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Amazon vs Costco 2026: Retail Showdown

Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud services giant with 798 million products and digital-first delivery model, while Costco is a membership-based warehouse retailer with 870 physical locations focused on bulk purchasing and lower per-unit costs. Amazon dominates online retail; Costco dominates in-person bulk buying with higher customer loyalty scores.

A

Amazon

Multinational technology and e-commerce company providing retail, cloud computing, and digital services.

Convenience seekers, digital shoppers, households using multiple Prime services, fast delivery users, those valuing product selection over bulk savings

Score63%
VS
Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale

Membership-based warehouse club retailer focused on bulk purchasing and curated product selection.

Bulk buyers, families, small businesses, budget-conscious consumers, regional shoppers valuing treasure-hunt discovery, those seeking premium private-label goods

Score63%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud services giant with 798 million products and digital-first delivery model, while Costco is a membership-based warehouse retailer with 870 physical locations focused on bulk purchasing and lower per-unit costs. Amazon dominates online retail; Costco dominates in-person bulk buying with higher customer loyalty scores.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Amazon if you value convenience, product variety, fast delivery (same-day in many cities), and digital integration with Prime Video and Music benefits. Choose Costco if you prioritize bulk purchasing savings, personalized member service, higher-quality food selections, and lower membership costs—Costco members report 82% satisfaction vs Amazon's 68%, and Costco's treasure-hunt shopping model drives 94% member renewal rates.

Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

A
Amazon
6.9/10
Costco Wholesale
8.1/10
A

Choose Amazon if

Convenience seekers, digital shoppers, households using multiple Prime services, fast delivery users, those valuing product selection over bulk savings

Costco Wholesale

Choose Costco Wholesale if

Best pick

Bulk buyers, families, small businesses, budget-conscious consumers, regional shoppers valuing treasure-hunt discovery, those seeking premium private-label goods

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Business Model:Costco Wholesale wins(Membership warehouse retail (requires paid membership) vs E-commerce & cloud services (AWS generates 16% of revenue))
  • Revenue (2024):Amazon wins($575.2 billion vs $252.6 billion)
  • Physical Locations:Costco Wholesale wins(870 warehouse clubs worldwide vs ~600 fulfillment centers (no retail stores))
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

