Sam's opens

**james** · 08-27-2004

I attended the opening today. Very smoothly orchestrated and well run. Happy employees. Excellent samples.

Not a tourist in site.

Michele · 08-27-2004

James, do you find it comparable to Sam's in the states as far as products available?

STOGEY · 08-27-2004

Question! With all of the fine shops in and around PDC, why would someone go and shop at a Sam's? That's like eating at McDonalds, I just don't under stand it.

Michele · 08-27-2004

To buy Mattresses/box springs etc. for our rental house.

playa3 · 08-27-2004

Is your membership in the states honored in Mexico?

Michele · 08-27-2004

From what I understand, yes. If not, we'll re-up down there. Should come in handy for basic household items. I'm curious to see hoe it compares to the stores up here.

Ginger · 08-27-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by STOGEY

Question! With all of the fine shops in and around PDC, why would someone go and shop at a Sam's? That's like eating at McDonalds, I just don't under stand it.

I'd thing the locals would disagree. They'd probably rather shop somewhere where it was more reasonably priced, than at the touristy shops in town.

I dunno, I've read this argument somewhere before about the McDonald's, Sam's, Walmart, etc. not necessariliy from a tourist's point of view. But from a locals point of view. They want the right to be able to buy a cheap hamburger too, just like every other country in the world, whether or not the tourists want to see the restaurant there. When we went into McD's in Playa, it was jam packed full of Mexican people, not tourists.

But perhaps I'm wrong.

Any word on how much the membership cost is??

**james** · 08-28-2004

Sam's is for people that live here. Like I said, I didn't see a single tourist in the crowds. You would have to go way out of your way to get to Sams. Stogey- same reason they are popular all over. Shouldn't be hard to understand. Why would anyone go to Home Depot when the local Mom and Pop hardware store is so nice? New world economic order. And what does that have to do with McDonalds? Ask most any kid where they want to eat lunch. Different strokes for different folks. Choice is fundamental to capitalism and consumerism, two pillars of US society. No one is forced to go through the golden arches. They exist because they work. You'll notice they are very crowded with Mexican families.

As far as comparable to Sam's in the states, I cannot answer that very well. I don't shop in the states very often. I'm sure we have a better tequila section, that our electronics and software cost alot more, and that we have a different product blend. As the corporate rep Larry told me yesterday, "We aren't trying to change Mexico or its shopping habits.... we are sensitive to local cultures and traditions." Sams certainly isn't new to Mexico. I think they've been in the country for a decade now.

As for your membership card accepted here, yes, they are international. You can use your card from the US/Canada here, and I can use mine from Mexico up there.

A business card cost me 335 pesos, or thereabouts. About 30 US dollars.

Sola · 08-28-2004

Where exactly is Sam's?

Sola

**tommy** · 08-28-2004

your right James Your Tequila section is way bigger than ours......We dont have one!!!!
We can only buy the hard stuff in a designated liquor store....Liquor can only be purchased until 9pm Mon-Sat.....No Sunday....Be a boy scout and be prepared!!!!

thanks for the update....Sam's there I assume is like the one here in the way it operates....We dont shop at sam's because of the Bulk merchandise....With it being me and Donna most of the time at the house it just goes to waste....we did however Buy 6 tv's there when we rebuilt our house after the fire.....saved a couple of hundred by doing it that way....

But Walmart is another story!!!!

Our membership for Individual is $35 usd....

**tommy** · 08-28-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sola

Where exactly is Sam's?

Sola

South of Playa Del Carmen on the North bound side of 307....its right at the outskirt of town....You wont miss it if you head towards tulum...

AlmaLibre · 08-28-2004

James,

Is it any different than the one in Cancun?

STOGEY · 08-29-2004

You are correct James as far as different strokes for different folks. I was only stating my opinion as a tourist. Where I live we recently had a big named musician come to town and instead of having sea food, he sent out for chicken fingres. Oh well!

Michael · 08-29-2004

I’m sure I’ll be at SAM’s during my very next visit to Playa. There will be stuff we need for our house. And I am so happy I won’t have to drive back and forth to Cancun anymore. However we’ll certainly be visiting many of the fine shops in and around PDC, and I am sure our family will be represented at Micky D’s (by our teenage kids). After being encouraged to eat at neat authentic places by their “boring” parents, they rush off for American fast food as soon as we are out of sight.

STOGEY · 08-30-2004

I once ate at a Mcdonalds in Australia, it deffinetlyu wasn't the same as in the US. The hamburgers tasted alot more gamey then what I'm used to here. We were told that they sometimes use kangaroo for their hamburger. I was hopping mad about that not knowing wether they were using real meat instead of something that is like meat.

