How Much Is Bj's Membership
The standard annual fee for a household or a business is $45 a year at Sam’s Club, $50 a year at BJ’s, and $55 a year at Costco. In addition, all three of the major warehouse chains give you the option of paying more up front for your membership in exchange for rebates or discounts on the goods you buy.
513 shares.Warehouse Club Price Comparison: Costco vs. Sam's Club vs. BJ's – which store is cheaper?
I'm definitely a fan of warehouse club stores for many products (although not everything), but for lot's of items, they can be great. But if you live in an area that has the big 3 warehouse club stores, Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's, how do you know which is cheaper?
That's why I put together this Costco vs. Bj's Warehouse Club Price Comparison of commonly purchased items. I hope it helps!!Costco vs. BJ'sHave you ever wondered which store was cheaper? Costco vs. BJ's – it's a price comparison I've always wanted to do. So I took the time to go through these huge warehouse stores and compare prices to find the best deals on staple items.Today I am going to take your through all three stores to compare the exact same products.
We will see through this in depth look which store really is least expensive! Clark Howard posted the first few items in this Costco vs. BJ's, but this post has the complete list!Keep in mind that prices vary per city, so this is just a general look at the price comparison between stores. Also, if the item was on sale when we gathered prices then we still used the regular price.
We joined BJ’s after being asked to join that, and Costco of course. I agree BJ’s is much cheaper and worth it. Especially since BJ’s doesn’t pay international retail fees, so they can have more locations here in the U.S.As for the amount of food, often times Costco and Sam’s Club appear to have more because there’s fewer locations, therefore all the products are being shipped to one store in an area, rather than 5 in a 100 mile radius. Each BJ’s is not 100% the same and they send coupons for products that are on sale to let people know what to try and buy from the store. Not only that but I get 5cents off BJ’s gas if I shop and get gas – if I had a BJ’s credit card, it would be at least 10 cents off a gallon. Costco and Sam’s Club claim to have low gas prices, but I have never seen evidence of savings (or any potential to save) on gas at Costco or Sam’s.
I have been a BJ’s member for as long as they have been in Ct. I have family that belongs to Costco so I have shopped there on their membership.
BJ”S is cheaper than Costco and their membership is less expensive, however, Costco has a larger inventory. I have shopped at Walmart for years and I have recently started shopping at Aldi’s, they compare to one another, I think equally.Comparing them to Bj’s and Costco I like the idea I not have to buy in bulk since there is only two of us living I our home. I was member of BJs for couple years and recently I took the membership of SamsThe big major difference I noticed is you find more USDA certified organic products in Sams, in bjs we rarely find themI used to go to BJS once in a month or sometimes even longer gap between my visits, it is not because of distance it is because of things I buy there and they usually sell bulk like two three items together.
But after I moved sams I started going to sams almost every weekend or the other, the reasons are I find more organic products as said earlier, most of items packaged small like in any other general stores so you do not need to buy a lot when you do not need and variety of food.Bjs has coupon systems, I used save at least $8 avg on each trip with the coupons and sams does not have coupon system but they have discounts on items. Bjs does have discounts as well.Prices might appear higher in sams as you might find more organic products but I do not see much difference though but I started buying more in sams because I feel like I am buying for a week and healthy stuff.In bjs, non food related you find more varieties like tissue papers, or dish liquids etc. Where as sams has limited variety when comes to non food.Sams club customer care sucks, I supposed to receive $20 joining promotion gift card and I called customer care for many times in last 4 months and still I have not received my gift card. I like the comparison list. Costco quality of goods and services trumps anything at Sams or BJCostco membership and Citi co branded VISA offers:4% back on Gasoline worldwide, including Costco gasoline on the first $7000.00 in gasoline purchases annually, then 1% after.That gives you the freedom to purchase gas anywhere unlike BJ and SamsAlso Costco gasoline is Top Tier, unlike BJ and Sams.And read the fine print on BJ and Sams credit cards, they are not true cash back cards its only offered as a credit. Costco Citi VISA is a check mailed to your house every November that can be redeemed for green cash.