178 numeric metrics compared

MetricAmazonCostco WholesaleRatio
Market Cap(USD)$1.8 Trillion
Global User Base(millions)240+ Prime members + broader reach
Seller Commission Rate(%)15% base commission
Annual Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)(billions USD)$638 billion
Mobile App Downloads (All-Time)(millions)500+ million
Market Dominance Share(%)40% US e-commerce market share
Company Market Capitalization(trillions USD)$2.36 trillion (July 2026)
Fulfillment Cost (FBA/Self)(% of sale)15-25% (FBA included)
User Base Growth Rate (YoY)(%)8-10% annual growth
Prime/Membership Benefits(members)240 million Prime members
Average Shipping Time(days)1-2 days (Prime)
Market Share (E-Commerce)(%)40% global e-commerce market share
Annual Revenue (2025)(Billion USD)$638B (e-commerce only)
Subscription/Membership Base(Millions)240M+ Prime members
YoY Revenue Growth (2025)(Percent)12-15% (estimated)
Prime Members(millions)220+
Ad Revenue (2026)(billion USD)$68.5
Prime Day 2026 Revenue(billion USD)$24.1
AI Rufus Interaction Growth(percent)+210%
Free Shipping Minimum(USD)$35
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time(days)1-2 days (Prime)
Pet-Specific Product SKU Count(SKUs)~50,000-100,000 (estimated pet section)
Total Product Categories(categories)500+ million SKUs across all categories
Return Window (Standard Pet Supplies)(days)30 days (standard Amazon)
Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%)8-45% + 30-50% FBA
Monthly Base Cost(USD)$0 (pay per sale)
Built-in Customer Base(millions)300+ active customers
Average Time to First Sale(days)3-7 days (instant access)
Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10)Minimal (2/10)
Customer Data Access(percentage)0% customer data; Amazon owns relationship
Payment Gateway Options(number)1 (Amazon Pay only)
Active Users (2026)(millions)Amazon 380 million
Avg Product Price(USD)$15-50
Standard Shipping Time(days)5-7 days
Avg Customer Rating(stars)4.1/5
Premium Membership Cost($)Prime $139
Number of Active Sellers(millions)2+ million
Standard Shipping Time (Domestic)(days)2 days (Prime)
Prime/Premium Subscription Cost(USD/year)$139/year (Prime)
Average Customer Rating System(stars)4.4/5 average seller rating
Mobile App Downloads(millions)2.5 billion downloads
Handmade/Artisanal Product Percentage(%)<2% handmade items
Annual Revenue (2025)(billion USD)$575 billion
Global Physical Store Locations(stores)0 stores
Product SKU Count(products)300+ million
Average Standard Delivery Time(days)2 days (Prime) / 5-7 days (standard)
Entry Membership Cost(USD per year)$139
Customer Product Reviews Published(millions)250+ million
Renewable Energy Usage(percentage)85%
Year Created/Founded1994
Global User Base(millions)150+ million customers
AWS Cloud Market Share(percent)32%
Employees(count)1.5 million
Package/Service Ecosystem(count)200+ AWS services
Market Capitalization(USD)2.1 trillion
Total Product Selection(number of SKUs)500,000+
Average Price Markup vs Wholesale(%)20-30% markup
Standard Shipping Delivery Time(business days)1-2 days (Prime)
Grooming Service Availability(locations)0 locations
Physical Store Locations (US)(locations)0
Average Product Price Index(% difference from market average)-12%
Product Selection(items)2,000,000+
Standard Shipping Time(days)1-2 days (Prime)
Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year)$139
Customer Review Rating(out of 5 stars)4.4
Average Shipping Speed(days)2-3 days (Prime)
Return Window(days)30-60 days (Prime)
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)(relative price)100
Product Description Accuracy Rate(%)96%
Active Global Users(millions)150M
Non-Delivery/Lost Package Rate(%)0.3%
Annual Revenue(USD billions)$575 billion (2024)
Standard Delivery Time(days)1-2 days (Prime)
US Grocery Market Share(%)2.1%
Estimated Active Users(millions)310M
Available Product SKUs(millions)300M+
Customer Satisfaction Score(points)68/10082/100
Physical Store Count(locations)0 (e-commerce only)870 warehouses
Product Catalog Size(SKUs)798 million3,700
Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)$139 (Prime basic tier)$65 (Gold Star basic tier)
Operating Margin(%)7.2%4.1%
Member Renewal Rate(percent)~85% (estimated)94%
Median Delivery Time(days)1-2 days (Prime members in metro areas)Immediate (in-warehouse purchase)
Number of Beauty Brands(brands)500+ brands
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products(% below MSRP)10-25% discount below MSRP
Product Return Window(days)30 days
Free Samples per Purchase(samples)0
Fastest Delivery Speed (Prime/Premium)(business days)Same-day or 1-day with Prime
Loyalty Rewards Earn Rate(% cash back)Varies; typically 1-5% with Prime
Total Product Categories(categories)40+ categories
Total Annual Revenue(USD (billions))$575 billion
US E-commerce Market Share(%)41%
Physical Store Locations(stores)600+
Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)$139 (Prime)
Cloud/Tech Services Revenue(USD (billions))$88 billion (AWS)
Estimated Available Products(millions)300+ million
Average Delivery Time (Standard)(days)1-2 days (Prime members)
Monthly Active Users(millions)2,100 million
Average Product Price(USD)$25-75
Buyer Protection Duration(days)180 days (A-to-Z Guarantee)
Total Products Available(millions)500+ million
Global Annual Revenue (2024)(billion USD)$575 billion
Total Product SKUs(products)500,000,000+
Prime/Premium Membership Cost(USD/year)$139/year
Standard Return Window(days)30 days
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping(millions)100+ million items
Average Furniture Delivery Time(weeks)2-3 weeks
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)(USD)$35 (with Prime; $100 without)
Number of Home Brands(brands)500+ furniture brands available
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)(USD)$39
Number of Beauty Brands Available(brands)500+
Return Window for Members(days)30 days
Standard Shipping Time(business days)1-2 days with Prime
Prime/Loyalty Annual Cost(USD/year)$139 (Prime)
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)(stars)4.2 stars
Total Active Product Listings(millions)350+ million
Average Shipping Time (Standard)(days)1-2 days (Prime)
Prime/Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)$139/year
Seller Commission/Fees(percent)Up to 45% (varies by category)
Return Window (Standard Policy)(days)30 days standard
Customer Trust Rating(percent)91% trust Amazon (2024)
Percentage of Small/Independent Sellers(percent)65% third-party sellers (mostly resellers/aggregators)
Pet Category Market Share (U.S. Online)(%)18%
Same-Day Delivery Cities(cities)3,500 cities (Prime 2-hour)
Free Shipping Threshold(USD)$35
Auto-Delivery Maximum Discount(%)20%
Customer Service Response Time(hours)24-48 hours average
Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions)$575B$252.6 billion
Total Product Selection(millions)300+ million
Physical Store Locations (US)(stores)~600 (Whole Foods only)
Prime/Membership Annual Cost(USD)$139
Standard Delivery Speed (Prime)(days)1-2 days
Same-Day Service Availability(metro areas)100+ metro areas (Prime)
2024 Annual Revenue (US)(billions USD)$575.5
Market Valuation (2024)(billions USD)$2,100+
Total Product SKUs (Pet Category)(SKUs)~50,000 pet products
Auto-Ship Discount Maximum(percent off)5-20% Subscribe & Save
Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars (out of 5.0))89% (J.D. Power 2024)
Market Share (US Pet E-commerce)(percent)12% (includes pet products)
Physical Store Locations(stores)0 pet stores
Online Product Selection(SKUs)50,000+ pet listings
Standard Shipping Speed(days)1-2 days (Prime members)
Average Price Premium(%)Baseline (lowest)
Loyalty Program Cash Back(%)5% with Prime Visa
Subscribe & Save Discount(%)Up to 20% discount
Average Customer Review Rating(stars)4.2/5 stars
Average Delivery Time (US Standard)(days)2-3 days (Prime)
Price Premium vs Temu(%)100-150% higher (standard retail markup)
Buyer Protection Success Rate(%)94% disputes resolved in buyer favor
Average Customer Review Rating(stars)4.2/5 (verified reviews with photo proof)
Product Return/Defect Rate(%)~8-12% average return rate
Prime/Membership Cost(USD/year)139/year or 14.99/month
Refund Processing Time (if approved)(days)5-10 business days
Annual Membership Cost(USD)$65-$130$65-$130
Price Premium vs Competitors(percent)-20-30%-20-30%
SKUs per Location(items)3,500-4,5003,500-4,500
Average Transaction Value(USD)$150-200$150-200
Executive Membership Cash Back(percent)2%2%
Prescription Discount for Members(percent)20-50%20-50%
Annual Membership Cost(USD)$65 (Gold Star)$65 (Gold Star)
US Store Locations(stores)569 warehouses569 warehouses
Product Selection (SKUs)(SKUs)~4,000 SKUs~4,000 SKUs
Milk (1 gallon) Price Premium vs Costco(percent)BaselineBaseline
Return Policy Window(days)730 days (2 years)730 days (2 years)
Average Customer Visits Per Year (heavy users)(visits)24-36 visits/year24-36 visits/year
Membership Breakeven Point (Annual savings)(USD)$65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven)$65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven)
US Store Locations(stores)870870
Average Savings on Bulk Items vs. Retail(percent discount)20-40% discount20-40% discount
Average Transaction Time(minutes)45-6045-60
Product Selection (SKUs)(items)3,700-4,000 (curated)3,700-4,000 (curated)
Annual Member Savings (Frequent Shoppers)(USD)$500-$800$500-$800
Gas Station Discount vs Market Rate(cents per gallon)40-60¢ cheaper40-60¢ cheaper
Annual Membership Fee (Gold/Basic)(USD)$65$65
Global Warehouse Locations(locations)870870
Private Label Product Count(products)3,5003,500
Member Satisfaction Rate(%)88%88%
Average Annual Spending Per Member(USD)$2,850$2,850
Rotisserie Chicken Price(USD)$4.99$4.99

