Is it worth it to join a food club warehouse?

Question

In my area, its $40 for Sams, and $95 for Costco. Is it worth it? I am soo cheap, I shop pretty well, I don't understand why I should PAY to shop somewhere. What am I missing? I've been to both,and they are pretty amazing.

Answer 1

These stores save you money only if you shop in large quantities
If you have a small family best to just look for sales elsewhere.

Answer 2

Paying to shop somewhere is how they eliminate the riff-raff that they otherwise would have to deal with in the overall management of the store. I am sure that people still steal at Costco or Sams but generally when your store is full of people who are able and willing to pay the membership fee, you also have increased the quality of your customer. Someone who spends $95 on a membership is not as likely to steal from the store as someone who can freely enter and exit.

As a business owner the advantage for me is the convenience of getting what I need in large quantities. If you compare it dollar for dollar I am not really saving any money, however, I like being able to walk up to the rack and put as much as I need/want on the flatbed cart. And because the store has restricted hours for "business members" I am able to shop without having to put up with bratty children or idiot customers who wait until they get to the checkout to find out whether or not something is on sale.

Which brings me to another thing- By it being a self service type of operation, you are on your own. When you go in there to buy something you better know what you are getting. This is especially good for the long lines. Even though the lines may be long they still move rather quickly. I have never seen anyone get to the register and realize that they didn't have enough money or any of the other problems that go along with the checkout counter in most retail stores and supermarkets. Nobody ever yells, "Price Check on register 4!" and if there is ever a problem, they have people who just stand out there all day long for the purpose of assisting. I like the fact that I can see the display sample items first hand without them being behind a glass case or being nailed down to the floor. And I like the fact that people look at the item, try it out, and leave it as they got it where in other stores someone breaks the item the first day it is put on the sales floor. You can see a vaccuum cleaner or blender on display with the owners manual beside it. 3 weeks later that manual will still be sitting there on the shelf even though 400 people have come by to look at that same item.

I don't know about Sams but Costo has one of the BEST return policies that I have ever seen. No box, no reciept, you can STILL take it back. I bought my tires there and when I had a problem with one of them, they replaced it without me having a reciept. In fact because the tire was 40% worn they could only credit me back 60% of the tire price and they had to get me a cheaper tire. Long story short- I got a new tire with about $20 and some change in return.

The membership is how they filter out the bad customers who cheat the retail system while still keeping the honest and legitmate customers. Some 20 years ago, I remember being in those membership clubs where the atmosphere and climate was much different. There was always this sense that you were always a few wrong moves from getting kicked out. And those who had memberships were PRIVILAGED to shop there.

Answer 3

I think it is worth it if you do any amount of shopping at all.

Costco is my favorite - I would think that they must offer a cheaper membership - at least it is cheaper in my area unless you buy an executive/business membership. And inquire as to whether you can get a 'free' membership where they tack on an extra 5% if you buy something.

I buy my gas at Costco and get good savings there too. Got a computer, some clothing, wine, prescriptions, vitamins, towels, appliances, gifts, books - you name it, you can probably buy it at a warehouse store. It is not just food. And it is not all large sizes.

Also at Costco I have found that the quality and freshness of produce is reliably superior to what I find in my regular supermarket. Quantities are larger, but prices are so much lower that I try to buy what I can there. Freeze it, divide it up with friends, use it all - Costco is one of my favorite places to shop.

They offer excellent product choices and I have made very few bad buys at Costco. I am sure to visit them once or twice a month.

Answer 4

I have family that are members of both Sam's and Costco. I shop around and go to as many as 6 different grocery stores a week. These clubs charge yearly membership, want you to buy in bulk, and if you break it down 99% of all items are RETAIL. You don't even get a sale price for a membership fee ?????? I try to tell them that because I have the time to compare prices, that these so called DISCOUNT clubs are rip offs. They still swear by them ????

Answer 5

If you think about it, what you pay to be a member of a warehouse club eventually pays itself off in terms of prices and what you get for those prices. How fast it pays off depends on how frequently you use it.

As long as you don't go overboard, and buy things that you use frequently and/or are able to store food, it's a damn good deal. Also, especially in the case of Costco, their bulk buying power gives them the power to leverage pretty low prices on things and most of their products are of pretty good to excellent quality. You don't usually find fine cuts of meat, or cheese, or select wines, or other aged alcohols for as good as price at WalMart.

I find it weird though, that here in SoCal, Costco membership is only $45 a year. but even at double that, it's still a good deal that pays for itself. I shop at Costco, and have been very satisfied with it. ---and if you are in any way politically conscious, Costco has been very well known to treat their employees extremely well with generous wages and benefits much to the chagrin of Investors and other competitors like Sams Club (AKA Walmart).

I think the bset way to find out if it's for you is to get a membership, and spend a year using it, and see how you like it.

Answer 6

It's never worked for me. I have only broken even, but I don't do my mass grocery shopping there. I suppose that if you did, it would be ok. I am concerned about the quality of produce and meats. But for things that are boxed, canned, and packaged, you'd get a pretty good deal over time, I suppose. Some things aren't any cheaper per unit than buying them in the regular store. You just have to shop wisely. It just isn't worth it for me to go elsewhere for my meat and produce. My time is worth more than the savings, as is my mental health spared by not having to deal with their parking lots or checkout lines!

Answer 7

unless you are shopping in massive bulk (and spending a fortune at one time) it is definitely NOT worth it. Why does the customer have to pay a membership fee to shop cheaply, when getting a discount was the whole point in the first place. I would keep on doing what you are doing and let the giant warehouses keep their huge bulk buying and memberships for themselves

Answer 8

Costco and Sams are worth the money. The gas discount at Costco is well worth it. If you buy in bulk, it is even better.

Answer 9

I think it is for Sam's

Check your local area and see if you have an Aldi's.
http://www.aldifoods.com/

You can save 30-40% on groceries there.
No member fees.
Just have to bag your own groceries.

Michael
http://webmasterautomation.com/blog/

Answer 10

Most of the stuff in these places is in bulk quantities. Unless you have a need, you will actually be wasting money in the long run.