Do you save money shopping at Costco or another warehouse club?

In 2008, I joined Costco because an article in Consumer Reports suggested you might be able to get a good deal on a computer.

A year later, I joined again because I wanted to see if I could get a low price on eyeglasses.

So now that I have a membership, what should I do with it? I have a small family, so buying huge containers of food isn’t a practical consumer choice.

The Consumer Reports article, “Costco vs. Sam’s Club: New Reasons to Join or Switch” on ConsumerReports.org was helpful.

It said warehouse clubs make their money on memberships and have a lower mark up than other stores. However, you may find better deals at supermarkets on specials because they’re sold at a loss to attract consumers.

Costco and Sam’s Club buy items directly from the manufacturer to get cheaper prices. That means you won’t find wide variety of brands, for example, there may only be one brand of raisin bran cereal.

Although you may find large ticket items such as sofas and appliances, you can’t count on finding them in the store the next time you shop.

These practices can lead consumers to overspend, the article states.

If you control the urge to spend, the article says, club membership can pay off. Here are tips to help you shop at warehouse clubs:

• Make a list and stick to it.

• Know how to identify super-bargains. At Costco, “.97” at the end of a price generally indicates discontinued or slow-moving products. At Sam’s, a “C” at the end of the item number denotes a canceled item.

• Compare the club’s unit prices to those at your supermarket for heavily discounted staples. Supermarkets might be less expensive.

• For big-ticket items, compare the club price to that of other retailers by going to sites such as PriceGrabber.com or BizRate.

• Consider splitting large buys with friends. Otherwise, don’t buy in bulk perishables or medications with a short shelf life – check the expiration dates. You’ll end up tossing a lot away.

• Try unfamiliar products judiciously. You don’t want to get stuck with, say, a gallon of Brand X Vidalia onion salad dressing.

• Pay with cash; it’s a reality check on how much you’re spending.

• Shop on weekdays, preferably when the store opens or in midafternoon. That’s when crowds tend to be lighter.

• Not sure about joining? In many states you can request a day pass at Sam’s Club and pay a surcharge, typically 10 percent over what members pay. Costco used to have a similar program, but discontinued it. Now, only members can purchase there.

Here are other articles to help you evaluate warehouse clubs:

“Buying Bargains in Bulk, Without Breaking the Bank” – The Seattle Times

“A Comparison of Sam’s Club and Costco” – Associated Content.com