Is one better than the other? Which do you prefer? I've never had a BJs membership.

Costco is

WAY

better

BJ's has a free 60 day membership you can sign up for. That way you can see for yourself. That's what I did. I prefer BJ's but that's me.

Yeah. Both have stuff teh other doesn't, but BJ's is consistently a bit more expensive. They do take coupons, but that doesn't make up for the higher prices.

COSTCO

BJ's is not as crowded, And they take credit cards when your in a jam. For food samples and food to eat there at the snack bar Costco has it. BJ's I think has better tire brands then Costco. As far as prices go I have not noticed any difference I have a BJ's membership They also let more then one person on the card so my mother can go also which is the #1 reason I stay with BJ's. Either she or I renew it for the both of us each year and I am almost 60 so you can see my mother is a "senior". Every couple years when I feel rich I will get a Costco and a BJ's membership both.

I've never asked a girl to give me a Costco.

Costco is less messy. But if she swallows there's no mess, so...

BJ's...False Advertising!

I always thought someone should open a Dicks Sporting Goods next to a BJs. The comedic value would be priceless.

I belong to both. Each carries a few things the other doesn't. Costco is better for non-food items like furniture, clothes, books, etc. Bjs has a slightly better selection on a few food categories. BJs is less crowded. I will only go to Costco on a weeknight.

BJs is good if you want goods that come in somewhat smaller numbers. Costco pretty much only sells super-sized stuff. Additionally, Costco doesn't always carry the same items. You might go every week and buy grape jelly and Kirkland's crangrape juice and then the next several weeks, neither item is there. BJs tends to keep the same items, particularly if they're selling well. Grape jelly is the number one selling sandwich spread in the US, but Costco doesn't sell it all the time.

Costco does have lower prices, better checkouts, and is overall better run and stocked though. It really depends on which one you prefer. I have memberships to both, but then I save way more than the membership costs just in the price of milk. (versus buying it at Giant or Safeway, etc) so it's worth the cost and Costco is considerably closer.

It also depends on which store you shop at. The Costco in Fairfax is considerably different from the one in Newington, partly because it's larger, but it also is the management. The BJs in FairLakes is considerably better than the one in Landmark, but Landmark has a couple of workers that far outshine most of the ones in Fair Lakes.


Like with any store, better managers make better stores. Crappy managers make crappy stores. Try the trial memberships and see which one you prefer, and which one carries the items you want to purchase.

@Shadow: +1, great post.

We used to have all three (remember Pace?) and have just had Price Club (IT WILL ALWAYS BE PRICE CLUB TO US!!!) for the last 15 years or so. Every few years we take one of the free BJ's memberships and visit, and always come away saying "Meh". But as you say, it depends somewhat on your needs.

BJ's always wins....no matter the question or situation

Shadow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BJs is good if you want goods that come in
> somewhat smaller numbers. Costco pretty much only
> sells super-sized stuff. Additionally, Costco
> doesn't always carry the same items. You might go
> every week and buy grape jelly and Kirkland's
> crangrape juice and then the next several weeks,
> neither item is there. BJs tends to keep the same
> items, particularly if they're selling well.
> Grape jelly is the number one selling sandwich
> spread in the US, but Costco doesn't sell it all
> the time.
>
> Costco does have lower prices, better checkouts,
> and is overall better run and stocked though. It
> really depends on which one you prefer. I have
> memberships to both, but then I save way more than
> the membership costs just in the price of milk.
> (versus buying it at Giant or Safeway, etc) so
> it's worth the cost and Costco is considerably
> closer.
>
> It also depends on which store you shop at. The
> Costco in Fairfax is considerably different from
> the one in Newington, partly because it's larger,
> but it also is the management. The BJs in
> FairLakes is considerably better than the one in
> Landmark, but Landmark has a couple of workers
> that far outshine most of the ones in Fair Lakes.
>
>
>
> Like with any store, better managers make better
> stores. Crappy managers make crappy stores. Try
> the trial memberships and see which one you
> prefer, and which one carries the items you want
> to purchase.

Cosco is cleaner You always see a few bird flying around BJ s and sometime the meat freezer does not seem cold enough. BJ at fair lakes has crazier people handing out the food samples. But BJ carries more brand names in smaller portions. and more tv and electronics.

Are the electronics at these places actually a good deal?

DUH...Suck it Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BJ's always wins....no matter the question or
> situation

Not *every* question/situation:
"Yo, new meat...you want to drive us to Costco, or give us all BJs?"

Costco is better. But it's not better enough for me to endure the crowds and other Costco hassles.

It's Beverly Jean's for me!

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DUH...Suck it Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BJ's always wins....no matter the question or
> > situation
>
> Not *every* question/situation:
> "Yo, new meat...you want to drive us to Costco, or
> give us all BJs?"


Touche'

Bjs has better hours, takes real credit cards, is less crowded, and has a few things missing at costco such as gallons of name brand OJ and milk. Costco used to have better beer selection (bjs caught up recently) and far more wines. Costco had better crab cakes, real Old Dominion root beer, and better selection of cheese and other perishable foods. In the end, it's good to have memberships to both.

Then there's Sam's Club....I know, it's not in Fairfax.

BJs have a gas station and cheap gas is a big consideration. BJs also has more of a food selection. If Costco had these I'd likely switch as it is a more progressive company. BJs does need a pharmacy. They tried that but it didn't work out.

Which BJ's have gas stations? Costco in Sterling does, and isn't Fairfax getting one?

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Which BJ's have gas stations? Costco in Sterling
> does, and isn't Fairfax getting one?

The BJs in Fair Lakes (Fairfax) has had a gas station forever. Costco is only a mile or two away (across from Home Depot, which has it's own issues), but it is horribly crowded. Not worth the traffic and parking.

2 cents Wrote:
> The BJs in Fair Lakes (Fairfax) has had a gas
> station forever. Costco is only a mile or two away
> (across from Home Depot, which has it's own
> issues), but it is horribly crowded. Not worth the
> traffic and parking.

Wow, I need to get out more. Actually I've been by there fairly recently and didn't notice the gas -- is it behind the store or something? Or am I just blind??

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2 cents Wrote:
> > The BJs in Fair Lakes (Fairfax) has had a gas
> > station forever. Costco is only a mile or two
> away
> > (across from Home Depot, which has it's own
> > issues), but it is horribly crowded. Not worth
> the
> > traffic and parking.
>
> Wow, I need to get out more. Actually I've been by
> there fairly recently and didn't notice the gas --
> is it behind the store or something? Or am I just
> blind??

The gas station is actually in front of the store - sort of embedded in the parking lot.