FYI…the Sam’s Club pumpkin pies are EXACTLY the same price and size. And Sam’s club is not a Thanksgiving zoo like Costco. I went to Costco on Saturday, and I thought I was going to get trampled to death 
Sam’s has a cool feature on their app where you can scan your items from your phone, then pay for it, and just walk out of the store. Most customers are doing that now, so there’s no lines!
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I love scan & go! Just make sure your phone is charged… so much better than worrying about long lines.
BJ’s club has a similar app. They also do coupons which you can preload on your phone.
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Sam’s has some different items. In Oklahoma, took my friend for her 1st visit. (We are both Costco members but she’s never been in a Sam’s Club). I told her we join when they run promotions so membership is either free or nearly free.
She happily purchased lots of clothes for her grandkids and a 3 pack of fruitcake for $11 (I kept 1 and she has 2 for her husband). They also had 12 days of Christmas jams/preserves/spread that she bought for her H. He will also love the jars for putting little odds & ends. She spent nearly $150 plus I bought her a tank of gas and also got a jeans-looking pair of jeggings.
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Made a lunchtime run to Costco to pick up our cat’s prescription. The place was mobbed! Saw a woman with a cart full of pumpkin pies, at least a couple of dozens of them! Every other cart had a turkey if some sort in it. 
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I had to pick up formula and diapers for my grandbaby at Costco yesterday. I went right when it opened and the line was incredible. I waited in the car and it took 15-20 min to get the crowd that had gathered into the building! It was all about the pumpkin pies. Pallets of them were going out the door. They had them on carts spreading from the bakery into the produce section. I thought about grabbing some avocados, but the masses of pies and shoppers totally blocked the way. It was nuts! (We use my mother-in-law’s pumpkin pie recipe. It’s so easy and the best I’ve tasted.)
I went to Costco last Saturday and SHEESH! I’m not sure why Costco even lets people fill their carts with pumpkin pies like that. The pies aren’t THAT good. Seriously, c’mmon people! Have some manners! I went to Sam’s the same day. It was busy but sane…and well stocked. No one felt like they had to buyout the store to avoid things running out.
The pies are big and cheap. I suspect that at least some of those big carts are for charity dinners and deliveries. Maybe meals on wheels too.
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Corporate events, charities, etc. for sure! Can’t think of a family gathering that would require so many pies.
Regarding stocking, our Costco is always very well stocked. Even during these crazy times. I have no idea how they manage that! 
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1. Costco
Votes: 5
Price: $5.99
Costco’s pumpkin pie is one of the retailer’s most popular products during the Thanksgiving season, and CNBC Make It’s testers agreed. It was the pie that was most visited for seconds and leftovers, with a “nice and creamy” consistency as well as “a good balance of spice and pumpkin.“
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I’ve had the Costco pies, but I haven’t tried the Sam’s Club pies. Looking forward to trying the Sam’s version to see if they’re up to snuff.
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My friend’s son (about age 4 to 8) just LOOOVED Costco pumpkin pie. As soon as they hit the shelves in the fall he had a piece for breakfast every day until they were gone in January.
I read that the first Costco in Maine is about to open. Prior to opening they had 8000 new members signed up. I assume first year membership at a new store is free.
Yes they are!
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We never had a test of free Costco membership when their store opened near my house.
Just opened in Scarborough, ME. Annual fee is $60 but if you sign up for auto renewal, it’s $30 the first year.
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No free memberships at all. You can’t even get a free one day trial at Costco.
If you know someone who can buy a Costco gift card for you, you can shop with the gift card with no membership.
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Alaska Air $500 gift card 10% off deal is back at Costco online.
Ditto Airbnb gift card.
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When my local Costco opened in 2020 there was a 1-year free membership. But Costco was not that well known back then.
BTW. There are no Sam’s Clubs in Massachusetts! The closets ones are in New Hampshire.
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I bought the Sam’s pumpkin pies this year for Thanksgiving. I think the Sam’s is better. Fight me 
But how are their hot dogs?