Don't paid for the membership yet.

Ask for a two-months free membership and try it out first.

dcarch

B.J.s takes coupons, unlike Costco and Sams. Otherwise, all the wholesale clubs are somewhat similar.

Helene

Haven't been to a "warehouse" store in ages... shopping for one just doesn't make sense. But when I did (membership to BJ's YEARS ago & Costco for a while)... I called it the Hundred Dollar Club, cuz I just couldn't seem to get out of there without spending at least $100!?!

Can't speak directly to BJs since it's been a LONG time since I've been in one... but there are bargains to be found. A few years back, picked up a nail in tire in position where it couldn't be repaired. Checked out 3 different tire places near me... prices ranged from $150 to close to $250!! Got same tire that was damaged at C for around $100. Bought a half GALLON jar of imported capers!?! Sister thought I was NUTS. I opened jar and RE-canned into half-pint jars... gave some away and still had several to put in pantry.

You have to remember that everything is either BIG or in multiples. Do you really want 6-8 cans of the SAME something?

Shop to share with with friends and neighbors. Split the 18-pack of paper towels with a couple of friends. The 6-pack of cans of tuna can be shared on a per-unit basis.

But I went to a BJ's a couple of years ago when I was back East---we have none in California, or at least my part of the state. A lot like Costco, but I thought they had a wider range of items.

Do you already have a Sam's or Costco in your area for comparison purposes?

Going to a Sam's or Costco would mean a drive of a half hour or more in heavy traffic, so BJ's is our only game in town. I have been to both of the other two, so I do know about the quantity shopping involved.

I got a membership form in the mail yesterday with a discount on a 14-month membership for $40. I may do that and then see just how much I use the membership. I did check out their prices on Brita water filters and they had a very good price.

Teresa

That's exactly it, you have to check prices, know your stuff, just like Sam's or Costco's. I split a membership with my sister and it works out good. Nobody questions the picture on the card...we look enough alike anyway.

I buy "convenience" foods there quite a bit..large bag of frozen ravioli or tortelini...great for in-a-pinch cooking, especially if the kids are doing it without supervision. Very similar to Sam's, though. There's not one specific product I'd recommend, although their meats are usually pretty good and reasonably priced. Oh, yes, and the tires are hard to beat.

We buy everything in bulk, so it works for us. Even we couldn't go through that many capers, though ::giggle::

I have a BJs membership....the 'deals' I often take advantage of include; Pecan halves, Pine nuts, sliced almonds, King Arthur flour, Feta cheese, WINE and Beer, chewing gum. They also carry fresh produce, sliced mushrooms are usually a good buy and come in a managable size.
We have not been disappointed with their beef tenderloins (not always available).

I also usually pick up one of their rotesseri chickens. nice size for 4.99.

ML

Thanks, lori and maddielee! Some things I think I could split with my mom...like meat packages and the feta. And I could use the flour and nuts in my bread baking. Just the other day I had to buy one tire and yikes! have they gone up since I last bought some tires.

Teresa

Nobody even looks at the picture on the card at my BJs. I agree, it's not a great place for singles or for anyone without much storage.

I buy big bags of Starbucks coffee, toilet paper and paper towels, ibuprofen and Aleve, all kinds of toiletries. Stuff that won't go bad. Honestly, the prices are often as good or better at supermarket sales. On the other hand, BJs always has the same prices and you don't have to wait for sales.

I always end up buying stuff I never intended to get, but it's fun to go there.

I like BJ's. Some things come in smaller packages than at Costco -- one head of iceberg lettuce rather than three. Ours also has an excellent deli meat counter, with BJ's own brand and Dietz & Watson. BJ's also takes coupons and isn't as crowded as Costco.

We have been members for quite a number of years. We buy meats in bulk and cut it up into family sized portions, food saver it and put it in the freezer. Paper goods, water for our drinking cooler,cereal, and don't forget gas. Our BJ's has always had the lowest gas prices around. We always get our membership dues back and then some come repay time. They take coupons and the people that work there are friendly and always willing to help me lift the heavy stuff into my cart. We also go to Costco occasionally. They are about and hour away and like them just as much as BJ's. We have the space to store all that we buy so that is not a problem for us. NancyLouise

We've had a membership on-and-off for many years. We only get a membership when it's discounted because we have to drive out of our way to go the closest BJs.

That said, I love that I can buy some things at BJs that are difficult to find elsewhere, or things that are a much better price than elsewhere. You have to know prices and check amounts though.

