brands while Costco stocks more private label items.
Costco is known for having a larger selection of organic products.
Both wholesale clubs offer discounted gas, but Costco gas is Top Tier.

Sam’s Club or Costco: Which Is Better?

Both wholesale clubs offer similar shopping experiences of bulk shopping in a brightly lit warehouse. Finding what you need is relatively easy. Both clubs also offer discounted gas and food courts that allow you to feed a family of five for under $20. You can also use both clubs’ pharmacy services and Sam’s Club’s optical center without memberships.

If you happen to live near both clubs, you can give either one a try. Sam’s Club no longer offers a 90-day free trial membership for new members, but you can take advantage of unlimited guest memberships to make online purchases, although a 10% service fee will be charged and some services are excluded. Costco doesn’t offer a trial membership, but its 100% satisfaction guarantee extends to memberships. In other words, if you sign up for a Costco membership but later decide it’s not for you, Costco will cancel and refund your membership at any time. Costco also allows nonmembers to shop online, but you must first create an account, as it doesn’t have guest memberships or guest checkout available.

As for which is better, that ultimately depends on your location and your shopping preferences. While Sam’s Club carries more brand-name products, its prices are slightly higher. Still, deciding that one club is better than the other is no easy feat. Ultimately, the deciding factor for us was quality. From Top Tier gas to itstheir impressive selection of organic products, Costco comes out on top.

Bottom line

The differences between these two wholesale clubs are minor, but we give the edge to Costco.

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Costco vs. Sam’s Club: What Is the Difference?

Shopping & Retail
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Warehouse Clubs

Money expert Clark Howard loves warehouse clubs as they are a great way to help save money on groceries , optical services, tires, and much more. (Clark even named his dog Kirkland Signature after Costco’s in-house brand !)

If you have more than one warehouse club in your area, you may be wondering which one to join. While some clubs share similarities, there are key differences.

As a member of both Costco and Sam’s Club , I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to help you decide.

This article was updated in December 2023 and I review it every 6 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here .

Things to Know Before Purchasing a Warehouse Club Membership

In this article, I’ll share what you need to know before joining Costco or Sam’s Club, including information on:

Store Brands

Credit cards, tire center, optical services, online shopping, return policy.

Both Costco and Sam’s Club require a membership to shop (with very few exceptions). The price of membership and tiers vary between the clubs.

Costco offers two annual membership tiers: Gold Star for $60 and Executive for $120.

Gold Star membership allows you access to the warehouse club, gas station, optical center, tire center, and more!

The Executive membership gives you the same access as Gold Star but with an extra perk. You earn a 2% reward on qualifying purchases at Costco. There is a reward cap of $1,000 in earnings per year. You would only come close to hitting that if you spend $50,000 per year at Costco. Rewards are redeemable on merchandise and services at Costco.

If you are a diehard warehouse shopper, I would consider an Executive membership. Depending on spending, the rewards would cover your annual membership cost.

Say you joined as an executive member, but toward the end of your first year, you determined that you did not spend enough to justify the extra cost. No problem! Costco will downgrade your card to Gold Star and refund the price difference. But note any rewards earned will be forfeited.

Sam’s Club

Membership at Sam’s Club is slightly less expensive than at Costco. They also offer two annual membership tiers: Club for $50 and Plus for $110 .

Club membership allows access to the club, gas station, tire and battery center, and more!

Plus membership also gives you access to free shipping, early shopping hours and even optical and pharmacy savings. In addition, Plus members receive 2% Sam’s Cash while shopping in the club. Sam’s Cash can be redeemed for merchandise or cash back at the club.

If you are considering joining Sam’s Club, I recommend checking out Clarkdeals.com . I have seen discounted membership and promotions such as joining for $50 — and receiving $50 back as a gift card!

It is important to note that both Costco and Sam’s Club have a money-back guarantee. If you are unhappy with the membership, you can cancel for a full refund at any time.

Maybe you have Costco near you? Maybe Sam’s Club? Or perhaps you have both! While both Costco and Sam’s Club are all around the country and even worldwide, some locations tend to be either more Costco-heavy or Sam’s Club-heavy.

Here’s what I mean. If you are traveling through the Hudson Valley in N.Y., you will not find a Costco. But you will find several Sam’s Club locations. On the flip side, traveling through Washington state (where Costco is based), you will find dozens of Costco locations and not a single Sam’s Club location.

Costco operates 871 locations as of November 2023 , with 600 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, Costco does not have any locations in Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Costco even has international locations. If you ever find yourself in Canada, the U.K., Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Iceland, France, China, New Zealand, or Sweden, be sure to stop in and check out Costco.

While you may have never heard of Sam’s Club, I am sure you have heard of Walmart. Founder Sam Walton opened the first Sam’s Club location in Oklahoma in 1983.

Today, they operate nearly 600 locations in 44 states and around the world, including in Brazil, China, and Mexico. Sam’s Club does not operate in Alaska, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Washington State.

But even if you don’t have a Sam’s Club nearby you may find membership worth it with their competitive prices and generous shipping policy .

Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer their own house brand of products. Many of the house brands constantly get high scores from Consumer Reports.

Costco’s house brand is called Kirkland Signature . When you enter a Costco, you can find just about any product bearing the name Kirkland Signature. According to Costco, Kirkland Signature means “quality and value.”

Sam’s Club’s house brand is called Member’s Mark .

According to Sam’s Club, Member’s Mark products are all about “bringing you high-quality products that reflect your values and needs at members-only prices.”

In my house, we have found that the Kirkland Signature brand from Costco and the Member’s Mark brand from Sam’s Club are better quality and less expensive than the top-name brand products. We make it a point to buy these house brand products.

You may be intrigued about joining a warehouse club after reading the first three points. Or maybe you remember reading about how Clark carries the Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi and Sam’s Club® Mastercard ® in his wallet .

If you consider joining, I recommend pairing your membership with the credit card of the warehouse club that you join. I’ll share with you the perks of each warehouse club credit card. Should you apply for a credit card with the warehouse clubs, your credit card will double as your membership card.

One of the differences between Costco and Sam’s Club is the credit cards they accept. Costco only accepts Visa debit and credit cards in store and Visa and Mastercard online.

Sam’s Club takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex in-store and online making it more convenient on your wallet.

As discussed in our article about buying gas at Costco , one of the reasons that I love my Costco membership is because they provide Top Tier gas. Top Tier is better for your engine and is designed to save money over time.

While Sam’s Club does have cheaper gas than most stations, their gas is not Top Tier.

Warehouse clubs aren’t just for shopping and getting cheaper gas while there. They offer a host of services both in-club and online designed to save you as much money as possible. Let’s take a look at their tire centers.

Do you own a car? The Costco Tire Center did top the charts at Consumer Reports with a score of 91 but recently dropped to 77.

Dallas from Team Clark reached out to Consumer Reports to find out more about the drop in score. A representative from Consumer Reports had this to say: “Costco didn’t rate as highly for selection, sales service, waiting area, and other services (e.g. tire balance, rotation, alignment) as the retailers ahead of it.”

I can attest to how easy it is to purchase tires from Costco. You can buy in-store or online, and the cost of having them installed is factored into the price. So there are no surprise “gotchas” when you get to the store.

The downfall to having your tires installed at Costco is you need to wait around. They do not normally provide a customer lounge, and I found myself shopping. I admit I did purchase items I was not planning to. But after about 90 minutes, my car was done, and I was off like a herd of buffalo.

All passenger vehicle tires purchased at Costco come with a Road Hazard Warranty of five years! That is a considerable savings to your wallet should you need a repair or replacement. Also, tire rotations are free for life on tires purchased at Costco. However, it is important to note that Costco does not do tire alignments .

What sets Sam’s Club apart from other tire centers is the after-purchase care that you receive. When you purchase tires from Sam’s and have them installed, they give you a free three-year, 24-hour roadside assistance plan that protects you on parts of your car that are not even tire-related! Towing, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery, lock-out service, jump start and winching/extraction are all included.

You also receive lifetime tire balance, rotation and free flat tire repair on tires purchased at Sam’s. Just like Costco, however, Sam’s does not offer tire alignments. So when you are price comparing new tires , be sure to factor this in.

Costco offers optical services right inside its stores. They offer a wide range of frames to choose from and even have a doctor right inside to perform eye exams. What is cool about Costco Optical is that they are rated the top place to shop for eyeglasses according to Consumer Reports. The highest marks were given to price, follow-ups after the appointment, customer service and quality of frames. We have also included Costco as one of the best places to buy eyeglasses .

It is important to note that Costco Optical only gives the prices and specs for their house brand Kirkland Signature frames online. You will need to shop in-store to find pricing for their non-house brand.

Sam’s Club also offers optical services similar to Costco, but what caught my eye was their optical department rating at Consumer Reports. Typically, they have been number 6 or 7 on the chart of eighteen, but recently Sam’s Club Optical has risen toward the top. Sam’s Club Optical comes in third place at Consumer Reports , just slightly behind Costco in rating. While this might not be a big deal to some shoppers, it goes a long way in earning my trust.

I was perusing the Sam’s Club optical site recently, and they have made it easy to shop for eyewear. They offer virtual try-on and the ability to see the price on frames up front on all brands.

Both warehouse clubs have a food court, and you may have heard the recent news about Costco not raising the rates on their famous hot dog and soda combo.

For years, Costco has offered a great deal on a hotdog and soda for only $1.50.

Clark is a big fan of Costco’s $1.50 hot dog combo so much so that he listed 3 people that he would invite with him should Costco hold a hot dog party .

Sam’s also has an array of food available at their food court. Sam’s Club is trying to beat out Costco on its hot dog and soda combo by offering it for $1.38.

Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer online shopping for their members, but one has a slight advantage over the other.

Costco has a unique policy when it comes to purchasing online . Some items have shipping charges, but you would know in advance whether or not an item would ship for free. If there is a shipping charge, it would be listed right near the product or shown in your cart.

Costco says on its website that some items ship directly from their vendors and manufacturers and that they can set their own shipping costs.

Costco also has a grocery delivery service. Products marked with two-day delivery will have an added fee per item unless the total order cost is over $75.

My recommendation is that it is imperative to price compare in-store vs online ordering at Costco. Recently, I saw an item that I wanted to purchase online from Costco that Sam’s Club did not have, but I could not justify the price plus the few bucks for shipping. I decided not to purchase it but remembered to look for the item the next time I was in the store. To my surprise, the item was $10 cheaper in-store! I saved $3 on the shipping and $10 by buying in-store.

I decided to test this theory and jotted down some other prices on items, and to my surprise, some of them also had a markup if purchased online. So while Costco does offer some of the best prices, it still pays to price compare online vs. in club.

My closest Sam’s Club is about 40 miles away, so why am I a member? Free shipping!

Plus members, which include both primary and complimentary members, receive free shipping on most online items with no minimum purchase required. I purchase items at Sam’s Club ranging from bulky paper towels to AA batteries and have never once incurred a shipping fee in my 4 years as a member. In most cases, my order is delivered within just a couple of days.

Club-level members ($50 option) will only receive free shipping on items marked “free shipping”. Sam’s Club encourages its members to upgrade their membership to take advantage of the free shipping on more items. I can say with absolute certainty that the amount of money I spend on my Plus membership more than pays for itself in the dozens of online orders that I place every year.

Unlike Costco, Sam’s Club does not have as high a markup on online items. In fact, they will go one step further and show you the in-store and online prices for full transparency. I think the highest markup I have experienced was $1.00. But it is rare in my experience.

Both Costco and Sam’s Club are all about the customer. They both offer very generous return policies. While there are some exclusions, both warehouse clubs allow you to return most items anytime.

Costco offers its members a risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee! Should you realize that a membership is not for you, you can cancel and obtain a full refund at any time.

Costco also offers a very generous return policy on merchandise, with a few exceptions such as on electronics and jewelry. Most items can be returned at any time which means should you want a refund a few months down the road, in most cases they will issue the refund.

When shopping at Sam’s Club, you are also covered by their 100% satisfaction guarantee on membership and merchandise with a few exceptions. As shown on their website, most items you can return at any time for a refund or replacement except items like appliances and electronics. Here is the full list of exclusions.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to warehouse shopping, it makes sense to be a member in most cases.

I am a Costco and Sam’s Club member for very different reasons. Costco is close to my home, and I have five nearby locations. Sam’s Club is not nearby but offers free shipping for Plus members. In any case, you should consider joining a warehouse club based on location and what you plan to purchase. I price compare at both clubs for optimal savings.

At the very least, consider joining Sam’s Club, as their membership is a little cheaper, and they offer free shipping in the U.S. with no minimum purchase.

Oh yeah. Don’t forget, both clubs offer a satisfaction guarantee and will refund your membership cost at any time you are not satisfied. So, you have nothing to lose.

December 14, 2023: Updated location count. In 6 months, Costco added 18 new locations with 13 of those in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
December 14, 2023: Costco now has a location in Maine bringing the count down to 3 states where they do not operate.
December 14, 2023: Consumer Reports score updated with quote from CR. 14 point drop from 91 to 77.

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Sam’s Club vs Costco (2024): Review and Comparison

When it comes to membership-based warehouse retail stores, Sam’s Club and Costco set themselves apart from the rest, each offering a treasure trove of products at wholesale prices to their loyal members. These retail giants have revolutionized the way consumers shop, providing access to an extensive array of goods ranging from groceries to electronics, often in bulk quantities.

While both Sam’s Club and Costco share the common goal of delivering value and savings to their members, subtle differences in their offerings, membership benefits, and overall shopping experiences distinguish the two.

What are Sam’s Club and Costco?

Sam’s club and costco memberships, which is better, sam’s club or costco, is a sam’s club membership worth it.

Both Sam’s Club and Costco are membership-exclusive warehouse retail stores.

Sam’s Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart Inc. It offers a wide selection of merchandise at discounted prices, including groceries, electronics, home goods, and more. It operates primarily in the United States and also offers memberships for businesses. Sam’s Club distinguishes itself with its emphasis on bulk purchasing and savings for its members, who pay an annual fee for access to the club’s offerings.

Costco Wholesale Corporation is a multinational corporation operating a chain of membership-only warehouse clubs. It is one of the largest retailers in the world, with locations primarily in the United States but also in several other countries. Costco offers a wide variety of merchandise, including groceries, electronics, appliances, clothing, and furniture usually in bulk sizes. It is known for its high-quality products and competitive pricing. Members pay an annual fee to shop at Costco, and the company emphasizes a no-frills shopping experience focused on value and savings.

Put simply, both stores cater to consumers who are looking to save money by purchasing items in bulk and are willing to pay a membership fee for access to discounted prices and a wide selection of goods.

Become a Plus member for only $70. *Terms Apply. See site for details.

An overview of the perks and benefits that come with a Sam’s Club or Costco membership.

Sam’s Club Membership Benefits

Sam’s Club offers two membership tiers: Club and Plus.

Club Membership

$25 per year (terms and conditions apply)
Includes one card for the primary account holder and a free complimentary card for another member of your household
Add up to 8 additional members at a reduced rate of $45 each
Low member’s only prices with new Instant Savings offers throughout the year
Fuel savings at select gas stations
Scan & Go service that lets you scan items, pay using the app and skip the checkout line
Sam’s Club Mastercard lets you earn 5% Sam’s Cash back on gas for the first $6,000 per year (1% after), 3% back on dining, 1% back on eligible purchases at Sam’s Club and 1% on other purchases

Plus Membership

$70 per year (T&C Apply)
Includes all Club membership benefits with better perks
Add up to 16 extra Club-level members at $45 each
Free shipping on most online items for primary and household/complimentary cardholders
Free curbside pickup (costs $4 for Club-level members)
Same-day delivery for only $8 as opposed to $12 for Club-level members
Extra optical and pharmacy discounts such as 20% off a pair of prescription eyeglasses and free shipping on contacts
Lets you earn 2% Sam’s Cash back on qualifying purchases up to $500 per year
Early shopping hours from 8:00 a.m. onward
Same benefits as the Club-level Sam’s Club Mastercard but you earn 3% back on eligible purchases at Sam’s Club instead of 1%

Costco Membership Benefits

Costco offers two membership tiers: Gold Star and Executive.

Gold Star Membership

$60 per year
Includes one free additional card
Access to Costco warehouses and online store
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi lets you earn cash back rewards on eligible purchases, including 4% on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 annually), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% on Costco purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

Executive Membership

$120 ($60 membership fee + $60 upgrade fee) per year
Includes all Gold Star membership benefits
Annual 2% reward from the day you sign up as an Executive member—your qualified purchases start earning toward your annual 2% reward. Executive Members can earn up to $1,000 every year on qualified Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel purchases
Executive Members may save on additional service providers through Costco Services (travel insurance, pet insurance, cell phones and plans, and more)

As for which is better, there are several factors that need to be taken into account. First off, Sam’s Club offers a basic membership for $25 per year (T&C Apply), while Costco’s basic membership costs $60 annually. Sam’s Club Plus membership is priced at $70 per year (T&C Apply. See site for details), while Costco’s Executive membership is $120 annually. To put two and two together, Sam’s Club membership tiers are more affordable compared to their Costco counterparts.