I went to Costco to check prices because I am already a Sam’s Member.They wouldn’t even allow me through the door unless I had a membership card despite only doing a recon mission on prices.So I was forced to go through their sales pitch before I could just take a look.After I walked around for a bit I left and told the manager just how I felt about her wasting my time and have never stepped foot in the place again.Attitude is everything and if you are going to bother me then I will take my money elsewhere.When the economy was bad you were their best friend and loved you. When it is good then you are just another number.I like Sam’s and get great numbers on my families glasses.For their selection food is relatively cheap but meat is outrageous.I counter that because I can shop at the local military base which still, they charge you a 5% surcharge on all food items but it comes out cheaper depending.My feeling is that if they want your business then act like it instead of gouging and having an attitude because there is always someone else that will beat them out if they aren’t careful. I go to the BJs in Flemington, NJ because they carry all I need and they treat me like family! I say that because I am disabled in that I cannot walk at this time and they help me do the things I need to do in order to have a successful shopping trip. They get me a scooter (brought to the car) and they help me check out!!!
Oh yeah, most importantly, they help me stuff the trunk with the food!!! Sure other stores may have more (like the costco next door) but I do not need to shop a store that has the dimensions of Giant Stadium!
I have been a member of Costco and Sam’s for a long time. I DO take advantage of the 5% cash rewards on gas and groceries and Christmas at Sam’s (have two gas guzzlers). Sooo, I do the shopping, I pay the bills, I decide which store to shop. Sam’s is closer, so over time we have earned quite a tidy sum of cash rewards! HERE’S THE CATCH: I’m the wife.
Sam’s DOES NOT recognize me when it’s time to cash in the rewards check. They refuse to even let me put it towards the groceries purchased. They explain that the bank on the Sam’s credit card will only let the priority member (my husband) cash the check. Note here that my husband does not shop, need I say more? SO HERE’S WHAT I DID!
I now spend most of my time and our money at Costco’s because they do NOT have this same prejudice to the lowly wife who does all the “work”. Just MY way of getting back at Sam’s and their little banker. And, I’m loving Costco’s!! Winner, winner – much much more than a chick’n dinner!! BJ’s Can be consistently cheaper because of the acceptance of coupons.
They often have decent coupons on large $ common groceries like bulk paper products, detergents, diapers(not to mention PAMPERS!), etc. You’d be crazy not to use at least the ever-available $4 off coupon on diapers or a bottle of Gain, and you can nearly always score a coupon book at the desk to double down on more then one or if you used your mailer one earlier that month.
They also often have more then 5 options to one vs Costco for any common grocery item like cheese, milk, COFFEE CREAMERS, yogurt, or chips, they even have vastly more automobile tire choices.BJ’s also has a quite stable inventory, many regular things are there every single time for years on end. BJ’s $.10 discount for CC holders and generally easier access to the pump always beats Costco’s gas. Plus the store hours are greatly more accessible then Costco’s.HOWEVER, outside of the of the pre-pack grocery world, I will tell you Costco has hands-down better quality produce &fruit, (house brand)wines, rotisserie chickens, meat, fish, bakery, and deli goods, furniture, seasonal items, many big-ticket home electronics, linens, clothing, etc. Costco’s Home Lifestyle items tend to be much more inspiring and the fast rotations make the non-necessity ‘middle section’ a lot more FUN to shop.We’re usually on a two-stop big-shop cycle per month, the BJ’s stop for General mills/Kraft/Frito-Lay/Papers/Swifter and Gain stop, and the other for Costco Meat/Produce/Fruits/Wine and home improvements stop. We’re also lucky enough to have at least 3 locations each for convenient mid-month stops for gas or a rotisserie chicken quick heat-and-eat dinner. So I’d say get both if you can and get a routine where you can really take advantage. BJ’s Can be consistently cheaper because of the acceptance of coupons.
They often have decent coupons on large $ common groceries like bulk paper products, detergents, diapers(not to mention PAMPERS!), etc. You’d be crazy not to use at least the ever-available $4 off coupon on diapers or a bottle of Gain, and you can nearly always score a coupon book at the desk to double down on more then one or if you used your mailer one earlier that month. They also often have more then 5 options to one vs Costco for any common grocery item like cheese, milk, COFFEE CREAMERS, yogurt, or chips, they even have vastly more automobile tire choices.BJ’s also has a quite stable inventory, many regular things are there every single time for years on end. BJ’s $.10 discount for CC holders and generally easier access to the pump always beats Costco’s gas. Plus the store hours are greatly more accessible then Costco’s.HOWEVER, outside of the of the pre-pack grocery world, I will tell you Costco has hands-down better quality produce &fruit, (house brand)wines, rotisserie chickens, meat, fish, bakery, and deli goods, furniture, seasonal items, many big-ticket home electronics, linens, clothing, etc. Costco’s Home Lifestyle items tend to be much more inspiring and the fast rotations make the non-necessity ‘middle section’ a lot more FUN to shop.
