Best Buys at Warehouse Clubs

Best Warehouse Club Buys

With so much savings at places like BJ's, Costco and Sam's Club, it doesn't take long to recoup membership fees -- that is, as long as you're smart about what you buy and when.

WalletPop went looking for some of the best (and worst) things to buy at club stores. Read on for a look at what they found.

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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Best Buys at War... With so much savings at places like BJ's, Costco and Sam's Club, it doesn't take long to recoup membership fees -- that is, as long as you're smart about what you buy and when.

WalletPop went looking for some of the best (and worst) things to buy at club stores. Read on for a look at what they found.

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
1. Medication an... You'll always save money buying prescriptions and over-the-counter medications at club stores. Per pill, the savings are huge.

Citracel Calcium Citrate +D Costco: $.062 per pill Target: $.083 per pill CVS: $.090 per pill Walmart: $.119 per pill

Excedrin Extra Strength Costco: $.043 per pill Target: $.056 per pill Walmart: $.058 per pill CVS: $.060 per pill

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
2. Electronics True comparisons are difficult in this category, since different retailers carry similar items with different model numbers and features. Often, bundles include extras like cables or software, making comparisons even trickier. Still, deals here can be sizable, and if you're in the market for a new TV, home theater or gaming console, it makes sense to check club stores.

Wii Fit Plus bundle Costco: $85.99 Walmart: $99.00 Target: $99.99 Best Buy: $99.99

(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
3. Wine, Liquor ... These beverages are consistently cheaper at club stores in spite of the near constant sales that supermarkets and discount stores run. Beer and wine are easy comparisons and purchased more often than stock up items like spirits and liqueurs -- also priced well below the neighborhood liquor store, albeit in gigantic, liver rotting sized bottles.

Coppola Claret red wine Costco: $12.99 Trader Joe's: $18.99 Target: $19.49

Miller Lite Costco: $.59 per bottle Target: $.67 per bottle Walmart: $.75 per bottle

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
4. Books No real world, bricks and mortar retailer beats a club store when it comes to popular reading material. Amazon.com comes close on some titles, but not consistently and not if you pay for shipping. However, the selection at membership clubs is limited to bestsellers, new releases and popular cookbook, self-help and coffee table titles.

Innocent by Scott Turow Costco: $15.19 Borders: $16.79 Walmart: $19.34 Target: $19.59

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
5. Office Suppli... Membership clubs really shine when it comes to supplies for the home office or small business. Business members are the clubs' core shoppers, and the prices on these items reflect the retailers desire to retain them.

HP Ink Cartridges (No. 92/93) Costco: $14.63 per cartridge Walmart: $17.24 per cartridge Target: $17.25 per cartridge

(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
6. Dry Grocery I... Fresh produce and other perishables like meat and dairy will vary greatly in price depending on the region and season. But shelf-stable items often carry low prices at the membership club. Even better, these items don't spoil. So you can buy them in the club-store sizes without worrying about throwing out what you don't use. Kraft Velveeta shells & cheese Costco: $1.19 price per unit Target: $1.50 price per unit Walmart: $1.63 price per unit

Splenda Costco: $.019 per packet Walmart: $.028 per packet Target: $.034 per packet

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
7. Soda Costco made big headlines last year when it kicked Coca-Cola products out of its stores in a pricing dispute. The company issued a statement that said, in part: "At this time, Coca-Cola has not provided Costco with competitive pricing so that we may pass along the value our members deserve." Coke was running promotions at rival supermarket chains allowing for weekly specials that undercut Costco's regular low price. Coke's banishment didn't last long -- just under a month -- and the results of Costco's bold move were evident in our price check. Supermarkets' weekly specials on soda were no longer cheaper than the club store.

Bear in mind, pricing can change dramatically from week to week. You can still expect to find tremendous deals on soda throughout the year, especially around holidays -- one supermarket chain in Chicago recently offered a "buy two, get three free" promotion on Coke products for the Easter weekend -- but these deals are appearing less frequently.

Costco: $.24 per can Jewel: $.28 per can Kroger: $.29 per can Dominick's: $.49 per can

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Worst Warehouse ... Click here to see which items might not be the best to purchase from warehouse clubs.