Lines can be long on a Saturday when everybody is shopping but weekdays and evenings that's usually not a problem. Good buys on electronics, office supplies and the like. Food is sold in mass quantities so if you need a six pack of one gallon size mayonaise Costco has you covered!

Posted 26 Jan 2010 by columnclimber

I have been to both Sams and Costco, I am a Costco Member and it's okay.
Sams meat section is smaller portions, whereas Costco is bigger and heavier by the poundage. Sam's has a directory along the aisles while you are walking towards the back of the store, so you can get what you need in a quick hurry. Costco just has numbers along their aisles, sometimes they move the products around. If it was there a few weeks ago,they might have moved the product to another area or not have that product in their store. I like the Kapolei store, I am there EARLY to avoid the traffic and I can shop at my leisure. I hope this helps.

Posted 26 Jan 2010 by cushion

I have a membeship with both . Both because my mother in law puts me on sams. I perfer costco. The brands are better. Also I try not to but veggies from china. Sams garlic is made in china, where as costco carries made in california brand.Overall better quality. Although the costco off dillingham is a zoo. The hawaii kai location is less crowded in comparison.

Posted 18 days ago by equinoxx

Costco Pros: Efficient, proactive, Customer Service. Speediest checkout imaginable!

Best gas prices in town!

Costco Cons: Store layout changes frequently. Aisles are numbered and it's a guessing game when you're in a rush.

Parking lot is not covered. Often subjected to blazing sun or pouring rain. Iwilei's parking lot is also very chaotic, with cars, pedestrians, carts rambling aimlessly. Accident waiting to happen.

Store opens later than Sam's Club

Sam's Club Pros: Covered parking and lots of it!

Predictable and sensible store layout. If you're an organized shopper, this is heaven. Things are where you expect them to be. Cold food is closer to the checkstand so that you can pick those things up last.

Sam's Pizza is tastier than Costco's.

Helpful service in the Bakery, Tire, and Grocery departments, and associates can point you to items quickly (unlike Costco, where they change the layout to boost impulse buying...confuse the members a bit so they'll spend more!!!)

Sam's Club's Main Con: Unbelieveably slow checkout process. I think management chronically and deliberately understaffs to cut costs. Little do they know/care that many people will just deflect to Costco. To compound the slow, undermanned checkout procedure, cashiers are frequently required to attempt to "upsell" members during the checkout process (credit cards, upgraded memberships, travel programs, what have you...) Nevermind that ice cream is melting, people are running to parties, people have lives and would like to exit the store...they are going to try their darndest to make an extra buck!

If it weren't for the covered parking at Sam's, I'd probably shop at Costco more!

Advice to Sam's shoppers...bring a book or just be in a good mood and meditate, because the checkout process is excruciatingly slow...kind of like an airport delay!

Posted 15 days ago by lovetosave!