Also, Sam’s Club tends to offer more frequent membership deals compared to Costco. It stocks more name brands as well, while the latter focuses on private brands and organic goods. Another thing to keep in mind is their location. It’s important to consider the proximity of each store to your home to maximize the use of your membership and save on travel costs.

In summary, when deciding between Sam’s Club and Costco memberships, factors such as cost, return policies, product offerings, additional perks, location convenience, and customer experience play crucial roles in determining which membership aligns best with individual preferences and needs.

Join now & get 50% off Club membership.* That’s only $25! *Terms Apply. See site for details.

Whether it’s worth getting a Sam’s Club membership or not boils down to how you shop.

The value of a Sam’s Club membership depends on your personal spending habits and needs.

Frequency of Bulk Purchases: If you frequently purchase items in bulk, such as paper products, cleaning supplies, or non-perishable food items, a Sam’s Club membership may be worthwhile and help you save more in the long run.

Services: Sam’s Club offers various services, such as optical and pharmacy discounts, which can save you money if you utilize these services.

Shipping: If you often purchase items online, the free shipping on most online items for Plus members may be a huge benefit.

Cost: Compare the cost of a Sam’s Club membership to the potential savings you would gain from the membership benefits.

Get over $9,800 in Instant Savings! Ends April 7th

While it’s hard to go wrong with both warehouse clubs, Sam’s Club has the edge.

While both Sam’s Club and Costco offer compelling membership-based shopping experiences with vast product selections and attractive discounts, a closer examination reveals unique advantages that tilt the scale slightly in favor of Sam’s Club.

With its commitment to providing value and savings to members, Sam’s Club stands out with its competitive pricing and a wide range of offerings. Moreover, its focus on convenience, including the availability of Scan & Go technology for seamless checkout experiences, appeals to modern shoppers seeking efficiency in their retail interactions.

As such, while both warehouse clubs offer substantial benefits, Sam’s Club’s dedication to affordability, convenience, and customer satisfaction positions it as a formidable contender in the world of membership-based shopping.

Vincent Lanaria

Senior Editor, researcher and writer passionate about running, cooking, and how technology mixes with the two.

Sam’s Club Vs. Costco Comparison Review (2024 Update)

This Sam’s Club versus Costco comparison review has been updated for 2024. My wife and I are regular Costco shoppers. The membership warehouse has become one of the three grocery brands that we get most of our groceries from, pulling in to the #1 spot ahead of Trader Joe’s in annual spend these days (though Kroger is catching up with the discounts and promotions I’ve been able to find). If we could get an even greater share of our groceries at Costco, we would, but sometimes 96 ounce jars of mayo just aren’t practical.

With our familiarity with Costco, I had always been curious about Sam’s Club , but had never given the chain a chance. With a now-expired American Express promotion giving targeted AmEx customers a free Sam’s Club membership (in the form of a statement credit), we had nothing to lose. So, we decided to give it try, in the hopes that it could provide some nice grocery staple complements to the items we regularly stock up on at Costco.

Now that I’ve shopped at both chains, I thought readers might have an interest in a Sam’s Club versus Costco review. So, here it is (updated for 2024). I didn’t want to just provide my opinion, but wanted to dig in to compare things like membership fees, return policies, branded credit cards, payment methods, hours of operation, number of locations, service offerings, item quality, price, and quantity, and even relationship with employees.

What follows is my take on the Sam’s Club vs Costco debate. I’d love to see yours in the comments as well.

Membership Fees:

A lot of the value of being a member is dependent on the perceived value you get from the price of membership. However, we’re just going to compare here on straight up price, not value (since everyone has a slightly different perceived value).

Costco membership cost : $60 for the basic “Gold Star” membership, and $120 for the upgraded “Executive” version of each, which offer enhanced perks, including cash back rewards of 2% (up to $1,000 cash back) on qualified Costco purchases. There are a number of ways to shop at Costco for free without a membership , for one-off needs, but it would be difficult to sustain for regular purchases. Costco hasn’t raised its membership fees in over 6 years, so they might be due.
Sam’s Club membership cost : Sam’s Club raised the price for its basic “Club” membership to $50 and “Plus” membership to $110 on October 17, 2022 – their first price increase in over 9 years. The Plus membership offers enhanced perks, including cash back rewards of 2% on qualifying purchases (up to $500 cash back annually). Sam’s also offers early shopping hours and free shipping for Select Plus members, which are nice perks. There are also a number of ways to shop at Sam’s Club without a membership , And, occasionally you can find a Sam’s Club membership discount .

Winner: Sam’s Club. If we’re looking strictly at price alone, you have to give the nod to Sam’s Club on this one, at all membership levels. Note that the enhanced membership for Costco offers a higher cap on cash back ($1,000 vs. $500), but you’d have to spend over $10K annually to see a benefit there. That’s more than I’d recommend non-business consumers spending at any one retailer.

It’s worth noting that both clubs offer a membership fee refund if you are not satisfied with your membership.

I have run the numbers on if a Costco Executive membership is worth the cost (as well as standard). The answer for me, is “yes”, but I did recently ask Costco for a membership fee rebate (pro-rated, as I fell short of the break-even point on an Executive membership). They obliged.

Return Policies:

The Costco and Sam’s Club return policies can be found here, respectively:

Any time: Most items, unless noted otherwise
90 days: Electronics, major appliances, cell phones
No returns: a few specifically noted items
90 days: Electronics, major appliances
30 days: Commercial heavy equipment, Motorsports items
14 days: cell phones

Winner: Costco (slight edge). Both Costco and Sam’s Club have refreshingly generous return policies, which makes shopping at either a huge perk. For starters, both offer full refund on the cost of membership if you are unsatisfied with it. Both offer return of items at any time. There are some items that come with restraints at both retailers for good reason (e.g. certain electronics, batteries, tires, cigarettes, and alcohol). Where Costco gets the slight edge is that they have a shorter list of non-returnable items or items that must be returned within a time frame. Costco’s extended warranty on appliances and other big purchases is also outstanding.

Branded Credit Card Perks:

For this comparison, I think it’s important to look strictly at how the card benefits you at the retailer, versus it’s other perks.

Costco Anywhere Visa :

doubles as your membership card
$0 annual fee (must be a Costco member)
4% cash back on gas purchases at Costco and other gas stations (up to $7,000 spent per year)
3% back on restaurants and most travel purchases
2% back at Costco and Costco.com
1% cash back on all other purchases

Sam’s Club MasterCard :

$0 annual fee (cash back reward check only goes to Sam’s Club members)
5% back in Sam’s Cash at U.S. and Puerto Rico gas stations and on gas at Sam’s Club (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% on purchases after)
3% back in Sam’s Cash on dining and takeout
3% back in Sam’s Cash for Sam’s Club purchases (Plus members) or 1% cash back (Club members)
1% back in Sam’s Cash on other purchases
No foreign transaction fees

Winner: Costco. The Sam’s Club credit card has a really sweet perk in 5% cash back at all gas stations that might make it worthwhile, even if you don’t regularly shop at Sam’s (note: to get cash back rewards, you must be a Sam’s Club member). However, if we’re weighing the value of these cards on their connection to the retailer, the 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com is a huge perk that stands out between the two cards, as it doubles the 1% you would get at Sam’s with the Sam’s Club MasterCard (though that does increase to 3% if you have the $110 annual Plus membership). The Costco card rewards improvement emerged from the huge shift from AmEx to Citi a few years ago.

Payment Methods:

Costco payment methods : Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks from members, traveler’s checks, most pin-based debit cards and ATM cards, mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), EBT, and Costco Shop Cards. Photo identification and approval by a supervisor or manager may be required. A valid government-issued photo ID is required if you plan to pay by check. The options are more limited at Costco.com, Costco Gas Stations or Costco Car Washes (see the above link for more info).
Sam’s Club payment methods : Sam’s Cash, Sam’s Club credit and Walmart credit, Walmart and Sam’s Club credit cards, cash or check, debit card, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, Visa credit cards, Walmart credit, SNAP/EBT, prepaid credit cards. Samsclub.com is a little more limited (see the above link for more info).

Winner: Sam’s Club. Costco’s move to Visa (all cards, not just the Costco Anywhere Visa) should result in easier payment for a lot of customers (versus AmEx exclusivity previously), however, Sam’s Club accepts all four major credit card providers: AmEx, Visa, Discover, and MasterCard.

Number of Locations:

Number of locations is less important than proximity to your residence. Be that as it may, more locations increases the potential that there will be a closer location to your residence.

Costco locations : as of the time of publish, Costco has 600 locations in the US (including Puerto Rico).
Sam’s Club locations : as of the time of publish, Sam’s Club has 600 US locations (including Puerto Rico).

Winner: Tie! 600 locations each – that is more than ironic.

Hours of Operation:

Costco hours :

Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM

Sam’s Club hours :

Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 8 PM (note: Sam’s offers “early shopping hours” for “Plus” members only are 8 AM – 10 AM).
Saturday: 9 AM – 8 PM (early shopping hours for “Plus” members only are 8 AM – 9 AM).

Winner: Tie. Costco offers an extra half hour Monday – Friday for all members. Sam’s offers longer hours on Saturday and the early shopping hours for Plus members.

Item Diversity:

Costco item selection: Costco claims to carry only about 4,000 SKUs. For the size of their warehouses, this is somewhat hard to believe, but they focus on fewer items as part of their strategy of focusing on quality.
Sam’s Club item selection: Sam’s Club hasn’t shared the number of SKUs that they carry, however, it is clear that they pack significantly more SKUs into their locations than Costco does. It’s been estimated that Sam’s Club carries between 6,000 and 7,000 SKUs.

Winner: Sam’s Club.

Item Quality:

Costco item quality: Costco’s choice to limit (and even cut back) their SKUs has allowed them to focus more on quality of item. Costco’s food and alcohol selection (if that’s your thing) includes a strong lineup of generic “Kirkland Signature” branded products, which are typically very high quality. I created a Costco alcohol price list for those who are curious and an extensive review of Costco Kirkland dog food & cat food .
Sam’s Club item quality: while Sam’s Club did carry a few higher end products and organic options, I found the overall selection here to be limited compared to Costco. If name brand products is your thing (I wouldn’t recommend it), you will be much happier with the familiar brands at Sam’s Club. If organic and healthy options are your thing, you will not. Random related note: I bought a giant container of black pepper at Sam’s Club that absolutely ruined a few dishes due to its poor taste. I just don’t think that would happen at Costco.

Winner: Costco. I tend to be pretty judicious when it comes to what I put in my body and Costco’s food selection is much more focused on items that are organic, with simple natural ingredients with less preservatives and fillers, and raised with a more sustainable focus (e.g. hormone-free, cage-free, grass-fed dairy, meat, and eggs). At Sam’s Club, there is much more of a focus on popular brands, which non-coincidentally often have much less healthy ingredients, in general.

Item Prices:

Winner: Inconclusive (but possible slight edge to Costco). This one is tough because of the difference in product selection and product attributes. Costco has fewer SKUs and generally higher quality products, which makes price comparisons difficult, if not impossible. I actually brought in my Costco receipts and used my phone to compare prices on similar items (i.e. similar volume and qualities such as organic).

Costco does have a notably larger selection of products with its high-quality generic “Kirkland Signature” store brand, whereas Sam’s Club is much more focused on popular (and often overpriced) name brands. I think that’s important to note.

In a very limited sample size, I found Costco to come out ahead about 2 out of every 3 apple-to-apple comparisons (excluding brand name), looking at cost per volume. Could this be due to limited SKU (which cuts cost for the company)? It’s possible. But I don’t have a broad enough sample size to conclude this definitively. And every individual shoppers results are going to vary based on their purchase preferences.

I’ve also found Costco’s pharmacy prices to be cheaper than Sam’s Club or any other pharmacy. We purchase our dog’s insulin there and it is consistently the cheapest location in town.

Buying groceries is one thing, but what about other service based product offerings? These are membership retailers, so the service part of the deal is important to a lot of members. Here’s what they both offer:

Costco service products : pharmacy, cheap flu shots and other inoculations, home improvement, optical/hearing center, tire/battery, gas, photo, business services, travel, auto-buying program, in-store restaurant (food court cafe), insurance.
Sam’s Club service products : pharmacy, cheap flu shots and other inoculations, home improvement, optical/hearing center, tire/battery, gas, photo, business services, travel, auto-buying program, in-store restaurant (food court cafe), insurance.

Winner: Tie. Do the lists look similar? They are. I’d give Costco the slight nod in group insurances offered and Sam’s the nod in other business services. Other than that, they are strikingly identical, right down to the types of foods offered in the in-store restaurant and their prices (frozen yogurt and pizza, FTW!).

Employee Pay & Benefits:

Last but not least, I think it’s important for any consumer to place a value on how well the businesses they frequent choose to treat their rank and file employees in terms of pay, benefits, work hours, holidays, and more.

Costco Pay & Benefits:

Costco pay : cashiers @ ~$17.89/hour, warehouse stockers @ ~$18.80/hour
Costco benefits : Health, dental, life, disability, AD&D, vision, pharmacy plans. 401K match (annual contribution to their account, which is based on a percentage of eligible earnings. This percentage increases with employee’s years of service). Employee stock purchase plan.
Costco work hours: see above.
Costco Holidays (no business hours): New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Sam’s Club Pay & Benefits:

Sam’s Club pay : cashiers @ ~$15.98/hour, stockers @ ~$15.75/hour:
Sam’s Club benefits : Health, dental, life, disability, AD&D, vision, pharmacy plans. 401K match (up to 6% of salary). Employee stock purchase plan (with company match).
Sam’s Club work hours: see above.
Sam’s Club Holidays (no business hours): New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Winner: Costco. Without getting full PTO details and insurance costs, it’s difficult to fully compare the benefits package between the two. But when it comes to pay (at least in the samples that have reported their pay to a 3rd party), Costco is clearly the winner, with cashiers and stock staff making more, on average, than their Sam’s Club counterparts – though the gap has closed in recent years. It’s also been said that Costco pay increases happen more frequently and there is a much higher cap than with Sam’s Club/Walmart employees. Additionally Costco employees don’t have the potential to get drawn into extended morning and Saturday hours as Sam’s Club employees do, or 3 additional holidays to work (Memorial, Independence, and Labor Days). And then there’s reputation. Costco has been said to treat employees very well, while Walmart has a long history of the opposite.

Sam’s Club Vs. Costco: Review Summary

Overall Winner: Costco.

If the name of the game is saving money and you don’t care too much about the ingredients in the foods that you put into your body, you may be able to save some money at Sam’s Club. And, you may have a little more luck finding the product type you are looking for. Sam’s also gets the nod in membership cost ($10 savings per year).

It’s worth noting that even though I’ve been a loyal Costco customer, I visited Sam’s Club wanting it to succeed (the more cheap foods for me to stock up on, the better!). However, having shopped at both and doing significant research for this article, I simply like Costco much more. Their huge selection of generic Kirkland brand products provide an excellent value, and their foods are more focused on quality and health. I come away from Costco with a full cart of products every time, but with Sam’s, I could only find a few handfuls of products that I felt good about purchasing. I feel much better about maintaining a cost of membership at Costco. The Costco Visa, with its 2% cash back rewards at Costco is another huge perk.

Additionally, Costco pays and treats its employees better, which makes me feel more positive about being a customer. In light of the 2018 news of Sam’s Club closing 63 stores and laying off 10,000 employees without warning, I feel even more strongly about this verdict, and highlighted how to get your Sam’s Club membership fee refunded and switch to Costco.

Costco Vs Sam’s Club: what’s your take?

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116 Comments

Agree 100%.

I’ve been a member of both and Costco wins hands down to Sam’s.

Better stores, more variety in products, and great prices.

I’m all about efficiency.. There are many things I won’t buy at Sams simply because of quality.. but the things I do get there I go because it used to be really quick.

You can place orders online and walk in and pick it up without dealing with the store and shopping around other people. Saves a few hours easily…

HOWEVER, the store I typically go to has been dropping the ball lately and can’t get this one simple thing right… So my renewal for 2017 is currently in Question. Perhaps I’ll look at Costco as an option..

Costco is definitely worth a shot. Check out my post on how to shop at Costco for free if you want to do a trial walk-through.

How to start a free trail from Costco, is there a tax free for business resale?

I’ve never been to a Sam’s Club, but the quality of Costco items (especially Kirkland Signature) for the price seems unbeatable. My husband and I also frequently buy clothing at Costco; I think I’m slowly replacing my entire wardrobe with Costco-bought stuff. I get the feeling that, in any given product category, whoever is choosing which SKU’s to stock takes extra care to make sure they’re choosing something of very high quality and reasonable price for their customers. It’s like having a personal shopper in that you don’t have to worry too much about whether it’ll be a good product or not. What I’m feeling from your post is that Sam’s Club doesn’t follow that model.

