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Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)
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|
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Formerly |
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---|---|
Type |
Public |
ISIN |
US9311421039 |
Industry |
Retail |
Founded |
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Founder |
Sam Walton |
Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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Number of locations
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10,593 stores worldwide (January 31, 2022) [2] [3] |
Area served
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Worldwide |
Key people
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Products |
Supermarket , Hypermarket , Superstore , Convenience shop |
Services | |
Revenue |
US$ 559.2 billion (2020) [4] |
US$22.55 billion (2020) [4] |
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US$13.70 billion (2020) [4] |
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Total assets |
US$252.5 billion (2020) [4] |
Total equity |
US$87.53 billion (2020) [4] |
Owner |
Walton family (50.85%) [5] |
Number of employees
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2,300,000 (Jan. 2021) [4] U.S.: 1,600,000 |
Divisions |
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Subsidiaries |
List of subsidiaries |
Website |
walmart.com |
Footnotes / references [6] [7] [8] |
There has never been a more competitive era in retail, and customers ultimately benefit from the lower prices and selection.
It can be difficult to know where you should shop and which stores are right for your family.
It might seem difficult to decide which of the two stores you should shop at if there is a choice between Costco and Walmart.
We have compiled a Walmart Vs Costco breakdown that includes company information, prices, and product details.
Walmart is well-known for its 11,000 locations in 27 countries.
Founded in the 1960s by Sam Walton, it is still headquartered in Arkansas but has grown far beyond its Southern roots.
Walmart has been listed publicly in 1997. They now operate warehouses named Sam’s Club. Walmart also plans on entering the financial sector.
Costco Wholesale Corporation was created in 1976. Until 1983, the company was known by its earlier name Price Club.
Multinational company owns 800+ retail outlets across 13 countries. However, the company still calls Issaquah Washington State home.
Costco’s Warehouse-style stores compete with Walmart’s Sam’s Clubs and BJ’s Warehouses.
Costco is one of America’s largest retailers and has a net worth estimated at $80 billion.
First of all, who is allowed to enter Costco or Walmart stores?
Costco is membership-only, with an annual fee of $60 (or $120 for the Gold Star Executive plan).
Walmart doesn’t have membership fees. Everyone can go in and start shopping.
One feels familiar once you enter a Costco or Walmart.
You’ll be amazed at the size of both Costco and Walmart stores.
You can have wide aisles or carts to hold a lot of stuff. Ceilings can feel impossiblely high.
From there, though, the layouts drastically diverge.
Walmart stores – at least the ones I’ve seen – follow one or two different layout approaches, but for Supercenters, grocery and the rest of the goods reside on separate sides of the store.
Costco stores use all of that vertical space to stack stock high, but the layout was also examined by retail experts.
Costco and designers have worked together to create an atmosphere of calm that helps customers navigate their way through the store.
This soft herding leads shoppers through strategically placed items, encouraging them to buy more.
Costco stores are warehouses, so products can be bought in bulk.
As big as Costco is, you might be surprised to know that the stores typically carry only about 4,000 products.
Walmart sells products individually, although some items are available in bulk packaging. Walmart may sell up to 142,000 different items at a single store.
Given these reasons, it can be difficult to choose which store you should visit if you’re only going to make one trip.
Is your family large or do you just need to have more? Costco, it’s. You are a loyal customer of certain brand names or do you prefer lots of choice? Walmart is your better choice.
Below is a list of very similar departments in both stores.
Departments:
Walmart has a crafting department that can still offer fabric bolts at a few stores.
Costco also sells a wide range of gift baskets that are premade and can be paired with the floral section.
Walmart also has more options for prepared food, like fried chickens and other sides.
Costco’s own favorite food court offers hot dogs, pizzass, smoothies, and even low-priced Ice Cream.
Of course, no big chain retailer would be complete these days without private or exclusive labels and brands.
This is part and parcel of the business model that helps keep prices down.
Below are some of the top-selling and most recognized Walmart stores:
Kirkland is Costco’s major private label brand.
Kirkland is actually named after the town in Washington state where an early store was located.
