BJ’s

As our membership was coming up for renewal, my last experience at BJ’s made the decision NOT to renew SO much easier.
I went to BJs yesterday evening at 5:45. We planned to return our bottles and do some shopping.
We visited the bottle return, and as luck would have it about 20 bottles in the machine needed to be serviced, so my boyfriend went in to the front desk to let someone know. They said they would page someone and to go back outside and wait. About 10 minutes passed and I heard the store re-​page someone, so we continued to wait, a little peeved, but could at least hear the concern being addressed.
About 20 minutes later, my boyfriend went back into the service desk and was told they will page someone again but if no one comes to just count up the bottles and bring them in the store.
After about 10 minutes we decided to count the bottles up just to get the rest of our evening started, and after counting 233 bottles by hand in the cold went back into the store with our cart of loose bottles and stood in line at customer service, where only one person was working with a line full of people…
Once it was our turn to go up the lady came around and seemed annoyed to have to deal with our bottle issue. She handed us a bag and then proceeded to argue with us that a specific brand of bottle we had would not be accepted there, even though they clearly sold them. I told her that that type of bottle had gone through the machine already and if they would simply have fixed the machine we would’ve been happy to return them in the normal fashion.
She then called management, and the woman who came up very rudely said to just accept them to get us out of the store… We tried to explain that they went through the machine and she simply dismissed us by saying well no one is around to fix that…
So we then were told we had to RECOUNT the 233 bottles again… not sure why we had to count them the first time just to recount them again. We were told only one of us could count at a time because she had to double check our counting and couldn’t keep up if both of us were counting and bagging the bottles. We were then told we had to go back to the back of the line and once she took care of everyone else she would give us our bottle money…
Now while many people may not go to BJ’s to return bottles, clearly enough people do so that the bottle machines were full. I always purchase our water there and they are the only store that accepts their bottles back, so I didn’t have a choice…
Needless to say I will NOT be renewing our membership and did not buy a single item there last night… I went straight up the road to Costco and bought what I needed, without a hassle, and got to visit the food court because they were actually still open, unlike BJ’s…
All in all awful experience, I liked BJ’s for the self-​checkout efficiency, but the terrible customer service is not worth it for me.

The food court closes way to early!!! It should close when the STORE CLOSES! Not 1.5 hour before

Fans of Costco, BJs makes a nice backup. Plenty of good here:
Parking is plentiful and easy.
Gas station works well and has great prices.
Liquid Propane is available for sale.
Grocery selection fall somewhere between Costco and a small supermarket.
Lots of electronics and appliances, not a bad selection.
They sell a wide range of casual shoes, and clothing accessories.
Accepts wider variety of credit cards
Dues are low, rarely crowded.
And some not so good here too:
Big selection, but not everything is a top pick product, choose carefully.
Snack bar keeps funny limited hours, chicken tenders good, hot dogs and pizza not as good.
Some of the clothes don’t have great branding, styling or quality.
Layout can be crowded and chaotic in some departments, lack simplicity of pure warehouse.
Many prices are not value slam dunks, this isn’t Costco, know you comparative pricing.
Very light on cashiers. Long lines for the self-​checks and lots of headaches and delays.
Checkout layout is weak, gets crowded juggling cart, customer, cashier and merchandise on one side of the counter. Feels like a Lucy skit if you bought a lot.
Not the value or quality king of Costco, but a strong backup store that’s still far ahead of a normal Target experience and God forbid a trip to Walmart.

