My membership to Sams Club is up for renewal in a month or so, and I have been trying to decide if I should renew it or not. Edit: My renewal rate is $40 for 1 year.
Prior to using the "stocking up during sales" method of shopping, I used to go to Sams regularly, primarily for batteries, paper towels, toilet paper, ziplock bags, frozen chicken breasts, bottled water, cereal and granola bars. I always felt I was getting a better deal on those items when I bought them in bulk. Then I discovered CVS, and shopping combining sales with coupons, and I haven't stepped foot into a Sams since. That was about 4 months ago.
I'll admit that one downside to shopping sales/coupons at multiple stores is having to shop more frequently. For example, I actually have to run out to buy diapers tonight because I only have a few left...and that hasn't happened to me since my daughter was born 2 years ago! If I keep my membership to Sams, I could buy in bulk and save myself a few trips to the store, which might help me save on gas.
What about you? Do you shop at warehouse clubs, and if so, what items do you feel are more affordable there vs. the grocery or discount store?
I may run there sometime next week to write down prices and compare them with what I have been getting similar items for lately. I will keep you posted!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Warehouse Clubs - Are They Worth It?
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13 comments:
I am not a member of any warehouse clubs, but maybe I'll consider joining one in the future as my family grows.
When I was in Sam's Club with my mother in law, I wasn't impressed with the prices. Some bulk prices on items I considered buying were much more than I would pay at the regular grocery or drugstore.
What about just going to Sam's when they have their "guest pass" days, and just pay the extra 10 percent?
For the $50 fee to be recouped, doesn't that mean you'd need to spend $500 first, or so? That's bad math, and I could be totally off base.
I love that you picked this topic to write about. I have a membership to Sam's, and I always debate over renewal. I've always used coupons, but more now than before, so with stockpiling & couponing I can get most items cheaper at CVS or the grocery store. I do however, still buy my laundry detergent at Sam's. I buy the 5 gallon bucket of powder. It lasts me 3-4 months. At that price plus my membership fee, I am only spending about $70/yr at most, on laundry detergent. I justify my membership on that savings. I read on another blog that the writer averages $190/yr on laundry detergent. Yikes!
Sorry to ramble...
I used to have a membership to Sam's myself and a few months after I started couponing I decided not to renew. I have only been in there once since then, with my inlaws, and I haven't really missed it.
I think it just might depend on how close your Sam's is, if they have a gas station to save you more money on gas and such. I have figured that their diapers are about the cheapest I have found, but since that was the main thing for me, it wasn't worth spending the yearly renewal on.
I subscribe to www.thegrocerygame.com and she recommends getting cheese, produce, etc every few weeks at warehouse clubs if the list stores aren't running good sales on them. I don't but I live by her lists regardless. :)
Sorry this was such a long comment!
We buy our tires at Sams and get a lot better deal, so we made the cost of membership in that area alone. Since I CVS and sale shop I can buy things at a better price. But when I know that I am low on things like Tide HE and don't know when the next sale will be I like to go to Sams and just make sure I am stocked up on the things I need. Then I can buy the sales to continue to stockpile. Another great savings is the gas is a lot cheaper at Sams.
I use to belong to Costco, but switched to BJ's they allow you to use a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon. The stacking can save you some money on certain items that we use all the time so for me it is worth it! Veronica
My Sam's membership runs out at the end of the month. I will not be renewing it. I don't think the savings are significant enough to justify the $45 fee.
I have a Sam's membership that I use twice a month. My fiance actually has it as his business account so I don't pay anything for it - I'm his free add on. I went in a couple weeks ago to take my mother to get a few things (she refuses to cut coupons). I started comparing prices. I do buy bottled water, dryer sheets there (haven't found a substitute that will eliminate static), JIF peanut butter (don't like other brands), and Heinz Ketchup (don't like other brands. I don't do a lot of baking but if I did, I'd probably purchase some of the baking items in bulk. Other than that, I check for their "One Time Deals" - I've gotten some really good deals on those items.
I used to belong to Costco and then found that if I tracked the sales carefully I could do better at groceries, CVS, Walgreens, Target. They still have the best price on a few things, but my costco was 1/2 hour away, so it was always a special trip. I figure I'm saving time and gas and the $50 annual fee.
I have a membership to Sams and even though I've started couponing, I'm going to keep our membership. For some reason, our coupon inserts really are slim in our local paper, especially on food items. My youngest is sensitive to most diapers and I can get her Huggies there for a decent price. We have one CVS to a metro population of over 200,000 so all the great buys are always gone. At Sam's I can stock up on staples(flour, sugar, and pasta) and hubby can usually find some good buys on meat. Also, their milk is cheaper and with 3 kids ages 15 months to 11, we go through a lot. We recently bought tires there for our truck and saved quite a bit on that. I know my hubby does alot of work on that side of town and has started to use Sam's to fill up with gas too.
I split the membership with a friend of mine so I only have to pay $20 a year. My husband and I both don't need a card. For that price it is worth it to me to have the membership.
I am a business member of Sam's, BJ's and Costco. I am also disabled, and them having scooters and great customer service makes my memberships worth my cost.
BJ's is the most convenient. It is close to DH's work. The savings on gas for him alone is worth the membership fee. I have been a member there about 5 years.
Sam's we use for all our family's RXs, furniture, fish (best of all three on prices), and all my flowers. I get the absolute best customer service here (perhaps because all the employees know me LOL), and I have had a membership there for 20 years.
Costco is the place for electronics. They have the best price and double MFG warranty. I also get money back on my purchases there because I am a star business member. That membership was $100 instead of 50, but they guarantee that if you don't receive at least that $50 back in a year, they will refund the difference. My first quarter, I got back over $32. DH and I have dinner out when we do Costco. a 1/4 lb. Kosher hot dog and drink is $ 1.50, and a churro is $1. They have other goodies too, all at reasonable prices.
I have a notebook with all of their prices as well as my regular 'stores' so I know where things are cheaper.
In general, I have found Sam's to be cheaper on everyday things like milk. I love BJs for their more gourmet items, but Costco has a lot of those too.
OH, and BJs takes coupons, and has ads with coupons at the front of the warehouse where you enter.! Sam's does not, and Costco only takes their coupons.
I think that BJ's is the best value for the money. They accept every type of payment so you can earn points on your credit card. They also take any manufacturers coupons for their products. The also mail every customer a BJ's journal that is packed w/ BJ's only manufactures coupons. And they send out a second coupon book too that has manufacturers coupon. Today I sent there and bought a 72 count box of Bagel Bites for 8.99 and there was a 3.00 off manufactures coupon bringing it down to 5.99!
I also bought a 3 liter bottle of Bertolli Extra virgin olive oil for 18.99 less a 5.00 off manufacturer coupon for a total of 13.99 , not bad this is sooo expensive in the stores
I saved 8.00 today alone. So this more than makes up for the $40 a year membership that I split payong w/ my mom. They also have coupons that you can print out online. Check it out at BJs.com
Wow..thanks for all of this info! I will be posting a follow up soon regarding this info and what I decide.
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