Rumors have been spreading that my city is getting a Costco, and were finally confirmed last week. Dreams are coming true for a lot of people around here, but for me, it’s about as exciting as the new paint job on the outside of Walmart. 

Here are  5  reasons why I’m a Sam’s Club loyalist. [Sam’s Club is not paying me for this, I’m just a big, nerdy, fan] 

1. Costco is too uptight about “card checking”.  I am NEVER asked to show my card when I walk into Sam’s Club, though a card is required for purchase so if I don’t have one, I won’t get very far. Whenever I enter a Costco with a family member I feel like they are one step away from pulling out a retina scanner to make sure the card really belongs to the person showing it. 
2. Costco doesn’t have Scan N’ Go.  Seriously, Scan N’ Go is life changing. I never wait in line anymore at Sam’s Club. I just scan my items on my phone as I put them in the cart, pay on my app, and then head for the door. It’s so fast and easy, and all my receipts are stored right in the app. This also works out at the fuel pump. I can’t remember the last time I got my credit card out to pay for gas. I just pay through the app. 
3. Costco doesn’t do curbside pickup.  There are some stores that will, but it’s not a guarantee.  I put in a weekly curbside pick-up order at Sam’s Club. I pull in the parking spot and they bring it right to my trunk. I can order almost anything in the club: milk, diapers, toilet paper, pillows, beef, and so much more. If I get a Costco membership I have to go in the store to buy my things? Ain’t nobody got time for that. 
4. Costco makes it really hard to bring your non-cardholding friends to make purchases using your card. I read an article once that said Costco believes non-members shouldn’t have access to their sweet deals. That explains why they choose to be card Nazi’s at check out to make sure the credit card used belongs to the cardholder. No more taking your mom and having her use her credit card to buy her items.  Interestingly, they are trying to control the uncontrollable, because now you just have to purchase your mom’s items with your credit card, and she can Venmo you later. Non-cardholders are still getting the deals, they just have to jump through hoops which really aren’t that hard to get through. At Sam’s Club no one is looking over your shoulder to see who uses which credit card. 
5. Costco doesn’t have Diet Dr. Pepper in their Soda machines at the Cafe. Deal breaker, you guys. Sam’s club sells the same hot dog and drink combo, the drink options are just better. 

So, I will not be getting a Costco Membership when they open in my city in the next few years. I’m a Sam’s Club loyalist through and through.  I will say though, to all my besties who do get a Costco membership, it’s not beneath me to occasionally go to Costco with you to buy a few items I can’t get at Sam’s Club — I’ll just Venmo you later.