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

A
2Amazon
Costco Wholesale leads
Costco Wholesale
5Costco Wholesale
  • Business Model

    Amazon

    E-commerce & cloud services (AWS generates 16% of revenue)

    Costco Wholesale

    Membership warehouse retail (requires paid membership)(winner)

  • Revenue (2024)

    Amazon

    $575.2 billion(winner)

    Costco Wholesale

    $252.6 billion

  • Physical Locations

    Amazon

    ~600 fulfillment centers (no retail stores)

    Costco Wholesale

    870 warehouse clubs worldwide(winner)

  • Product Variety

    Amazon

    798 million SKUs available(winner)

    Costco Wholesale

    ~3,700 SKUs (curated selection)

  • Customer Loyalty Score (2024)

    Amazon

    68/100 (American Customer Satisfaction Index)

    Costco Wholesale

    82/100 (American Customer Satisfaction Index)(winner)

  • Membership Cost

    Amazon

    Prime: $139/year or $14.99/month

    Costco Wholesale

    $65/year (Gold Star) or $130/year (Executive)(winner)

  • Average Transaction Value

    Amazon

    $35-$45 per order

    Costco Wholesale

    $150-$200 per visit(winner)

Full Comparison

AAmazon
Costco Wholesale
Market Cap(USD)
$1.8 Trillion
Global User Base(millions)
240+ Prime members + broader reach
Mobile App Downloads (All-Time)(millions)
500+ million
Seller Commission Rate(%)
15% base commission
Fulfillment Cost (FBA/Self)(% of sale)
15-25% (FBA included)
Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%)
8-45% + 30-50% FBA
Annual Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)(billions USD)
$638 billion
Active Global Users(millions)
150M
Market Dominance Share(%)
40% US e-commerce market share
Market Share (E-Commerce)(%)
40% global e-commerce market share
AWS Cloud Market Share(percent)
32%
US Grocery Market Share(%)
2.1%
US E-commerce Market Share(%)
41%
Show 1 more attribute
Pet Category Market Share (U.S. Online)(%)
18%
Company Market Capitalization(trillions USD)
$2.36 trillion (July 2026)
User Base Growth Rate (YoY)(%)
8-10% annual growth
Prime/Membership Members(millions)
220 million Prime members
Subscription/Membership Base(Millions)
240M+ Prime members
Physical Store Locations(count)
500+ Amazon Go/Fresh stores
Global Physical Store Locations(stores)
0 stores
Physical Store Count(locations)
0 (e-commerce only)
870 warehouses
Physical Store Locations (US)(stores)
~600 (Whole Foods only)
US Store Locations(stores)
870
Average Delivery Speed(days)
Same-day to 1 day (Prime)
Return Window(days)
30 days (standard)
Return Window(days)
30-60 days (Prime)
Product Return Window(days)
30 days
Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars (out of 5.0))
89% (J.D. Power 2024)
Show 2 more attributes
Refund Processing Time (if approved)(days)
5-10 business days
Return Policy Window(days)
730 days (2 years)
Annual Membership Cost(USD)
$139 per year
Furniture Pricing Advantage(%)
Competitive on items under $50
Monthly Base Cost(USD)
$0 (pay per sale)
Avg Product Price(USD)
$15-50
Premium Membership Cost($)
Prime $139
Show 22 more attributes
Prime/Premium Subscription Cost(USD/year)
$139/year (Prime)
Average Furniture Price Range(USD)
$150-$1,200
Average Price Markup vs Wholesale(%)
20-30% markup
Average Product Price Index(% difference from market average)
-12%
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)(relative price)
100
Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)
$139 (Prime basic tier)
$65 (Gold Star basic tier)
Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)
$139 (Prime)
Average Product Price(USD)
$25-75
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)(USD)
$39
Auto-Delivery Maximum Discount(%)
20%
Prime/Membership Annual Cost(USD)
$139
Auto-Ship Discount Maximum(percent off)
5-20% Subscribe & Save
Average Price Premium(%)
Baseline (lowest)
Price Premium vs Temu(%)
100-150% higher (standard retail markup)
Prime/Membership Cost(USD/year)
139/year or 14.99/month
Annual Membership Cost(USD)
$65-$130
Price Premium vs Competitors(percent)
-20-30%
Average Transaction Value(USD)
$150-200
Annual Membership Cost(USD)
$65 (Gold Star)
Milk (1 gallon) Price Premium vs Costco(percent)
Baseline
Average Savings on Bulk Items vs. Retail(percent discount)
20-40% discount
Bulk Electronics Price Competitiveness(%)
Standard pricing
Annual Revenue(billions USD)
$638 billion
Annual Revenue (2025)(Billion USD)
$638B (e-commerce only)
Market Capitalization(trillions USD)
$2,360B
YoY Revenue Growth (2025)(Percent)
12-15% (estimated)
