Frisco - Costco Vs Sams (Plano, Mart: coupon, buyers, pros and cons)

[draghuna]

I may be opening a topic that can be leading to a never ending debate. Not meant to hurt anyones feelings

I have been a member of both these warehouse stores in prior locations where we lived and have seen pros and cons in both these places based on the location. We just moved to Frisco area (NE part) and want to get some feedback on your experience with Sams and/or Costco in this area. We are a very small family of three and are considering these stores only for non perishable items.

Thanks

[unknown00]

Please use search. Costco VS Sam's has been discussed sooooooooo many times

With that said, +1 Costco

[carroll4628]

Think

Target vs. Wal-Mart

[TowerGuy]

The two are quite comparable in price but Costco takes the moral high ground in its treatment of employees. Cutomer service is superior.....could it be because the employees enjoy their place of employment??? Costco till I die.

[nitynity]

I been a SAMS customer for past 8+ years. I wanted to try out Costco this time but it's far from where I live compared to SAMS. I heard there are more varities on deli items in costco compared to SAMS. I would love to try it but didn't want to commute as we don't shop very often there. I would say go with COSTCO.

[dallas_cowboy]

Agree with all above responses.

+ Costco.
Unquestionable return policy.
To my observation (I have both clubs membership as well for almost 10 years now), same items sold at both locations usually cost less at Costco.
Better variety of coupon items.
I don't drink, but I think from what I have heard Costco sells max. $$$ wine compare to any other store in the country and they have a larger variety than Sams.

Sam's is a struggling business and they are downsizing their business whereas Costco is still growing in domestic and international market. That's a clear indication of which store most of consumer likes among these two stores.

[rok8man]

I would also give a thumbs up for Costco. I have been going there since moving to Frisco and I have stopped going to Walmart almost 90% now. I like the return policies for Costco and the way they add an extra year for warranty items. As others have said as well their employees seem very happy and very polite. So I will keep going there.

[BigDGeek]

Costco's nicer than Sam's in terms of merchandise, but if you don't like crowds and long lines then it can be a miserable experience.

I don't like battling for parking spaces, cart wars in the aisles, constantly being physically pushed/elbowed aside, and waiting in long lines to pay for my stuff.

So the BF and I renewed at Sam's. I got a Costco membership for free last year; I've been maybe 3 times. Not worth it to me.

Plus, Sam's (at least the one we go to) actually has a better selection of fresh fruit & vegetables. We like the rotisserie chickens better there too. The only other stuff we get there is toilet paper and paper towels. Sam's quality is just as good as Costco's in that regard.

YMMV.

[CMC_TX]

Originally Posted by draghuna

I may be opening a topic that can be leading to a never ending debate. Not meant to hurt anyones feelings

I have been a member of both these warehouse stores in prior locations where we lived and have seen pros and cons in both these places based on the location. We just moved to Frisco area (NE part) and want to get some feedback on your experience with Sams and/or Costco in this area. We are a very small family of three and are considering these stores only for non perishable items.

Thanks

I have both, but primarily because I am on a business membership with Sam's I don't pay for. I go to the Park & the Tollway Costco, and they do seem to have a much better wine selection and better selection of specialty items hand picked by their buyers, whereas Sam's has all your standard product offerings. As others have mentioned, Costco has a much better reputation as an employer and actually pays very competitively for their retail positions. That being said, they're both warehouse stores, but Sam's does seem to attract a more "white trash" demographic. I was getting gas at Sam's yesterday, and a fight broke out due to lines at the gas pumps where two middle aged couples actually got out of their vehicles and were dropping f bombs etc. a Sam's gas station attendant had to come intervene (this was in Plano). Best thing about Sam's is they still have Diet Coke in the cafe and Costco switched to Pepsi.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by CMC_TX

I have both, but primarily because I am on a business membership with Sam's I don't pay for. I go to the Park & the Tollway Costco, and they do seem to have a much better wine selection and better selection of specialty items hand picked by their buyers, whereas Sam's has all your standard product offerings. As others have mentioned, Costco has a much better reputation as an employer and actually pays very competitively for their retail positions. That being said, they're both warehouse stores, but Sam's does seem to attract a more "white trash" demographic. I was getting gas at Sam's yesterday, and a fight broke out due to lines at the gas pumps where two middle aged couples actually got out of their vehicles and were dropping f bombs etc. a Sam's gas station attendant had to come intervene (this was in Plano). Best thing about Sam's is they still have Diet Coke in the cafe and Costco switched to Pepsi.

I've been going to Sam's for years and have never seen anything approaching what you described there.

I even went to the garage Sam's on Skillman and Northwest Highway (a festive area) and didn't see anything remotely like that any time I went.

The only membership warehouse I've ever witnessed fighting at was Costco. I've seen two fights break out over parking spaces at the west Plano location, lots of "gas line rage" incidents, and arguments between customers every time I've been.

Our mileage clearly varies.