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11 Reasons People Ditched Sam’s Club for Costco

It may be time to swap your Sam's Club membership for Costco's.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Michael Kurko

Updated July 2, 2025

Costco and Sam's Club can both give customers some great membership perks.

However, some shoppers see differences between the two and are bigger fans of Costco than rival Sam's Club.

Do you agree with why customers are ditching Sam's Club for Costco instead?

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The produce isn't great at Sam's Club

Sam's Club and Costco both have fresh produce, but some shoppers think the choices at Sam's Club are subpar.

"All the fruit is trash," lamented Reddit user dmiller1987.

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Sam's Club is too much like Walmart

Sam's Club is owned by Walmart, and both stores share some options, which has hurt them with some customers.

"Sam's Club is empty because it's just Walmart with bigger items," explained Redditor DeepSouthDude, while SplinterCell03 said, "I just want nothing to do with Walmart."

Costco has a better store brand

Costco and Sam's Club both sell products under their store brand labels. Costco's Kirkland Signature is on the shelves, while Sam's Club offers Member's Mark.

However, not all store brands are the same. "Kirkland trounces Member's Mark for me," said one Redditor.

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Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals

July is in full swing, bringing the height of summer. That also means peak season for hot deals and unbeatable savings. Now’s the time to save big on:

Grills, coolers, and outdoor living upgrades
Travel must-haves for road trips and beach days
Swimwear and summer fashion
For grocery savings, grab seasonal produce like watermelon, peaches, and tomatoes

While you're enjoying the sunshine, retailers are quietly making room for back-to-school inventory. That makes July a prime opportunity to scoop up summer favorites while the deals are still blazing.

It's not as clean at Sam's Club

Both stores can get dirty, but some customers noticed that Sam's Club isn't as clean as Costco.

"Just dirtier than any Costco I've ever been in," said Reddit user Lessa22 who explained that the local Sam's Club wasn't "call the health department" dirty but it didn't seem like workers cared about basic cleaning tasks.

Baked goods are better at Costco

Both Sam's Club and Costco have bakeries where you can order baked goods or pick up cakes or cookies.

However, the "bakery is better" at Costco, according to Costco members and Redditor Soundfires.

Costco Secrets: 7 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know

Costco has better organic choices

Sam's Club has around the same number of U.S. stores but only in two other countries.

"Costco is the closest," said Redditor Theopolis55 while Reddit user lhfitz76 said, "Still hold on to my Costco membership because they are closer to my home."

Costco is nicer to employees

Costco gets a better rating on Glassdoor, with 74% of employees saying they would recommend working there to their friends, while only 52% of employees at Sam's Club would recommend working there to their friends.

"Costco is generally good to its employees," said Reddit user moniquecarl while Redditor Appropriate_Shake265 appreciates that Costco pays its employees better and gives them better benefits.

Items are out of stock at Sam's Club

Popular items can go out of stock quickly, but sometimes, that can be extra frustrating and encourage Sam's Club members to leave for good.

Redditor CBus-Eagle said they ditched their Sam's Club card for Costco because "our Sam's Club refuses to have the rotisserie chickens available throughout the day."

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Sam's Club isn't always the best deal

One reason to shop at a membership store is to get extra deals and discounts. But Sam's Club might not have the discounts you expect.

"Sam's is cheaper on some things, but not everything," said Redditor tdaun.

Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill

Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are three quick tips for reducing food expenses:

Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.

Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task, the savings can really add up.

Costco has more unique items

If you're looking for something unique and special when shopping, you may want to skip Sam's Club and go to Costco.

"Costco brings in a lot more unique and higher-end stuff," said Pizookie123. "Costco shoppers always have something to be excited about."

Costco Insider's Guide: 12 little clever ways to get more out of your Costco membership

Bottom line

Whatever you prefer, Sam's Club or Costco can be a good option if you're looking for ways to save money on groceries.

Both stores can get pricey because you're buying in bulk, so make sure you have enough in your budget for a trip to either store.

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