08-27-2004	#1 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Sweden Posts: 10,725	Sam's opens I attended the opening today. Very smoothly orchestrated and well run. Happy employees. Excellent samples. Not a tourist in site. __________________ Get your own signature countdown image!

08-27-2004	#3 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 10,574	sam's Question! With all of the fine shops in and around PDC, why would someone go and shop at a Sam's? That's like eating at McDonalds, I just don't under stand it.

08-28-2004	#8 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Sweden Posts: 10,725	Sam's is for people that live here. Like I said, I didn't see a single tourist in the crowds. You would have to go way out of your way to get to Sams. Stogey- same reason they are popular all over. Shouldn't be hard to understand. Why would anyone go to Home Depot when the local Mom and Pop hardware store is so nice? New world economic order. And what does that have to do with McDonalds? Ask most any kid where they want to eat lunch. Different strokes for different folks. Choice is fundamental to capitalism and consumerism, two pillars of US society. No one is forced to go through the golden arches. They exist because they work. You'll notice they are very crowded with Mexican families. As far as comparable to Sam's in the states, I cannot answer that very well. I don't shop in the states very often. I'm sure we have a better tequila section, that our electronics and software cost alot more, and that we have a different product blend. As the corporate rep Larry told me yesterday, "We aren't trying to change Mexico or its shopping habits.... we are sensitive to local cultures and traditions." Sams certainly isn't new to Mexico. I think they've been in the country for a decade now. As for your membership card accepted here, yes, they are international. You can use your card from the US/Canada here, and I can use mine from Mexico up there. A business card cost me 335 pesos, or thereabouts. About 30 US dollars. __________________ Get your own signature countdown image!

08-28-2004	#9 (permalink)
Sola toe in water Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico Posts: 53	Just curious.... Where exactly is Sam's? Sola

08-29-2004	#13 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 10,574	sam's You are correct James as far as different strokes for different folks. I was only stating my opinion as a tourist. Where I live we recently had a big named musician come to town and instead of having sea food, he sent out for chicken fingres. Oh well! Last edited by STOGEY; 08-29-2004 at 06:16 PM.. Reason: typo

08-27-2004	#2 (permalink)
Michele añejo Merchant Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen, QR, MX Posts: 3,496	James, do you find it comparable to Sam's in the states as far as products available?

08-27-2004	#4 (permalink)
Michele añejo Merchant Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen, QR, MX Posts: 3,496	To buy Mattresses/box springs etc. for our rental house.

08-27-2004	#5 (permalink)
playa3 way into it Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 133	Is your membership in the states honored in Mexico?

08-27-2004	#6 (permalink)
Michele añejo Merchant Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen, QR, MX Posts: 3,496	From what I understand, yes. If not, we'll re-up down there. Should come in handy for basic household items. I'm curious to see hoe it compares to the stores up here.

08-28-2004	#10 (permalink)
tommy Rastaman Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin Tx Posts: 12,822 Blog Entries: 5	your right James Your Tequila section is way bigger than ours......We dont have one!!!! We can only buy the hard stuff in a designated liquor store....Liquor can only be purchased until 9pm Mon-Sat.....No Sunday....Be a boy scout and be prepared!!!! thanks for the update....Sam's there I assume is like the one here in the way it operates....We dont shop at sam's because of the Bulk merchandise....With it being me and Donna most of the time at the house it just goes to waste....we did however Buy 6 tv's there when we rebuilt our house after the fire.....saved a couple of hundred by doing it that way.... But Walmart is another story!!!! Our membership for Individual is $35 usd....

08-28-2004	#12 (permalink)
AlmaLibre way into it Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo, Mexico Posts: 160	James, Is it any different than the one in Cancun?

08-29-2004	#14 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 4,631	I’m sure I’ll be at SAM’s during my very next visit to Playa. There will be stuff we need for our house. And I am so happy I won’t have to drive back and forth to Cancun anymore. However we’ll certainly be visiting many of the fine shops in and around PDC, and I am sure our family will be represented at Micky D’s (by our teenage kids). After being encouraged to eat at neat authentic places by their “boring” parents, they rush off for American fast food as soon as we are out of sight.

08-30-2004	#15 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 10,574	mcd's I once ate at a Mcdonalds in Australia, it deffinetlyu wasn't the same as in the US. The hamburgers tasted alot more gamey then what I'm used to here. We were told that they sometimes use kangaroo for their hamburger. I was hopping mad about that not knowing wether they were using real meat instead of something that is like meat.

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