Costco is an American-based company that specializes in wholesale retailing. Costco’s first warehouse was opened in 1983. In the year 2020, the company was recognized as the fifth largest warehouse retailer in the world. Here you will see the answer to the question What are the Stores like Costco?
Stores like Costco
Despite Costco being a renowned warehouse retailer throughout the U.S., there are other stores like Costco. Some shoppers may even prefer these alternatives to Costco for their benefits and suitability.
For those of you who prefer to buy not only in bulk but also affordable items, let’s look at the best alternative stores to Costco.
B.J.’s Wholesale Club
B.J.’s is an American membership-only warehouse club and is considered one of the three major wholesale retailing stores across the U.S.
The warehouse retailer operates only within the U.S. Currently, and B.J. ‘s serves the Eastern United States, Michigan, and Ohio areas.
The annual membership fee is only 55 U.S. Dollars, compared to Costco’s 66 U.S. Dollars. They also offer incredible savings and discounts to their members.
B.J.’s offers a wide range of bulk goods from every department. From fresh food, packaged food, a variety of groceries, toiletries, pet food supplies as well as furniture, home decor items, and many more.
What a Membership at B.J.’s Offers You?
- Member pricing; name-brand products at discounted wholesale prices for members only.
- Acceptance of all manufacturers’ coupons must, however, be valid.
- Acceptance of multiple forms of payment, e.g., major credit cards, cash, cheque, ATM cards, EBT snap benefits, etc.
These benefits are available to not only businesses but also individual customers. Businesses may apply to purchase products for resale, and non-profit organizations may apply for products purchased to be exempt from tax.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, like B.J.’s, is also a membership-only wholesale retailer. However, unlike B.J.’s, Sam’s Club serves four countries, including the U.S. These countries are Mexico, China, and Brazil.
Sam’s Club warehouse retailers are owned and operated by Walmart. It is a company well known throughout the U.S., and its only rivals are B.J.’s and Costco.
As of the year 2021, the number of store locations was an astounding 600 throughout the U.S. alone. However, the only American state without a Sam’s Club wholesale retailer is Alaska.
This wholesale retailer has a wide range of goods as well. They stock a wide variety of food and grocery items, designer brands and goods, jewelry, electronics, etc.
A bonus about Sam’s Club is that in most of their store locations, they have other additional, necessary, and beneficial departments to their customers. These include, but are not limited to:
- Tire and battery department,
- Pharmacy department,
- Bakery,
- Optometrist department,
- Café, etcetera.
Membership is necessary to purchase items and goods from Sam’s Club. However, this is not necessary for purchase from the Café, Optometrist, and the Pharmacy Departments located at these wholesale retailers’ stores.
What Membership at Sam’s Club Offers you?
In the U.S., club memberships are categorized into Club membership or Plus membership. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- You get free shipping on items purchased from their website.
- The Plus membership offers an appealing cash reward system.
- You get extra savings in their Pharmacy and optical departments, etc.
Sam’s Club also offers a store credit line to its members. The credit line is connected to an individual’s or business’s membership card.
The two stores listed above are great alternatives to Costco. However, if they aren’t for you, there is still one last store on our list that can be the right choice for you. Let us have a look at the final one.
Target
Even though Target is not a wholesale retailer store, it is a discount store providing a range in grocery items and household products enough to rival Costco.
Target has stores throughout 50 states of the U.S., including Columbia. This store is the eighth largest discount retailer in the U.S. As of 2021, Target reached an astounding 1,926 stores.
Target is popular based on its addictive quality shopping experience. They carry over 700 organic products. They also have clothes for retail that are made entirely out of pure cotton. Target is a Go-Green company that has changed many of its products and policies to suit the environment.
Target does not have a wholesale membership-only policy, but they do offer their customers a Target Circle membership.
How does a Target membership benefit you?
A Red cardholder will receive the following benefits, but are not limited to,
- Free shipping on most of their website items.
- Specials and discounts.
- 5% discounts off items purchased at store locations, etc.
Conclusion
The greatest benefit to any shopper, be it an individual or business, buying from any of the stores listed above is that they will receive a huge, discounted rate on their items purchased.
These stores also provide a wide variety of products, and in bulk too. One wouldn’t need to spend hours going to different stores to find all the items that they need. You can find everything you need at a wholesale retailer or discount store. And the benefits each store offers are just another bonus!
