REX
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I never thought of it like that. You bring up a very good point. There really is no good reason for them to charge to shop. Star for you. |
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pamma
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It would be nice if i didn't need a memebership, i would have bought more things there instead of walmart. They think it increases customer loyalty and get serious customers. |
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Louisa
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I've been a member of both Costco and Sams Club for years. It's not a question of walmart vs. "the clubs"...it's that the clubs often sell different stuff or stuff you can get in a regular supermarket, but in larger quantities...
For example...if you love fresh coffee, at both Costco and Sams, you can buy them in bulk. If you rely on a regular supermarket, you have to keep buying bag after bag because the quantity is smaller. You can also buy a 16oz bottle of vanilla and larger quantities of spices, paper products, etc. They also have lots of imported gourmet foods, seafood, wines, vitamins and pharmacy items in bulk, etc.
If you tend to use larger quantities of stuff, then the club stores might work for you. They also have great deals on office supplies, furniture, appliances, computers and electronics, and even cars and jewelry. For example, you can get HP laptops at costco for significantly less than you would at best buy or another such similar store.
The difference between sams and costco? I think costco has more "high end" products. but, i like sams too because they have really FRESH produce.
***UPDATE TO YOUR UPDATE*** I dont know for sure, but I imagine that the membership fee goes to off set the cost of some operational expense. At $45 or $50 a year, you most definitely will get it back even if you only do 1/3 of your shopping there.
Also, the respondent below my response...really illustrates how you can get your membership fee back in a few purchases. And yes, I got 4 SUV tires with installation for a great price plus 2% cash back at Sams. |
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trooper753
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its all a big scam- and they really arent that much cheaper anyway unless you buy a ton of stuff in bulk for a business. but that was their original target anyway. |
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SJ
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I skimmed the other answers -- they seem to be answering from the customer point of view. In the case of Costco, the Membership dollars are very significant revenue. Their price policy is very unusual, as they mark everything up the same low percentage (I think it's 10%). This is just a business plan.
I expect a side benefit is that when a member visits they are predisposed to buy, attempting to get good value for the membership. |
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jojo27315
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I think the benefits outweigh the membership fees but you really have to take advantage of everything they offer.
Costco and Sams are able to charge lower prices on their items because they do take in some revenue on membership charges. They also obtain contracts to buy limited amounts of a product and sell it at a deep discount. You have to watch out for these deals but they're great once you find them.
Here's some examples of what I've saved on:
4 pounds of bananas are $1.30 at Costco. They're $3.16 at most grocery stores. We eat 4 pounds of bananas a week. I've saved $96 a year in bananas alone!
A box of Acuvue 2 contact lenses are $14 at Costco. They would cost me $25 a box at the optometrist office or $18 a box at Wal-Mart.
A set of four tires cost me $260 at Costco because I took advantage of a $60 off coupon. The same tires would have cost me over $400 at a tire store. They also rotate them for free. Wal-Mart would charge me to get my tires rotated.
I bought a designer handbag from the Costco website for $100. The same bag was selling for $300 on HSN.
A Toyota dealer offered me a car for $500 over the invoice price right off the bat for being a Costco member.
$1.50 for a huge hot dog and soda? Enough said.
If you keep an eye out for limited time deals and use all their services, the membership fees for these clubs are definitely worth it. |
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Ego's Twin
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it makes no sense to me to have to pay to shop, but then again, I live alone so buying in bulk serves no purpose for me
just look for the deals at your local supermarket and you can save just as much, if not more |
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serendipity
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i dont think it's a ripoff because the stuff there is cheaper than most places such as walmart unless walmart is having some incredible sale. and it's only around 30 dollars to join and you save so much from them |
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jose v
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it is not really a rip off if you go there often but if you go maybe once every two or 3 months it might be |
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Ame
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I do think places like Sam's or Cosco are scams- I would never pay to shop there. They are often not cheaper than places you don't have to pay to shop at. That being said, I do have a wholesale membership for a company that always guarantees lower prices. |
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prmdc_girl91
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I guess it would depend how much you bought and how often. If you went in for a couple items once a month, it probably wouldn't be worth it. However, if you often buy things in bulk, I'd say the cost to join is probably worth it. |
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LG
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It only makes sense for someone who is running a business and buys ALOT of stuff. For example, a self-employed person that runs a convenience store. For what their store sells, they cannot afford or sell the minimum order quantites set by the manufacturers...only chain stores can do that...so the person buys what they need for that week at Sam's. That way they are not ordering 100 bags of doritos (minimum order allowed by manufacturer) and only selling 30 bags, so 70 go stale and profit is lost. They shop weekly only for what they need. |
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jonnyjewstar
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Walmart has a savings compared to most any retail shop- even it's competitors. Even Target. ..But Walmart won't require a membership due to just the fact that they don't sell in bulk.
It is not a rip off to shop at Sams/Costco/Whatever. If you do the math and figure to pay 20 bucks a month on a membership and save on buying in bulk. Although, it can be a ripoff if you don't plan to use what you buy and let it spoil. If you have a deep freezer or make giant dinners, it's a great deal compared to buying it at even walmart.
With that said, it just depends on if you would utilize your purchases. I don't shop sams, but I understand the concept and the savings to those who would use it. |
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becca2245
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I don't think these places are a rip-off. It only costs 50$ to join Costco, and you save a lot more money. You can get real good deals there |
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blair o
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OMG - I love Costco - you totally save WAY more there than you do at Wal-mart. They have the best steaks and salmon filets. They have awesome exotic cheeses that are way cheaper than anywhere else. They have everything! They even have 7 jeans!!!
If you just bought a gallon of milk a week you would save your membership cost in like 3 months. |
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kaitlynxbooxboo
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i dont think they r we have amembership and i find them great
theres a farmacy and their gas is a lot cheaper than some others
it gives many prileges than just regualuar stores
i think its great
and there prices r actually smaller and u save more when u buy in the bulk |
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trix
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you pay one time membership fee! for bulk items! |
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Mmgirl
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Yes, I would pay the $50 costco membership fee to shop at walmart if that is what it came to. The fee really saves a lot of money in the longrun. Where else can you buy 36 rolls of toilet paper for 12 bucks. Plus in Cali they sell bulk liquor. Much cheaper than the other places to get it. |
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rjm
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I wouldn't say they are a rip off,but if you have a large family or a group of families that share the food it makes more sense because you have to buy in bulk. So in the long run you would save but the money going out up front would be more. |
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Gone fishin'
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You can shop at Walmart and skip the Costco and Sam's club ripoff if that is the way you feel. |
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