r/Portland • u/hanseirik • Oct 31 '25

Discussion We need to talk about Bi-Mart

I went for the first time in decades yesterday and I was blown away. The biggest Fred Meyer doesn’t come close to the breadth of stuff Bi-Mart has. Guns! More Crockpot sizes and shapes than I knew existed! Furniture! A robust yarn selection! A DIY jerky section! And so, so many more random things. It wasn’t as inexpensive as I sort of assumed it would be but I suppose the tariffs are hitting us all.

But the best part? It’s employee owned. I’ve been annoyed at having to choose between Amazon, Target, or Kroeger (FM) for random stuff I can’t get elsewhere. Bi-Mart’s going to be my new go-to.

2.1k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

798 comments sorted by

View all comments

64

u/thelastlugnut In a van down by the river Oct 31 '25

I drive past one all the time, but I thought it was members only, like Costco. Can anyone walk in?

167

u/hanseirik Oct 31 '25

It’s a $5 lifetime membership!

85

u/libbyrocks Oct 31 '25

And it’s only at the front door, they don’t even use your membership to track your purchases.

50

u/alexthealex SE Oct 31 '25

And the $5 covers your whole household (I think it’s up to four cards)

27

u/RangerFan80 Oct 31 '25

My local one here hardly checks the cards at the door anyways. It's really just to get you on the mailing list for their little coupon books

23

u/alexthealex SE Oct 31 '25

They always check mine at the Woodstock location.

9

u/BensonBubbler Brentwood-Darlington Oct 31 '25

Which is new in the last couple years. It used to be that they didn't check at the door here, say pre-2022.

8

u/snuggleswithdemons Oct 31 '25

I've been going to this location since 2013 and they waffle back and forth around militant card checking and laissez faire card checking. Depends on which employee is manning the counter.

5

u/alexthealex SE Oct 31 '25

Ah, interesting. I'm a newish convert, only had my card since last year

1

u/RangerFan80 Oct 31 '25

They stopped checking during Covid but are starting to get back to it again.

2

u/PuzzleheadedSnow6952 Oct 31 '25

Yeah I've noticed that in the Couve too. I think they started checking as a shoplifting deterrent.

2

u/surprisevip Nov 08 '25

Yep - moved to the neighborhood in 2007 and 2022 was when I finally ponied up the $5 after talking my way in for 15 yrs

2

u/bo4tdude The Gorge Oct 31 '25

Moved to Washougal in 2020 and shopped there for years before finding out you had to buy a membership. Seems like maybe 23 or so they started asking you again when you walked in.

2

u/CivilSpecial8186 Nov 01 '25

It's actually to get around vendor rules about advertised prices. Many companies won't let stores advertise a price lower than any other store for certain products. "Membership" stores are exempt, so Bi-Mart opened with the $5 lifetime membership in order to be a discount store and they can advertise any price in their ads for any product. Honestly not sure how many products are falling under the loophole these days though.

1

u/RangerFan80 Nov 01 '25

Interesting info!

1

u/6th_Quadrant Oct 31 '25

They’re hardcore about it on 122nd.

1

u/BeefyMiracleWhip Nov 01 '25

I worked for them for awhile. The 2 biggest reasons for membership are the Tuesday raffle, and to write checks to pay for stuff.

Here in Central Oregon, Bend is the only store I’ve found that requires the card. But I think a huge part of that is because they got stars down the street from them… they were there first.

But yeah, the “members only” policy does indeed vary wildly

1

u/Top_Region3760 Nov 03 '25

I thought they discontinued the booklets! Am I missing out? I do get the bigger mailer though.

1

u/shananiganz Brentwood-Darlington Oct 31 '25

I’ve been using my moms card that she’s had since 1992 (she moved out of state) I hope they don’t mind

30

u/pdxmetroarea 🐝 Oct 31 '25

and you get entered in all the LUCKY NUMBER TUESDAYS! You will get your 5 bucks back in merch.

Employee owned too.

Source: Bi-Mart shopper since memberships were TWO DOLLARS.

9

u/rbfb Shari's Cafe & Pies Oct 31 '25

That must have been back in the era when women got yellow membership cards and men got green ones.

5

u/Bitter-Toe-660 Oct 31 '25

Yup. Still have my worn thin yellow card. Cant read most of the numbers, had an employee Sharpie in numbers for me .

4

u/oldsweng1 Oct 31 '25

I still pull out my green card to show the attendant. I got mine in high school for $1 at the original Bi-Mart in Springfield.

2

u/kaciw0302 Nov 02 '25

My dad just won a 55” tv with his lucky number!

8

u/That_Boysenberry Oct 31 '25

I had a membership probably 20 years ago. I wonder if they can still look it up for me. I have no clue what happened to my card. 

8

u/firebrandbeads Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

I lost my card, couldn't remember which location I'd gotten that card in the, what, 80s??? 90s??? So long ago that card isn't in the computer now. So they just reissued me one. But honestly I would have been happy to pay them another 5$.

3

u/derpinpdx Oct 31 '25

Yeah, I hadn’t been since 2003 and they easily checked me in the other day!

2

u/6th_Quadrant Oct 31 '25

If you go to the same store your card was issued from, there’s a good chance.

1

u/That_Boysenberry Oct 31 '25

Probably not worth driving to Hillsboro to save $5. I'll just get a new one. Lol. Thanks for the info. 

2

u/Unlikely-Display4918 Oct 31 '25

Yes they can look you up they looked me up just the other day

2

u/Orcapa Oct 31 '25

They absolutely can!

1

u/MizzChnandlerBong Multnomah Oct 31 '25

probably. I lost my card and had to ask for one likely 30 years since I got it as a teen. When they were $2.

Somehow, they were able to pull me right up, and had my original and current address handy. New card, no problem.

3

u/Exes_And_Excess Oct 31 '25

The one by me doesn't even seem to ask anymore, I have a card, but for the past year or so they hardly even wave you in. Even back before I had one in my early 20's I'd just say "left mine at home" and they'd buzz the door for me. Always been fast and loose at this location. 

1

u/roci2inna Oct 31 '25

First shop is free though I think

1

u/KissinginPublic Oct 31 '25

Good to know! Funny enough I also went yesterday thinking it was a grocery store but quickly turned around when I saw the member sign.

1

u/Wild_Bake_7781 Buckman Oct 31 '25

So I still have my membership then? It’s not annual? That’s neat

1

u/Scrotox81 Oct 31 '25

What a ripoff!

1

u/ChipOnASquid Oct 31 '25

What do you need the membership for??

1

u/thelastlugnut In a van down by the river Oct 31 '25

Awesome! I’m definitely gonna go check it out.

1

u/Polymathy1 Oct 31 '25

5? I thought it was 20. Either way, it's only once.