Not a fan of BJs

Status
Not open for further replies.
The_Jeff

The_Jeff

Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
43,873
Location
ME
I haven't been a paying member of this wholesale club for years. However over the last few Xmas seasons I get things in the mail for free trial memberships. You know, post cards with my name on them.

Latest go-round I present the direct mail invitation at member service and I'm interrogated if I was ever a member before. Apparently they're like the TSA and have a file on everybody. "You just were earlier this year" the lady huffs, "Would you like to pay $45 to renew." "No", I reply, "just give me the trial membership."

I do some shopping. Ritz crackers come in a 4-box pack but each box only has three tubes of crackers. The single boxes you buy elsewhere have four tubes. Unit price comparison you'd have to be rain-man to pull off. Nothing is the same size in that store as anywhere else.

They have a couple of nice deals: Chock full of nuts coffee, three pounds exactly. No foolin' around. Maple syrup. Spices. Dawn dish soap. I get in there and fill the cart up as I'm nearing Feb 28.

Hit the checkout and, shoot, my membership expired. This is news to me as it's not printed on the card anywhere. Card has no date on it and just says check your receipt. Well how am I going to buy something just to see if I'm allowed to buy something?

Give the card to a wandering BJer and she checks it on a computer. Membership ran out Jan 31.
33.gif
I'm pretty sure the "holiday special" ran through Feb previous years. Guess they decided that was too long and people were just filling their carts and freezers with delicious $1.99/lb perdue chicken thighs to get through the year.

So I got to do the walk of shame putting all my stuff back on the shelves. Luckily I was not embarrassed as all the other shoppers stare at their shoes all the time! There is never any eye contact! I think the place is full of zombies.

On topic for oil, $30 for 12 qts of Formula Shell? Get real.
 
I saw the topic and expected this to be in humor, or locked...

Just the 8 year old boy in me that comes out from time to time...
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I saw the topic and expected this to be in humor, or locked...

Just the 8 year old boy in me that comes out from time to time...


I was thinking the same thing.
 
I did not know that you could actually buy things in the store with a "Trial Membership"? I guess I've got to see about getting on that bandwagon to check out one of their stores. I've never been a member of BJ's....only Costco. Years ago that Sam's Club sent me an invitation to visit their store....when I called them about buying some items on the "invitation" they said I could not purchase items. The only way to purchase the items, was to be with someone who had a membership and they would have to make the purchases.

Long story short.....I never joined or visited their store but I've had some neighbors split some items with me since there all bulk packaged in "Huge" quantities.

What a waste....visit the store by invitation....then you can't buy unless you join. That's like teasing a hungry dog with a bone....someone is going to feel pain in the end.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I haven't been a paying member of this wholesale club for years. However over the last few Xmas seasons I get things in the mail for free trial memberships. You know, post cards with my name on them.

Latest go-round I present the direct mail invitation at member service and I'm interrogated if I was ever a member before. Apparently they're like the TSA and have a file on everybody. "You just were earlier this year" the lady huffs, "Would you like to pay $45 to renew." "No", I reply, "just give me the trial membership."

I do some shopping. Ritz crackers come in a 4-box pack but each box only has three tubes of crackers. The single boxes you buy elsewhere have four tubes. Unit price comparison you'd have to be rain-man to pull off. Nothing is the same size in that store as anywhere else.

They have a couple of nice deals: Chock full of nuts coffee, three pounds exactly. No foolin' around. Maple syrup. Spices. Dawn dish soap. I get in there and fill the cart up as I'm nearing Feb 28.

Hit the checkout and, shoot, my membership expired. This is news to me as it's not printed on the card anywhere. Card has no date on it and just says check your receipt. Well how am I going to buy something just to see if I'm allowed to buy something?

Give the card to a wandering BJer and she checks it on a computer. Membership ran out Jan 31.
33.gif
I'm pretty sure the "holiday special" ran through Feb previous years. Guess they decided that was too long and people were just filling their carts and freezers with delicious $1.99/lb perdue chicken thighs to get through the year.

So I got to do the walk of shame putting all my stuff back on the shelves. Luckily I was not embarrassed as all the other shoppers stare at their shoes all the time! There is never any eye contact! I think the place is full of zombies.

On topic for oil, $30 for 12 qts of Formula Shell? Get real.



The free trial memberships are for people that have not shopped at BJ's before. Thus it's a "trial". No point in trying something that you were already a member of.

That is why the store clerk acted weired. BJ's may have extended you a trial to try and get you back as a customer, yes, but the clerk was probably thrown when she saw you were a past member.

I got the same free trial membership. Mine was for 30 days.


I personally find there selection and prices very good. Im not sure how your local economy is, but in Philadelphia, one can save A LOT of cash going to BJ's over the local supermarket.

Back to your story, your "trial" membership had expired. What was the issue? Because you did not know when your free membership was up, BJ's stinks?

I use Sam's Club and BJ's. I give em a thumbs up.
 
A few weeks ago I got a case of 12 Shell (formerly) Dexron III ATF for $15 on closeout. I like BJs....
 
