14 Things Costco Members Notice Immediately When They Go to Sam’s Club

I’m a member of both Costco and Sam’s Club. After 18 years as a Costco member, I knew my favorite products, the food court menu, and even which price endings to watch for. So when I joined Sam’s Club two years ago, I couldn’t help comparing the two.

If you’re a longtime Costco shopper wondering what Sam’s Club is like, here are 14 things you’ll notice immediately when you go to Sam’s Club.

1. You Can Skip the Checkout Line With Scan & Go

Scan & Go is one of the things I love about shopping at Sam’s Club. In my experience, it’s so much faster than checking out at Costco.

I open the Sam’s Club app on my phone and scan the barcode of each item I’m buying. My phone becomes my own handheld scanner as I shop.

When I’m finished, the app prompts me to check that I have the correct number of items. I double check my cart, pay in the app, and that’s it. It’s so easy.

My favorite part? I don’t even have to line up at a cash register. I head straight to the exit, where an employee checks my Scan & Go receipt on my phone and my cart before I leave.

The whole process is simple, and skipping the checkout line makes such a difference—especially when I’m ready to get my groceries home.

2. The Signs Make Clearance Deals Easier to Spot

Another difference I noticed is how much more descriptive the signs are at Sam’s Club. At my Sam’s club, yellow clearance signs actually call out that an item is on clearance. The signs also make it clear when a deal is an Instant Savings offer.

Costco’s price signs can feel a little cryptic by comparison. Experienced Costco shoppers know to watch for prices ending in .97 as a clue that an item has been marked down. But unless someone has explained that to you, you might walk right past without realizing it.

At Sam’s Club, I don’t have to decode the price ending. When I see a yellow sign that says clearance, there’s no mistaking what it means. It makes those deals much easier to spot as I walk through the aisles.

3. Costco Has More Vitamins and Supplements to Choose From

One difference I’ve noticed is that the vitamin and supplement selection at Sam’s Club isn’t as extensive as what I find at Costco. When I browse Costco’s shelves, there just seems to be more variety.

And it’s not just me imagining it. My dad is a Sam’s Club member, and he’ll ask me to pick up certain supplements at Costco because he can’t find them at Sam’s Club.

Of course, the selection can vary by location and change over time. But for the supplements my family shops for, Costco wins on variety.

4. Sam’s Club Has Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

One of my favorite things to buy at Sam’s Club is the freshly squeezed orange juice. There’s a juicer right in the warehouse, so you can see the oranges being squeezed and bottled.

I always pick up a bottle when I’m there. At my club, a 59 ounce bottle costs $9.98. It feels like a little treat to bring home, and my kids love it, too.

5. The Food Court Looks Different—and So Does the Menu

One of the first things I noticed about the Sam’s Club food court is that it looks different from the one I’m used to at Costco. At my Sam’s Club, there’s a grab-and-go fridge in the food court where you can pick up sushi, drinks, and sandwiches.

The food choices are different, too, and my son and I already have our favorites. I like the $1 pretzel and the chicken salad croissant for $2.74.

My son likes getting an ICEE for 89 cents. He also likes the pizza slice and drink combo for $2.50. There’s a hot dog and drink combo for $1.38, too.

Those are the prices I’ve seen at my club, so check your location’s menu for current prices.

6. The Bakery Is Worth a Separate Look

Personally, I think the bakery at my Sam’s Club has a better selection than my Costco, especially when it comes to cakes. There’s a wider assortment to choose from, and it’s one of the differences that stands out.

If you’re planning a birthday or celebration, Sam’s Club has online ordering for custom cakes and cupcakes. You can browse designs, choose available options, add a message, and schedule pickup at your club.

7. Products Seem to Take Turns Appearing at Each Club

After shopping at both, I’ve noticed that Costco and Sam’s Club sometimes seem to take turns carrying certain products. Something disappears from my Costco, and then I find it at Sam’s Club.

