I have shopped at both Sam’s Club and Costco wholesale club and literally loved it. Now, I will share my views based on personal thoughts about shopping, better stuff, Membership, quality, and better pricing for the stuff. I’m going to compare both Costco and Sam’sClub. It will help you in your future shopping. Let us have a brief outlook.
Membership Comparison
Both brands offer two types of membership. At Sam’s Club, you will find club membership and membership. While Costco goes hand in hand offering gold star membership and executive membership.
Sam’sClub offers 2% cash back of Sam’s cash in case of a plus membership, one can get up to 500$ per year sam’s cash back. Similar to this, Costco provides 2% cash back on executive membership.
Costco rewards much higher than Sam’s Club. It can provide up to $1,000 for eligible Costco and Costco travel purchases. Regarding service discounts, Costco is a little better than Sam’s Club, also offering a 2% reward.
At Costco, the two memberships can be compared to show whether the executive or gold star membership is worthy. Let’s take an example, you are spending $500 per month at Costco for different shopping like furniture, and bedding from time to time, then you can get your membership money back if you get that $130 reward.
Personally, I have recorded that Sam’s Club offers a $10 cheaper membership as compared to Costco per annum. For me, It seems almost impossible to spend $1000 at Costco to get my reward cashback. Well, Sam’s Club makes it a little easier. Sam’s Club offers $30-$50 for the first year of membership. It is membership-wise considerably cheaper than Costco.
Since last year, Costco has been a little bit more strict about its membership policy. It requires you to show membership when you enter the club, at U scans and the payment procedure to be done. I totally respect it as it is a business term but I feel it is a con as it does not allow someone else on my behalf, especially when I’m busy or at work.
Experience
Costco and Sam’s Club experience are going day to day but I feel more comfortable at Sam’s Club. I feel like a battle fight at Costco shopping where things appear to squeeze and need a long time to read. The checkout lines are super long in Costco even on less busy days.
Luckily Costco provides samples which are now an easier term for customers like me. Sam’s Club rarely provides samples. That is why, I usually come empty stomach at Costco because I feel I can take a main course meal with an updated cart.
Usually, Costco carts are very well maintained and regularly updated. They are smoothies and give a good shopping experience. Unfortunately, at Sam’s Club, the shopping carts are less maintained. I have personally experienced it, it was a little annoying.
Price Comparison
The first thing comes to mind when shopping at any club. Here is a trip to compare prices at both clubs.
At Costco, the green price tags mean organic, while regular items have white tags. Costco offers 60-70% organic stuff while Sam’s Club offers more inorganic stuff and fewer organic. The organic material in the Costco stuff slightly increases the prices as compared to Sam’s Club.
Here is my personal experience of different products at Costco and Sam’s Club in terms of their cost.
| Product | Costco | Sam’s Club |
| Garden Salad (2 lb) | $22.32 | N/A |
| Bananas (Non-organic, 3 lb) | $1.49 | $1.47 |
| Bananas (Organic, 3 lb) | $2.29 | N/A |
| Organic Strawberries (2 lb) | $6.29 | $6.47 |
| Regular Strawberries (2 lb) | $4.49 | $5.42 |
| Organic Strawberries (4 days later) | N/A | $9.22 |
| Bell Peppers (6-count, Non-organic) | $5.89 | $5.69 |
| Tomatoes (Non-organic, 2 lb) | $4.30 | $4.30 |
| Organic Vine Tomatoes (4 lb) | $8.99 | N/A |
| Avocados (per piece) | Slightly cheaper at $0.96 per avocado (6-count) | $1 per avocado (5-count) |
| Sweet Corn (8-count, Non-organic) | $6.89 | $6.88 |
| White Nectarine (4 lb) | $7.99 | N/A |
| Yellow Nectarine (4 lb) | $8.13 | N/A |
| Organic Salad Kit | More expensive than regular salad kits at Sam’s Club. | Regular salad kit available, cheaper |
Costco usually has slightly cheaper prices for fresh produce, especially organic items, but if you buy everything organic, the total will be higher. Sam’s Club’s regular produce may last longer. Sam’s Club can sometimes be more affordable for non-organic produce.
Meat Comparison
Overall the meat prices comparison suggests that Sam’s Club is way cheaper than Costco. Anyhow, the quality of both the clubs is the same. In my opinion, Costco is the winner here in terms of variety. It provides more options for ethnic and religious purposes.
Sam’s Club offers USDA Choice New York strip steak for $15.48 per pound, with ribeye steak at $16.98 and filet mignon at $22.98. Costco has both USDA Choice and USDA Prime beef. Their USDA Prime beef tenderloin is $22.99 per pound, and sirloin is $10.99 per pound. Costco also sells short ribs for $9.98 per pound, while Sam’s has them for $10.49.
Sam’s Club chicken is typically 12-15% cheaper than Costco
Dairy Comparison
Personally I have found that Sam’s Club is my first choice when I look for affordability. But the healthier option is Costco as it provides more organic content. Its omega-3 quality is greater than Sam’s Club. Anyhow Sam’s Club is getting by the years still its dairy product quality is very less comparable with the products of Costco.
Moreover, Costco offers more locations making it a better choice for dairy product availability. Anyhow, it is a little bit costly as compared to Sam’s Club.
Household Items
Sam’s Club is making a win here. As it provides high-quality household items with a major variety costing less than Costco. Anyhow, Costco is making high sales due to promotions but it is costly with the same product as Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club toilet paper, tissue paper, Dishwasher, and detergents are making a significant mark with overall good prices and variety unless Costco is making promotion deals. In terms of laundry detergent, you might think they’re similar prices, but they’re actually different packs.