I still have a bone to pick with you about the organic thing! How have you not figured out yet that organic produce/meats are no different, health-wise, than non-organic counterparts? And don’t even get me started on so-called “non-GMO” products… It’s all marketing nonsense.

I agree that the whole GMO aversion is a load of bull. However, the argument between the difference of buying organic vs. inorganic would be a great article to write next! I’d be curious for the breakdown in that…

How can you say there is no difference between organic and non organic. Do your research before posting nonsense

@GBL – Your first paragraph is accurate.

On the second paragraph, we’ll have to agree to disagree. The jury is still out on GMO’s, but you can’t tell me that spraying pesticides/herbicides (that are toxic and designed to kill living organisms) all over produce has zero impact on the ecosystem and the animals and humans that eat them. Organic clearly has less of an impact. And if I can get organic food at Costco for less than most people pay for non-organic, why wouldn’t I? It’s not always about the money.

@GEMIller The jury is not still out on GMOs. There is a global scientific consensus that GM is no more dangerous than modification through other breeding methods. The same scientific agencies that you trust on issues such as anthropogenic climate change and vaccine safety/efficacy also concur that GMOs are safe. Many transgenic plants (like Bt soy) actually reduce the need for pesticides and enable environmentally friendly practices like no-till farming. Organic cultivation also uses pesticides, including many which are more toxic than their conventional counterparts. As a regular reader for many years I urge you to question your preconceptions and research this subject further with an open mind.

You need to do more research and take your own advice, as you said, to “question your preconceptions and research this subject further with an open mind.”

I would like to just point out California as an example of pesticides being a danger to the community, the environment, animals, important insects, and people in general. I lived in California for almost 2 years when I turned 18 and I immediately realized that there are barely any birds insects that are beautiful. Hardly ever saw a bee, hardly ever saw butterflies, people are sick almost all the time there not just because of the air pollutants it’s also because the chemicals they spray on their oranges everything else that they grow. And then here recently I was dating a trucker for a little while and was able to go on some runs with him. We had to bring bees into California. Apparently they have to do this regularly because the bees are being killed by all the pesticides. It’s ridiculous! And then we put this into our body, these things that are killing all of these animals and insects and birds and I choose organic because I don’t believe that we should be putting these things in our body. I just wanted to give California as a good example and how you are correct. There will always be people who disagree with it because they believe it’s just the government trying to get us to spend more money or whatever. But ultimately science has proven time and time again organic is better. And the prices for organic versus non-organic are getting so close in a range anyways so don’t know how it’s a marketing technique anymore lol.

My sister-in-law’s father is a farmer and rancher selling “organic” products and the supposedly better for you, and them, meats. Guess what? They aren’t He does everything he says he doesn’t and gets away with it due to lack of proper regulation. Until there is consistent and proper regulation you have no idea what you are truly getting.

There is…its called “certified organic”. A world of difference from just meaningless “organic” so-called products. When it’s labeled “certified organic” the farms have to meet rigorous requirements, be inspected at least yearly, and invest a ton to earn their certification…never buy anything that says simply “organic”, or you could get a counterfeit product from a farm thats as you described. Always make sure it’s “certified organic” and highly regulated, that way you know it’s really worth that high price you are paying!

Won’t repeat what others have already said but I will add that organic most certainly does use pesticides. Organic is a huge multi-billion dollar industry. Not as big as traditional ag but still very large. They have lobbyists and use deceptive marketing just like everyone else. They want you to think that organic = pesticide-free. It’s not true. The pesticides that organic uses are still toxic and often times more toxic than the synthetic alternatives. Also, the idea that organic has less of an impact is definitely not true either. Organic crops have lower yield than traditional which means more land, more chemicals, and more work (= more CO2 emissions) are required to produce the same amount of food as conventional ag.

If you go onto the USDA website and look at the list of approved pesticides/herbicides for organic produce I think you might change your mind…. also look at their study on trace chemicals found in organic vs nonorganic food. They both contain the same amount of chemical.

@GBL Organic just generally tastes better and smells better. And the research favoring organic food seems to to be of much higher quality and with far fewer flaws than research favoring food that is not organic. Also I very much agree with your first paragraph:)

There’s no conclusive scientific evidence showing that organic is any “healthier” than non-organic counterparts, which is frequently implied in this blog. As far as the “tasting and smelling better,” this seems to be subjective as I’ve found the opposite to be true. Now, I’ll buy organic if it’s a better deal or if it’s a product I particularly want for some reason, but not when there is a perfectly good, less-expensive non-organic equivalent.

It may or may not be true about the nutritional part. but what I can say is that I started getting Blue Apron, which is all organic, and the taste cannot be beat. There are fruits and vegetables I never really liked, like pears and plums, bok choy, chard and other greens, which have a whole different taste. delicious is all I can say. Plump, sweet juicy plums compared to the hard, tasteless variety (non-organic). Even apples and oranges are so much more juicy and delicious. Yes, its more expensive, but now I cant go back to the old tasteless variety. At 74 I was completely taken aback with the difference. I thought I was imagining how good food was all those years ago.

Placebo much? I believe many double blind tests have proved it is a coin toss, except non-organic edged out as tasting slightly better than organic.

You could have saved a lot of time by just informing your readers that Sam’s Club is owned and operated by Walmart and that both should be avoided on principle because of both their quality and business practices.

Did you read the Employee Pay/Benefits and Item Quality sections?

Maybe include info on CEO pay. 1. Is Costco CEO pay low for a CEO. Is it $500,000 a year? Are there other forms of compensation? 2. What is Sam’s Club’s CEO pay and comp?

That isn’t going to happen. They hire people that need a second job, not a career (unless they are management with a college degree). They also give so much to our community. I live in a rural community that appreciates the help given by Walmart. If you can avoid them, do it. But here, we are so happy to have Walmart. The next largest town is 115 miles away. Without them we would have no place to shop. I still have to drive 30 miles.

A very well thought out review! How many people consider the employees when shopping, beside the social responsibility, it is an important indicator of the stores business model and I have seen many reviews of Costco customers and employees who are fiercely loyal to the company. Personally I have visited 2 of each store, the Sams was dirty, my gf walked out because of this; Costco was bright and appeared clean. As for the commenter who doesn’t believe the organic labeling there are many farmers who strive to produce better food and want to protect their [our] environment, they deserve support! Do your own test on a small sample, it will be obvious. There are associations that have guidelines for their members, a little research is needed. This review is an excellent consumer aid, kudos to the author!

Thanks, Francis!

I totally agree with you. I really liked this article and I was deciding if I should renew my Sam’s card or go with Costco. I have made my decision.

I have both Costco and Sam’s Club memberships and I shop at both. About 3 years ago I noticed that many, many fruits and vegetables I bought at Sam’s Club had mold inside the packaging. I noticed this when I got them home and opened them. It was on the bottom. So I returned them with no hassle, but then I started really looking and was surprised to find that most of the products in the fruit sections had mold growing inside the packaging. I just quit buying their produce. I did continue to shop there and especially bought gasoline at the pumps there and the fuel savings alone pays for the membership yearly. No joke on that. I usually save close to $2 every time I fill up at Sam’s over the other local pumps and filling up weekly, well you can do the math. But I do not buy any produce at Sam’s. The nearest Costco to my home is over 20 miles away and Sam’s is just under 2 miles. I still find that Costco has more of what I need and want to buy than Sam’s club, so I make the trip more often now. Just minor planning. Sam’s gets the nod from me on convenience of location and with their lower membership costs and the fact that I do purchase most of my fuel from them means I will keep their card for now. Should they build a Costco in my town, with fuel pumps, Sam’s would be gone. They are a minor convenience at best. I wear 2xL size shirts and rarely can I find any. I swear they stock 2000 shirts in sizes S-XL and only stock 2 shirts in my size. I just quit looking. I find I am buying cereal, printer stuff, candy for work, pens and gasoline. That’s about all I buy there now. And Ike I said, it’s mainly because they are just so near to my house. Great review here. Thanks.

Note to self: Don’t buy Sam’s Club produce.

I agree with you. I’m a frequent shopper at Sam’s Club and I always buy their big bag of Iceberg Salad. More times than not the salad is in bad shape and I have to pick through it to find a decent looking bag. I also think Costco’s have more variety of products on the shelves as well.

Do you ever do a price comparison of typical items? Are they pretty comparable? Great post, by the way!

We have been a member of both whole sale clubs. We just become a member of whichever is available in our area, since we moved several times across the US. Both have an excellent meat products that we buy meat a lot at Sam’s now. If we buy RV in near future, Sam’s credit card is a must have for us, I just don’t like the fact that cash rewords can be redeemed only once a year.

We love Costco! With 5 kids at home, it’s an easy option. We do still shop one other stores for the big sales and stock up on those staples. Like when a pound of whole wheat pasta is .78 cents. (Costco has almost no selection of whole wheat past.) And I love how they run their company. They have a strong customer first mentality.

Lol I was in there with my husband and I forgot something so I went to the back to get it. We had more than $500 worth of groceries so he started loading it on the Belt. When he got up to the front of the line the cashier snapped at him and said this is not your membership you’ll have to go to the membership desk. He replied oh that’s my wife’s card she’s just grabbing something she’ll be right up here just start ringing. The gal said no, within seconds I arrived and she said oh now I can bring it. He told her what she could do with it I was confused because I wanted to stuff. He refuses to shop at Costco cuz he says they got attitude LOL. Interesting enough a similar thing happened at Sam’s Club and the cashier told him he look nothing like his picture. I’m just saying. Besides that Sam’s Club comes in in my opinion at least 5% less expensive than Costco period especially now that they just jacked up their memberships again. Definitely prefer Sam’s Club

As an employee at Sam’s Club the review comparisons are so true ! Me and the people I work with wish home office and the managers cared just a little about the employees instead of just themselves. Sams truly does keep taking away benifits and pay each year. Don’t let the new 10 hr for new hires fool you. All they did was take that away from other benifits. So they are not paying out more to employees. The attitude of managers when they don’t make the sales that they want, take it out on the employees while wanting the work of a full crew to be done with only a half of a crew. This is not just some mad employee mouthing off. This is years of consistent patterns and attitudes send and noticed by many ! The LOVE of money is the root of all evil…..( 1 Tim 6:10 )….Businesses need to make a profit but when morality, ethics’s, right and wrong, truth, commen sense and Godly principals are forgotten and get throne out and it’s all done for personal gain, well then you know your working at Sams Club. True capitalism that should work for both employees and employers gets perverted by the greed of the people in power.

The last I heard, this is a free country, and you are allowed to work where you want. Colossians 3:23 & 24. Do your work as unto the Lord. If you aren’t going to look for something that allows you to practice this, that is on you, and badmouthing them isn’t going to help change the culture.

Amazon did the same thing. “You want $15/hr? Fine. You got it! But now you’re not getting a bonus”. Employees need to look at the big picture and not just hourly rate. Employers are going to pay you what the market demands and not a penny more. If you demand a rate that’s higher than the market rate, you will be replaced with alternatives. Look no further than fast food: as soon as they start “demanding” $15/hr, now you see kiosks popping up everywhere. Coincidence? Think not!

If you’re unhappy with what you’re making, get a skill that’s in demand in the marketplace. It’s really that simple.

We have both clubs. But for me Sam’s wins when comes to check out on busy days and holidays. My reason is so very simple. Sam offers a scan and go app. I don’t have to wait in long lines where usually it’s hot. I don’t have to unpack just to have it repacked. I scan as we put in cart, already have payment on the app. By pass all the long lines and out the door. Did once with neighbors. Started same time with them waiting and me scan and go. I was home and unpacked having a cold beer when they pulled in.

Agree love scan and go!!!

“Scan and Go” is so amazing, except when it comes to scanning those pesky bananas.

Overall, I prefer Costco due to the quality of the produce and food compared to Sam’s, but I currently live in an area that only has Sam’s. If Costco were to move in to the area, the only thing holding me back would be the Scan and God app (and the “frequently ordered” website feature where you can quickly load up a cart and pick it up later, saving a bunch of shopping time).

For me Sam’s Club wins! Gas is cheaper than Costco, The national brands are about 5% cheaper, Better meat than anywhere else. I agree Costco has better organic options and gluten free but they are jacking their prices for memberships again! I probably will not renew next time $60 bucks or $115 when both are $15 bucks cheaper at Sam’s and I can use scam and go, or wait in LONG lines at Costco it’s a no brainer. I do wish Sam’s paid their employees better.The ones at the club I go to really are GREAT.and the store is always clean.

Was to read….Scan and Go…hate auto correct

I won’t use Sam’s club gas due to it not being a Top Tier gas. That’s why most ppl will want in those lines for that reason.

You didn’t review the scan & go app at Sam’s club. The fact that you can scan your items and check yourself out without ever waiting in a line other than the receipt check is amazing and a deal-breaker in the Costco v. Sam’s club debate.

I’ve been a Sam’s club business plus member for 15+ years. Every 2-3 years I go with a neighbor to Costco to reevaluate. My Sam’s club & Costco are in Maryland & SW Florida. Same experience at both. Easy h very close to the other.

Still with Sam’s. It’s never been close. My time is worth a lot. So getting 2 weeks shopping done and driving away in 30 minutes during early business hour is fantastic. The new, to me, Shop & Go app is pretty amazing and efficient also.

Meat, fruit, veggies, bread, milk, eggs are frequently on my list. Very competitive pricing. Fruit, I check carefully before I buy. I like that I can pop open a grape container and taste a grape before buying. Costco fruits are sealed by the CIA I think.

Parking, not mentioned in the article, but important to me that there be parking. Sam’s club huge parking lots. Easy to get a space on the busiest days. Costco undersized lots. Always a problem finding a space. Even just after they open I ended up parking a block away.

Sam’s does have a great quality house brand, Member’s Mark. Limited number of products.

Regarding employees. Wal-Mart & Sam’s club are so bad I hear no one works there any more. Oops, forgot they are the largest employer in the U.S.. Many of the employees at my Sam’s club have been there for 10+ years.

Fantastic and comprehensive comparison; thank you. I had formed an opinion, but I wasn’t sure if I had done that subconsciously in order to be “a creature of habit”.

When you compare Costco gasoline with that of Sam’s Club, you need to realize that Costco sells Top Tier gasoline whereas Sam’s Club does not. Consequently, the quality of the gasoline at Costco is better than that at Sam’s Club.

See: http://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/

True on the fuel difference, but it is only better quality if you consider Top Tier fuels with added detergents to be superior to other gasoline.

The biggest negative to Costco, I have both memberships, is the crowd. In my area, it’s like a meat market. Hard to get around the store and very long lines at the register. At Sam’s everyone is laid back and I can move around much more freely. Comfort when shopping is a big plus for me. I’ve actually left Costco and went straight over to Sam’s because it was jut too crowded. Other than that, I go to Sam’s for the meat, gas, and water. Everything else is a Costco item.

Sams Club is cleaner and the snack bar area is cleaner. Sams Club is less crowded so I don’t need to wait in long lines.

I am a member of both Sam’s Club and Costco. I will not be renewing my Sam’s club membership this year and here’s why! It all started when we purchased a Serta iComfort king mattress set online from Sam’s Club. After having the bed 2.5 years, we had a warranty claim. The bed sagged severely and couldn’t be slept on anymore. The customer service people on the phone were very nice, but the follow through was extremely poor. August 14th, 2017 this fiasco started. It took multiple calls and emails to get them to finally order MXD shipping company to pick up, but the invoice was written to pick up only one item, the mattress. The company would not take the boxsprings :( It took another month of me calling and emailing and finally calling MXD back and the shipping company had to all Sam’s Club and remind them that they needed to put an additional order in for them to pickup the boxsprings. I felt that Sam’s club thought it was somehow my fault that they did not properly order the return of the set. Now it is October 31st and I talk to Andrew this time, and he tells me that the manual refund had not gone to the proper department and he promised me that he did it properly and that Hailey, a corporate agent would contact me to finalize my manual refund by Friday, November 3rd. Needless to say she didn’t. So, I spend my Friday night calling the Sam’s 800 number THREE times, because we were disconnected twice as I waited on hold. The 3rd time I talked to Broderick and he gave me the number to call the Sam’s Serta people directly. The number 888-287-5343 asks for some password, clearly the wrong number. So now I don’t have the $2000 bed I bought and no refund and it doesn’t seem that I will ever get one.

So let me get this straight…. You have a 2.5 year old bed that needs warranty replacement and you are angry with SAMS and not the manufacturer? It isn’t a SAMS club issue. So if you buy a cell phone at SAMS and COSTCO do you expect them to get involved if it fails within the warranty period? A 10 year bed warranty is on Serta and not SAMS or COSTCOs responsibility!

A brief story. When we first moved to San Diego (1974) we began shopping at Fedmart, a discount no-frills department/supermarket store that offered excellent value – the brainchild of Sol Price. Within a year or so it was bought out by a German company that tried to class it up and ended up in bankruptcy.

