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11 Reasons Shoppers Are Ditching Sam’s Club for Costco

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

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Kaitlin Milligan

Updated April 23, 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

April brings not just warmer weather and sunnier days, but also excellent shopping opportunities. With Easter happening on April 20, retailers will offer significant discounts on seasonal items at the end of the month, while also preparing for graduations, weddings, and spring cleaning season.

Here are some of the best deals to watch out for:

Cookware sets on sale for graduation and wedding season
Winter clearance items like coats and sweaters at end-of-season prices
Spring cleaning supplies with potential BOGO offers at stores like Target
Air conditioners before peak summer demand drives prices higher
Lawn care equipment as homeowners prepare for the growing season
Post-Easter candy and ham at deeply discounted prices once the holiday has passed
For grocery savings, consider seasonal produce like asparagus, broccoli, and spinach, which will be at their freshest and most affordable.

Remember that retailers are always thinking a season ahead. They're already preparing to get rid of spring merchandise while you're just getting ready to enjoy it. This makes April a great time to find budget-boosting deals of all kinds and save money at your favorite retailers.

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 some of our favorite tips for reducing food expenses that we personally put to use:

Plan your meals around what's already in your pantry, then create a shopping list to prevent impulse purchases.
Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
Stock up on staples when on sale, but don’t ever buy just because something comes in bulk.
Shop the marked-down section for near-expiration bargains
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 to handle every week, the savings can really add up. Double check in case your store also offers perks like gas rewards or any other discounts you might be able to take advantage of outside the grocery store.

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

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Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Card Details

Earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and Costco

The produce isn't great at Sam's Club

Sam's Club is too much like Walmart

Costco has a better store brand

Alert: Americans lost billions to identity theft and fraud

Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals

It's not as clean at Sam's Club

Trending Stories

Baked goods are better at Costco

Costco has better organic choices

Costco is nicer to employees

Items are out of stock at Sam's Club

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Sam's Club isn't always the best deal

Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill

Costco has more unique items

Bottom line

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

Annual Fee

Rewards Rate

Benefits

Drawbacks

Learn how to make an extra $200

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