Warehouse stores like Sam's Club, Costco and B.J.'s Wholesale Club used to be the go-to place for shoppers who wanted the best deals. But with Amazon now dominating the retail world, are they still relevant?
Despite online shopping and discount pricing everywhere right now, paying $45 or more to join a membership club feels so 1988. Why pay a fee, then have to carry large boxes to your car? Because it can still save you a bundle of money.
We found one metro Detroit Sam's Club to be bustling on a recent weekday. Lindsay Erickson was filling her cart with large boxes of Pampers.
"I have two little kids, so I need a ton of diapers, wipes, and all that stuff," she said.
These may not be the stores for your if you are single, have a small refrigerator, or just prefer small-sized portions. But when it comes to things like paper products or baby products, you can't really go wrong when you buy these bulk packages so they can last for months.
With the help of recent comparisons from GoBankingRates and The Penny Hoarder, we found nine things that are almost always cheaper at Sam's and Costco.
– Diapers, baby wipes and baby formula, about 20 percent less than supermarket prices
– Rotisserie chicken at $4.99, half the price of most grocery stores
– Maple syrup
– Vanilla extract
– Peanut butter and Nutella
– Cheese
– Pet food and kitty litter
– Tires, including name brands like Michelin and Goodyear
– Eyeglasses.
But what about Amazon, which offers the convenience of diapers delivered right to your door? You pay for that convenience, according to recent comparisons by Joanie Demer, the Krazy Coupon Lady.
BUT WHAT ABOUT AMAZON, WHICH OFFERS THE CONVENIENCE OF DIAPERS DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR WITH FREE SHIPPING?
"Sams's and Costco were about 10 percent to 15 percent cheaper overall than Amazon," she said.
Business Insider says Sam's Club and Costco prices are so similar that it recommends joining the one that is closes to you.