Sol Price then pioneered the very successful low price, high volume membership warehouse – Price Club – at Morena Blvd in San Diego. It was an instant success and expanded rapidly to hundreds of stores. Noting it’s success, a competitor, Costco, started up in 1983 and also expanded rapidly. In 1993 Costco and Price Club merged into what is today’s Costco.

We have shopped at Price Club and later Costco since 1976 – 41 years – and it is our go-to place for most items unless the sizes are too large to avoid spoilage.

We have developed a strong respect for Costco’s philosophy of quality and value. We know that we can return almost anything we buy there that doesn’t satisfy us or live up to it’s claims but we rarely find it necessary. Thanks to the cash back on their store cards (AMEX and now Visa) we have earned $300 to $500 rebates every year (Executive members). We have also used the Costco discount auto buying program which provided a stress free discounted vehicle purchase on three occasions.

If I had to boil down our relationship with Costco – it would be one word: TRUST.

I do agree with other commenters that Costco’s long lines at times are annoying and off-putting but since we are retirees, we can shop there when it is least crowded and we don’t experience the long delays, so not a significant factor for us. I must say that the Sam’s Club Scan and Go feature described by others sounds great and I wish Costco would adopt it.

Scan and Go is so amazing. I hate standing in lines, but love zipping around people checking out (and knowing the exact cost of the items in my cart). If Costco adopted it (and moved into my area), I’d switch immediately.

I’d kill for a Costco in my area. Sam’s Club employees aren’t happy and it shows. If it weren’t for the fuel discount price I would have dropped them after the first of numerous rude encounters. Sam’s Club is at best a clean Walmart (In my area that is a insult of the first order). Disgruntled employees and lazy supervision. As much as I hate to I have been throwing my hard earned money at Amazon. I chafe at giving money to a retailer that’s ambivalent or downright uncivil about receiving it.

We used to be Costco members but switched to Sam’s Club a few years back. We get bonus points when we use are Credit Union Master Card but it’s not accepted at Costco. Most of the products that we purchase are basically the same at both stores. As far as location they are both right next door to each other.

My Sams is one that is closing. It was located between 2 decent size cities. The manager said last year was the best year they ever had, but somehow they still closed it. It was always packed with customers when we went. Now our only option is to drive the next city over to to get to a location. There is also a Costco near the Sams. I’ll be taking my business to Costco from now on, and try to avoid Walmart also. Sam’s has definitely upset ALOT of people in our city.

I wish Costco still took Amex. I’ve got a Starwood Amex Card and use it for free stays at hotels often. Still, I’ll shop at both but mostly at Sam’s.

I used to have the executive costco membership but downgraded to basic this year as I wasn’t able to recover the $60 fee additional fee through cash back rewards.

Costco has nicer holiday gift baskets.

Reading all that is wrong with California they really do need a major earthquake to be re-newed.

I’ve been a member of Costco since 2004 and I will not renew this year. #1 reason: Sam’s has early opening hours for members at $100 level. I do all of my shopping at 8:00am as soon as I drop the kids at school. I frequently have the whole store to myself! #2 reason is self-checkout (or Sam’s scan & go app). Sorry, Costco. I’m not waiting in line and I’m not going to shop with the crowds!

You didn’t add that Sam’s Club has profit sharing with a yearly bonus that takes an employees salary up a notch.

In my opinion, Sam’s is better because of their travel and auto buying benefits

Let me say up front that my wife and I, far and away, prefer Costco over Sams. So, we are biased, and we’ll admit that. That said, I found this article unfair against Sams based on three things:

First, when counting category wins, Sams wins 5-4 with two “ties” (a declared tie and an “inconclusive,” which I’m equating to a tie). Yet, you declare Costco the winner.

Second, your overall tone indicates a clear bias toward Coscto despite an attempt to be fair. For example, you repeatedly call the “Kirkland” brand “high end,” implying Sams store brand is low end. Also, the extreme emphasis on Costco’s organic foods implies Sams does not have or does not care about organic foods, Additionally, and the overall word choice indicate a less-than-fair comparison.

Third, I read your bio and it seems you don’t have kids. Many of us do, and that is a major, MAJOR, factor in choosing things, and not just foods. What about toiletries, soaps, household items? What about clothing? What about gasoline price differences? You need to consider readers who have families with kids (we have three). Your article seems geared toward younger people without kids who are bachelors or newly married, rather than most of the world with kids.

All that said, we agree that Costco is better and here’s why: the quality is a major factor for us. Something may cost less up front, but if you have to replace it more often, you end up spending more. Also, service matters. Sams feels like Walmart on steroids, and our experience with the Walmart Corp is that they have less than poor service (which is also why we prefer Target over Walmart). These factors alone led us to choose Costco over Sams.

Sams Scan and go has been the best innovation offered of any place of business that I have ever shopped at. Couple that with Costco limiting the cards they accept, not open on a few major holidays Sams is, hours of operation earlier if needed and it’s hard for me to accept that Costco cares more about their customers than Sams. And BTW, paying employees more doesn’t always mean the customer get treated any better. I am also an avid golfer and the Kirkland golf ball fiasco infringing on major golf ball manufacturer copy write of their product all ads up to enough reason to pay $15 less for a Sams vs Costco yearly membership. BTW, Sams quality of meat and meat prices are every bit as good if not better than Costco. I do not like having to by such large quantities of a lot of food items makes both companies wasteful for the average consumer at home whom are the most frequent purchasers.even if the price per can or per ounce is cheaper than the grocery store. But if it expires or goes to waste or the family just didn’t like it enough to eat the large quantity, the price maybe isn’t as good as it seems.

Sam Walton was too dam smart for his generation, he wanted a great product too the masses. GM, Dodge brothers & Ford wanted that. TABT…….

I know that Costco is affiliated with Square Trade for extended warranties. Is Sam’s Club affiliated with anyone

We used to maintain both a Sam’s & Costco membership for convenience and the different benefits as outlined above. We had small kids at home, went through hot dogs and chips that are cheaper at Sam’s. The only gas was sold at Costco. Buying tires one year, the savings at Sam’s club paid for the year membership. Constantly re-evaluating which we should have memberships with. Then we went down to one income and it was time to pick one. No big purchases on the horizon so we looked closely at our weekly purchases: Groceries and cleaning supplies. I went through Costco and made a detailed shopping of items that we buy noting the per ounce price. Then went to Sam’s club. Trust me, this took all day with a calculator.

The size/shape/weights are different even when it’s the same items. Trash bags – at one store it’s 100 bags, the other it’s 125. Canned meat, one store has 4 – 8 oz cans, the other has 3 – 12oz cans. Bags of lettuce, one store was 18oz, the other was 20oz. nothing was the same. One store would have the price per unit, the other had a price per ounce.

After WORKING on this all day breaking each item into a per ounce price for groceries that we purchase. Costco was the clear winner.

My beef with Costco: At Costco a $60 membership gives you a card in your name and a “free” secondary card, which can be used by anyone, as long as that person has proof that they reside at the same address as you.. At Sam’s Club a $45 membership also gives you two cards, BUT the two people do not have to reside at the same address i.e. my neighbor and I can share a membership. It appears that Costco discriminates against people who live alone. I think my neighbor and I would buy as much merchandise as a couple who live at the same address – perhaps more.

Costco standards are DEFINITELY DROPPING…. Used to be able to buy a vanilla chocolate or swirl frozen yogurt at their food court for $1.35… Just recently they changed that… ONLY the vanilla is $1.35… and OMG the swirl yogurt is now $2.99. are you kidding me? I have bought organic carrots 10 pounds for about $5.50 BUT the date of the product is sometime A MONTH OLD… A month old carrots… organic or not, I’ll pass. Oh, ab out quality products… Would YOU give someone you care about a product that specifically states THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN CALIFORNIA”? Forgive me, but whoever the Costco buyer is NEEDS to reconsider.. You won’t find me just TRUSTING that Costco is looking out for me & selling healthy products. Recently they dropped the cat litter product… it WAS $7.99 for 42 pounds… NOW the new brand is $11.99 for 42 pounds… Sorry Charlie… I’m looking elsewhere & actually dropping my membership at the end of July… If they REALLY make 75% of their profits from memberships, then my executive membership for $120 WILL impact… one at a time.. WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY IS OUR VOTE… I’m NOT spending at Costco anymore… They lost me.

Name something which hasn’t been shown to cause cancer in California?

I’m a member of both Sam’s Club and Costco and a former Sam’s Club employee. Sam’s Clubs are currently changing their store layouts to copy Costco (Costco with close to a hundred fewer stores doubles Sam’s revenues) however they’re still cluttering their shelves, freezers and coolers with too many sku’s and of course continue to underpay their employees. Sam’s also links employee compensation and hours to sales, where Costco does not. When sales fall Sam’s knee jerk reaction (company policy) is to cut employee hours and impose hiring freezes, thereby providing diminished customer service and lowering employee morale. Someone in Arkansas apparently figuring providing poor customer service will somehow magically improve sales.

I recently was having the dilemma to renew my Sam’s Club membership or switch to Costco this year. I looked up a few items online and Sam’s was by far cheaper for those items. Also Sam’s is 15 minutes away and Costco over 30 minutes away in a crowded town and the only one in the area so it is very crowded. I decided to stick with Sam’s Club and go with my neighbor to Costco.

Thank you for this review. We are considering switching to a Sam’s membership this year. We are not getting out of our Costco executive membership what we were promised, plus my husband thinks that Sam’s might have a better selection of items. It seems like you are saying that Sam’s might stock a greater selection of items, but they are more expensive, name-brand items. I personally shop for the cheaper, store brand items because we have a large family. Plus, I do care about what I put in our bodies, and I have come to love all the simple ingredient lists and more health-conscience offerings at Costco. I think I will give Sam’s a trial run just to see if I can find the same kinds of things. Otherwise, Costco seems like a clear winner. I LOVE their produce; it always lasts a LONG time. If Sam’s produce is often moldy as other commenters have said, I will not be happy. I live 20 miles from both, so I’m not going to be able to just run back and exchange it. One thing I wished you had compared too, is the amount and size of the samples. I know that is less important, but my family likes to make an afternoon of going to Costco and sampling things because we feel it’s one of the benefits of spending for a membership!

Note that if you are military or retired military, both clubs give give an incentive for joining, but only Sam’s will give the same reward upon renewing your membership. Costco is for first-time membership only.

I currently have both memberships. I take Costco hands down over Sam’s club In everything. The only reason I kept Sam’s is just because it was closer to work. I love Costco customer service where Sam Club funnels you to useless customer service reps that simply do not care to service. Just for to share been a Sam’s member since 1997 and Costco since 2009 and I see the difference customer service comes first.

As someone who works for Sams and has interviewed with Costco, I will say that Costco employees are paid higher however they expect you to be available 24/7 with no schedule. I am able as a college student to work for Sam’s Club. It is also much higher pay than other places in the area. I have never shopped at Costco so I won’t comment on that.

I’ve been a member of both Sam’s and Costco. I recently moved to the Jacksonville, FL area and decided to stay with Sam’s. However, I have always loved shopping at Costco and the main reason is because Costco employees seems to care more about their store more so than Sam’s. My wife now hates shopping at Sam’s because she doesn’t like that they do not care about customer service and want you to use the Scan and go. The lines at Sam’s are long, you can’t find a person to assist you and just recently I was put on hold for more than 12 minutes when trying to ask the Auto Center what time my appointment was and to make sure I had the right day. Now, I called several times before their closing time and the customer service counter, just let the phone ring and ring and ring. Well, my membership will be up in August 2019 and I can tell you, that I’ve been a loyal Sam’s customer for more than 30 plus years and ever since moving to the Jacksonville, FL., area they just gave me an easy choice from here on out. I will drop my membership and will never again become a Sam’s member and oh yes, I’m a Sam’s Plus member for most of those 30 years and no one never did answer the phone and believe I let the phone ring for more than 10 minutes. I can also say that I love the different salads that Costco have and I always liked their ice cream. Oh, and most important of all you don’t have to wait in line at the Deli counter no more than a couple of minutes to get waited on and get your pizza which is better than Sam’s and my wife loves that they have Nathan hot dogs and spicy mustard.

Typical hipster doofus article. Huge inaccuracies. Generalizations. But you feel good about Costco so its better. That is your curse. You are blinded as to the fact that Costco is no better than Sams club in the areas that make you “feel” better. So I admit. Costco is better at one thing. Marketing. Good job Noob. As you age you may gain better insight. But hey, take solace…you have been joined in the comments by a bunch of other doofaci. So at least you are not lonely Nancy.

I’ve been a member at Sam’s Club for over 7 years and make a trip every week for business. I’ve been to that club over 300 times. More recent member of Costco (40 minutes away) for the last two years and make a trip every week. I’ve had 2 bad experiences at Costco in 2 years (and 1 happened at the gas pump because of a d-bag customer). In contrast, I’ve had so many bad experiences at Sam’s Club I’ve lost count, but I’m absolutely certain I’ve had over 50. It’s night and day. Why do I keep going to Sam’s Club? Because of proximity to my business. If there was a Costco near my business, I’d stop going to Sam’s Club entirely!

Its so interesting to read everyone’s takes on this. I use to love Costco and would only go to Sams for a few specific things. 4 years ago I moved and the Costco here by my new house is horrible, all of the employees are rude and most won’t even stop if you ask them a question they say they’ll get back to you and keep walking then never come back. The clothes area is always a wreck and things aren’t stocked well and its pretty dark due to lights being out. The lines also are usually 20-30 min long and the cashiers are rude. There’s a Sams Club on the other side of the freeway and it’s amazing to go to. I’ve never felt rushed, people are always willing to help the store is clean and light. The selection is so much better the new scan and go app is fantastic and the employees are wonderful to deal with. I feel like it is a management problem with the Costco, my coworkers have told me to go to other Costco’s but I don’t feel like driving 30 more min to get to a store when there’s an amazing Sam’s Club 3 min away. I’ve had so many sour experiences with Costco in the past 4 years that this last year I didn’t renew my membership because I don’t plan on going back.

I read all kinds of blogs. I know I am not the target for this one. But I enjoy it. I have memberships at both Costco and SC. I have been a member at SC 20 years, my DH 25 years. We joined Costco when they opened where I live in the summer of ’15. Sam’s is closer. We buy certain items at each store. We buy tires and eyeglasses at Costco. We get reimbursed with Costco membership with my dh’s eyewear alone. He has a very unusual prescription. Costs us over 600 everywhere else that we can get them. SC lenses suck for my DH. The low-cost online places won’t do his prescription. Plus then his work reimburses what we have to pay at Costco since it’s so low. I prefer their whole organic chickens. SC is conventional. But on paper goods and nuts SC wipes the floor with Costco. I pay attention and shop loss leaders at both stores. Way more organics at Costco. But I follow EWG DD and get items like lemons, limes, onions at SC. Some things we just buy from local farmers. Beef, bison, bacon, pork, and eggs. The meat we buy bulk and the eggs we buy from my DH’s partner at work. The guy lives out in the middle of nowhere and raises goats and chickens. He does the whole no soy organic, they just roam around his property. I buy meat and veggie base at Costco. Frozen non-convenience fish is generally less costly at SC. But organic tortilla chips at Costco is cheaper. But quite frankly my favorite thing about Costco is that it’s right across from a warehouse liquor store that has the best prices in town. I live in a state that Costco or SC can’t sell liquor.

Our Costco in San Diego at Morena Blvd has finally installed self-checkout stands (assume it is similar to Scan & Go at Sam’s Club) and it really helps reduce the lines. I don’t know if this is true for all Costco’s or just at this store which is commonly used to test new systems.

I have a Costco membership and really like the quality of food and the prices. One thing that kind of bugs me though is I have to drive past Sam’s Club to get to my Costco store. Sam’s Club has a nice big store with a store sign and the price of their gas is labeled nicely for others to see, but to find Costco I have to know exactly where it is located. I’m sure it’s probably a marketing trick or cost savings approach but Costco has no sign on their building, no signage at the busy street it’s located on and no signs for gas prices. How is this helpful. I like the store, but I can miss the entrance if I’m not watching carefully. If I’m a customer and have to know right where they are located to find it, how will new customers find them? Am I the only one that doesn’t like this?

I love Scan and Go at Sam’s! Unfortunately, the closest Sam’s to us is a 45 minute drive, so that’s a deal breaker for us…especially since we live in the desert and by the time we get home from a 45 minute trip, the meat is spoiling and the frozen foods are thawed.

If Sam’s were closer to us, I’d definitely have a membership there…that Scan and Go is the best thing ever. It absolutely SHOCKS me when I see people in line (unless they are buying liquor…you can’t use it to buy liquor) at Sam’s!

I had been a member of both Costco and Sam’s Club since 1988. I said ‘I had been’ because Sam’s Club closed all stores in my region in 2018. That said, here are my impressions comparing them both.

