How Do You Know if You’re Saving Money at a Warehouse Club?
A couple of month’s ago we made a trip out to Sam’s Club at the suggestion of some friends who claim to save a lot of money shopping there. We made a thorough (and exhausting) examination of the items offered to see if we could save on things that we regularly buy. As you know, these stores sell in large quantities and so some basic math is needed to figure out what per item/pound/unit costs really are. But that is really not enough. How do you know if the prices are actually lower than those you typically pay?
One good way is to keep a price book. I resisted doing so for some time because it is somewhat tedious but it has become an invaluable tool. Using the price book, we were able to compare the unit prices at Sam’s Club to prices we could find at our main grocery stores, Target or Walmart. Sam’s Club does not take coupons so the couponed cost (if available) is the one we used for comparison. We found minor savings on some items but since we do not consume many of the things a typical household consumes (box fruit juices, snack foods, packaged dinners, etc) our choices were limited. Once we considered the membership cost and the gas to get there, we decided it was not worth it for us.
Last week I found an offer online for a 2 month free membership at BJs, another warehouse store. Unable to resist the lure of “free” and when we had another reason to be in that part of town, I packed up the price book and we embarked on another exploration. I admit that I didn’t have a lot of hope that this store would be any different but I was wrong. First, they have significantly more products on offer. Second, their membership cost is 100% refundable at any time during the period of membership (even the last day) and they take coupons! We found many more items that we actually use and because they were offering $10 off your purchases with a paid membership ($45) we went ahead and joined. I’m confident that I will cancel the membership if we find we’re just not making the trip out there or my continually evolving price book informs me that their prices have crept up.
What about you? Have you found these clubs worth it?
Photo credit: BJ’s Photo Gallery
Regarding BJs specifically, my husband and I have found that the savings on milk alone pays for the annual membership.
We keep something like a price book… except in our heads.
We find that toilet paper and household stuff to be a SIGNIFICANT amount of savings … whereas edible items like honey, meats and produce may not be of top quality and/or are just slightly cheaper at $1 less per kg.
There’s a sort of BS milk co-op here in Quebec, so the price of milk is exactly the same no matter where you go, so trying to get a deal on milk is a joke.
We have a Sam’s next door to a super Wal Mart. I compared the prices of some brand name dish soap between them. Individually, they were about the same price. However, at Sam’s, a cheaper brand or store brand was not available; they only carried a couple of the more expensive brands. I purchased a cheaper (yet recognizable) brand name at Wal-Mart. It was nearly half the price per bottle than the brand being sold in the 3-pack at Sam’s.
HOWEVER, I did purchase my contact lenses at Sam’s. They were WAY less than Wal-Mart (sorry I don’t have an exact amount).
So, in answer to your question, there are some good deals, but not always. The way you know if you’re saving money is to compare. I carry a calculator around (and a mental price list of things I regularly buy, as you suggested).
Hi, kids! Thanks for the link to our price book article–and as an ally and mom to a TG/Lesbian daughter, I LOVE your site slogan! I’ll remember it when I load up my coupon wallet today.
Cynthia Ewer
Editor, OrganizedHome.com
In my house, it’s a costco memebership. I did not care for Sam’s either. Most of the time, it’s about taking the time to find the deals. There are plenty to be had at costco (and they at least send out their own coupons every couple of months), but you have to look. This kind of membership can be shared with other families/friends to help split the cost. Which makes it a much better value for a single person!
Carol, I love the idea of keeping a price book. I’ve never thought of that before, but it totally appeals to my OCD nature.
We shop at Costco. They do coupons, but I don’t know that it’s worth it to clip them. Costco makes a price comparison easy, because they conveniently have the price per unit broken down on the price card. We only get certain stuff there – toilet paper, garbage bags, cat litter, disposable dessert plates (for feeding the cats their wet food), and the occasional booze for a large party. It really is worth the savings. But for almost everything else, we can get a better deal at the grocery store or Target.
I also love the idea of a price book. I’ve had the same shopping habits for so long that I know a good price for my usual list, but now that I’m keeping an eye out for sales for my girlfriend and her family’s preferences to help her save (she lives at her dad’s to help care for him), I’ve found myself beginning to keep notes on those items’ prices in my cell phone.
I have a membership to Costco that’s an annual gift from my dad, and I’ve had a trial membership to BJs. Costco has great deals for photo processing. I’ve found that both BJs and Costco are great for produce when I need lots, and their liquor prices are excellent too, but most other things can be gotten cheaper on sale at the grocery store. Since I’m usually just cooking for myself, it’s tough to take advantage of the produce prices because the quantity means most will be wasted due to rot. When I have the extra money, I’ll buy meats at Costco too and freeze it in small packages. They have better prices on organic chicken and ground beef than I’ve found anywhere else.