Gross Margin Trend (Q4 2025)(Basis Points)
Industry average ~40-45%
Show 3 more attributes
Total Annual Revenue(USD (billions))
$575 billion
Global Annual Revenue (2024)(billion USD)
$575 billion
Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions)
$575B
$252.6 billion
Prime/Membership Benefits(members)
240 million Prime members
Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year)
$139
Prime/Loyalty Annual Cost(USD/year)
$139 (Prime)
Average Shipping Time(days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Average Shipping Speed(days)
2-3 days (Prime)
Standard Delivery Time(days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Same-Day Delivery Cities(cities)
3,500 cities (Prime 2-hour)
Home Goods Focus(%)
Multi-category general retailer
Design Curation Tools
Basic category and keyword filters
In-House Brands(count)
Limited home furniture brands
Product Category Focus
All categories (diversified)
Specialty Pet Food Availability (Exotic/Medical Diets)(inventory depth)
Limited; depends on seller listings
Autoship/Subscription Discount Range(Percent)
5-20% on Subscribe & Save
Geographic Coverage(states)
190+ countries and territories
Prime Members(millions)
220+
Member Renewal Rate(percent)
~85% (estimated)
94%
Ad Revenue (2026)(billion USD)
$68.5
Average Annual Spending Per Member(USD)
$2,850
Physical Locations(stores)
Limited
Physical Store Locations (US)(locations)
0
AI Shopping Assistant(users)
Rufus 250M users
AI Rufus Interaction Growth(percent)
+210%
Prime Day 2026 Revenue(billion USD)
$24.1
In-Person Support(availability)
Online support only
Average Transaction Time(minutes)
45-60
Return Policy Duration (General)(days)
Unlimited
Free Shipping Minimum(USD)
$35
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time(days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Standard Shipping Time (Domestic)(days)
2 days (Prime)
Pet-Specific Product SKU Count(SKUs)
~50,000-100,000 (estimated pet section)
Total Product Categories(categories)
500+ million SKUs across all categories
Product Selection(items)
2,000,000+
Total Product SKUs (Pet Category)(SKUs)
~50,000 pet products
2025 Pet Supplies Market Position (GMV Rank)(rank)
Not #1 in pet supplies
Return Window (Standard Pet Supplies)(days)
30 days (standard Amazon)
Autoship Subscription Discounts(percent)
Limited pet-specific subscriptions
Built-in Customer Base(millions)
300+ active customers
Average Time to First Sale(days)
3-7 days (instant access)
Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10)
Minimal (2/10)
Customer Data Access(percentage)
0% customer data; Amazon owns relationship
Payment Gateway Options(number)
1 (Amazon Pay only)
Product Listing Limits(count)
Varies by category and account tier
Active Users (2026)(millions)
Amazon 380 million
Global Warehouse Locations(locations)
870
Standard Shipping Time(days)
5-7 days
Standard Shipping Delivery Time(business days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Standard Shipping Time(days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Standard Shipping Speed(days)
1-2 days (Prime members)
Product Categories(count)
30+ main categories
Product SKU Count(products)
300+ million
Available Product SKUs(millions)
300M+
Number of Beauty Brands(brands)
500+ brands
Total Product Categories(categories)
40+ categories
Show 11 more attributes
Estimated Available Products(millions)
300+ million
Total Products Available(millions)
500+ million
Total Product SKUs(products)
500,000,000+
Number of Home Brands(brands)
500+ furniture brands available
Number of Beauty Brands Available(brands)
500+
Total Active Product Listings(millions)
350+ million
Online Product Selection(SKUs)
50,000+ pet listings
SKUs per Location(items)
3,500-4,500
Product Selection (SKUs)(SKUs)
~4,000 SKUs
Product Selection (SKUs)(items)
3,700-4,000 (curated)
Private Label Product Count(products)
3,500
Avg Customer Rating(stars)
4.1/5
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)(stars)
4.2 stars
Seller Verification(text)
Strict vetting, A9 quality standards
Number of Active Sellers(millions)
2+ million
Average Customer Rating System(stars)
4.4/5 average seller rating
Mobile App Downloads(millions)
2.5 billion downloads
Estimated Active Users(millions)
310M
Handmade/Artisanal Product Percentage(%)
<2% handmade items
Annual Revenue (2025)(billion USD)
$575 billion
Average Standard Delivery Time(days)
2 days (Prime) / 5-7 days (standard)
Entry Membership Cost(USD per year)
$139
Prime/Premium Membership Cost(USD/year)
$139/year