CST (Costco) tends to have more organic food which is a plus, but it also tends to have more quantities / portions which may make less practical to smaller families. SC (Sam’s Club) tends to have smaller but their produce appears way less fresh – often giving me second thought about purchasing. There are some frozen food items I liked very much that CST doesn’t carry, BTW. Both stores have a massive quantity like; ; 5 gallons of soy sauce which will last me > 20 years, 30 bunches of green onion which I will not be able to consume before it spoils. I did not buy these items.

What Sam’s Club clearly excels over Costco is auto department. SC has more varieties of tire brands and more options of battery models. I always bought them from SC – CST mostly did not carry what I need until fairly recently. However, I find auto department employee seems to be less well trained than that of CST. They messed up two of my tires during rotation. CST still does not offer battery test service to check its condition which SC always had done.

Café / Food Service is better @ CST. Varieties appears to be about the same @ SC, but CST Café always have faster moving food which helps to stay fresher. SC Café has had some really good tasting menus: Chili Con Carne and Pretzels. They tasted really good (but didn’t last very long). It’s nice that they offer filtered water for free.

Gas station is about tie.

I have never purchased prescription drugs from SC pharmacy, but notice SC has some vitamin / nutrient supplements that CST do not have, while vice versa is also true.

Computer / peripherals seems to be about tie, but find SC price slightly higher (but different brand).

Household Lighting: CST has more varieties but SC has somewhat cheaper options. Both offer utility rebates which varies greatly from stores to stores. I saw 6 bulbs of 22watt CFL for 99¢ @ SC Seattle without rebate several years ago.

Well, that’s about all I can think of at this moment.

I’ve had a Costco membership since they were still known as Price Club. But this year I let mine lapse. Why? Because they have stopped carrying so many items I used to buy there.

First to go was bread flour. They no longer sell ANY good flour, just a cheap AP flour in a plastic bag. I’m pretty sure Sam’s actually stopped carrying the bread flour as well.

Spices. Costco used to have a GREAT spice collection. I bought most of my spices there. They cut that out years ago. Now Sam’s spice section is WAY better, not because they got better, but because Costco got so much worse.

No Tuaca this xmas. I used to buy Tuaca every xmas. I would buy it throughout the year but for some reason they only carried it at Xmas. No Tuaca this Xmas and no one could tell me why, including the guy who handles the wine department. He was expecting it to be in this past Xmas too.

They stopped carrying the canned mango I used to buy all the time.

They stopped carrying ANY vitamin C that is appropriate for diabetics. I can’t take a “normal” vitamin C pill, they make me gag. This is a big problem for older people, I know lots of us who can’t take a regular vitamin C pill anymore. I used to buy a form of VItamin C that was in capsules. They stopped carrying it and tried to make my buy chewables – ALL of which have sugar in them – instead. They had ONE form of vitamin C that was sweetened with alcohol sugars which are NOT safe for diabetics. Some diabetics can handle sugar alcohols but many if not most cannot.

Even ignoring the fact that all these sweetened form of chewable vitamin C are WAY more expensive than a capsule, they are not safe for diabetics. Costco didn’t give a crap. They won’t bring the capsules back.

But here is the big one for me – my local costcos DO NOT CARRY REGULAR BACON ANYMORE. They carry thick sliced, which I find disgusting (its a texture thing) or low salt. If I am going to the trouble of eating bacon, I want it to be as bad for me as possible. I WANT THE SALT. Screw your low salt bacon! And I MOST ESPECIALLY do not want to be lectured by your teeny-bopper employee over the phone about the health risks of real bacon, nor to be told in the most patronizing way possible that if I would JUST sprinkle the nasty faux bacon you do still sell with lemon pepper it would be NUMMY!!!

Screw you, Costco. I got a Sam’s club membership this year when the Costco membership expired. It cost me $15 less and I can buy all the bacon I want there. They also have apples that are normal sized instead of those ginormous apples that are all Costco sells any more, in the clam shell. Even BEFORE I was diabetic I couldn’t eat one of those, and they were overpriced per pound on top of it all. I’ve not bought apples at Costco for years because of that. Believe it or not, Sam’s is also carrying far more things that are at least diabetic friendly if not full-on diabetic safe, in the way of prepackaged pre-prepared foods. They carry most of the same products – Daisy Sour Cream, for example – and most of those seem to be less at Sam’s or at least no more expensive. Their produce selection is not as varied as Costco but the things I buy they have at Sam’s as well. The things that are missing are mostly salad mixes that I don’t buy anyway.

But the biggest reason I cut the Costco cord was the treatment I got over the issue of the bacon. Their attitude was that I was lying when I told them I would not renew my membership if they didn’t start stocking bacon again. They all but sneered at the idea that someone might drop their membership MERELY because Costco stopped carrying a normal every day item like bacon. Very condescending and dismissive.

I don’t lie. I don’t bluff. If I say I will do X if Y doesn’t happen, that is exactly the way things will go. I was a loyal Costco member for 35 years. Costco can bite me now.

I’ve tried 3 different browsers and can’t the the REPLY button to work.

@Gary Pokrant, CPA Popping open produce containers so you can eat some? YOU ARE A THIEF. It doesn’t make me feel any better that you are loose in the world, possibly germifying the produce I buy because you’ve been “tasting” it. I will be asking Sam’s to please seal their produce more effectively against people like you.

I agree that Costco has the edge, however, the fact that they don’t have Scan&Go yet, is a total deal breaker for me!! Get on it Costco!!

Costco 100% hands down quality quantity store and employee support they get people through check out faster then Sans. I health violates all the time people need to look at expiration dates on Sams club 24/7 I repeatedly bring expired items to managers even deli meats & Cheese yogurts.customer service is nil. I drive 96 miles past 4 Sams Clubs to get to Costco. Yes I love Costco’s and spend the day there.

What NO ONE has mentioned here is, Walmart AND Sams both are priced he SAME per ounce for the food products they sell and often at walmart, the price is higher per oz for the SAME product in a larger package. Now I don’t know about the rest of you ppl but to me a warehouse should ALWAYS BE CHEAPER than a grocery store/supercenter price. That is not the case with walmart and sams which is why I prefer costco, and kirkland brands ARE better quality than members mark.Go out and buy a few of the same products from both places, try them, and you’ll see. The reasons for the long lines at costco should be OBVIOUS, more ppl PREFER costco over sams for lower prices and better quality. And FYI. costco has profit sharing and bonuses also, Where do you think sams got the idea from, and to the guy who mentioned toptier gas has more added detergents than sams cheap gas, cheap gas has more additives and more ethanol than top tier gasses do like costco.

I’m a member in both of them and I do like them both. but if I could only choose one, I would choose Costco, but it is very close. When I want new glasses, I go to Sam’s Club. the people in their optical department are very friendly and helpful. They are not super busy like Costco’s optical department always seems to be. I also give Sam’s Club’s tire department the advantage. Costco will only repair flat tires if you bought the tires from Costco. but Sam’s Club Will repair flat tires no matter where you got the tires. Costco will sell you auto batteries but they won’t install them for you, where as Sam’s Club will. and Sam’s club offers more services in their tire department.

I disagree with the writer’s conclusion. I have had a SC membership for years but I recently purchased a Costco membership because there is one on my way home from work. The layout of the store is awful and contributes to the congestion. There is no self checkout or scan and go option. Costco has a terrible selection. What good is it to buy in bulk if they don’t carry the things you want? Not sure if I can cancel my Costco membership and get a refund but I will definitely not renew it! I will drive out of my way and continue to use my Sam’s Club membership.

I am in employee at Sam’s club, and I make $14.50 an hour, working full-time. You should update your information please. Winner Sam’s Club. 😇

These are averages over thousands of people across the country, not 1 person’s personal experience.

We just had a costco open nearby for the first time. I went ahead and bought a membership even though we have a sam’s much closer, because of the discount Costco offers on my prescription, the membership pays for itself just for that. That said, after my first visit to Costco, I wasn’t terrible impressed, largely because of the lack of Scan and Go app and also the ability to Click and Pickup for ALL items, not just jewelry and laptops. Those two conveniences outweigh many, many other possible Costco advantages. I didn’t notice any material price differences. I will continue to give Costco a chance, but likely Sam’s will continue to get the majority of my business due to those conveniences.

Doesn’t. Anyone see the pattern here? The reason lines at checkout are long and the parking lot is crowded is because so many prefer Costco. We went to a Sam’s with our daughter and you could throw a bowling ball down the aisle and not hit anyone, the store was almost empty of customers during prime shopping hours.

You make an obvious and good point.

I’ve compared item price on exact items carried at both stores. All of Sam’s products come out less. Sorry you couldn’t find similar items and compare accordingly. It’s all about price or we wouldn’t shop at these stores.

Couple the lower price with Sam’s convenient pick up options and ability to scan products in the store on your app and pay, Sam’s wins.

Can you provide examples? I think Costco’s biggest values are in their Kirkland store brand products.

Great article! I was an employee with Sams for over 10 years several years back. I have now worked at Costco 2.5 years. I’m an optician so in the middle I’ve also worked a couple of other corporate places. (Eyeglasses) Costco is an amazing company. To anyone walking in the door the starting wage is 15$. Most people are making more than 20$ within a few years. Part time employees get full benefits and insurance for their families after 90 days and it is 1/3 the cost of Walmart insurance with much better coverage. On average it would take a couple of years to get full time. But that is the same at the average retailer. There is very little employee turnover with Costco. Costco’s upper management are very focused on member satisfaction as well as happy employees, who then provide better service to the members. They are very focused on excellent products and like your article says when Costco has put their Kirkland Signature name on something, they’ve extensively tested it and It will be top quality. The optical dept has Drs office quality lenses for 1/3 or less the price of an eye Dr. They blow every other chain out of the water as far as quality and price if you compare apples to apples. I don’t work in the hearing center but it is also amazing. No one works on commission like an outside retailer so a patient will get the product that suits them best without being up sold or getting a product the technician is only selling to get a spiff.

Great review. Costco is a hands down winner for me. Their quality of goods on everything is much higher than that of Sam’s club. They sell very exclusive brands of alcohol for a very reasonable price. They sell USDA Prime meat and Sam’s Club does not. Their overall selection of food is much healthier than Sam’s. Regarding the crowds, if you live in Los Angeles like I do there are many Costco locations. Some Costco locations aren’t crowded and don’t have long lines. Most Costco’s have large parking spaces. But the real winner in this comparison is the difference in corporate mentality. Costco’s employees are happy and happy to help. In general, Costco treats it workers well…pays them well and gives great benefits. They are life-long employees and Costco only promotes from within. There was actually an article on Wall Street about the Costco model of business where happy employees = good business. The results are loyal employees, good attitudes, few sick calls and also low shrinkage-cashier errors and internal theft. These factors enable Costco to keep low prices. Costco’s latest earnings show only 0.11% loss in goods in causes from shoplifting and cashier errors. That is well below industry averages. https://www.barrons.com/articles/costco-earnings-shoplifting-51559067930

Several Sam’s Clubs in Los Angeles and in 63 other locations abruptly closed and left a note on the front door for arriving employees. They couldn’t even get back inside to get their personal items without a escort. That is despicable!!!! https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-suddenly-closes-sams-club-stores-2018-1

Walmart the owner of Sam’s – itself is plagued by a greater than 30% employee turnover rate. New employees don’t know where anything is and a lot of other employees don’t care because Walmart (and Sam’s Club) don’t care . Walmart alone lost more than 3 billion last year due to theft. Sam’s didn’t post it’s rate. Greater than 44% of theft at Walmart/SC is internal by employees. See, not treating people well does have it’s costs. I refuse to shop at Walmart or Sam’s Clubs because of how they treat their employees. I also don’t like the products they sell.

Nothing has been mentioned about the pharmacy except to say they each have one. I am a member at Sams club but a Costco is being built right across the street from SC and since I’ve never been in one, I’m very curious. I don’t have insurance for prescriptions so I have always used GoodRX at a chain pharmacy and have gotten great savings, many times even better than what I used to get when I did have regular insurance. I have shopped at Sams on and off for years but like most not gotten much there until I found out about the prescriptions. I upgraded my SC membership 2 years ago when I found out about the HUGE savings on meds. On my 5 prescriptions I saved enough to pay for my upgraded membership plus my basic membership. When compared to what I was paying before at another chain pharmacy I payed less than half at SC with the plus membership. AND on top of all that I earned Cash Rewards that is awarded annually.

Just a note to you who do have prescription insurance. I have found that some of my mothers meds are still cheaper if I don’t use her insurance and only use the SC Plus. I usually get them to check all of her meds both ways to see what’s cheaper. The people in the pharmacy couldn’t be nicer. They are the best and treat everyone as a good friend in and out of Sams.

Even if I only use SC for prescriptions it’s worth the membership cost for me. Does anyone know about Costos pharmacy?

Thank you all for the reviews and comments. it could not have come at a better time. I just received my $60 renewal notice in the mail for COSTCO. I went to Sam’s Club for the first time in a very long time. I was impressed in getting some of my staples that COSTCO has not had for the last few months. I admit I was not super impressed though with some items I compared. I was debating whether to renew with COSTCO or go to Sam’s Club membership instead. I am now convinced it is to stay with COSTCO. Again thank you all.

I was a Costco Dedicated OTR Truck Driver for several years… and cross country before that. I have to add that Costco beats Sams at the Warehouse AND the Receiving Docks… hands down and all around for… Organization… Strict Appointments… Punctuallity… Safety Awareness… Efficiency… Cooperation and Friendliness! At Costco… the pick ups are schedueled pre-loads, and un-loads are usually strict Lives! Sams is a mess! Pick-ups are always preloaded… that is… if they actually load them… and you have to wait till the warehouse closes to actually find out. Deliveries are corporately schedueled with every store… but SAM’S CLUB STORES have never been on time to receive them. Tardy employees, delivery unawareness, schedueled during lunch breaks or opposite PM instead of AM shifts… or just not able to gain thier %#@! attention At All… for HOURS! SAD… since SAM’S deliveries are Always a simple… Drop and Hook! Makes Costco look like a graceful poised ballerina! They Are! I Love Kirkland!

The Scan and Go at Sam’s Club is not the same as self-checkout. When we go to Sam’s, we use an app on my telephone to scan items as we put them in the cart. When we are finished, I click to pay on line with a pre-stored credit card. A QR code pops up, and the checker at the door scans that as I leave, to confirm that I’ve paid. Alcoholic items, such as spirits and wines, can not be scanned in our state and have to be checked out separately with the assistance of a clerk; everything else is scanned when it goes in the shopping cart.

Well, this is all the information I need. My husband gets a Sam’s Club membership through work otherwise I wouldn’t have either. We don’t have the space to buy in bulk. But we haven’t even gotten around to checking out the Sam’s Club and there are a couple of things we use that are of a particular brand… toilet paper for example… that I do like to stock up on, and others I can’t find other places. So I’ll give Sam’s a chance for that. Seeing as how it’s free and all.

Only issue I have with Costco is they aren’t anywhere near me! I live in Shreveport, La and we don’t have a Costco. We do have a Sams Club in Shreveport and another one in near by Bossier City, La. I know my parents use both in Colorado Springs and they do like Costco better for some things. For them, Sams is right down the street from them but Costco is on the opposite end of town so it’s easier and more cost effective to use Sams more often.

A few years ago we moved out of the city. The Costco was about 1.5 hour drive away in one city, we continued shopping there the first couple of months. We found we were going to another city that’s closer, only 45 minutes once or twice a week. Sam’s Club is in that closer city, so we got a membership there. For the staple items we buy frequently, Sam’s has similar prices (not being brand specific, just product we like). They also have the perk of ordering ahead via the website and curbside pick up for free. For those items that we don’t buy every week, but as needed: clothing, office supplies, seasonal items; Costco has better quality and more appealing products. For example, the Kirkland men’s underwear is more comfortable and longer-lasting than the Member’s Mark equivalent; the Kirkland denim pants are more comfortable and fit better. We also find the Costco travel rental car discounts quite useful, and prefer their credit monitoring service. When traveling, we often find ourselves near Costco gas stations with a lower price. For those reasons, we continue to maintain membership to both stores. However, if Costco was closer, it would be our pick. Costco member since 2004.

I have a Sam’s Club membership, my SIL has a Costco membership. At a family reunion this last summer my SIL picked up most of the food. I was shocked at the amount of extra packaging that most Costco items seemed to come in. Seriously, my milk needs to come in a jug, and a box!?!? So much extra plastic and cardboard everywhere. It seems like a company who is trying to practice good environmental stewardship would factor packaging waste in to their calculations. I agree with the above comments that most GMO free/organic business is a marketing ploy, and nothing more. Organic crops still use large amounts of pesticides, and decrease in crop yield means more land/water/fertilizer used. People get so focused on the synthetic pesticide aspect and frequently fail to factor that in. If we are trying to preserve forests/wetlands/untouched green space, isn’t higher yield per acre important to consider???? And in regards to taste, there have been studies done on this as well. In blind taste tests there wasn’t a difference.