Their eyeglass, pharmacy, and photo services are so good, I’ve never looked to see if BJ’s even HAS them. Also, Costco’s return policy is still the best.
How Much Is Bj S Membership
For any big-ticket purchase in particular, Costco is worth it even if it’s a few dollars more. You just don’t have to worry about anything not being what you expected.
BJ’s can be more then a little frustrating at times, especially if you don’t have the receipt, their service computer systems are in the dark ages. Costco membership services can find something from years ago in seconds.We’re usually on a two-stop big-shop cycle per month, the BJ’s stop for General mills/Kraft/Frito-Lay/Papers/Swifter and Gain stop, and the other for Costco Meat/Produce/Fruits/Wine and home improvements stop. We’re also lucky enough to have at least 3 locations each for convenient mid-month stops for gas or a rotisserie chicken quick heat-and-eat dinner. So I’d say get both if you can and get a routine where you can really take advantage of their strengths. For what it’s worth, if you take Sam’s club out of the mix, it’s a tie. For the 11 products where Sam’s was the winner, BJ’s had the 2nd best price on 3, Costco had 2nd best on 4, and there was no comparison on the remaining 4 (e.g. Green Bell Peppers).
The counts would then have been BJs 18, Costco 18, no comparison, 4. In the end, it will come down to the products that your family needs.
You do need to pay attention to product and package size though. For example, the sheets of Charmin toilet paper at BJ’s are more narrow than the ones from Costco (it’s immediately obvious). The packaging is also different – 8 or 10 rolls per grouping in the BJ’s package versus 6 in the Costco package. BJ’s Bounty paper towels are not individually wrapped inside the package either. BJ’s sells cases of Gatorade as 24 x 20oz bottles, Costco has 35 x 16oz bottles, both are $15.99. And finally, fat content in ground beef DOES make a big difference.
Next time you’re at any grocery store that sells multiple varieties of fat content, compare the price per pound of the 80%, 85%, and if they have it, 90%. The higher the percentage (e.g. Lower fat content), the higher the price.BJ’s membership is $55 where I am. Costco is $60. No Sam’s club in the local area so I can’t compare there. Costco liquor and supplementary services have been far better where I live (saved over $5000 on a car purchase years ago).
Both BJ’s and Costco do coupons. BJ’s makes you clip and redeem them and as far as I know, supports usage of manufacturer coupons. Costco only accepts their own coupons, but automatically applies them to all purchases so no clipping necessary. They do the same thing – price comparisons and shift their prices around to counter people such as ourselves who want to save the most money from being able to do so productively since who want’s to comparison shop prior to each visit, which is almost what you would have to do to get a good overview of the reality of a price/cost comparison over a protracted period of time. This blogs comparison simply shows the price situation to be real. So for Lauren it works but for someone else who purchases other stuff it may not work so ya have to do your own price comparison to get the results for your specific situation.
And then they will change the prices again at the stores and wooooo hoooo here we go again with a comparison. I had a similar experience at Costco recently. I just went in on a recon. I spoke to a manager and the first thing he asked was how I even got in the store without membership. That was an immediate turn-off. I couldn’t even buy anything at the take-out counter without membership. Also their membership is more than BJs.
Bjs Coupons
Like another writer stated, “I would be hard pressed set foot in another Costco”. I’m a BJs member of long standing and can even remember when you didn’t even need membership to make purchases, just pay a slightly higher price. I don’t know if that is still is their practice but at least you can get in the store to decide if you want to join without being harassed for a membership card. There is a BJ’s opening soon near me. I am already a Costco member.
BJ’s will be closer so I wanted to check them out. This is great information! I will have to check them out when they open.One thing I did want to point out is that there is a mistake in the white bread comparison.The information states;“BJ’s – $2.49 (2 pack of 20 ounce loaves) = $0.06 per ounce (WINNER!)Costco – $3.99 (2 pack of 24 ounce loaves – on sale in pic) = $0.08 per ounceSam’s Club – $3.58 ( 2 pack of 22 ounce loaves) = $0.08 per ounce”However, looking at the pictures of the pricing signs, the COSTCO bread is priced at $2.99 not $3.99 which would make the COSTCO bread 0.6229 per ounce compared to BJ’s at 0.6225. With a 0.0004 cent price difference I think I would call that one a tie. This would result in an overall tie between COSTCO vs BJ’s.
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