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)(USD)
$35 (with Prime; $100 without)
Prime/Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)
$139/year
Annual Membership Fee (Gold/Basic)(USD)
$65
Customer Product Reviews Published(millions)
250+ million
Renewable Energy Usage(percentage)
85%
Year Created/Founded
1994
Global User Base(millions)
150+ million customers
Annual Revenue(USD billion)
$575 billion (2025)
Employees(count)
1.5 million
Package/Service Ecosystem(count)
200+ AWS services
Licensing Model
Proprietary (freemium model)
Market Capitalization(USD)
2.1 trillion
Market Share (US Pet E-commerce)(percent)
12% (includes pet products)
Total Product Selection(number of SKUs)
500,000+
Grooming Service Availability(locations)
0 locations
Prescription Pharmacy Services(availability)
Not offered; external pharmacy required
Training Classes Availability(program status)
Not offered
In-Store Grooming Services(availability)
Not available
Professional Veterinarians(on-staff)
No
Show 6 more attributes
Interior Design Service(cost)
Not available
In-Store Beauty Consultation Available
No
Pharmacy Services
Limited (no pet Rx)
Grooming & Veterinary Services(availability)
Not offered
Pharmacy Services Depth
Limited: prescriptions and pharmacy services only
Pharmacy Services Available(yes/no)
Pharmacy only
Customer Review Rating(out of 5 stars)
4.4
Average Customer Review Rating(stars)
4.2/5 stars
Product Description Accuracy Rate(%)
96%
Non-Delivery/Lost Package Rate(%)
0.3%
Data Privacy Compliance(text)
GDPR/CCPA Compliant
Annual Revenue(USD billions)
$575 billion (2024)
2024 Annual Revenue (US)(billions USD)
$575.5
Market Valuation (2024)(billions USD)
$2,100+
Customer Satisfaction Score(points)
68/100
82/100
Product Catalog Size(SKUs)
798 million
3,700
Operating Margin(%)
7.2%
4.1%
Median Delivery Time(days)
1-2 days (Prime members in metro areas)
Immediate (in-warehouse purchase)
Physical Store Locations(stores)
600+
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products(% below MSRP)
10-25% discount below MSRP
Free Samples per Purchase(samples)
0
Fastest Delivery Speed (Prime/Premium)(business days)
Same-day or 1-day with Prime
Standard Free Shipping Threshold(USD)
$0 with Prime / $25 without
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping(millions)
100+ million items
Average Furniture Delivery Time(weeks)
2-3 weeks
Standard Shipping Time(business days)
1-2 days with Prime
Show 3 more attributes
Free Shipping Threshold(USD)
$35
Standard Delivery Speed (Prime)(days)
1-2 days
Same-Day Service Availability(metro areas)
100+ metro areas (Prime)
Loyalty Rewards Earn Rate(% cash back)
Varies; typically 1-5% with Prime
Cloud/Tech Services Revenue(USD (billions))
$88 billion (AWS)
Average Delivery Time (Standard)(days)
1-2 days (Prime members)
Average Delivery Time (US Standard)(days)
2-3 days (Prime)
Monthly Active Users(millions)
2,100 million
Buyer Protection Duration(days)
180 days (A-to-Z Guarantee)
Standard Return Window(days)
30 days
Return Window (Standard Policy)(days)
30 days standard
Buyer Protection Success Rate(%)
94% disputes resolved in buyer favor
Data Privacy/Regulatory Status
US-regulated, transparent data policies
Return Window for Members(days)
30 days
Average Shipping Time (Standard)(days)
1-2 days (Prime)
Seller Commission/Fees(percent)
Up to 45% (varies by category)
Customer Trust Rating(percent)
91% trust Amazon (2024)
Percentage of Small/Independent Sellers(percent)
65% third-party sellers (mostly resellers/aggregators)
Customer Service Response Time(hours)
24-48 hours average
Total Product Selection(millions)
300+ million
Physical Store Locations(stores)
0 pet stores
Loyalty Program Cash Back(%)
5% with Prime Visa
Executive Membership Cash Back(percent)
2%
Subscribe & Save Discount(%)
Up to 20% discount
Average Customer Review Rating(stars)
4.2/5 (verified reviews with photo proof)
Product Return/Defect Rate(%)
~8-12% average return rate
Counterfeit/Knockoff Risk(relative risk level)
Low (seller suspension policy enforced)
Prescription Discount for Members(percent)
20-50%
US Store Locations(stores)
569 warehouses
Average Customer Visits Per Year (heavy users)(visits)
24-36 visits/year
Membership Breakeven Point (Annual savings)(USD)
$65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven)
Annual Member Savings (Frequent Shoppers)(USD)
$500-$800
Gas Station Discount vs Market Rate(cents per gallon)
40-60¢ cheaper
Member Satisfaction Rate(%)
88%
Rotisserie Chicken Price(USD)
$4.99