I really don’t like posting such negative reviews but I have to for just this ONE location – Brookfield, CT. I have been to BJs and I like them (although my allegiance is so to COSTCO – you are not worthy!!!) My last experience here so deters me from joining altogether, even with the claim of full reimbursement if unsatisfied. I got to this store at 5:40 pm, on a Tuesday Fall night, really in the midst of rush hour traffic, when everyone hits the stores after work to do their shopping. I was confident that I would be in and out as the parking lot had many vacant spaces. I needed to refill my propane tank, and it was no bargain at $ 15.99 considering up the block it was offered at $ 16.99 with IMMEDIATE service (i’ll explain) I walked into the tire center since that is where they do propane refills and I waited for about 6 minutes and not one person came to the counter – I opened the door where the auto mechanic was ferociously working on a car and I asked him if there was anyone doing the propane and very politely, he stated «I’m only one here so I’ll be with you as soon as I can» He was most respectful but clearly he was busy. I waited a few more minutes and I was quite in a hurry as I had to be at my final destination by 6:45. I finally asked him if I could leave the tank and run into the store to pick up 3 items and he said no problem and that I could pay for the refill in the store when I was checking out – about 11 minutes wasted right there (yes, I am patient, even when there is no elevator music/​muzak playing). So into the store I went to pick up my items and pay for my discounted (???) propane… first stop is at the DELI – Very nice lady working the counter BUT she is maniacally swamped… she too is ALONE!!! After about 10 minutes, she is able to get to me and I asked her if it was only her today and she said that her co-​worker was on break and that it is solely her for now… she served me ever so politely and as I was leaving, there were about 5 other eager customers waiting patiently to place their order with a look of exasperation. I then go to check out my big bag of ice (which I had to trade in because of wait on the deli line), almond milk, cold cuts and there in only ONE CASHIER checking people out and 4 self-​check outs were open but ¾ are blinking as they need assistance (discovering that this is truly a place for only ONE). I opt for the selfie since the line is shorter and I was smart enough to wait on the non-​blinking line given my rush. I scan all of my products and I now need to locate the the key for my propane tank on register keypad and I can’t. The lady coming to clear off the other three registers’ issues walks by me and I ask her about inputting my Propane refill and she says; «Oh, that can’t be down here – you need to get on line and work with a cashier – you’ll have to wait over there» By that point, I am all scanned, ready to pay and that live Cashier has a line with 4 people on it with flowing over-​the-​top carts. It is now 6:22 and I have to now guise myself as Danika Patrick to be home by 6:45!!! I was absolutely disgusted… lastly, gas price there was $ 3.19 – competitors, right up the block at about ¹⁄₃ of a mile was $ 3.09 – but why??? Tell me whhyyyyayayaya as Annie Lennox so graciously sang.
Needless to say, I left the store furious and in a bit of a huff – how they manage to staff a store at night with minimal personnel is beyond me! This store cannot handle crowds and I have watched people leave it, empty-​handed because they do not want to wait on line for their 3 items. I really do love this store but the way it is being managed/​operated does not promise for a fruitful or successful business especially with the upcoming holidays. I did go to Costco right before this pitiful stop and COSTCO was packed – I managed to get parking, shop and fill my cart up to the brim, pick up my prescription, go to the water closet and Gas up cheaper and in less time than I did picking up my 3 puny items at BJs.
I am sorry to say that I will not renew my BJs membership and am happy that this is solely a FALL 2014 TRIAL membership as my sticker so glaringly states in fluorescent orange.
COSTCO, make way cuz, here I come… also LOVE the free cookbook they give on Black Friday weekend!

Compared to other BJ’s locations I’ve been to, this ones a little smaller but is easier to navigate. Apparently they close earlier on Sundays (as I discovered when trying to check-​in on Sunday evening) but I had no problem making my purchase, looking around or anything of that nature. They also have a gas station attached to this one & the price is cheaper than I’ve seen in this area so it might be worth the membership cost even if you’re just going for that.
Oh, and I like that this one is clean unlike the closest BJ’s where I used to live that was tiny, messy and a pedestrian nightmare to get into.

I love their gas station prices and do go there, but the store does not carry anything I want or use. I’ve made purchases just because I’m there, but haven’t been satisfied with the quality. Their liquor store is terrible with a poor selection and the prices did not seem better than in local liquor stores. To sum it up, the only service I use is their gas station and they get four stars.

If you’ve read my other posts about BJ’s you might have noticed that I’m a huge fan of BJ’s. they give you coupons plus take manufactures coupons which in my opinion is awesome.
This is a brand new location and they are in the process of building a a gas station in their parking lot. How awesome is that. (I wish all the BJ’s had gas stations)
They have great free samples (if you’re hungry, come here and you will leave full!)
I tried their blueberry muffins — delicious.
To all the mommies and daddies who don’t normally shop here for baby items, I think they are the best place to buy diapers and baby food because buying in bulk with a coupon can be cheaper than supermarket prices.

This is one of the newest BJ’s in the USA right now as it opened last month. Because they have come to town, food prices have dropped drastically in the area. Across the street at Shoprite Red Holland Peppers used to be $ 4.99, now they are $ 1.49. Milk was $ 4.09 now it is $ 3.79. Everything is on fire sale in the store — and that is only to match the prices at Bj’s, not beat them.
If nothing else, the introdction of a discounter to this area has lowered the cost of groceries for the time being — even if you have to buy more in bulk. It is an exchange I will gladly make any day to save money over the long haul.