Sam's Club?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
With all the references to Sam's Club that you people have been making recently, I decided to check them out.
Granted, this was a quicky, but the place, the products and the prices really didn't impress me at all. :dunno
Conventional motor oil was $1.29 a quart. The same oil is available at Menard's every day for $1.09.
Most every item I looked at was either available for very nearly the same price at Target, Wal*Mart, Menard's, or Home Depot.
If you want large quantities of bulk Cheerios, it's the place to go.
For me to save even the annual basic $35 membership fee would require a lot more savings than I think I would find.
One other thing. I have a real problem with paying someone to take my money. When the other stores start charging admission to shop, maybe I will look at it differently.:)

Charles
 
I have a problem with the admission fee too. But I do think that making a large purchase like a new big screen tv or something will save you the $35, generally speaking. It's just a problem I have with stores charging admission.
 
I'm not a member either but from what I hear about deals on merchandise in general, Costco is the most consistent of the warehouse clubs.
 
you are not the only one who feels that way, Charles. i am in total accord with all that you said. i do not do business with any company that i have to pay to patronize.
 
like it says in their ads and website....they are mainly for small buisness owners but recently this has kinda changed to everyone who wants to get in can. you dont see much that isnt packaged in bulk. instead of a single pack of gum they sell it in the whole containers of like what you would see at the gas station display. its a bulk store and whenever i go there i know i save tons of money. i havnt beent their recently but i know from the past that i save probally 5 bucks a visit on just a normal day without any BIG purchases. so yea i think i get that 35 bucks back or alot more.

i think it all depends on what you buy there. yea some is priced the same and some is more but if you buy anything in bulk your likely to save money.

and it dosnt say anything about its the cheapest prices in town
 
I shop at Costco and Sams...go figure.
Costco has more than paid for itself with its return policy.
We had a $700 outdoor furniture set deteriorate in one SUMMER season....they took it back and gave a full refund
Had a FoodSaver go bad after 3 yrs...they replaced with a newer model.
Copper fire pit was supposed to patina...but this turned pitch black. After one year, returned for money.

$35 dollars well spent IMO.
 
No offense meant

Hey, I'm not knocking the Costco, Sam's Club shoppers. I just don't see where their system has any real benefit if you don't need large, bulk quanities of stuff.
The selection, prices, and service at Best Buy has been excellent for purchasing electronics. TV, cordless phone/answering machine, computers (3), scanners, Ipod:). The only warranty experience I have had with them was a printer 11 months old. They exchanged it for a new one.
Based on my dealings with Target, Menard's and Lowe's, I think they also do an excellent job on warranty, exchanges, or defective products. The prices also seem to compare with Sam's Club. I have not been in a Costco, so I can't compare them. We do have one about 20 miles across town and I'm not likely to drive 20 miles to pay them to take my money.:D
Obviously, I am in the minority or they would be closing them rather than continually building more.
Heck, I still go to the local Ace Hardware for lots of everyday items. If I pay a buck or two more, but don't drive 10 miles, I'm still ahead.
If the IRS allows you to deduct over 30 cents a mile for mileage expense, it's probably costing close to 50 cents. All that driving around to get a better price seems like a stretch to me. Like the person that drives 4 miles to get a 4 cents a gallon better price on gas. Buys 15 gallon, saves 60 cents, drives 8 miles, (4 to, 4 from) @ .30, spent $2.40, but they saved 4 cents a gallon.
:dunno
Charles
 
The IRS now allows to deduct 40.5 cents a mile for 2005 for business travel, and it cost me 14 cents a mile with insurance and registration !
I drive 3k miles/month.

Besides shopping, I get great prices on my gas for our vehicles at Costco or Sams.

So for me Charles W its worth it...your points against are well taken.
 
cgc2 said:
The IRS now allows to deduct 40.5 cents a mile for 2005 for business travel, and it cost me 14 cents a mile with insurance and registration !
I drive 3k miles/month.
Click to expand...
lol
Kinda show how long I have been away from the business world. I think it was around 32 or 33 cents the last I was concerned.
Does your 14 cents a mile include anything but gas, insurance and registration? I think my gas costs alone are between 8 and 10 cents a mile. Actually, I can't even tell you for sure the gas prices today. It varies quite a bit, but seems to usually be in the $1.80 to $1.97 range. Gotta have it so I just buy it.
With the fixed costs plus operating costs, I would guess ours are awfully close to the 40 to 50 cent mark. That's with about 20,000 a year on one vehicle. Another only logs about 8,000 a year so fixed costs are way out of sync.

Also, none of this includes detailing costs.:D

Charles
 
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