BJ's or Costco?

[rshaw125]

I let my Costco membership lapse last month. I received a 60 trial membership in the mail from BJ's. So I thought I would try out BJ's for 60 days and then decide.
First impressions. Bj's gas 7 cents higher than Costco. $6 more to get gas bottle filled. Saw this walking in.
Walked up to the customer service desk to get my membership. One person working. Costco usually has 4-5. Same price for 12 month membership $50. Got my membership after 20 minute wait.
BJ's has more selection that Costco. You notice that almost immediately.Prices? Very similar on the few things I could compare.
Conclusion. Costco is a much slicker operation. BJ's feels like a poor mans Costco. Even though the memberships and prices are close. I am going to give BJ's another try at the weekend and see how they do. But initially it looks like I'll be renewing my Costco membership In July and join the crowds who have made the same decision.

 

[The_Jeff]

Good choice. My rant

 

[Vikas]

One of the thing which you notice if you are long time Costco member is how little turn over they have in terms of their staff. I have yet to come across an unhappy Costco staff at my location. Costco must be treating their employees fairly. I find that very admirable.

I still hate huge crowds and huge lines at checkout though :-(

- Vikas

 

[HTSS_TR]

One thing I don't like Costco is the long lines at checkout. There was a Sam Clubs near by but they closed last year for no customers, whenever I went to that Sam Clubs there was no more than 1 person on front of me at the checkout stand.

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
...a Sam Clubs near by but they closed last year for no customers, whenever I went to that Sam Clubs there was no more than 1 person on front of me at the checkout stand.


No customers, no lines, no business, no more open da doors. It figures!

 

[PandaBear]

Used to go with my relatives to Costco once in a while but stopped doing that. The amount of time waiting in line, the size of the purchase, and the lack of huge discount once in a while makes me rather wait for sales at other box stores (Target, Safeway, etc), and online for big item purchase.

Maybe I'm spoiled in a big metro with lots of retail competitions. Someone is always on sale somewhere.

 

[rshaw125]

I drove by BJ's this morning their gas is now 10 cents more than Costco.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Used to go with my relatives to Costco once in a while but stopped doing that. The amount of time waiting in line, the size of the purchase, and the lack of huge discount once in a while makes me rather wait for sales at other box stores (Target, Safeway, etc), and online for big item purchase.

Maybe I'm spoiled in a big metro with lots of retail competitions. Someone is always on sale somewhere.


Agreed. Many swoon over these places. I seem to find deals on what I need that are comparable without the drive, the wait and the time. Perhaps if I had a family of eight and conssitently needed access to better deals it would be different.

Ive also noticed marked differences in the consumption patterns of people with access to these places versus those who do not.

 

[2Fast4U]

I've been a Sams member for many years and one year got membership to Costco to purchase a few large items (even membership fee made it worth while). The Costco was not close to me but I purchased these large items and smaller items on occasion including a car battery which was highly rated online and came with a great warranty. So here's my rant. I did not renew my Costco membership. Battery went out in under 2 years and was easily within warranty. Costco REFUSED to cover the battery replacement warranty because I was 'not currently a member'!! I had in hand my original receipt yet they still refused. The only way they would cover the battery would be if I renewed membership for another year. That is enough for me to never be a member or purchase another item at Costco ever.
Happy shopping.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Same with Sam Clubs, you must be a member when you claim warranty. It is one of the reason I don't buy battery from either Costco or Sam Clubs.

 

[3311]

Having had a membership at Costco and being a current member at BJ's, I would pick Costco. Costco to me seemed to have a better selection than BJ's. BJ's is only a mile and Costco is 30 miles one way so that makes my decision easy.
We do buy most of our food and baby products at BJ's and I will say that the store brand quality and overall prices are quit good. They are definitely cheaper than Wally's and Target if you look at the bill as a whole.
As far as gas goes, BJ's and Wally's neighbors and are always having a gas war in my area, so it a win for me. They both are usually 5-7 cents cheaper than Citgo or BP.

 

[pottymouth]

I let my Costco membership lapse this year and don't expect to renew it ever. My family is not big enough to use the mass quantities of food before it spoils. Plus, if I shop carefully at the grocery store I can usually match or even beat their unit prices on most things.

The final straw for me was the change in policy in the tire center. The prices used to be pretty good when mounting and balancing was included in the price. Now that they tack it on top I can always beat their prices at a local tire shop and i don't have to wait around for 30 minutes while the one Costco tire worker deals with the lookie-loos who have no clue as to what they want. Last time I dropped a tire/wheel off at Costoc for their free flat repait it took them 2 days to do it and they never called me to tell me it was done.

Costco has really gone downhill, at least around here.

 

[daves87rs]

Not a fan of any of them....


It's called looking for a sale and using coupons. Pretty simple to save money that way....add Aldi's and Save a Lot, and there you go...