SHOPPERS are pitting two retail giants against each other in a battle for boxes and subscriptions.
Costco and Sam’s Club are two big rivals that rely on customers paying annual membership fees to shop with them.
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This means buyers often weigh the differences between the two, forcing more competition and better deals for consumers.
However, one shopper believes they have found a definite winner after both retailers implemented changes in recent times.
Costco buyer John Kuzemka shared on Facebook how the retailer that earns their loyalty will be the one that offers the most effective checkout experience – both online and in-store at the best price.
“I don’t shop Costco online. Costco required a $75 purchase for free shipping,” he wrote in the comments to a Facebook publish.
“My closest Sam’s was 60 miles away, so in addition to free shipping, I could order the things I needed and they would arrive at my door in two days.
“The closest Costco was over 200 miles away from me.”
However, Sam’s Club recently received backlash after announcing a change to its Plus membership that would eliminate free shipping on all orders.
Instead, starting August 19, the company will only offer free shipping to Sam’s Club Plus members on orders over $50.
Smaller orders will have members paying $110 per year, charging $8 for shipping.
The Walmart-owned wholesaler has been accused of being greedy, and as a result, some members are vowing to switch to Costco.
However, for Kuzemka, Sam’s Club still offers a checkout feature, meaning he will always go there instead of Costco.
“The Sams Scan n Go app puts them head and shoulders above Costco for personal shopping,” he said.
“I never line up or wait. The last time I was in a Costco (last week) I left because I refuse to wait in those lines.”
The US Sun previously reported on another Costco member who claims she was left waiting in line for an hour to check out as she recommended installing an express checkout for those with just a few items.
Membership and store cards offered by major retailers
Here’s a breakdown of store cards offered to customers from various retailers and their benefits
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Costco:
- Gold Star Membership: $60 per year, shop at all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your family.
- Executive Member: $120 per year, 2% annual rewards, discounts and additional benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store and get two additional cards for home use.
- Sign up for a Costco membership here
Sam’s Club:
- Club membership: $50 Per Year, Bonus Offers, Same Day Delivery, Instant Savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, Members Only Fuel Savings, Tire & Battery Center, Free Membership and Complimentary Memberships.
- More membership: $110 per year, all the benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, advance purchases, and pharmacy and optical discounts.
- Sign up for a Sam’s Club membership here
Target:
- Target Circle: A free rewards program that allows users to earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards when a qualifying purchase is made, access personalized deals and offers, earn a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps your community .
- Target Circle Card: A credit, debit or reloadable card that offers users 5% off in-store and online, as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping and an additional 30-day return window. Formerly Target RedCard.
- Sign up for Target circle here
Walmart:
- Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with 30-day free trial. It offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, car, Walmart+ travel, home drop-off, mobile scan and store entry, and early access to offers and product launches.
- Sign up for Walmart+ here
Meanwhile, others on Facebook agreed with Kuzemka about Sam’s Club self-checkout technology which allows users to scan and pay for items on their phones and avoid all the checkout lines.
“What Costco doesn’t have…scan and go,” one wrote.
“I love the scan-and-go options at Sam’s over Costco,” added another.
“I currently have both, but I will let the Costco membership expire.”
However, others accused Sam’s Club of placing all responsibility for payment on customers and warned of the increased likelihood of theft as a result.
Meanwhile, Costco is also seeing backlash from members after announcing that member prices will rise for the first time in seven years.
In September, wholesaler membership fees will increase from $60 to $65 for a basic membership and from $120 to $130 for an executive membership.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
