661882 Sat Oct 24 03:05:15 -0700 2009 6 32 Chains 0 5126995 I love Costco, but there is a BJ's near our daughter's new home in NE Philly, so I wanted to try them out. Not fair to base any opinion that is biased by unfamiliarity. I didn't think the meat selection was as ample, nor the visible quality as high as Costco, so I chose a small package of tenderloin at $9.99/pound to try. Oh oh. After I was home, I saw the grading on the meat: U. S. D. A SElect, or HIgh (not visible) High Standard? A grade below Select? OK. How untender could tenderloin be? Answer: very! It was actually on the tough side. And, full of pumped in water weight besides. Never again. They should be ashamed for selling that low a quality meat. Sat Oct 24 03:05:15 -0700 2009 13068 Bashful3 1 5127005 Most restaurants and caterers use select grade when buying tenderloin, it is the one cut where the grade doesn't make a difference. Price sounds a little high though, should've been closer to $7. Sat Oct 24 03:29:01 -0700 2009 5126995 11097 coll 2 5127039 That's what I thought when I chose that package, Coll. But, the so called tenderloin (and the cut was accurate, I could see that) was shockingly tough. And, so much fluid accumlated in the pan when I was pan broiling it--that would not have happened if that meat had not been pumped full of water. Sat Oct 24 04:42:42 -0700 2009 5127005 13068 Bashful3 3 5127188 You know, I just went grocery shopping and bought a trimmed filet on sale this week for $3.99. Forgot it was on my list! They don't have any grade, just says USA CAN. I cut it up and it looks like an apprentice butchered it (and I do mean butchered). Luckily I use this cut for stroganoff and the like, although I did cut two small steaks for the future, but since I paid $17 for the whole tenderloin I'm not as concerned as you must be. So far, my cat says the scraps are fine! But you should tell BJs if there's one near you, they've never given me a hard time getting credit for anything. Sat Oct 24 07:05:19 -0700 2009 5127039 11097 coll 1 5127361 I have memberships to both places, Costco prices are much better and I find their products are higher quality, especially beef. BJ's has a broader selection for some products but, their prices are generally higher. Pretty much the only thing I use BJ's for is gas. Sat Oct 24 08:37:09 -0700 2009 5126995 147961 treb 1 5128082 Costco has much broader selection of products. BJs takes manufacturer's coupons. The BJs in some areas have leased produce departments. Costco owns its own ranch for beef raising/slaughterhouse. In my area, Costco has liquor stores and BJs does not.. Sat Oct 24 15:00:34 -0700 2009 5126995 274541 bagelman01 2 5131569 Actually, Costco sources its beef from the safe major slaughterhouse operations as other large retailers. However, they're adding some of their own quality control: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010021163_ecoli08.html?syndication=rss Mon Oct 26 09:06:00 -0700 2009 5128082 202198 ferret