- Money
- Retail
NOT IMPRESSED
This is the first Costco location to open in the Florida county
- Josephine Fuller, Consumer reporter
COSTCO opened a 150,000-square-foot store in a popular Florida city, but some shoppers aren't impressed.
Daytona Beach and Volusia County have a Costco store for the first time, and it's paying homage to its famous neighbor.
1
The giant wholesale club, which opened in February, sits across from the Daytona International Speedway and has a checkered flag pattern on the storefront in a one-of-a-kind design.
One Costco shopper posted on Facebook to ask the community if anyone had had a chance to visit the new store.
She also asked people to weigh in on whether Costco or Sam's Club was better.
"To be honest, there wasn't much of a difference," wrote one person in response.
"I was disappointed because I was hoping for something different."
"I'm a Costco girly!" another person replied.
"I use my membership for gas, TP, and paper towels, and it pays for itself.
"You can shop at Costco with a gift card so you can try it out!"
But another shopper shared an update that many people don't know.
"The gift card policy changed as of January 1st this year. They're enforcing it slowly, so just an FYI they may give you a hard time shopping with a gift card but no membership," they replied, indicating that the new policy doesn't accept gift cards from non-members.
However, Costco's website seems to refute this, reading, "Non-members as well as members may use Costco Shop Cards to shop at any Costco location in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico, as well as online at Costco.com and Costco.ca."
Costco Membership: Boundaries and Bans
PRICE CLUB
This wasn't the first time customers have compared Costco to Sam's Club.
In May, a Costco member explained in aRedditthread why they canceled their membership and switched to Sam's Club.
"I enjoy many Costco products, but lately the crowds have become too oppressive to shop in peace," they wrote.
"I almost always have to park near the back of the lot, every other aisle is like rush hour, and checking out or gettinggastakes 15 minutes of waiting for your turn."
They decided to try shopping at Sam's and had a much more enjoyable experience.
Membership and store cards on offer from major retailers
Here is a breakdown of the store cards on offer to customers from various retailers and their benefits
* If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue.
Costco:
- Gold Star Membership: $60 per year, shop all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your household.
- Executive Membership:$120 per year, annual 2% reward, additional discounts and benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store, and get two additional cards for household 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 and battery center, complimentary membership, and add-on memberships.
- Plus Membership:$110 per year, all benefits of Club membership plus Sam's Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, early shopping, and pharmacy and optical savings.
- Sign up for Sam's Club Membership here
Target:
- Target Circle:A free-to-join reward program allowing users to earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards when an eligible purchase is made, access deals and personalized offers, get a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps out your community.
- Target Circle Card:A credit, debit, or reloadable account card that gives users 5% off in-store and online as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping, and an additional 30-day returns window. Formerly Target RedCard.
- Sign up for Target Circle here
Walmart:
- Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with a free 30-day trial. Offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, auto car, Walmart+ travel, returns from home, mobile scan and go in-store, and early access to deals and product releases.
- Sign up for Walmart+ here
"My local Sam’s Club is much less crowded (at the same times), and with the app, I can check out on my phone and walk out," they said.
"A full trip takes half as much time."
The shopper admitted that the stores have "about the same food selection" and that they "didn't notice too much of a difference" in the inventory at Sam's.
The Sam's Club membership costs $50 a year but is often on sale for just $25 annually.
Meanwhile, Costco's basic Gold Star membership is $60 a year.
Another shopper who canceled their Costco membership said the move saved them $2,400 annually.
Plus, see the "hidden rule," which means your Costco membership could be revoked at any minute.
Topics
- Costco
- Money US
- Florida
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