I loved buying my xmas baking goods there: various nuts, maraschino cherries, cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate, and so on. :) Bulk paper products when needed. Candy and snacks for trips & parties. Actually, I can name a pretty long list of things we regularly buy there. :)

Our BJ's has a really good meat department. They also had excellent whole pork and beef tenderloins for a great price!

We were members for years but dropped it. We renewed for a while especially for the excellent meat. I'd buy big amounts and repack it for the freezer. But meat quality and prices are just as good at Wegman's now with their larger club packs.

Fresh produce quality and selection were never very good at our particular BJ's, and junk food in huge bags were never on our list. I did like the large quantity bottles/packages of health and wellness things, but they weren't always a bargain--just convenient to buy a bunch at a time.

The thing that really did it was their gas prices. Paying $40/yr. I would expect that their gas prices would at least be as low as others around them, but I couldn't even count on that. Since not going there for gas I found myself going there less and less and finally quit. Don't miss it at all.

BJ's is the only warehouse store in my area. Even though we're empty-nesters I actually find I do more bulk shopping than when my kids were home. I stock up on paper goods - Bounty towels/toilet paper/luncheon napkins/tissue, etc. The tab is large on those excursions, but the supply lasts quite a while and I don't have to think of purchasing those things when I go to the reg. supermarket for food items. I like their house brand luncheon napkins & facial tissue.

I save a lot by buying the humongous roll of plastic wrap that comes in a dispenser with a sliding "cutter." What a convenience - no more fighting with Saran Wrap folding over itself. I've only purchased 2 of these in about 5 yrs. They seem to last forever. Also like the pkgs. of pre-cut aluminum foil. The sheets pop up and one of those has lasted us throughout the spring/summer grilling season.

I like buying my Keurig K-Cups there for both the value & convenience of having the big 80 cup box stashed in the pantry. They carry Newman's Extra Bold, which DH prefers. They should be getting the Green Mountain Spiced Pumpkin in soon, which is my favorite.

I buy Chobani yogurt in the 12-pack - not a huge savings in price, but convenient to purchase & store. I also think their Sabra hummus is a good value. Their huge container is not much more expensive than the med. size one at my local grocer (same brand.)Stacy's Naked Pita Chips - to go w/ the hummus - is the same cost for the big, big bag than the little bag at the grocery store. Great for when entertaining.

Pine nuts, walnuts, sliced almonds are a good buy. I keep the resealable pkgs. in my freezer. Real maple syrup is the best deal I've seen around.

Last, but not least, their wedges of real Parmesan Reggiano cheese is a superb value compared to reg. stores.

Oh, if you wear prescription glasses....our BJ's has a very good selection of frames. I was able to get prescription sunglasses for driving at a fraction of the cost of any other place I checked (including all the add-ons, scratch resistant coating, etc.)

I could live without a BJ's, but I'm really happy to have one nearby.

No BJ's around here, but we also were members of Price Club (which became Cost Co) and called it the Hundred Dollar Club.

Funny Price Club/Cost Co story that happened to some friends of ours: He stopped at Price Club one day after work, knowing they were almost out of several things at home. He bought a big box of 72 rolls of TP. SHE also stopped at Price Club on the way home from HER work. She remembered a few other things, but also knew they were out of TP so she bought the big size box. They had two giant boxes of TP in their hallway (their home was a small 2 bedroom bungalow) for months.

Not everything is a bargain in the club stores, that's for sure. I shopped there with my mom this summer and picked out several things that could be purchased for less elsewhere!

Donna

So, I've been to BJ's twice this month and, except for the crowds of people, have enjoyed the experiences. I took my mom yesterday and we shared a number of purchases: big side of salmon, good buy on a 20oz. bag of baby spinach, cheddar cheese, bag of oranges, already pie crust, and a bag of 2 whole chickens. We discovered an instant rebate of $2 for Mom's can of coffee and the bag of spinach rang up at $3.99 instead of the $4.99 on the shelf. Another brand of fresh spinach was $4.99 for 12 oz., so we got the bigger bag and saved a dollar. Strange they were right beside each other!

Next time, I'm going early in the morning to try to avoid the crowds. I've started a notebook of what I have bought and the price per unit. The first purchase of cheddar cheese last 3 weeks just fine and I plan to get more canned tomatoes as I use those a lot in cooking.

Teresa

We will be getting a BJ's here too but not until a year from Thanksgiving. It's even on my side of town! Looking forward to it and have learned a lot from this thread. It's going to be a good addition since we only have a Sam's. Costco requires a 70 mile drive over to Orlando so that doesn't happen--gas costs too much.