Ultimately i found this review lacking. The bias is was clear from the beginning, and there wasn’t much in the way of actual numbers. How much cheaper is the meat or produce? What about the Kirkland store brand makes it more trustworthy/ideal? (And why is it better than Sam’s Club member’s mark store brand?) A lot of anecdotal “I trust Costco more because….” Because why?

We live equidistant from a Sam’s Club and a Costco and choose to have a Sam’s Club membership (the Sam’s Club is on my husband’s way home from work). Many of our friends who shop at Costco buy a lot of the snacks/ready made foods. We primarily use our Sam’s membership for bulk food basics (meat, nuts, produce, cheese, eggs, bread). So much of “healthy” foods in stores is what you personally choose to buy. There is plenty of junk food at Costco. I’ve never noticed an issue with mold on the produce or problems with product quality at our Sam’s Club. The scan and go app is seriously amazing, I can be in and out of the store with all my kids and a full cart in 30 minutes. And I can go at literally any time of the day/week to accomplish that, I don’t have to avoid crazy busy times. And it’s not just scanning your items at a self-serve kiosk. You can actually use your phone to scan the items as you put them in to the cart. Seriously so efficient. The slightly more convenient location, as well as the scan and go app, seal the deal for us.

Sam’s Club is very close to our house and Costco a few miles further, so I don’t really have Costco experience. However, if Costco had an app where you can Scan&Go without doing the whole long check-out line I would consider it. Maybe. Sam’s also has online order of groceries with delivery to car at the curbside of the store. Same Day. This is a time saver, and honestly a money saver because no random “gotta have it” purchases when I enter the door of the store that I really don’t gotta have. We have found Member’s Mark products to be great quality for the items we buy. And the meat department is very high quality. The same with produce. Seriously good quality, and more organic selections all the time. For the time being, there isn’t any compelling reason for us to consider switching to Costco. Thank you for your review. You didn’t mention the ease of online shopping, Scan&Go app, curbside pickup so maybe you’re not aware of those amazing perks that Sam’s offers.

I have had both and neither store is an easy drive from my house so I had to be very picky which I ultimately kept. 1. Produce and milk is much better at Costco. 2. Frozen items have a better selection and quality than Costco. (I love the Chicken Cordon Bleu at Sam’s. I tried Costco and the piece of ham inside wasn’t even the size of a penny. I felt ripped off. Costco was also about $1 more expensive.) 3. Clothing items are better quality at Costco but I would only ever shop socks and underwear. Their other products at either store are not the best. I have never had a pair of jeans survive long from either store. 4. In my opinion, Costco is designed more for the residential bulk buyer. Sam’s Club stocks more for the small business owner. If I want paper plates and accessories to host a large party, Sam’s Club wins every time. 5. I typically have received better customer service at Sam’s. A recent trip to both for a set of tires resulted in over an hour-long wait at Costco just to talk to a representative and then they weren’t very helpful. At Sam’s, there was more than one person available and I was seen and assisted immediately. The price and options were almost identical at either location. 6. The meat selection at either location is ok but Sam’s had customer service to cut pieces down for no charge and did so quickly. At Costco, I had difficulty finding assistance and then they wouldn’t open the packaging to cut pieces down and repackage to smaller sizes (I still planned to buy the whole amount, I just wanted smaller cuts). Conclusion: I prefer Sam’s and felt it had better customer service and a wider variety of products I need. Also, I did a price comparison on like items and felt Sam’s won in every category I checked. With the cheaper membership, this puts them over the edge as the clear choice and winner.

Sam’s has too many items you have to order online that requires the Plus card for free shipping!

The writer didn’t mention that the Sam’s Club credit card (which is also your membership card) can be used at Walmart as well. I buy a lot $-wise at both so being able to buy things at Walmart using my Sam’s card is another advantage.

Like others have said about Costco, I’ve not found them significantly better on anything and customer service is pretty much non-existent. I live between 2 Costco’s in a large city and neither on impressed me. I had a membership there that I let lapse as the few fun food items they had during the holidays wasn’t worth another $60 membership.

The Sam’s Club credit card (which is also your membership card) can be used at Walmart for purchases as well. I buy a lot $-wise at both so being able to buy things at Walmart using my Sam’s card is another advantage. This is especially helpful during the holidays when you’re buying a lot of different items. And the statement gives you a partial list of items purchased from which store, gas bought at their pump, pharmacy purchases or items purchased at Walmart.

Very detailed compairation. So helpful! Appreciated so much! I have been wondering which one I should go for a long time. You help me to solve this. Thanks!

No one has mentioned the toilet paper! Hands down, Sam’s Club wins. Costco TP is awful, like sandpaper! :( And as others have mentioned, scan & go is amazing!

Costco vs. Sam's Club: What Deal Seekers Should Know

People with shopping carts walk out of Costco store.

Figuring out whether to join Costco or Sam's Club may be challenging. These two retailers sell a comparable lineup of items and have a similar number of warehouse clubs disseminated all throughout the country, as well as their own online storefronts.

In numerous ways, Costco and Walmart-owned Sam's Club are more similar than they are unique. Both rival warehouse clubs offer free samples to hungry customers and sell bulk goods at temptingly low prices. And Costco's Kirkland Signature and Sam's Club's Member's Mark are well-known private-label store brands. That is only a small sampling of the similarities between the two.

But even though these retailers share a lot in common, there are also a few important differences in how they operate and what they offer to customers. This does not imply that one is superior to the other, but rather that customers who are interested in signing up for a membership at one of these clubs can weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each retailer to determine which one is best suited to their shopping needs.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive at how Costco and Sam's Club are similar while noting how they vary in costs, locations, perks, and more.

What Are Costco and Sam's Club?

Costco, which opened its first location in San Diego in 1976 under the name Price Club, is regarded as a pioneering bulk retailer. Since then, it has monopolized the market in many states by selling bulk goods through numerous warehouse-style stores.

Walmart's Sam's Club is nearly as old as Costco, opening its first store in 1983 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. In practice, it's functionally the same as Costco in that the sense that customers who sign up for memberships are the target audience for both retailers. However, a few things set the two stores apart, such as the locations of their stores, the kinds of brands they sell, membership fees, and additional benefits.

What to Consider When Deciding on Costco vs. Sam's Club

Want to be a warehouse club member? Here are some of the aspects that can help you decide whether to join Costco or Sam's Club.

Costco has more stores and a greater international presence than Sam's Club. California is the state with the most Costco stores , while Sam's Club's greatest presence is in Texas. In Rhode Island, neither Costco nor Sam's Club has opened a location.

Costco had 876 warehouses overall as of March 2024, with 604 situated in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Besides California, Washington and Florida are also heavily represented in terms of Costco stores, while Wyoming, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming are the only four states without Costco locations.

There are almost 600 Sam's Club locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, meanwhile. The heaviest centralization of Sam's Club stores is in Texas, which is home to 82 of them, trailed by Florida, and California. However, Walmart's subsidiary is not present everywhere in the nation. Don't expect to find Sam's Club stores in Alaska, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

While Sam's Club and Costco have roughly the same total number of warehouses in the United States and Puerto Rico, Costco has a much wider global reach. Costco operates warehouses in Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden, while Sam's Club operates only in China, Mexico, and Brazil outside of the U.S. Sam's Club and Costco both allow active members to shop at any location, but Costco customers can shop at more international locations.

Membership Costs

Costco offers two enrollment levels : Gold Star and Executive, one cheaper and one more costly . The Gold Star membership is $60 per year and offers admittance to all Costco stores and two enrollment cards. Additional benefits, such as a 2% cash-back reward (up to $1,000) on all Costco and Costco Travel purchases and discounts on numerous Costco services, are included in the Executive membership, which costs $120 per year.

Costco also offers a membership for businesses. It also has two levels: Business Executive and Business. The benefits individuals enjoy and the ability to purchase for resale are included in the Business level, which costs $60 per year.

The Business Executive level, which costs $120 annually, adds some extras, such as a 2% cash-back reward (up to $1,000) on purchases and other benefits comparable to those provided by the Executive package.

Costco's enrollment charges may ultimately turn out to be more costly, since organization leaders have been hinting at an increase for over a year. They still can't seem to say precisely when that increase might occur, yet when it happens, the price difference between Costco and Sam's Club might be more significant.

Sam's Club, like Costco, has two membership levels . The first is called Club, and for $50 a year, it gives you access to all of Sam's Club warehouse clubs and lets you add more cards. The Plus membership, which costs $110 per year, is the higher level.

It comes with access to pharmacy and optical services, free shipping, 2% cash back on certain transactions (for up to $500 per year),extended shopping hours, free curbside pickup, and all the benefits of Club membership. Costco's membership tiers are generally more expensive than Sam's Club's.

Having a Costco membership entitles you to discounts on a wide range of goods and services, such as gas, pharmacies, car rentals, auto insurance, and optical centers. Members from Canada also have access to discounted pet insurance. For business clients, Costco offers extras, such as installment handling, health care coverage, and filtered water conveyance. Costco likewise has credit cards available.

The main card, which is co-branded with Citi, offers 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent annually on fuel (1% after that), 3% cash back on dining out and travel, 2% cash back on all other Costco purchases, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The card can be utilized anywhere Visa is accepted.

Though you'll probably find more brand-name items in Sam's Club, Costco offers its famous confidential brand, Kirkland, in its stores. Even though they are made by well-known companies like Starbucks, Duracell, and Kimberly-Clark, Kirkland products frequently cost less than other competitors. Additionally, the majority of Costco stores offer a greater variety of organic produce than Sam's Club.

Discounts on specific goods and services, such as eyeglasses, travel, and brand-name medications, are available to members of higher tiers. Sam's Club offers a credit card, as well.

The organization's Mastercard is issued by Synchrony Bank and can be utilized wherever Mastercard is accepted. The Mastercard offers 5% cash back on the first $6,000 in fuel purchases made each year, followed by 1% back. Additionally, the card offers 1% cash back on all other purchases and 3% cash back on dining and takeout.

Even though Costco's larger top line is to be expected given its higher global store count, Costco is currently easily beating Sam's Club in sales, generating almost three times more revenue. Costco has a bigger impression in all-out store size, as well, with a sum of 122.5 million square feet, versus Sam's Clubs, at 80.4 million.

The fact that Costco appears to be expanding at a faster rate in terms of store count and revenue is pretty clear. A few years ago, Sam's Club closed several stores, or roughly 10% of its total at the time. Costco, on the other hand, has been opening new stores consistently.

Food and Beverages

Access to the affordable products offered by Sam's Club or Costco is one of the biggest advantages of shopping at the stores. There are a few choices that customers can find at the two retailers' food courts, like pizzas, soda varieties, and desserts.

However, each warehouse club has its special menu items in the food court. For instance, you likely won't find soft pretzels or ICEE drinks at Costco, but Sam's Club does have them. Meanwhile, Costco's food courts have provided chicken bakes, gigantic chocolate chip cookies, and a new Swiss turkey sandwich in recent times.

You probably won't find any of these choices at Sam's Club. So even though generally speaking they offer food-court items, both also offer a few choices that are unique to their particular brands.

Payment Options

Costco and Sam's Club vary in terms of how customers can pay, with the latter offering a more extensive assortment of methods. Customers of Sam's Club can pay with any major credit card, including American Express, Discover, Visa, and Mastercard. Individuals can likewise pay with debit cards, Sam's Club Mastercard, Sam's Cash, and gift cards from either Sam's Club or Walmart.

Costco allows most charge cards, Costco Shop Cards, cash, mobile payments, individual checks, secured checks, and EBT cards.

Pickup Options

During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers looked for contactless options to make their grocery shopping trips safer. As a result, retail stores' curbside pickup offerings skyrocketed.

However, Costco has never offered curbside pickup to its customers on a large scale, except for a brief trial at a few stores in New Mexico at the beginning of 2021. Sam's Club, though, does provide curbside pickup for its two membership levels. Every time they use the service, Club members will have to pay a $4 fee, but Plus members can get curbside pickups for free.

Sam's Club and Costco FAQs

Which is superior, sam's club or costco.

That depends on your preferences, like the kinds of products you buy and which of these two retailers is closer to your home. The two organizations have very comparable products and apart from location, the brands they may sell, additional benefits, and annual membership fees are where they most differ.

Is Sam's Club or Costco More Affordable?

In general, the costs for fundamental items at Sam's Club are lower, and it has less-expensive enrollment charges when compared with Costco.

What Else Should I Consider When Comparing?

Consider signing up for the DealNews Select newsletter , which drops a bunch of the hottest handpicked deals into your inbox every weekday. You can also set a deal alert for products you're interested in and receive notification when they go on sale, while the DealNews mobile app has you covered on your phone.

Final Notes on Costco and Sam's Club Shopping

Regular customers of warehouse club retailers like Costco and Sam's Club often like to save by purchasing in bulk. However, because it can be difficult to ship large quantities of merchandise, this method of purchasing does not always translate well to online shopping.

Shopping at warehouse clubs may not be ideal for people who don't have the extra room or cash for what is a more costly shopping trip. The overall cost is often higher at retailers like Sam's Club and Costco than at other retailers because even though you're getting less-expensive per-unit costs, you're purchasing more in general.

Choosing between Costco and Sam's Club will likely depend on which store is closer to home for many customers. For others, the Sam's Club return policy is said to be more favorable than Costco's return policy . Other than that, there's not a lot of distinction as far as enrollment costs or item costs.

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Freedom Through Frugality

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Which is Best for Shoppers?

A lot goes into choosing a warehouse club. Our Costco vs. Sam's Club analysis compares pricing, selection, services, and more to see which is best.

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Written By John Schmoll June 13, 2022

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Warehouse stores are a terrific place to save money buying in bulk. Costco and Sam’s Club are the two dominant retailers in the space.

But, which one is best? We have been members of both, and each one offers many perks.

In this post, we compare membership fees, store locations, return policies, member benefits, and more to help you determine which wholesale club is best for you.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Membership Fees

Before you join a membership warehouse, it is essential to determine the cost. Neither store is free to join, and you must decide if the cost provides enough benefits.

Both stores let you shop with a friend who is a member. Additionally, you can have them purchase gift cards for you to use at the store.

However, neither of these options provides all member perks to you.

Costco Membership Fees

You can join Costco with one of its three plans. Here are the available membership levels to join the warehouse club.

For the purposes of our guide, we will only be discussing the Gold Star and Executive plans. Each of these plans gives you access to the store and the online shop.

The Executive plan includes everything in the Gold Star plan. You also receive an annual two percent cash back return on eligible purchases.

Additionally, Executive members receive exclusive offers and discounts.

The Business Membership gives similar perks, including the ability to resell items you purchase.

Sam’s Club Membership

You can join Sam’s Club with one of two plans. Here are the possible membership levels.

Both plans let you access the store and shop on the website.

The Plus plan includes everything in the Club plan. Like the higher-tier Costco plan, Plus gets you two percent cash back on purchases annually.

You also get exclusive savings on pharmacy and optical services. Sam’s Club even offers free shipping with no minimum order amount to Plus members.

Winner : Tie. For the price alone, Sam’s Club wins for membership costs. However, you may find that it doesn’t entirely come down to cost for your situation.

If the annual rebate on the more expensive plans is important, Costco is the winner. You can earn up to $1,000 a year vs. $500 with Sam’s Club.

Based on our household shopping, we usually earn approximately $300 a year from our current Costco membership. This comes in the form of a check to use at the store.

Our Sam’s Club membership often returned a lower rebate check.

Sam’s Club vs. Costco: Locations

If you’re considering joining either membership store, you need to select one that has a location near you. Both are nationwide, but one has more locations.

Costco Locations

Costco is currently located in 47 states nationwide. There are 574 locations in 482 cities throughout the country as of March 2022.

Here is where you won’t find a Costco:

Rhode Island
West Virginia

California is home to the most locations at a total of 132. This is due to the Price Club, which was located throughout the state, merging with Costco in 1993.

The combined company kept many of the Price Club locations.

Costco also has an international presence, with an additional 255 stores worldwide as of March 2022.

Sam’s Club Locations

Sam’s Club is currently located in 44 states across the country. There are 600 locations in 488 cities as of March 2022.

Here is where you won’t find Sam’s Club:

Massachusetts

You also won’t find Sam’s Club in the District of Columbia. Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart, so it’s common to see the two stores located next to each other.

Sam’s Club doesn’t have the same international reach as Costco. You can only find stores in China or Mexico.

Winner : Sam’s Club wins by a slight margin since it currently has 26 more stores. But, not all cities have both retailers, so it really comes down to which is closest to you.

Product Selection

Pricing and selection are important when choosing an annual membership to a warehouse club. Both stores let you shop with a gift card before joining.

When in doubt, use that to determine which store has more of the products you want to purchase.

Costco Products

Costco carries roughly 4,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units) at any one time, according to its website. These range from bulk items like paper products to food staples.

According to the Costco website, this is considerably less than what you will find at a major grocery store, with most carrying up to 30,000 SKUs.

The retailer focuses on the value and quality of products sold over quantity.

