I tried Costco for the first time after being a life-long Sam’s Club fan – and a payment option may have won me over

Posted by
Check your BMI

A WOMAN has documented her experience trying Costco for the first time after being a life-long Sam’s Club fan.

Both are membership-only retailers – but Sam’s Club has a cheaper membership and more branded items, while Costco stores are larger and more widespread.

Getty
toonsbymoonlight

A TikToker and life-long Sam’s Club fan tried Costco for the first time[/caption]

tiktok/@kayla.younggg

Kayla Young picked up her groceries with daughter Madison[/caption]

Posting on TikTok, Kayla Young said: “I’m more of a Sam’s Club girl than a Costco girl, mostly because we’ve never had a Costco.

“But a Costco just opened up three minutes from our house.

“And I got a membership so but we haven’t shopped there yet so we’re gonna go shop there and see what we find.”

The experience got off to a good start as Kayla was allowed to pose with her daughter Madison for the picture on her membership card.

The mom is then sweeping meat, vegetables, ice cream, milk, snacks, drinks, and clothes for Madison off the warehouse-style shelves and into her cart.

After getting back in her car, Kayla shared her thoughts on the experience.

MEMBER MADNESS

She said: “Just finished up at Costco. I spent $130.

“Now that I have shopped at both, I think I’m 50-50.

The TikToker revealed that her family has the basic membership for Costco.

Meanwhile, they have the highest one at Sam’s Club which gets Kayla cashback – which is a plus for her.

However, Costco has something Sam’s Club does not – Apple Pay.

“But Costco has Apple Pay. You know me, you know I’m constantly losing my card or forgetting it.

“Apple Pay is like essential to me. So we might be Costco girlies but we’re going to keep both memberships until they run out and then we’ll see which one I use more.”

Although Kayla was quick to praise the payment system, other members have recently complained about it.

This is because the retailer controversially doesn’t accept any payment except Visa or Mastercard debit.

IN THE NEWS

This week, Costco members also gushed over a new Maple Butter Pecan Cake with brown butter mousse icing.

One claimed it was “the best item they have ever created.”

Costco membership sharing guidelines

Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they've been cracking down on offenders in recent years.

  • Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
  • Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
  • Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
  • Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.

Another said it was “beyond delicious.”

In other Costco-related news, branches have recently been checking memberships using new scanners.

After the scanners were launched in August, customers voiced their frustration over reportedly longer queues.

The store also hit the news lately for selling an unlikely item.

One-ounce bars of solid gold and silver were spotted for sale in stores, but they quickly sold out.