For the laundry detergent, you’re actually getting a slightly bigger pack at Sam’s Club. The thing is also the same for toilet or tissue paper.
Sam’s Club offers both the Ultra Strong and Ultra Soft products. It provides different brands with multiple scents in laundry detergents and dishwashers.
Cooking Oils Comparison
Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer a huge variety of cooking oil ranges. Costco provides more organic oil, especially avocado and olive oil. But in bulk purchases, Sam’s Club has more fame, as it provides cheaper products with fine quality.
Restaurants and small businesses prefer Sam’s Club due to their budget concerns. Anyhow if you have free hands in budget then the quality of Costco is way better than Sam’s Club despite its high prices. When Costco runs promotions, its prices get lower than Sam’s Club.
Drinks Comparison
Sam’s Club is more taste and budget-conscious when it comes to beverages. It includes sugary options like Body Armor, sweet teas, and Starbucks Frappuccinos. All these are better choices for parties, indoor events, and single purchases.
While Costco is a first choice for health-conscious customers. It provides more organic products like kombucha, and almond milk, and cultural drinks like Japanese green tea and Taiwanese boba tea.
No doubt Sam’s Club offers a broader range of drinks, sodas, and iced tea. It is a go-to choice for entertainment-loving beverages.
Curbside Pickup
I love the curbside pickup facility given by Sam’s Club as in this there is no need to get a Sam’s Club membership before purchasing. Unfortunately, Costco has no curbside pickup facility. The curbside facility is only given by sam’sclub. They started this facility after COVID-19.
It is an amazing facility as they provide your groceries in your car especially if you have small children, You feel a lot more comfortable you have to just order your groceries via phone or computer from your home without visiting the store.
Store Cleanliness
In terms of Store Cleanliness Sam’s Club is a little bit messy as compared to the Costco store. As mentioned earlier, their carts are not good enough. Moreover, I have seen piles of products lying in different aisles. It is a little darker and untidy. Cosco stores are well organized and more consistent about store cleanliness.
Health Concerns
Costco is more health concern by providing customers with a lot of organic stuff making a conscious effort to bring health and comfort to their customers. It also keeps in mind ethnic and religious preferences in food.
Sam’s Club is becoming the most favorite first priority club by providing colas, iced teas, inorganic snacks, and other mostly inorganically focused products. They develop better taste and high demand. Yet a little less healthy. Anyhow, it includes a lot of fun things.
Store Hours
Store hours are mostly equal for both brands. Sam’s Club offers a little more room for their plus members. From Monday to Friday, it closes at 8:00 and so the Costco. Sam’s Club offers an opportunity to Saturday up to 8:00 PM while Costco closes at 6:00 PM. Sunday timing for both the stores are same.
I don’t feel comfortable when I want to shop in the evening at Costco. But Sam’s Club Plus membership enables you to shop up to 10:00 PM. So busy people must have to go to sam’sclub stores.
Variety
Quality and quantity rarely go hand in hand. Sam’s Club is my favorite store when I want a huge variety of any kind of product, whether to use it in a household or outdoors. Sam’s Club offers more for less and keeps my pocket happy while providing the quantity that I need. Anyhow, sometimes quality may be compromised.
This is not the case with Costco. It never compromises on quality. Its variety is large but not as huge as Sam’s Club. Its quality sometimes makes me fussy and deprived of money. So when I need a balance between quality and quantity I usually go to Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club’s new arrivals are now available in stores. to check visit; New Arrivals at Sam’s Club – Must See Sam’s Club Deals
Website/App
On busy days, I went to shop online and experienced it on both brands. It worked well for Sam Club. Their website is well-organized and user-friendly. Prices match with their stores and I found major stuff online.
Well, my experience went bad for the Costco website and phone application. Its website looks like run by a different company. Prices do not match with the ones in stores. it is more costly. The website and application make a mess. Its controls are bad i can only see my membership and receipt there but not store inventory.
Last year, I bought a blacksmith grill online, thinking I got a good deal. But when I went to the store the next week, I saw it was over $100 cheaper, and that wasn’t even a sale price, just the regular one. I asked for a price adjustment at the membership desk, and they told me the website is run separately.
Checkout Process
I don’t like the final checkout hessle. It is a comfort when I’m at Sam’s Club. They offer scan and go and make it easy by phone scanner. It prevents crowded lanes. But at Costco stores, self-scan is making shopping pretty difficult.
Customers have to put each item on the scanner belt. They only do card scans in case of way heavy items. I did not like this scanning activity because it made the checkout process irritating and long.
Return Policy
The refund policy at both their brand is the same. Both of them offer refunds for most of the products without any specific time frame. Only the electronic items on both are refundable within 90 days. Anyhow, Sam’s Club doesn’t offer refunds for perishable products But Costco does. Both the club, do not refund for alcohol, cigarette, and custom products.
Conclusive Note
Overall both the brands are good and satisfy their customers with their variety of products and membership policies. Customers with heavy pockets and quality checkers must go to Costco and so does the health-conscious one.
The party lovers and taste-conscious customers must visit Sam’s Club. It will burden less to their pocket and will cherish them with its vast variety. Anyhow, Sam’sclub stores are a little bit messy but their scan-and-go feature and online shopping experience are superduper.
Costco is a hit but does not work well when shopping from your computer. I suggest you visit both clubs as per your requirements. Have a good day!
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