News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

11 Reasons People Gave Up Their Costco Membership for Sam's Club

Costco is a good choice if you’re trying to save money, but Sam’s Club may be better.

sams club exterior and logo
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Costco offers plenty of positives if you’re looking to save money on groceries or get good deals on seasonal items and special purchases.

However, some shoppers are ready to ditch their Costco membership and head to Sam’s Club instead for their shopping needs.

So why make the switch? Here are some reasons customers gave up Costco for Sam’s Club.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

It’s too crowded

Courtesy of Adobe A blue push cart

Costco is a popular option for shoppers, but sometimes it can be too popular.

“I almost always have to park near the back of the lot, every other aisle is like rush hour, and checking out or getting gas takes 15 minutes of waiting for your turn,” said Reddit user Gniphe.

Sam’s Club has better snacks

anaumenko/Adobe Snacks

Costco and Sam’s Club carry snacks of all kinds, from healthy to fan favorites, although the selection at Sam’s Club may be better.

“If you like snacks, then Sam's a huge plus,” said Redditor Soundfires, who noted that Sam’s Club will also put its snacks on sale more often than Costco.

Prices are better

John Hanson Pye/Adobe Sam's Club vs Costco

Membership to a bulk retailer can yield more savings than shopping at your local grocery store, but you might get extra cash in your pocket shopping at Sam’s Club over Costco.

“It's crazy how often I find things $5 to $6 cheaper at Sam's than at Costco,” posted Reddit user scotjowitt2000.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Quality can be hit or miss

Joni/Adobe frozen fishes with sale at sam's

Sometimes, you might find items you like better at Sam’s Club than at Costco. One example a Reddit user noticed was with the meat department from store to store.

“Costco has good meat on the East Coast, but quality is hit or miss in San Diego when I spend time with family,” said user lhfitz76, who noted that Sam’s Club has quality beef.

Sam’s Club has scan and go

vladim_ka/Adobe Sam's Club application on iPhone screen

One advantage of shopping at Sam’s Club is its scan-and-go feature, which isn’t available for Costco shoppers. If you’re comfortable with the Sam’s Club app, you can scan each product as you put it in your cart and then check out without having to stand in line.

“Scan & Go at Sam’s is better than anything Costco has ever provided. It’s just so convenient and makes me resent the already-subpar Costco checkout environment even more,” said Redditor michaelrxs.

Location is key

K KStock/Adobe Sam's club warehouse sign on building

Costco and Sam’s Club each have locations across the U.S., so sometimes it’s just a matter of convenience to drop one membership for another.

Reddit user TinaByKtina said, “I’ve always been a Costco fan, but now it’s about 20 minutes away and the Sam’s Club is right there. Literally end of the neighborhood.”

Sam’s Club has better meals

JackF/Adobe woman choosing ready meal

One advantage of shopping at Sam’s Club or Costco is that you can get freshly prepared meals, making it an easy dinner option after a long day.

Some shoppers, however, have noticed a difference between the two stores. “Sam's seems to have a larger variety of fresh-prepared meals for cooking at home,” said Redditor breakfreeCLP.

The rotisserie chicken is better

FomaA/Adobe Freshly cooked rotisserie chicken with spices

Both stores have rotisserie chickens, which can be a tasty option for an easy meal or to shred and use for recipes.

Some rotisserie chicken fans say that one store is better than the other. “It tastes weird. It's juicy, but has a strong chemical taste from whatever they use to brown the skin,” said Redditor petit_cochon.

Reddit poster sisko4 said the quality of Costco’s rotisserie chicken has steadily gotten worse.

Sam’s Club has better hours

JHVEPhoto/Adobe Sam's club store entrance

One of the perks of getting a Sam’s Club Plus membership is that you have extra shopping hours just for you. Plus, members can start shopping early before the retailer opens for all members.

Redditor themishmosh said, “The Plus hours are great,” while Reddit user Zorgsmom replied, “ I do love the Plus hours.”

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2

Get Capital One Shopping now

Gas is better at Sam’s Club

Tim/Adobe parking outside sam's club warehouse

Gas can be expensive, but a membership to Sam’s Club or Costco can help you save money.

Shoppers, however, find that Sam’s Club may be better than Costco when filling your tank. “Gas station? Way faster at Sam's,” said Redditor Hunnid2000.

Sam’s Club cashback is easier to handle

Игорь Головнёв/Adobe Sam’s Club logo seen displayed on a tablet

Sam’s Club and Costco have premium-tier memberships that offer 2% cash back on purchases. Sam’s Club conveniently gives you cash back to use quickly, while Costco’s policy includes sending you a check that you must remember to bring each quarter.

Redditor SnowblindAlbino said the convenience of Sam’s Cash with a premium membership makes it easier to shop.

“I paid for my entire cart of groceries (in the app) with Sam's cash from last month,” they said, noting it’s much better than waiting a year for a rebate check to arrive.

Bottom line

Lawr/Adobe Sam's Club shopping carts for customers

Sam’s Club and Costco each have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to review both before deciding which one you prefer.

You should also compare costs to decide how to save money on essentials and other items, especially if you compare them on a per-unit cost to your local grocery store.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.