SOME consumers have argued that Sam’s Club takes the top spot for subscription-based retailers in the United States.
The company is often compared to top competitors like Costco for its policies, discounts, food and drink offerings, and more.
Sam’s Club has been praised by shoppers for several reasons (stock image)[/caption]
Some argue that it’s a better and more affordable option than Costco (stock image)[/caption]
Sam’s Club and Costco first arrived during the same year in 1983.
The first Costco warehouse appeared in Seattle, Washington, from founders Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey H. Brotman, and has grown to over 620 locations across the country.
Initially called Sam’s Wholesale Club by Walmart founder Sam Walton in Midwest City, Oklahoma, Sam’s Club also has around 600 stores nationwide.
Needless to say, the histories of both warehouse retailers are intertwined.
Customers have debated which company offers the better experience for years.
That trend continued earlier this month in a thread on X, with the argument leaning in favor of Sam’s Club for five crucial reasons.
“I think the best financial advice I could give you is cancel or dont get a Costco membership,” a longtime shopper, Barrett, wrote.
Barrett continued to argue that Sam’s Club has “cheaper gas, not as much fancy snacks that you don’t need, scan and go app, [and] grocery pickup.”
Going down the list, the cheaper gas is possible on a store-by-store or state-by-state basis depending on several factors.
A study at the end of 2024 found that BJ’s Wholesale Club actually beat out both Costco and Sam’s Club for gas prices, per The Krazy Coupon Lady.
With the “fancy snacks” that’s more of a personal preference, and it’s true that Costco does not have curbside grocery pickup, only in-store pickup orders can be made or same-day delivery through Instacart.
MOST PROMISING PERK
However, the Scan & Go feature Barrett mentioned that Sam’s Club offers and Costco does not has been a point of contention for some time.
Scan & Go, also available to Walmart+ subscribers, gives members a chance to use their mobile device to scan all of the merchandise they place in their cart while shopping around the store.
By the time they get to the checkout area, they would have generated a single barcode for all the items.
Sam’s Club Membership Deal
*If you click on a link in this boxout we may earn affiliate revenue.
Get a Sam’s Club 1-year membership for $20, instead of $60.
How to redeem this offer: After purchasing this offer on StackSocial, you will receive a unique code which you can then use to sign up for a Sam’s Club Membership.
By accepting this offer, you authorize annual recurring charges for your Sam’s Club membership fee at the then-current rate until you cancel. So remember to cancel your auto-renewal, if you don’t wish to retain your membership.
*Valid for new members only. Check full terms and conditions here.
They can then scan that at self-checkout or a cashiered lane and leave with ease.
Except, Sam’s Club stores are continuing to update their technology to move toward eliminating traditional checkouts altogether with a gate technology.
It allows members to have their receipt scanned when they walk through automatically, pay in an instant, and leave the store.
This is is something that leaves Costco in the dust, according to Barrett.
“Not only that they have the computer vision gate thing at my sams and does the whole check your receipt thing automatically, no standing there waiting on someone to count all the stuff in your basket like you are some kind of criminal,” he wrote.
COSTCO DEFENDED
Even with all the praise for Sam’s Club, some customers still argued that Costco has aspects that can’t be beat.
“I don’t know man. Cheap gas, $1.50 for a hotdog and a drink, oversized shopping carts,” a Costco devotee pointed out.
“That’s not easy to turn your back on.”
“While this is probably true I cannot condone it,” another said.
A third called Barrett a “liar” over Sam’s Club being better.
Costco also recently confirmed it would be bringing back a beloved perk to 628 stores for select members.
It even confirmed the arrival of a $2.99 “refreshing” food court treat just in time for summer.