Pros & Cons

10 pros·6 cons across both

A
Costco Wholesale
A

Amazon

+5-3

Pros

  • 798 million products with same-day or next-day delivery in major metro areas
  • AWS generates $90.8B in annual revenue, providing 47% of company operating income
  • Prime membership bundles retail, video streaming, music, and exclusive deals
  • Price matching and lightning deals offer dynamic discounts throughout the day
  • Global logistics network ships to 185+ countries with 600+ fulfillment centers

Cons

  • Counterfeit products and quality control issues reported in 2.3% of marketplace sales
  • Customer satisfaction at 68/100, lowest among major retailers
  • Intense competition and thin profit margins (3.3% net margin vs Costco's 3.1%) drive aggressive seller practices
Costco Wholesale

Costco Wholesale

+5-3

Pros

  • 82/100 customer satisfaction score—highest among major U.S. retailers
  • Lower membership cost ($65/year) vs Amazon Prime ($139/year)
  • 94% member renewal rate indicates exceptional loyalty
  • Kirkland Signature private label brand captures 28% of sales with premium quality standards
  • In-warehouse food court and fuel discounts add tangible member value beyond merchandise

Cons

  • Limited to 3,700 SKUs requires compromise vs Amazon's 798 million products
  • Membership fee and warehouse-only model creates barriers to casual shopping
  • Geographic limitations—only 870 locations vs Amazon's ubiquitous digital presence

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Costco typically offers 15-30% lower per-unit prices on bulk groceries due to high-volume purchasing and lower overhead costs. However, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods (owned by Amazon) offer competitively priced items with delivery convenience. For non-perishables bought in bulk, Costco's Kirkland Signature brand provides best value; for fresh groceries with delivery, Amazon Fresh matches within 5-8% of Costco's warehouse prices.

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