For example, I used to buy Purely Elizabeth’s sweet and salty granola at Costco. After my Costco stopped carrying it, I found it at Sam’s Club. Meanwhile, Costco introduced a pistachio-flavored Purely Elizabeth granola.

I’ve noticed a similar switch with Season sardines, which I used to find at Costco and now find at Sam’s Club.

Sam’s Club also seems to have more of the Procter & Gamble products I look for. Between the two clubs I shop at, I’ve only been able to find Secret deodorant at Sam’s Club. Its Always selection is also much more extensive, while my Costco typically has just one or two types.

That’s one reason I like having both memberships. When a favorite product disappears from one club, I check the other before giving up on finding it in bulk.

8. Costco Has a Bigger Selection of Home and Kitchen Items

Another difference I’ve noticed is in the home and kitchen departments. In my experience, Sam’s Club doesn’t have quite as much to browse as Costco.

I find Costco has a better variety when it comes to home and kitchen items. Sam’s Club still has items worth checking out, but the selection feels more limited at the clubs I visit.

If you enjoy wandering through Costco’s home and kitchen aisles to see what’s new, you may notice this difference, too.

9. Member’s Mark Is Everywhere

Costco shoppers are used to seeing Kirkland Signature throughout the warehouse. At Sam’s Club, the name you’ll start recognizing is Member’s Mark.

It’s Sam’s Club’s private brand, and you’ll encounter it across groceries, household essentials, and other departments.

That means your usual Kirkland shopping list needs a little rethinking. Instead of automatically reaching for a familiar package, you may find yourself comparing Member’s Mark versions of the things you regularly buy.

10. You Can Order Café Food From Your Phone

The café has another difference that Costco regulars may appreciate: you can order and pay through the Sam’s Club app.

Sam’s Club lets you place a café order while you shop and pick it up on your way out.

That’s convenient when you’re trying to finish your grocery trip and bring home something to eat. You can place the order without first standing in the café ordering line.

You’ll still need to allow time for preparation and pickup, especially when it’s busy. But having the ordering step on your phone makes it easier to fit into the rest of your trip.

11. You Have More Credit Card Options

Costco shoppers in the United States are used to the Visa rule: when paying by credit card inside a Costco warehouse, Visa is the accepted network.

Sam’s Club accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

That can make a difference if your everyday rewards card isn’t a Visa. You have more flexibility to use a card you already carry.

12. You Can Have Your Order Brought to Your Car

You may notice the designated curbside pickup spaces before you even walk into Sam’s Club.

You can order items online or in the app, choose an available pickup time, and check in when you arrive. An associate brings your order out and loads your car.

During a busy week, being able to pick up your groceries without walking through the warehouse can be a huge timesaver.

I also think it’s a great option if you’re trying to cut back on impulse purchases. Ordering ahead makes it easier to stick to your shopping list without being tempted by everything you pass in the aisles.

13. Your Phone Makes It Easier to Keep Track of Your Total

There’s another benefit to scanning as you shop: you can see your cart total building in the app.

Warehouse shopping has a way of turning a short list into a surprisingly expensive cart. A snack here, a seasonal decoration there, and suddenly you’re spending much more than you planned.

Seeing the total as you add items gives you a chance to reconsider that extra purchase before you’re ready to leave.

14. Leaving the Club Can Feel Different, Too

Costco regulars know the routine: stop at the door while an employee checks your receipt against your cart.

At Sam’s Club locations with exit arches, you walk through a system that uses technology to help verify that the items in your cart match what you paid for. Sam’s Club says this allows most shoppers to leave without a manual receipt check.

You still wait for an employee to give you the go-ahead, but the process can feel quicker than the receipt check you’re used to at Costco.

After 18 years as a Costco member and two years at Sam’s Club, I’ve learned that each one has its place in my shopping routine. The differences in selection are part of what makes having both memberships useful for me.

Come shopping with me on YouTube

Here’s my latest Costco haul, including what I bought, what I’d buy again and the new items I spotted. Subscribe to the Suburbs 101 YouTube channel.