You will find many nationally-recognized brands in the store. Costco also showcases its private label products under the Kirkland Signature label.

Generic products often get a bad rap, but Kirkland items are usually high in quality. In many cases, the product is made at the same location as the name-brand counterpart.

We often purchase Kirkland products and are typically pleased with the quality as well as the value for your money.

Furthermore, if organic products are important in your grocery shopping, you will be pleased with Costco.

We often buy organic items at Costco and find they’re cheaper in price vs. buying at the grocery store.

Sam’s Club Products

Sam’s Club usually sells more items than Costco, with the former carrying 6,000 to 7,000 SKUs. Like Costco, you can find virtually anything in bulk, from food items to household goods.

You will find a broader assortment of large, name-brand products at Sam’s Club. A big component of this is commonly sharing lots with Walmart locations so they can bring in more SKUs.

But, Sam’s Club doesn’t put the same weight on offering higher-end items without sacrificing value.

Member’s Mark is the private label of Sam’s Club. There is less focus on this brand when compared to Costco and its Kirkland Signature line.

While Sam’s Club does sell organic food and produce, it doesn’t promote it as much as Costco does.

Winner : Costco. Sam’s Club carries more SKUs, but Costco has higher-quality items that still offer considerable value.

If store brands and organic items are essential to you, Costco is the hands down winner.

Is Costco Less Expensive than Sam’s Club?

It is challenging to make a 1:1 comparison on pricing when looking at Costco vs. Sam’s Club. The latter carries more SKUs, and the former specializes in private label products.

But, based on our shopping, Costco is slightly cheaper when you look at a price per ounce emphasis.

Regardless, you can also save money shopping at Sam’s Club. It all comes down to your shopping strategy and what you purchase.

Both stores use secret codes in their price tags to help shoppers find potential savings. Costco uses three key indicators to reflect possible savings.

First, anything with an asterisk on the upper right of the price tag reflects that the item will not be restocked. This may result in a discounted price tag.

Second, items with an ending of $0.97 are close-out deals. Regularly priced items usually end in $0.79, $.049, and so forth.

Third, items with an ending of $0.88 or $0.00 are Manager Markdowns. These are special deals made by the local store manager.

Sam’s Club is a little less straightforward with its secret codes. Price tags include one of five letters, including:

N = Never out
C = Clearance
S = Seasonal
O = One time buy

Tags marked with C or O typically reflect deals. Ones with N, A, or S are commonly found in the store or are seasonal items that will be in stock for the near term.

Winner : It’s tough to pick a clear winner, but we’re giving it to Costco. Aside from the higher membership cost, it offers more deals. Plus, reports indicate prices are better at Costco.

Payment Options

Paying at the end of your shopping trip is a simple process, but it’s essential to know what you need in your wallet. Here’s what you should know about the accepted payment methods at either store.

Costco Payment Options

Costco is hawkish about extending value to its members. They actively look for deals on products to help them provide low prices or other savings.

This plays out even in what credit cards Costco accepts. As you will see in our list, the retailer only accepts Visa if you want to use a credit card.

This is due to a lower processing fee it has secured from Visa.

Here are the acceptable payment options at Costco:

All Visa cards
Business checks from current Business members
Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi
Costco cash cards
Debit cards (PIN-based)
Mobile Payment (Apple, Google, or Samsung Pay)
Personal checks from members
Traveler’s checks

There is plenty of variety to pay, but if you want to use a credit card, it can only be a Visa.

Sam’s Club Payment Options

Sam’s Club is a little more flexible in what forms of payment they will accept. Here are the currently available payment options at Sam’s Club:

American Express cards
Debit cards
Discover cards
MasterCard cards
Personal check
Sam’s Club gift cards
Sam’s Club Credit (PLCC)
Walmart Credit (PLCC)
Walmart gift cards

Regardless of the issuer, if you have a major credit card in your wallet, it’s likely you can use it at Sam’s Club.

Winner : Sam’s Club is the winner due to the flexibility of credit card acceptance.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Return Policy

If you buy something that is defective or you don’t like, you may want to return it. Both stores have a generous return policy for cash or exchange.

Costco Return Policies

Costco is incredibly flexible when it comes to accepting returns. You can return many items, regardless of when you bought them.

If you don’t have a receipt, they may issue you store credit. If you have a receipt, they will return the funds via the payment method used at purchase.

Here are variations in the Costco return policy:

Alcohol and cigarettes – Costco doesn’t accept returns
Diamonds – anything over 1.00 carat must include all original paperwork (members will receive a credit memo, and a Costco gemologist will inspect for authenticity within 48 hours)
Electronics and major appliances- Costco will accept returns within 90 days of purchase

Special orders and items with a limited life expectancy often come with a product-specific limited warranty.

Aside from the above, you can return purchased items without restrictions at Costco.

Sam’s Club Return Policies

Returns are handled similarly at Sam’s Club. You can return most items without restriction.

Here is where you will find exceptions:

Cell phones – Sam’s Club will accept within 14 days of purchase
Commercial heavy equipment – Sam’s Club will accept within 30 days of purchase
Electronics and major appliances – Sam’s Club will accept within 90 days of purchase

Unless noted above, you can often return anything for a refund or exchange.

Winner : Tie. Both stores are generous with their return policy. It’s best to consult the store if you have questions about a return.

Additionally, you can typically return items you purchase items bought online to the respective retailer.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Travel Discounts

Finding deals on travel is a fantastic way to save money. It’s also one of the member benefits of both warehouse stores. Here are some of the discounts you can expect.

Costco Travel Programs

Costco offers a wide variety of deals on travel for members to use. We’ve used Costco Travel on a number of occasions to save on rental cars and other vacation packages.

Here are some of the ways you can save on travel with a Costco membership:

Guided vacations
Hotel stays
Rental cars
Theme park visits

You can purchase any of the above separately or as a package. We’ve found rental cars to be 25 percent cheaper than what you get directly from a rental agency.

Additionally, you can expect similar discounts on other travel packages. If you’re an Executive Member, you also receive the two percent rewards rebate.

Sam’s Club Travel Programs

Sam’s Club Travel and Entertainment offerings are a little broader than what you can get at Costco. But, you may not receive a similar discount.

Here are some of the ways you can cut travel and entertainment costs with Sam’s Club:

Destination packages
Movie tickets
Preferred access to select concerts and sporting events
Water parks

Discounts aren’t as significant as what you will find with Costco Travel. But, you can also earn rewards rebates on purchases.

Winner : Costco because the retailer offers larger rebates and discounts.

Other Services

Both Costco and Sam’s Club are terrific for grocery shopping and purchasing other items for your home.

However, that’s a drop in the bucket when compared with other services and discounts they offer.

Additional Costco Services

Costco sells more than products for your home and has more than its popular food court.

Here are some additional benefits to joining Costco:

Business delivery
Discounted eyeglasses , contacts, and optometry services
Mail order and product pick up for prescriptions (including pet medications)
Immunizations
Automative services, such as a car buying service
Home services (including HVAC, flooring, and garage doors)
Photo taking and printing (including printing passport photos )
Identity protection
Insurance options (including life, auto, and home)
Business services like phone services and payment solutions
Gas stations

You must be a member to take advantage of any of these perks. We’ve used several of them and have usually found it cheaper than finding a service independently.

Additional Sam’s Club Services

Sam’s Club does more than let you buy in bulk.

Here are some of the added perks of membership:

Home improvement services
Business services like POS solutions and check printing
Automotive services
Same-day grocery delivery
Optical discounts
Discounted prescriptions
Photo services

Sam’s Club does offer many additional discounts, but it lacks in scale vs. Costco.

Winner: Costco is the clear winner. Sam’s Club offers a lot of extra services, but the breadth and discounts from Costco are unmatched.

Pros and Cons

When comparing Costco vs. Sam’s Club, you need to take a side-by-side look at how they compare. Here is how the two retailers stack up.

Costco Pros and Cons

There is a lot to like about Costco, but it’s not perfect. Here’s what to consider when considering joining.

Discounted prices for many items
Access to many services, including vision care, banking services, a pharmacy, and more
Great deals on travel, prescriptions, dining out, and more
It’s excellent for big families
Awesome return policy
They offer delivery
You can access coupons to save extra money
Gas is much cheaper when you purchase it through Costco
An awesome food selection, including organic, non-GMO, and frozen foods
Store layouts aren’t great
They only accept Visa cards
The membership options are more expensive

Sam’s Club Pros and Cons

Similarly, there is a lot to like about Sam’s Club. Here’s what to keep in mind when comparing them to Costco.

Staples like household goods and frozen foods are easy to find and inexpensive
Super cheap fuel options that can save you money, especially if you drive a lot
Additional shopping hours for small business owners
Discount options on items including movie tickets, theme park tickets, travel, and pharmacy items
A great return policy
Added flexibility in payment options because they accept more credit cards
They have a Scan & Go app so you can shop, scan your items, and pay via the app
A cheaper membership fee
The quality of items is hit or miss
Their prices are slightly higher
They don’t accept coupons
Fewer organic options compared to Costco

Which one you choose will likely come down to preference. If possible, accompany a friend at each before choosing which one to join.

Who is Better, Sam’s Club or Costco?

Although Costco is more expensive to join, it provides a lot of value when compared to Sam’s Club. Base memberships are $10 more at Costco, but you can earn extra rebates vs. Sam’s Club.

Costco offers more services than Sam’s Club. They also tend to have slightly lower prices than Sam’s Club.

Neither store is bad, so it really comes down to your preference.

Both Sam’s Club and Costco are terrific warehouse clubs that help you cut costs and have similar hours of operation. They also offer additional services that make the cost of membership valuable.

If you have a large family and enjoy organic or private label products, Costco is the winner. If you’re shopping for fewer people, you may prefer Sam’s Club.

But, if a wide variety of savings options is what you’re looking for, you’ll likely be happier with Costco.

What do you look for when choosing a warehouse store?

John Schmoll

I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.

As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.

My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.

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August 10, 2020 at 2:53 pm

I actually belong to BJ’S since moving to Florida 5 years ago. BJ’s is less than a mile from my house. Their dairy products are less than other stores. Their brand is Wellsley Farms. Their frozen veggies are mostly organic, affordable and delicious.

August 10, 2020 at 6:26 pm

I’ve never been to BJ’s but have heard good things about them.

August 10, 2020 at 11:26 pm

i am a senior citizen and need a riding cart to shop. Costco provides only 3 carts, I have requested additional carts, The Company informed me that they can get more carts if the warehouse mgr. asks. However when i asked him, he refused.

August 11, 2020 at 5:06 pm

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried contacting their corporate offices? That might be another option to get someone.

Which has better travel deals--Costco or Sam's Club?

Thread starter vhoffman
Start date Jun 20, 2004

DIS Veteran

Jun 20, 2004

I'm looking at joining either Sam's Club or Costco, for their bargains and especially for their travel discounts. I only want to join one. What has been your experiences--which club gives the better travel bargains? Costco offers a sampling of their travel discounts without joining the club, however, I can't find any examples of travel discounts at Sam's Club without actually joining the club first. So, I'd like to hear opinions about experiences using the two clubs. BTW, I thought the Costco prices were quite high until I realized that the price quoted, while per person, does NOT include children under 12. I was multiplying the price x 4, when it should have been times 2. Just in looking at some of their deals to Hawaii it seems like I could get some bargains. However, how are they to deal with? Do they give exactly as promised, or "bait and switch"? We booked a package through a travel agent to Mexico several years ago, and learned the meaning of "or equilivant". We were promised a certain hotel, or equilivant. Well, when we got there, they put us up at a different hotel which was by no stretch of the imagination an equilivant. It was so awful we checked out and checked into another hotel at our own expense. When we came back, we disputed the charge for the first hotel on our American Express bill. We took pictures of the hotel, sent in the broucheres the travel agent had sent us, and a general description as to how we felt we didn't get what we were promised. Much to our delight, AMEX agreed we did not get as promised and took the first charge off our bill! However, since then, I've always been my own travel agent. I book the airline, hotel, rent car, etc. myself. I've read that packages can save you money, however, I always come out ahead by booking myself and I'm assured I get exactly what I want. We just came back from a trip to Hawaii (fantastic!), I booked the whole trip myself. I ran it by a few travel agents, and their price was much higher than mine, in one case almost double what I paid! So, would appreciate experience/opinions, delaing with Costco and Sam's Club. Thanks!

Jun 21, 2004

Sorry I'm not here to help out..... just hopping aboard to find out more myself.... And I wouldn't mind hearing about BJ's travel discounts either! THanks to vhoffman for asking this question!......P

rella's fan

I'm not a Sam's member but I am a Costco member. I think that there are a lot of different factors regarding prices. I had my 2005 cruise booked with Costco (seemed to be the least expensive) but then I found it much cheaper through an online travel agent so I cancelled with Costco and booked with them. The people at Costco were helpful however be prepared to be on hold for a very long time.

RoyalCanadian

A proud dvc member @ ssr.

Frommer's Budget Travel magazine devoted an article in the June 2004 edition to answering this question. This quote sums things up fairly well, "Because travel-industry profit margins are generally thin, with many airlines and tour operators offering roughly the same prices, the bulk-discount business model doesn't really apply." When you are booking your travel through Sam's Club or BJ's, you really aren't -- your phone call actually puts you in touch with the National Leisure Group -- a large corporation that sells travel under a number of brands it either owns or licenses, including Cruises Only, Vacation Outlet, and Cruises.com, as well as through companies like Yahoo, priceline.com, and Orbitz. The membership card you buy from either BJs or Sam's Club isn't going to give you access to any extraspecial prices that you wouldn't otherwise be able to access without that membership card. "Travel purchases through Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's are usually comparable to prices from other sources -- sometimes lower, sometimes higher, but typically in the same ballpark. Members pay their dues with the assumption they're getting special discounts on all products, but when it comes to travel they'll often be disappointed."

Wow.... Thanks for the info.........P

RoyalCanadian, Thanks for the info. You just saved me $45. As I said in my OP, I make my travel arrangements myself and always come out ahead. I can even do better than Expedia and Orbitz, usually just by going to the hotel, airline, rent car own website. That way I don't have to deal with a third party if I need to make any changes, etc.

I have found Frommer's Budget Travel magazine to be a great resource for worldwide travel info. If you're looking for that amazingly priced holiday -- Budget Travel is the place to find it. Now we have a Costco membership ourselves -- have never used it for travel, but have enjoyed several other great warehouse club buys. We're getting a Sam's Club in town -- what are those like?

I just used COSTCO travel for an AI in Mexico. They were about 5% less than most of the online agencies AND they included transfers (probably about another $100 savings). They came out cheaper than the major sites (Expedia, Travelocity). Most of the cheap "no-name" sites became more expensive when you went to book, they added the tax when you went to book COSTCO included the tax with the initial quote. I agree there isn't a lot of room for extra discounts. The on-line agencies are using the same wholesalers and there is only so much extra discounting (commission rebates/reductions) that can be done. I'd rather use COSTCO over some no-name internet travel agency that I got with a google search. I don't think COSTCO uses National Leisure Group. I don't think I'd join COSTCO just for travel savings.

Jun 22, 2004

RC, My understanding is that Costco is more upscale than Sam's Club in their merchandise selection. They also pay their employees a lot better. I don't have Costco on my end of town, or I'd join, just for that reason. I do belong to Sam's Club, and make up my membership each year just on gas. Looked at their travel, and it isn't great, but its ok.

I am using Costco for my Disney cruise . They beat the price from Dreams by $422 even with their rebate. It may not sound like a lot to some people, but to me that's a great savings. I'm sticking with Costco.

Originally posted by crisi RC, Looked at their travel, and it isn't great, but its ok. Click to expand...

Lucas and Ripley's mom!

Costco uses their own travel agency , not Nationa Leisure Group to book vacations. They are definitely the cheapest source for Disney Cruises and they were the cheapest source for a Carnival Cruise I took last year.

rella's fan- would you mind disclosing the name of the company that beat Costco's price- my DCL cruise is booked through Costco and I haven't seen another quote that comes within $300 of beating their price. It is not too late for me switch if I can save some $$ As for the travel discounts- I only compared Sams and Costco (I belong to both) on DCL prices. Costco beat Sam's by a mile. I have read on these boards that some people got better prices from Sam's or BJs though so I guess it depends on your specific travel requirements.

Costco beat my Dreams Unlimited quote by $100 but AllSeasons beat Costco by over $300. I've only heard good things about them and so far they have been great

Jun 23, 2004

Originally posted by vhoffman If you book your travel through Costco or Sam's, do you get frequent flyer miles, hotel frequent guest points, etc., the same as if you booked them on your own? I'm serious about accuring my points. Our last two trips to WDW we had free airfare on Southwest. We just came back from a trip to Hawaii, and I managed one free airline ticket and two free nights in a Hilton, plus one free rt interisland flight. I also got $200 off a rental car. I'm aiming to get the whole trip, excluding meals, free. I love to travel, hate to pay for it! Click to expand...

