In today’s economy, most people are looking for ways that they can save some of their hard-earned money. You have probably noticed that the tally at the end of your grocery shopping trip is one of the things that has been on the increase since the recession began, so it stands to reason that you would be looking for ways to save in the area of your food expenses. Warehouse store memberships are a way that some households have found that they are able to do just that, but they aren’t the best plan for everyone. As with anything else, there are both pros and cons to getting a warehouse store membership, such as those listed below.
*Pros
The most obvious benefit of having a membership at a warehouse store is that you are able to shop in a place with lower prices than those that are commonly found in the standard grocery store. You can find amazing prices on many items that are of the highest quality and made by brand names that you recognize and trust. This can add up to huge savings at the end of your shopping trip.
At many warehouse stores, there are “sample days”, most often on a Saturday or Sunday once per week. These are wonderful times to get to try out new products before you buy them. Especially since most warehouse stores sell items in large quantities, it is terrible to buy something that you are unfamiliar with, only to get it home and find out that no one in your family likes it at all. Sample days are also a lot of fun. At some stores, you might be able to skip a whole meal after you’ve went through and filled up on all of those wonderful samples!
Some of the warehouse stores have additional resources that are made available to members, besides just shopping in the store. There are some with restaurants, gas stations, beauty salons, video rentals, optical offices, and other services that can save you more time and money when you have a membership.
There is a great deal of variety in most warehouse stores. Aside from groceries, there are often many other types of items. Some warehouse stores carry clothing, electronics, furniture, personal care products, and almost anything else that you could think of. This helps you to save money on both the prices of the items that you need, as well as in the fuel costs that you would accrue by having to go to a variety of stores for all of your shopping needs.
*Cons
Along with all of the benefits of becoming a member of a warehouse store, there are also some negative aspects. One of the most common complaints of people, when it comes to warehouse store shopping, is that almost everything is sold in large or bulk quantities. If you are a single person or have a small family, this may not be ideal for you. You might end up with a lot of food waste and find that you haven’t really saved anything at all, after you take that into account. The low prices may also encourage some people to purchase things that they normally wouldn’t and which aren’t necessary.
Warehouse stores are not typically the most upscale feeling stores, being clean but not usually well-decorated with a feeling of class and upscale shopping. This doesn’t bother some people, but there are those for whom this is a big drawback. The narrow aisles that are usually crowded, the less than perfect lighting, the concrete floors…these things are a part of what allows them to keep the prices low, but the trade-off is not acceptable to everyone.
There aren’t always warehouse stores close to where you live, either, which means that you are going to have to take the time and fuel to get there when you need to do your shopping. If you don’t live in a city where a warehouse store is located, you might be much less likely to actually get there and take advantage of your membership.
Warehouse stores don’t always have the same things from one week to the next. The stock is changing regularly, so they may not always have everything that you need. In general, there are going to be many of the same product categories, but you might find that you need a particular item and end up having to go elsewhere to purchase it.
Warehouse stores are great for some households, but for others, the cons of having a membership can outweigh the pros. It is up to each individual to determine if this is something that is going to save them money or just be another payment to make, or even have them spending far more than they normally would. Weigh out both sides, and then you will be able to make an informed and wise decion for your household regarding a warehouse store membership.