So can anyone tell me why I should shop at Sam's Club? - Page 6

neglectarino · 12-11-2007, 07:39:03 PM

I don't shop at Sam's Club, but do use another warehouse store: Costco. I've figured if I buy 1 gallon of milk there a week (which is $1 less than my regular grocery store's price), I'm paying for my membership in savings on that alone. I didn't want to cancel the membership because we don't save enough annually to make it worthwhile, so I'm glad I figured out the milk thing. It's like 1/4 mile from my store, so gas is negligable in this calculation. Assuming Sam's Club is similar, we buy tires (great prices), get photos developed, film is a good price (compared with sales+coupons in regular store, they are identical), 3 dozen eggs are less than a dollar a dozen (must buy 2 18-packs of eggs) at $2.69, nuts (I make cinnamon sugar nuts for the holidays) & other bulk staples are great prices, especially if it's an odd item you'll need a lot of once a year. For example, the almonds: I never see coupons on anything except blanched & sliced almonds for salads, so I wouldn't save on the ones I bake with by couponing. But I do spend less per pound when I buy them at the warehouse store.

neglectarino · 12-11-2007, 07:42:00 PM

Oh, and when we needed a new phone, I got the latest technology for about $125 less than I could find it anywhere else because I bought the last one at the clearance price. I know people who get glasses at these stores & do well, too.

pcook67 · 12-12-2007, 09:01:58 AM

Umm, no! I tried to think of reasons..but couldn't find any. Almost anything you buy, you can get for the same price or cheaper with coupons somewhere else. We were getting a couple of items there that we couldn't find anywhere else, but then they stopped carrying them, and when we asked about them, they denied ever carrying them. Even when presented with a package and receipts....Ugh! Long story. So this year we paid our $35 fee and then they stopped having the 2 items we were going in for. So, occasionally we go in to look around, but anytime we find something we want to buy...only one lane is open and its long. And after driving 30 min to get there, usually we get fed up and leave. As for gas, 99% of the time gas is cheaper at out local stores gas stations with the preferred customer cards, than it is at Sam's. Just fed up with it and feel like asking for our money back on this years membership fees. I don't think we have bought anything in there for 6 months. So it was a complete waste of money as far as I am concerned.

reminbi2000 · 12-21-2007, 01:13:07 PM

I went to Sam's Club for these

*Free Weekend Breakfast/Lunch by looping through the food sample stations three times
*Good Gas Price
*Buying Rice (50LB) and Cooking Oil (25LB) bulk since there are rarely any coupons for these
*Spending time with Family by shopping together, priceless

lfrh · 01-12-2008, 05:48:41 PM

LOL! I never knew my husband had a twin, although now he reluctantly and occasionally asks if I have a coupon for a particular item!

Originally Posted by cuzisaidso

Splitting the cost sounds like a great idea. My DH does not and will not use coupons and he does the regular shopping. I do the stockpiling. I've learned to never ask him what he paid at the store.

Funny tidbit: When DH wants to make me mad he says he's going to the store to buy xxxxxx product. He says "I'm gonna buy it and pay full price!"

oscamaya · 01-13-2008, 04:21:22 AM

I worked at Sam's Club for over a year and I think with coupons you can do better elsewhere. There are SOME things that I miss getting at Sam's though. We go through a lot of tortillas and they had a big 36 pk for $3, the bakery bagels were $3 for 2-6 pks (if we get bagels now, we get the cheap kind in the refridgerator section because we don't want to pay $3/1), and then in the far back corner of the store is the marked down clearance items that i LOVED. I got a 3 pk of Dawn for .71, or a 6pk canisters of gerber puffs for 2.88. Some cooking pans that they forgot to take off the shelf for .01 (something is only marked down to .01 when it is supposed to be thrown out and not sold, but since it was on the floor they had to sell it to me.) So really I just like Sam's for their clearance because when they mark it down they REALLY mark it down and you can find a lot of good deals. So you just have to decide if the $40/yr membership is worth it for you. If you can find one good product that you use regularly there then the membership will pay for itself.

01-13-2008, 04:42:37 AM

They have the world's best giant muffins! We stock up on them whenever we have to make a trip for DH's work. DH's work pays for our membership, so we get garbage bags and we USED to get Electrasol there too!

jwedzee · 01-13-2008, 02:35:52 PM

Originally Posted by cuzisaidso

I wondered if meat would be better to buy there since the only coupons for it seems to be the ever elusive WT's.

I find that Sam's meat prices run about the same as sales prices elsewhere. If you get there early, you can often find meat reduced for sale from the day before - good deal! I also like buying a chub of the low fat ground beef. I divide it into the portions I use and freeze it. They also have a pack of two Perdue whole chickens I like to buy and those chickens are really good, much better than the chickens in the grocery stores. I read somewhere that the meat is a higher grade of meat and I think that must be true - it seems to be much better. The whole trick of buying meat at Sam's is that you need to buy in bulk and then divide and freeze.

TheyCallMeMom · 01-13-2008, 02:47:30 PM

So can anyone tell me why I should shop at Sam's Club?

nope... I got a pass.. took a note pad and price checked.. wasnt any cheaper..

I get my meat at a meat market.. supports local business, their meat is great and its cheaper... and they dont charge $35 to go in their store

gatorgal · 01-13-2008, 04:01:27 PM

I have had a Sam's membership for at least 7 years and to me it is more than worth the price. We get DH's contacts, gas, trash bags, milk, printer ink, some meats, etc.
I agree with the clearance- it can be wonderful- esp. after Christmas and with clothes. My DH got an IPOD with all the cool accesories for a lot less than just the IPOD by itself elsewhere. I love the selection of books and can usually get great gift items there.
I also bought a recliner for 199 there when literally the store next door had the same exact chair for 469. We also bought the Member's Mark formula which has the same exact ingredients as Enfamil, for massive savings. You get almost 2x as much for $10 a can cheaper.
Yes, I know with coupons you can get the trash bags for the same price but if you don't have to work to get the deal, isn't it better? I only get 2 papers and I haven't ever purchased from clippers. If I don't have to buy tons of papers or order the coupon and I get the same deal, I am completely satisfied.
By the way, I am a minimum of 40 minutes from the closest Sam's. I go there when I have to travel to that town, so I think it helps me to not go overboard buying junk I don't need.