The price of goods is an important motivating factor, especially for those who need to keep their kitchen and pantry stocked.
Which grocery store is more affordable for staple groceries?
Gina Zakaria from Money.com did an overall price comparison and concluded that Costco’s prices were generally lower than Walmart.
However – and this is a big however – while the price per unit or ounce or pound is cheaper at Costco, you’re locked into buying more of it.
If you buy the cheaper Costco shredded cheese and forget to put away the rest of the pound, it’s a waste.
Walmart and Costo provide additional services, including pharmacy, bank, vision center, photo printing, and banking.
Both offer car services. However, Walmart has some garages that can be used to perform on-site oil changes or tire service.
Costco, on the other side, connects customers to partnered shops for auto parts and provides discounts on these services. And some locations have gas stations and propane tank refill stations.
Additionally, Costco subcontracts or partners with companies to offer services like home improvement (flooring, even solar installation), mortgage purchase, and insurance plans.
After surveying 62,000 consumers, American Customer Satisfaction Index published its 2019 findings.
Costco topped the list when it comes to customer satisfaction. Forbes.com cited Costco’s “customer-first culture” as a huge part of the reason.
Walmart was lower than Costco with a score of 83/100. It was not a terrible score but it was among the lowest.
MarketWatch has published an article entitled “4 Reasons Walmart the Most Hated Retailer in America” Yikes.
It has worked for me. Service without a smile isn’t a guarantee, and the employees who serve me at the service desk have often treated me hostilely.
Walmart has an excellent return policy – 90 days with a receipt and you get your money right back; without a receipt, you get store credit.
The only exceptions concern electronics, diamonds, cigarettes and alcohol, tires and batteries, and custom-ordered products, like personalized mugs – which is pretty fair.
Costco is willing to take your item back, and even refund it if you do not have the receipt.
For Costco’s full return policy, read here.
Walmart and Costco offer different perspectives if we consider wages as part of companies’ ethical footprint.
Walmart employs approximately 2.25 million workers around the globe. The base salary in the U.S. starts at $11.
While that is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, that is a very difficult amount to get by on, especially in a single-income family.
Walmart has recently stated that it was “bumping” wages for $15 an hour, but the wording matters.
Only about 425,000 employees in the U.S. will start making $13/hr. It is the base wage that will be increased, not the average.
Costco is known for paying its workers well. Their starting salary was recently increased to $16/hr.
Costco or Walmart could be an option for you if discount retailers are part of your investment strategy.
James Brumley at The Motley Fool thinks that Walmart has the better horse in the race ultimately.
Walmart’s stock prices and valuations, the absence of Costco membership pricing (which is predicted to increase), as well adaptability are his strong arguments for choosing Walmart over Costco.
Knowing more about Walmart and Costco? You can read the related posts: how Walmart pays stockers; 33 Walmart statistics; 23 Costco statistics.
Walmart and Costco are both examples of the “different strokes” saying. They offer different experiences, while competing for discounts dollars.
Costco offers the most affordable option for larger families who are looking for supplies for events or parties, or if they have stock to buy once a month.
Walmart is the perfect everyday store, thanks to its low prices, extensive selection, and easier access.
Is Costco More Expensive Than Walmart?
Gina Zakaria for Money.com did a price comparison between the two giant retailers and found that, on the whole, Costco prices were cheaper than Walmart’s. Costco has a lower price per unit, or ounce, or pound. But you are locked in to buying more.
Costco Products on Sale at Walmart.
Costco or Walmart are cheaper than Walmart? There’s no clear-cut answer to which store is cheaper since prices per item vary-but overall, Walmart’s Great Value brand does offer the lowest prices on many items, including groceries, home essentials, and more.Jun 9, 2021
Is Costco Better Than Walmart?
Costco sells most products in bulk, so there is a general consensus that they have better quality products than Walmart. Walmart is the most affordable choice when you need to buy products, such as groceries or electronic items.
Is there a difference between Walmart and Costco?
Costco has a business model that requires members to pay fees for bulk purchases and Costco sells items at wholesale prices. Walmart however is a traditional retail outlet with the goal of lowering its prices.
.Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)