If I only get over there every other month I'm not keeping up with when my membership expires. I guess they don't put it on your ID card as some sort of mystery or nickel saving device, eg no new cards. IDK why they even have a photo on there when they have a self-checkout. It's a scam to make you think you're in some inner circle of "privileged ones" who overpay for 90% of their staples. They aren't a co-op, not a nonprofit, and they don't guarantee that they have little or no profit margin on the stuff they hock.

I was invited by name on that direct mailer to return. So I did. They got my name and address, presumably, from their own rolodex. As marketing 101 goes it's reasonable to try to lure past customers back.

As Groucho said, I would not want to be a member of a club that would have me! They have some real goofy yuppie stuff in there; soda makers that you put in syrup and it makes your own cola. Somehow I imagine the syrup people jacking up the prices in a year after they've sold so many subsidized cola machines...

If we had Costcos up my way I might join! Hear good things about their cheap car batteries and other stuff.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
If I only get over there every other month I'm not keeping up with when my membership expires. I guess they don't put it on your ID card as some sort of mystery or nickel saving device, eg no new cards. IDK why they even have a photo on there when they have a self-checkout. It's a scam to make you think you're in some inner circle of "privileged ones" who overpay for 90% of their staples. They aren't a co-op, not a nonprofit, and they don't guarantee that they have little or no profit margin on the stuff they hock.

I was invited by name on that direct mailer to return. So I did. They got my name and address, presumably, from their own rolodex. As marketing 101 goes it's reasonable to try to lure past customers back.

As Groucho said, I would not want to be a member of a club that would have me! They have some real goofy yuppie stuff in there; soda makers that you put in syrup and it makes your own cola. Somehow I imagine the syrup people jacking up the prices in a year after they've sold so many subsidized cola machines...

If we had Costcos up my way I might join! Hear good things about their cheap car batteries and other stuff.


Again, how is you not remembering your expiration date BJ's issue.

Your photo is on the card because they check membership i.d.'s aat the door. They don't want your whole senior class using your one card.



overpaying for 90% of there staples?!?!??!

BJ's has very good prices compared to local stores/supermarkets.

How is it a "scam" to be in the "inner circle"?? One has to join to get the "warehouse" pricing. They make there money from the memberships, not the well priced items.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/16582-are-warehouse-stores-too-dependant-on-membership-fee-income

You must have thought they had good prices since you decided to shop there.

So, you get in for free, when others pay, use your free membership, then post "Not a fan of BJ's" when your free trial is up?

I dunno, perhaps im missing something. . . .
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I saw the topic and expected this to be in humor, or locked... ...

Great minds think alike. I'm guilty.
 
My driver's license has its expiration printed on it. So do my credit cards. Magazine subscriptions have it on the mailing label. BJs handles their business differently than most.

I feel no obligation to shop at one store. I get milk at a gas station because everybody else-- BJs, Walmart, supermarkets, a local farm-- charge well over the $3.19 state minimum milk price for 1%.

I crunched the numbers and BJs isn't worth the $45 to save $4 on 3 lbs of coffee and my other listed sundries. This may vary regionally. If other shoppers want to pay to join a club that I got a free pass at, I'm not ripping them off- BJs is.
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I saw the topic and expected this to be in humor, or locked...

Just the 8 year old boy in me that comes out from time to time...



My thoughts as well.


At least we know great minds think alike.
wink.gif
 
I knew the thread was going to be about BJ's food club and I don't even have any around me
48.gif
. Besides that, my mind isn't in the gutter. There should be an emoticon with a halo lol.
 
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
I like Walmart Super Center and just use a ton of coupons verses Sams Club.

that's what my wife does, she KILLS them w/ the coupons. grocery bills start out like $80 she pays $26, stuff like that.
the real deal is you need to be organized, know your prices, and use coupons on items that are on sale.
we had a BJ's trial membership also, we looked around, didn't see any deals, we walked out.
didn't like the area it was located in; guy almost gives the lady at the door a beat down because she wanted to look in his son's bag, the guy flips out, even though it's posted that bags will be inspected.
 
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I knew the thread was going to be about BJ's food club and I don't even have any around me
48.gif
. Besides that, my mind isn't in the gutter. There should be an emoticon with a halo lol.



True..
 
Down here Publix Supermarkets has a bunch of Buy 1, get 1 Free deals and my wife using coupons can some how manage to buy $100 worth of food for around $55-60 and its not like she is buying junk, its quality food.
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I saw the topic and expected this to be in humor, or locked...

Just the 8 year old boy in me that comes out from time to time...

lol.gif
...me too
 
I have no problem with BJs, SamsClub, CostCo, or equivalent. But, you need to buy much in a year to make the membership worth it. If not, just go with the neighbor that has a membership.

I don't shop enough to justify a membership. Most are great stores and have a decent inventory of stuff.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
Single family real estate market is not crashing - it is splitting (Chuck Cowan)
2 3
Replies
44
Views
963
Zee09
C
Finally able to pay it forward!
2
Replies
22
Views
969
JimPghPA
NavyVet88
What oil for a 2005 EZ-GO TXT golf cart?
Replies
7
Views
197
mobilnissan1991
M
Do any of you keep spare appliances?
2 3
Replies
45
Views
978
NibbanaBanana
C
Tractor Supply
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
MrGraybeard
Back
Top Bottom