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another SAMS vs COSTCO thread - lobster tails

RRP
RRP Posts: 26,455
in EggHead Forum
We belong to both for a variety of reasons which make sense to us. For one reason is SAMS has nice lobster tails in the 12 to 16 ounce size in the mid $20s. OTOH our COSTCO only carries little tails in 5 to 7 oz at $35 a pound. Just for kicks and giggles I stopped by our local fish monger and all they were carrying are 5 ounce ones at a whopping $46 a pound!

Is your COSTCO stocked better or not?
Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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Comments

  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    RRP said:
    Is your COSTCO stocked better or not?
    Ron it seems to be location specific. In my area, SAMS blows away the only COSTCO in driving distance of me. With that said, I see all the great things that forum members post on here that they get from their local COSTCO. That tells me that it varies from location to location. As an example, the COSTCO in Mobile, AL. doesn’t even carry brisket unless they just started recently. I’m not debating who is better overall, just pointing out in my area it’s no comparison. SAMS wins by miles here. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • Spaightlabs
    Spaightlabs Posts: 2,349
    @sgh - the guy in your avatar shaves with a Lady Bic.
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  • MJG
    MJG Posts: 615
    I live just just north of Boston. Me getting lobster is kind of like all these humps in TX getting prime briskets for $2.99 a pound. Im shellfish allergic but the ladies in my house regularly get down with nice cold water crustaceans caught that same day. 
    Large Big Green Egg in a nest. North Shore of Boston.
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,455
    MJG said:
    I live just just north of Boston. Me getting lobster is kind of like all these humps in TX getting prime briskets for $2.99 a pound. Im shellfish allergic but the ladies in my house regularly get down with nice cold water crustaceans caught that same day. 
    Thanks - being here in Illinois in what we call the mid-West then we have ready access to the beef and pork raised on the corn also grown here.

    Our location is what has surprises me about SAMS vs COSTCO. Why can SAMS sell nice large lobster tails while the tiny tails that COSTCO sells look more like "crawdads" as we used to call the tiny baits we fish with! 
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • MJG
    MJG Posts: 615
    RRP said:
    Our location is what has surprises me about SAMS vs COSTCO. Why can SAMS sell nice large lobster tails while the tiny tails that COSTCO sells look more like "crawdads" as we used to call the tiny baits we fish with! 
    My only guess is that Costco isn’t interested. Not sure how quickly the inventory would turn and if they could make a buck doing it. My local Costco has Alaskan Crab legs but only for Mother’s & Father’s day(s) and Christmas. 
    Large Big Green Egg in a nest. North Shore of Boston.
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    Spaightlabs said:
    @sgh - the guy in your avatar shaves with a Lady Bic.
    No sir. He is a Muhle man without question or doubt. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,455
    MJG said:
    RRP said:
    Our location is what has surprises me about SAMS vs COSTCO. Why can SAMS sell nice large lobster tails while the tiny tails that COSTCO sells look more like "crawdads" as we used to call the tiny baits we fish with! 
    My only guess is that Costco isn’t interested. Not sure how quickly the inventory would turn and if they could make a buck doing it. My local Costco has Alaskan Crab legs but only for Mother’s & Father’s day(s) and Christmas. 
    Good point! We have only been Costco members for like 20 months. We recall that on one visit there was a lady behind a large display of lobster tails on a large bed of crushed ice. I remember the price was way out of sync with local competitors. SO maybe they "ate" that overpriced lobster and will not do that again!
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • Legume
    Legume Posts: 15,936
    SGH said:
    Spaightlabs said:
    @sgh - the guy in your avatar shaves with a Lady Bic.
    No sir. He is a Muhle man without question or doubt. 
    Not with those hands.
    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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  • Legume
    Legume Posts: 15,936
    It shouldn’t really be a mystery that they don’t carry identical inventory.
    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,455
    Legume said:
    It shouldn’t really be a mystery that they don’t carry identical inventory.
    I understand what you are saying, but their regional marketing personnel should know what will sell and won't then especially at their inflated prices vs. local competition.
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • toolndie7
    toolndie7 Posts: 26
    As another north east guy here that just sounds crazy. You can buy live lobsters at the local supermarket for $5-6lb or if your lucky enough to know a guy, right off the boat for even cheaper! But like it was mentioned before some of the meats are pricey out here, suppose its all relative.
    Rhode Island
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,593
    its 5.89 a pound here live right now from the pound.  any size.   chinas not getting their lobster right now, it should be better priced even where you are
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    In our area, I just discovered Sprouts. They sell lobster tails for for $5.99 each. They are approx 3.75 oz.  More to the crawdad size you're talking about.
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP PitBoss Navigator 850G 11/25
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
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  • Legume
    Legume Posts: 15,936
    I would have to assume there is some variation in quality across all of these examples, where they come from, etc.  are lobster tails graded?  I can't imagine either Sam's or Costco get their market wrong very often, I would assume it's rare in the quantities they buy and the science behind what they do.  so, when they're not offering the same things, or prices are vastly different, there has to be something else at play that's maybe just not obvious to the rest of us.  Regardless, the smart play seems to be buy what you want from who you want and be happy with it.  I'll never need to purchase lobster tails from Illinois, so, I guess it only matters what I can get locally.
    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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