Conference turris::cooks

	PACE Membership Warehouse is a wholesale store along the lines
	of BJ's.  I joined the one in Warwick RI and was able to waive
	the membership fee solely because I was a member of a federal
	credit union (DCU).  My husband got a free membership because
	he works for a utility.  I have not heard anything in VTX about
	discounts for Digital employee's; if you are not a member of
	DCU, maybe there is something set up so you can get a discount.
	All I had to do was show them my checkbook to prove that I was
	a member of a federal credit union.

	PACE sells many of the same things as BJ's Wholesale but they
	seem to have more smaller items, whereas BJ's has alot of large
	items like electronic equipment and furniture.  I only know of
	two locations: Manchester NH and Warwick RI.

	That's all I know.

	Karen

�       <<< Note 3141.1 by CALS::HEALEY "DTN 297-2426 (was Karen Luby)" >>>

�	items like electronic equipment and furniture.  I only know of
�	two locations: Manchester NH and Warwick RI.

We've also got them in Denver and Colorado Springs...

You might also check to see if you have a Sam's Warehouse (owned by same 
organization that owns Walmart Stores).  Sam's and PACE have fairly similar 
inventories and prices...

    I belong to both PACE and BJ's.  One thing I like about Pace is that
    the one in MAnchester NH, has an in store bakery, and a much better
    selection of produce and meats vs. the BJ's in Salem NH.  You can get
    pultry and meat that is not frozen at PACE.  As for other items I
    think the two stores are similar.  By the way, SAM'S will be breaking 
    ground soon for a new store in Hudson NH.

    Just had to say something about BJ's, sometimes it's hard to shut face
    but...
    
    BJ's had all those free memberships when they first opened, charging
    those without the "special" memberships a 5% up charge but once
    they got all those new memebers they changed and started to charge 
    $25.00 a year for any membership.. That's when I dropped out.  I would 
    have to spend $500.00 ( x .05) to justify the $25.00 for my membership
    and then of course the hubby's was another $10.00 if he wanted in.
    
    I never did and I don't want to spend $500.00 a year in BJ's.  I found 
    the store became yet another addiction to me so I stay out.  But once 
    in a while I get angry that I can't go because I don't spend enough in
    there.   
    
    

    DECies can get into BJs once, I think, w/o buying the $25 membership. 
    Just bring your badge.  I only wanted to buy a 20 lbs. box of Tide,
    which I cannot seem to find anywhere else.
    
    I need to go there so SELDOM that I refused to buy their membership,
    also.  I refuse to PAY to shop anywhere.  Spag's prices are as good as
    BJs.  A good sale someplace else is as good as BJs and I don't have to
    pay to shop elsewhere.
    
    BJs food prices were okay... but for the two of us, the quantities are
    just too large.  I didn't like the looks of some of the steaks that I
    saw a couple months ago (went as a guest of my friend).  They did have
    a good deal on S.F. Bay Trading Co. coffee beans.  But otherwise, I
    really see no reason to pay $ to shop there.
    
    IMHO.
                                                                      
    Rgds,
    marcia

    The word "wholesale" is used to give the impression that
    you are getting a good deal at BJ's.  What I have seen is
    that you are actually not saving money on most of the goods
    they sell, i.e. a dz rolls of paper towels were available
    as a "wholesale bulk purchase", but when you divided the
    price asked, by 12, the actual price per roll was over $1
    ea.  I can get single rolls for .69 ea, or 2/$1 if on sale
    at the supermarket.  What you are able to do is actually
    buy larger sizes of things, like a gallon of ketchup, or
    20lb box or 5 gal jug of laundry detergent.  They do accept
    mfgrs coupons, which helps, but, say you buy a two pack of
    ketchup, they will only accept 1 coupon, as they consider that
    one item, not two.  I got lucky and have a membership off of
    a friends for the $10.  .5 is right, you can get better deals
    elsewhere, such as Spags, or Ocean State Job Lot, or Costco's.....
    
    

    Marcia (not sure where you live), but Alexanders (now called Shop &
    Save) carries the 20 lb box of Tide.  I just saw it at the store in
    Merrimack.

 You have to be an educated shopper to get a good deal at BJs. If you don't
know the difference between a good price and an average price, you won't save 
much.

 The Doctah

    I also gave up my membership to B.J.'s when they added the fee. But I
    like to shop in those type of stores occasionally. There's a Costco
    down the street from where I live and another store of the same type
    is being built a few miles away ( I don't know which one yet). There
    both on Rt.1 in the Peabody/Lynnfield/Saugus Ma. area.
    
    Can someone supply a list of the stores that allow free membership 
    to members of the DCU?  (They're not in th VTX Discount Directory).
    
    Thanks,
    
    Linda

    .7 - I live in N. Grafton (Central Mass.).  Don't think I've seen any
    Alexanders around here.  I watch the Sunday fliers for discount stores. 
    Once or twice a year Ames or Stuarts might carry those 20 lbs. boxes
    of Tide.  To me, they're a really good deal and I like not having to
    worry about buying it for a while.  
    
    I've also gotten more economical about my fabric softener-- realizing
    that the generic products work just as good as Downey or Snuggle, etc.
    
    I know, you can't EAT Tide or Downey-- so back to the COOKS subjects!

	Here in GA there are the PACE stores.  Where else can you buy a 3-lb
	bag of pisc

    I shop at PACE at least once ever 2 weeks.  While some of the food stuff is
    to much for me,  I do buy almost all of my cleaning supplies, pastic
    garbage bags and freezer bags, and 12 oz. softdrinks at PACE.  Also paper
    products.  Yos still have to comparison shop but you do save money. 
    The only real complaint I have with PACE is that you do not know from
    week to week what inventory they will have.   I did not know you could
    have the Membership fee waived if you were a member, I'll keep that in
    mind when mine comes up for renewal.
    
    Mary
    
    
     
    

    I have belonged to PACE for about 4 years.  Since they changed over to
    SAMS, I haven't really noticed much of a difference in the inventory. 
    I prefer SAMS over BJ's.  There is a SAMS up on the hill behind the
    Greendale Mall in Worcester, and they have a lot of nice stuff.
    
    BJ's have gone up in the membership price.  It is now $30 a year and if
    you get the one day pass to get in, they charge you 10% over what you
    buy.  Personally, I think that is a bit of a rip off.
    
    Check out SAMS/PACE.  I believe it is a better store.  You have to
    watch your prices though.  Some things are a little higher than a
    grocery store.  If you know your prices, then you will be fine.

    
    I had a membership in BJ's.  I cashed in the remainder of my BJ's 
    membership towards my Sam's membership.  They gave me the year 
    membership at Sam's for $25, plus the remaining 9 months I had on
    my BJ's membership.  I like Sam's much more than I liked BJ's. My
    experience has been that the stores are much cleaner and better 
    organized, and they have better prices.  My wife concurs. She still
    had her BJ's membership but let it expire in lieu of my Sam's 
    membership.  
    
    Lv