Some analysts claimed that Sam's Club lackluster performance was a result of a copycat strategy. Costco was the first of the two competitors to sell fresh meat, produce and gasoline and to introduce a premium private label for many goods. In each case, Sam's followed suit two to four years later.
"By looking at what Costco did and trying to emulate it, Sam's didn't carve out its own unique strategy says Michael Clayman, editor of the trade newsletter Warehouse Club Focus. And at least one of the "me too" moves made things worse. Soon after Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, Sam's bulked up by purchasing Pace warehouse clubs from Kmart. Many of the 91 stores were marginal operations in marginal locations. Analysts say that Sam's Club management became distracted as it tried to integrate the Pace stores into its system.
To close the gap against Costco, Walmart in 200 started to integrate the activities of Sam's Club and Walmart more. Buyers for the two coordinated their effort to get better prices from suppliers.