Sam's club vs costco

[Donw]

Boy do I wish I had this choice to make. My closest Sam’s is a 80 mile roundtrip and about 200 to a Costco.

[IowaGirl]

Ditto for me. But we do have Fareway stores within a half hour one way and they have full service meat counters. There's also two independent butchers nearby with good reputations.

[Oak Smoke]

Same here, sams is 85 miles northwest and Costco is 125 miles northeast, that's one way. It's the reason I use certified angus choice. It's what I have reasonable access to.

[FishTalesNC]

We live 5 min from a Sam's and 15 min from a Costco and have memberships to both. Both are equally busy here, and Sam's club has the self-scan checkout on your phone which I love - skip all those lines. I find the butchers at Costco to be MUCH more knowledgeable and helpful. Re: the meat, I like that Costco has pork bellies, and a much better selection of meat in general, including prime grade. I do not care for Sam's baby backs, way too much loin meat. Sam's pork butts here are bone in which I prefer, I've only found boneless at Costco. I have had 3 or 4 instances where the meat I brought home from Sam's was bad, haven't had that experience yet with Costco.

[Troutman]

Costco has the fastest credit card reader I've ever seen. That's all I have to say that hasn't already been said. So, FireMan , let's have a poll ???!!!

[FireMan]

Ask me if I give a rip? 🕶

[Troutman]

You know FireMan I was hoping you did give a rip, but as usual ....

[randy.56]

We have a Sam's, All meats are great from them, They are building a costco as we speak, Waiting with patience. As all you folks have raved about there stuff.

[RustyHaines]

The Costco here put Sam's out of business. Now my Costco is super busy. I buy probably 75% of my meat there. I still buy pork butts elsewhere because Costco NEVER has them for .99 cents a pound.

[Murdy]

I'm no connoisseur when it comes to lamb, but I get mine mostly at Costco and like it, and they seem to always have leg, chops, and (usually) a Frenched roast on hand. Not sure if Sam's carries lamb.

I have been a member of both. I prefer Costco overall, and for their meat, though Sam's meat was pretty good too a few years back (haven't been in there for 2 or 3 years). Costco's also great for booze and wine.

I'm not sure if this pertains to all Costcos or just my local one, but they are lousy at cutting, so, with a few exceptions, I only buy loins and cut them up myself.

[klflowers]

Costco also sells this Cape Cod Chicken Salad that is addictive.

https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Comfort-Cuisine-Cape-Cod-Chicken-Salad%2C-40-oz.product.100285055.html

I have sat with a box of Ritz crackers and ate half a tub before I made myself stop.

[ColonialDawg]

I think it depends on location. I have a membership to both. I like packers from Costco but pork from Sams. But recently our Sams stopped carrying Smithfield Prime pork, so I may not continue my membership.

[realdocBBQ]

It would be really interesting if Sam's started carrying Prime briskets as mentioned above. For me, it's Costco every time, although Sam's is 40 miles each way, and Costco is about 60.

[Huskee]

Ours did a month ago, ya just never know

[FireMan]

Costco & Sam’s is an hour drive either way for me. So I have to rely on a butcher, a stupor market or an on-line source such as Creekstone Farms. SRF is out of my pay scale. I do like readin about what ya’ll get & do in those places though.
As far as a poll, Troutman is juss tryin ta git me involved in somethin that’s gonna end up fake & rigged. So, I don’t give a rip. 🕶

[RichieB]

I've alway been a member of BJ's. There were no SAM or Costco anywhere where I used to live. Now here in Western Mass still a member. There is a Costco a bit further from the BJ's. I did not see anything on the web site regarding day passes. Maybe I'll venture down there to walk around.
As far as BJ's, we've never been disappointed with any of their products. With just the 2 us, getting the volume of product is not something we do. Regarding meat, I've had good experience with quality and price. Yesterday we made a trek to are old hunting grounds ( 50 miles) to Northboro MA. There BJ's and Wegmans. It's a place of bliss. Go to Wegmans for Wine and Liquor. They do have nice meat but I usually don't buy there. BJ's has a nice variety of meat. I didn't by a lot as my allocated freezer space in basement is pretty full. But I did get these for a Saturday cook.

I would be curious if anyone had shopped both BJ's and Costco and what their take on that comparison would be.

[binarypaladin]

Can't compare since I'm only a Costco member. With that said, in my area there's a ton of Prime beef, full packer briskets, pork ribs in St. Louis and baby back, whole boneless ribeyes, etc.

They also sell organic whole chickens at the best prices I've seen.

Costco also has a bunch of organic and "trendy diet" products at a really good price. As someone who is low carb/paleo most of the time, they've been a serious blessing.

(As an aside, if you join Costco, check their car insurance rates compared to your own.)

[Backroadmeats]

Sounds like costco is the way to go.. thanks for all the replies. We don't buy alot of meat but my daughter has her first communion coming up and she picked ribs for the meal.. so I get to cook ribs for 70 people!!

[randy.56]

Smart kid, must take after mom. LOL

[Spinaker]

Costco has always done well by me.

[JoeSousa]

The biggest complaint I have about Costco meat is how they blade tenderize their steaks. No reason for them to do that. I do buy whole primals and cut them myself and when I get tri tip there I get the whole bag before they have run them through the tenderizer but it would be much more convenient if they didn't blade tenderize them in the first place.

Other than that I love their prime briskets and pork bellies. I have 6 bellies curing in my fridge right now.

[grantgallagher]

This just made me very sad