Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I am trying to decide which place I'd like to get a membership to. Where do you go and why?

Costco you can either join for 50.00 for regular membership or 100.00 for executive membership where it seems you get up to $500 per year back?

Each seem to be for a year

Bj's has
Inner Circle -45 BJ’s Rewards-80
for one year

Sams Has

$40 for regular
$100 for advantage plus

which one do you have and why?

Message edited 3/17/2009 12:48:46 PM.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I go to Costco. When I lived in NY and now.. that has been the only store near me!

I really like Costco though... they always have good coupons.

For example, this week we need to get all of our paper goods: papertowels, tissues, toilet paper... and I looked in the coupon booklet that came and there are coupons for ALL of those things!

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

There is only one Sam's Club on LI in Medford.

I recommend BJs - they send you coupons each month and you can use your regular coupons each day as well.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I was a bjs girl up until last year when we went to buy a flat screen tv- costco gives you an extra year of warranty on all electronics purchases- so we figured we would try them out,

overall I dont notice much of a price difference- we go to the costco on old country road in westbury and its swamped all the time- so based on that I may switch back to bjs when our membership is done

Message edited 3/17/2009 12:39:06 PM.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Posted by TeamBurns

Posted by maybeamommy

I go to Costco. When I lived in NY and now.. that has been the only store near me!

I really like Costco though... they always have good coupons.

For example, this week we need to get all of our paper goods: papertowels, tissues, toilet paper... and I looked in the coupon booklet that came and there are coupons for ALL of those things!

do they send out coupons or do you have to get them online?

Thanks for your reply!

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I go to costco but only because the bj's closest to me is in such a high traffic area it's not worth it to even go there. I've been there a few times and the actual store is fine but I use costco by default. They do send us coupons a few times a year.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I chose BJ's for a few reasons:

#1- they have self checkout

#2- they have express lines so if you only have like 5 or 6 items you don't have to wait behind people with 200 items each

#3- They take all credit cards- where last time I checked Costco only took discover and amex

#4- the check out lines are set up better so you don't back up into the aisles like at costco- that annoys me about that store

#5- better meat, IMO. they have a great extra lean chopmeat that I love..

Oh and they send lots of coupons in the mail for stuff we always need there

Message edited 3/17/2009 12:38:49 PM.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I only have a BJs card, I got rid of Costco. BJs is never as crowded. They have self-checkout. They have more variety. And they are located across the street from my house.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I have memberships to BJ's and Costco and I go to BJ's all the time. IMO they are much better than Costco - better stuff, let you use any credit card, take coupons & manufacturer coupons too.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Thank you so much everyone, this has been very helpful! I guess I am leaning towards BJ's The only reason I was thinking about sams is that it is very close since I'm in patchogue

Now my only question is which level card I should get from BJ's lol

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Start with the base card, you can always upgrade later, see how much you would use the services for the extra before you pay for it.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

We switched from BJ's to Costco just b/c they locations were better for us. I think Costco has more "stuff" and like their prepapred food selection better, so glad we did!

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I go to BJs b/c it is very close to where I live now.

When I lived in NC I went to Sam's Club.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

BJ's--they accept coupons and have a much better baby section

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Costco has a bigger quantity of items. They are cleaner IMO. I use my debit card when I go to Costco so no issue about the card.

You can go to BJs and Costco and tell them you just want to look around before getting a membership. I've done this twice and had no problems.

I've never been to Sams.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I go to BJs. I have not been in Costco since I was a kid shopping with my Dad so I can't say one is better than the other. I like that BJs allows you to use manufacturer coupons on top of their coupons.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

I am a member of BJ's and Sam's. I have to say, I like Sam's better, it's cheaper. BJ's you can use coupons, but I often don't have coupons for the things I'm buying there (milk, bread, eggs, meat, etc.). Plus I like Sam's gallons of milk better...they are slimmer and taller and fit better in my fridge. I like their cakes and baked goods better than BJ's. I don't like that they don't carry Luvs diapers though. They have nicer furniture (actually the BJ's near me doesn't have furniture, only patio). Sam's also has an eye doctor, BJ's doesn't.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

We are members of BJs.
Basically b/c you can get gas in Freeport when we are in Merrick visiting my parents. Plus the parking lot at Costco on Old COuntry Rd. is always packed.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Last year, we dropped the Costco membership for BJs only b/c BJs is so much closer to us. I like that they have gas, too.

I don't think there is a huge difference, honestly. I do, however, think that the prices at Costco were better than the ones at BJs, but not by a huge amount. (This could also just be the two particular stores we went to.) The gas for us probably makes up for it -- but we are close enough that we can get gas there any time.

I would joint whichever place is most convenient for you... otherwise, go as a guest to each one and just look around. See which one appeals to you more or has better prices.

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

Posted by BlessedMommy

BJ's--they accept coupons and have a much better baby section

Re: Buying in Bulk. Please help me pick a store

thank you so much for your help everyone!! this has been so helpful!

I am signing up for BJ's today woo hoo