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Sam’s club vs. costco: which has the better return policy.

Wholesale clubs Costco and Sam;s Club are both known for low prices and high-quality groceries, prepackaged foods and tons of other merchandise, not to mention cheap gas. For many people, their wholesale club of choice comes down to which store is closer to their home.

I’m a Sam’s Club Superfan: These Are the 5 Highest-Quality Member’s Mark Food Items

Compare: 6 Expensive Costco Items That Are Definitely Worth the Cost

Ideally, you’ll always be thrilled with your Sam’s Club or Costco purchases. But, just in case you aren’t, how do the return policies at these stores stack up?

Sam’s Club Return Policy

Sam’s Club has a generous return policy backed by a “100% Satisfaction Guarantee,” according to the website. The club says it will take back most items at any time, and this may include items that are years old.

However, you may need all the original packaging and parts, as well as any warranty cards. “There are some instances in which we may have to deny the refund in full or provide a partial refund if only part of the purchase is returned,” according to the website.

Additionally, Sam’s Club says it “prefers” all returns to include an original receipt or printed order, but the store will do its best to accommodate a return without a receipt. Although it doesn’t specifically state on the website, it’s likely that returns without a receipt will result in a store credit rather than a cash or credit to your account.

There are a few restrictions to the policy. Electronics and major appliances must be returned within 90 days. Commercial heavy equipment and motorsports must be returned within 30 days. Cell phones must be returned within 14 days. Custom-made items, tickets, gift cards and prescriptions are not refundable.

Costco’s Return Policy

Like Sam’s Club, Costco offers members a risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee. Costco has less fine print than Sam’s Club when it comes to returns. The club is known for taking back virtually any merchandise at any time, either for a cash refund, credit to your account or store credit.

Some exceptions apply, similar to Sam’s Club. Costco will not refund gift cards, or tickets, such as event or airline tickets. Gold and silver bullion and bars are not refundable. Cigarettes and alcohol are not refundable where prohibited by law.

Finally, Costco has a 90-day return policy for electronics and major home appliances.

Upon reading the terms, both stores seem to have comparable return policies. However, in-store returns may be at the discretion of employees or store managers, which means the policies may be open to interpretation. Since Sam’s Club specifies that items must be in their original packaging with all parts, employees may have more leeway to deny a return.

If you’re trying to return merchandise at either store and the employee denies your refund, you might ask to speak to a manager or visit another store location.

Costco vs Sam's Club

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Costco Travel Vs Sams Club Travel

Thread starter WalletSlot
Start date Jul 21, 2014

Best Western
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No specific affiliations noted. Based upon location, deals vary by chain.
Vacation Homes

Recently booked a car in Honolulu for 2 days. Sams Club was roughly 50% less than the lowest priced option on Costco Travel, with the lowest priced on each being Alamo. Has anyone else had experience with the two travel providers?

Level 2 Member

Is the Sam's Travel Club new? I went to my local Sam's a few weeks ago and was told that Sam's had travel offers in the past, but no longer. Thank you for the link! Today's Deal Mommy lists a new Groupon promotion for Sam's Club membership, $45 per year and receive a $20 GC.

Miles said: Is the Sam's Travel Club new? I went to my local Sam's a few weeks ago and was told that Sam's had travel offers in the past, but no longer. Thank you for the link! Today's Deal Mommy lists a new Groupon promotion for Sam's Club membership, $45 per year and receive a $20 GC. Click to expand...

What The Heck?

Master blaster.

From my experience i found Costco travel to be much cheaper than Sam's club during the couple of times i tried but it could be a regional phenomenon and it is always better to check all the options before taking a final decision.

Price Check on July 25 at 14:41 CDT Rental Period Priced: July 26 @ORD Pickup 9:00 for 24 hours Costco Travel: Economy Alamo $37.26 Sams Travel: Economy Hertz #36.30 Roughly a dollar difference in price.

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Sam’s Club vs. Costco: Which Has the Better Return Policy?

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Ideally, you’ll always be thrilled with your Sam’s Club or Costco purchases. But, just in case you aren’t, how do the return policies at these stores stack up?

Sam’s Club Return Policy

Costco’s Return Policy

Finally, Costco has a 90-day return policy for electronics and major home appliances.

If you’re trying to return merchandise at either store and the employee denies your refund, you might ask to speak to a manager or visit another store location.

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Costco vs. Sam's Club: Who Has Better Summer Deals?

A s everyday costs rise, some shoppers are turning to warehouse clubs to get the best deals. If you have Costco and Sam's Club locations near your home, you might consider joining one of these clubs to save money on groceries, household goods, and other essentials.

Which one should you join? If you're planning to scoop up some summer deals so you're ready to enjoy the warmer months, you may wonder which retailer has the best discounts. Let's look closely at each warehouse club to determine which has the best summer deals.

Costco has what you need to enjoy summer

You can find all of your summertime essentials at Costco. Here are some noteworthy summer deals that you can buy right now:

Harbor Bay 2-pack Beach Towels

This two-pack towel set features two oversized towels made with 100% cotton for $28.99. You can choose from multiple designs.

Banana Boat Sport Ultra Performance Sunscreen Pack Broad Spectrum SPF 50

This three-pack of Banana Boat Sport Ultra 50 SPF sunscreen features two eight-ounce sprays and one eight-ounce lotion. For $18.99, you'll be stocked up with all the sunscreen protection you need without a costly credit card bill.

20-piece Bucket Playset

This 20-piece bucket playset will make building sand castles a breeze for all the families headed to the beach this summer. It's on sale for $15.99 through May 5, 2024, or $18.99 after that date.

Bestway Steel Pro MAX 13' x 30" Round Above Ground Pool Set

If you're looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, this pool is a worthy deal. It includes a filter pump and pool cover and is available for an affordable price of $199.99. But this is an online-only deal so you won't find it at your local club.

Sam's Club has plenty of summer fun finds

Sam's Club sells various goods at a discount, including all the summertime must-haves on your list. Here are some worthwhile deals that Sam's Club is promoting right now:

Bestway Power Steel 18' x 48" Round Above Ground Pool Set

This above ground pool features a steel frame with a three-layer liner for added durability. You can buy it for $399.99 with a Sam's Club membership.

Member's Mark Cabana 2-pack Beach Towels, 40" x 72"

This set of two extra-large beach towels is available in multiple designs, and each towel is reversible. It is machine-wash safe and costs $19.98.

Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50, six-ounce, three-pack

This set features three six-ounce spray bottles of SPF 50 Sport Ultra sunscreen. For $14.68, you'll have the sun protection you need for all your summertime adventures.

Member's Mark 18-piece Giant Castle Sand Playset

For those planning a trip to the beach this summer, this 18-piece sand castle playset is an ideal buy. It includes 18 pieces and is made from 65% recycled plastic for $14.98.

Both retailers have solid summer deals

When comparing the prices and offerings highlighted above, you'll notice some items are more affordable at Sam's Club while others are sold at Costco for a lower price. There is no clear winner when considering which warehouse club has the better summer deals.

However, you can feel confident knowing that Costco and Sam's Club offer a good selection of products and affordable deals that won't drain your checking account . Your best bet is to compare offerings before joining to know what to expect. You can browse available items on each retailer's website to learn more about availability and pricing.

A warehouse club membership may be a worthwhile investment that can offer big savings. If you live near a club, can afford the yearly membership fee, and can get the essentials you need, you may be able to keep more money in the bank by shopping at Costco or Sam's Club. For additional money saving tips, check out our personal finance resources.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

If you’re shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, you’ll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

Click here to read our expert recommendations for free!

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

Costco vs. Sam's Club: Who Has Better Summer Deals?

Members can access discounts and special features

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

Cities near Elektrostal

Places of interest
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
Peter the Great Military Academy
History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
Ramenskii History and Art Museum
Bykovo Manor
Balashikha Arena
Malenky Puppet Theater
Military Technical Museum
Church of Our Lady of Kazan
Drama Theatre BOOM
Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
Pekhorka Park
Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
Saturn Stadium
Borisoglebsky Sports Palace
Church of Vladimir
Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
Shirokov House
Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
Zheleznodorozhny Museum of Local Lore
Stella Municipal Drama Theater
Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
Fifth House Gallery
Fryazino Centre for Culture and Leisure
Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
Art Gallery of The City District

IMAGES

Costco vs Sam's Club
Sam's Club versus Costco: A 2020 Comparison
Costco vs. Sam's Club: What Is the Difference?
🔥COSTCO vs🔥SAM'S CLUB 2022
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Is Better?
Sam's Club versus Costco: A 2020 Comparison

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COSTCO VS SAM’S CLUB

COMMENTS

Buy Vacation or Honeymoon From BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club
BJ's, Costco, and Sam's Club may not be the first place you think of to buy travel or book car rental, but Consumer Reports says these warehouse clubs can offer big savings over booking directly.
Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test
However, Sam's Club Travel differs from Costco Travel quite a lot. Instead of booking travel packages, you book pieces of your trip individually. ... Sam's Club Travel: $1,289.92 ($1,149.71, plus ...
Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test
However, Sam's Club Travel differs from Costco Travel quite a lot. Instead of booking travel packages, you book pieces of your trip individually. Also, Sam's Club Travel doesn't include flights ...
Costco Or Sam's Club: Which Is Better For World Travelers?
Costco vs. Sam's Club Outside The US. I then wondered how the international presence of Costco compares to Sam's Club, their Walmart-derived competitor. As best as I can figure, Sam's Club, has 848 locations, of which 198 are outside the US. Those stores are in Mexico (160), China (11), Brazil (27), and do not include the 11 in Puerto Rico.
Everything you need to know about Costco Travel
There are two personal membership levels: Gold Star and Executive. Gold Star costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120. The basic membership will give you access to all of Costco's services, including Costco Travel, while the Executive membership also comes with a 2% reward on all Costco (and Costco Travel) purchases.
Buying travel at Costco? What to know about wholesale club deals
The travel products you find from BJ's, Costco or Sam's Club are limited — or "curated," as they like to call them. You won't find every hotel or tour operator, but rather a selection ...
Costco Vacation Deals: Should You Buy One?
You need to be a member to take advantage of travel deals from Costco, BJ's, or Sam's Club. Membership prices vary by store, with some offering cheaper entry-level memberships and more costly ...
Sam's Club vs. Costco: What's the Difference?
Sam's Club has two membership levels: Club and Plus. The cost of the Club membership is $50 annually, while the Plus membership costs $110. The upgraded Plus membership gives you free curbside pickup, discounted same-day delivery fees, free shipping, and 2 percent back up to $500 per year.
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Is Better?
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Travel. Many consumers look to Costco for travel planning and discounted travel booking online and over the phone. Members get reduced rates on hotels, vacation packages, cruises, and rental cars from a number of companies.
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Warehouse Club Is Better?
If you think a Costco membership may be for you, then you may also want to consider applying for its Anywhere Visa Card through Citi. It offers up to 4% back in Costco cash rewards for eligible gas and electric vehicle charging up to $7,000 per year and 1% after that within the same year, as well as 1% to 3% back in Costco cash for club purchases, travel, dining, and other purchases.
Costco vs. Sam's Club: What Is the Difference?
One of the differences between Costco and Sam's Club is the credit cards they accept. Costco only accepts Visa debit and credit cards in store and Visa and Mastercard online. Sam's Club takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex in-store and online making it more convenient on your wallet.
Costco vs. Sam's Club: Memberships & product prices compared
Quick facts: Costco vs. Sam's Club at a glance. Costco Sam's Club; Basic membership fee. $60. $50. ... Costco's executive members earn 2% cash back on purchases (including Costco Travel ...
Costco vs. Sam's Club: Which Is Best for You?
Because the prices in each store are so close. Most comparisons between the two show minor differences, at best. You may get a better price on eggs at Costco, for instance, but pay less for meat ...
Sam's Club vs Costco (2024): Review and Comparison
First off, Sam's Club offers a basic membership for $25 per year (T&C Apply), while Costco's basic membership costs $60 annually. Sam's Club Plus membership is priced at $70 per year (T&C Apply. See site for details), while Costco's Executive membership is $120 annually. To put two and two together, Sam's Club membership tiers are ...
Sam's Club Vs. Costco Comparison Review (2024 Update)
Sam's Club membership cost: Sam's Club raised the price for its basic "Club" membership to $50 and "Plus" membership to $110 on October 17, 2022 - their first price increase in over 9 years. The Plus membership offers enhanced perks, including cash back rewards of 2% on qualifying purchases (up to $500 cash back annually).
Costco vs. Sam's Club: What Deal Seekers Should Know
Check out our guide on how Costco and Sam's Club compare in terms of membership costs, perks, locations, and other factors. ... Additional benefits, such as a 2% cash-back reward (up to $1,000) on all Costco and Costco Travel purchases and discounts on numerous Costco services, are included in the Executive membership, which costs $120 per year.
Sam's Club vs. Costco
Sam's Club Travel Programs. Sam's Club Travel and Entertainment offerings are a little broader than what you can get at Costco. But, you may not receive a similar discount. Here are some of the ways you can cut travel and entertainment costs with Sam's Club: Destination packages; Hotel stays; Movie tickets; Rental cars; Shows
Which has better travel deals--Costco or Sam's Club?
"Travel purchases through Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's are usually comparable to prices from other sources -- sometimes lower, sometimes higher, but typically in the same ballpark. Members pay their dues with the assumption they're getting special discounts on all products, but when it comes to travel they'll often be disappointed." ...
3 Reasons a Costco Membership Is Better Than Sam's Club
1. You want the best return policy possible. Admittedly, Costco and Sam's Club both have impressive return policies. However, Costco has fewer exclusions for returnable items and extends certain ...
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Has the Better Return Policy?
Costco has less fine print than Sam's Club when it comes to returns. The club is known for taking back virtually any merchandise at any time, either for a cash refund, credit to your account or ...
Sam's Club Vs Costco: Trip Report : r/Costco
The average shopper at Costco is making at least $125k per year, whereas Sam's Club was trying to get into $75k-$125k demographic back in 2018. The average sale is almost double at Costco vs Sam's Club as further proof of the difference between who they cater to.
Costco vs Sam's Club
There are three Costco Stores within 10 miles of our home, there is one Sam's Club about 15 miles from our home. Two of the Costco Stores have gasoline, the Sam's Club doesn't. The Sam's Club had a really good deal on tires for the DW's Explorer, Sam's didn't take credit cards for tires or batteries, Costco took AE.
Costco Travel Vs Sams Club Travel
Yep, Sams Club Travel is new. I received an email about a month ago introducing the program. My guess is that they rolled it out in advance of their new MasterCard with 3% cash back on travel. We used the Groupon deal last November and have really enjoyed having membership at both Costco and Sams Club.
Sam's Club vs. Costco: Which Has the Better Return Policy?
Costco's Return Policy. Like Sam's Club, Costco offers members a risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee. Costco has less fine print than Sam's Club when it comes to returns. The club is known for taking back virtually any merchandise at any time, either for a cash refund, credit to your account or store credit.
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Travel Guide. Check-in. Check-out. Guests. Search. Explore map. Visit Elektrostal. Things to do. Check Elektrostal hotel availability. Check prices in Elektrostal for tonight, Jun 15 - Jun 16. Tonight. Jun 15 - Jun 16. Check prices in Elektrostal for tomorrow night, Jun 16 - Jun 17. Tomorrow night.
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Costco vs. Sam's Club: Who Has Better Summer Deals?
Both retailers have solid summer deals. When comparing the prices and offerings highlighted above, you'll notice some items are more affordable at Sam's Club while others are sold at Costco for a ...
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Travel guide resource for your visit to Elektrostal. Discover the best of Elektrostal so you can plan your trip right. Vacation Packages. Stays. Cars. Flights. Support. All travel. Vacation Packages Stays Cars Flights Cruises Support Things to do. My Account. Members can access discounts and special features.

Should You Buy Your Vacation or Honeymoon From BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club?

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The Verdict

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Sam's Club vs. Costco: Furniture and Home Goods

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Electronics and Appliances

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Financial and Business Services

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Health Services and Pharmacy

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Travel

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Payment Methods

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Return Policies

References:

Sam’s Club vs. Costco: Which Warehouse Club Is Better?

What To Know About Sam’s Club

What To Know About Costco

Costco Membership vs. Sam’s Club Membership

Sam’s Club Memberships

Costco Memberships

Does Costco or Sam’s Club Have Cheaper Prices?

Sam’s Club or Costco: Which Is Better?

Bottom line

Related 360 Reviews

Why You Can Trust Us

Recommended Articles

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: What Is the Difference?

Things to Know Before Purchasing a Warehouse Club Membership

Store Brands

Sam’s Club

Final Thoughts

Sam’s Club vs Costco (2024): Review and Comparison

What are Sam’s Club and Costco?

Sam’s Club Membership Benefits

Costco Membership Benefits

Vincent Lanaria

Sam’s Club Vs. Costco Comparison Review (2024 Update)

Membership Fees:

Return Policies: