I've always advocated buying luggage at these stores, based on math alone... if it breaks, just buy a new one. $79 vs. $399, it's a no brainer.

That said, I've had Samsonite bags from those stores (Ross seems to be the cheapest, followed by Burlington Coat Factory) last me years, only replacing them for pure vanity reasons (too stained and scuffed up).

I love Costco too, but I usually don't need the package deal they usually sell (at least for Samsonites... I don't like the Ricardo bags they usually have, and the Kirkland brand weighs too much).