5 Advantages Of Having A Sam's Club Membership

Membership warehouse clubs hit the retail stage in 1976 with the opening of Price Club in San Diego, California. Discerning shoppers have been taking advantage of these stores' special member offerings ever since. Sam's Club was early on the scene, founded in 1983 by Sam Walton in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and it's been going strong ever since. It's an indisputable truth about Sam's Club that for customers with the room to stock up or who have lots of hungry mouths to feed, a club membership offers real cost-saving benefits.

But does being a Sam's Club member have perks beyond bulk buying? Absolutely. From lower prices on home essentials like groceries and gasoline to more efficient online and in-store shopping to cash back and hassle-free returns, Sam's Club has helped redefine what it is to be a savvy shopper in today's world. Here are five particularly useful advantages of having a Sam's Club membership.

The reason to join any membership warehouse club is to save money on everyday purchases, but you don't need to buy exorbitant amounts of toilet paper to see those savings. (Though if you have the storage space, it's not a bad strategy.) It's true that offering items in bulk is one of the ways that Sam's Club can offer lower prices than other grocery stores. But the membership fee itself also plays a role, so take full advantage of those low sticker prices. Plus Sam's Club has its own private label, Member's Mark, and choosing it over a more famous brand is one tip that will save you money when shopping there.

Another savings that has become increasingly important for households over the past couple of decades is gasoline. Sam's Club members can save between $0.05 and $0.25 per gallon at members-only stations compared to nearby competitors (per Prudent Reviews), and those pennies add up quick. Those who also have a Sam's Club Mastercard earn 5% back on the first $6,000 spent on gas each year.

Sam's Club also offers Plus members discounts on medication at its in-store pharmacies. This includes providing 30-day prescriptions of 600 generic drugs for $10 or less, as well as 10 specific generic prescription drugs completely free. Discounts on brand-name medications are also available.

Because the grocery world is highly competitive, Sam's Club is always trying to make the shopping experience easier on its customers. For the busy shopper, or the one who wants to take their time without distractions, the store offers online as well as in-app shopping with free curbside pickup for all club members. For basic club members, pickup times start at 9 a.m. while Plus members can start picking up their orders at 7 a.m.

Can't make it to the store to pick up your items? Plus members have access to free home delivery on purchases of at least $50 or pay an $8 fee for purchases totaling less than that. Basic Club members also have access to home delivery for a $12 fee with no minimum purchase required. The fees go up for both membership levels on express one- and three-hour deliveries. When checking out online, members choose not only the time window for the delivery but whether or not they wish to greet the delivery person at the door. Purchases can be left outside with no driver contact.

Members who've downloaded the Sam's Club app can take advantage of the Scan & Go feature. Before you place each item in your shopping cart, you scan it through the app, which keeps a running total as you make your way through the store. When you're all finished, you can pay in the app as well. This process saves shoppers time by removing the need to go through the checkout line. The app generates a QR code as proof of payment that's then scanned by a Sam's Club employee at the door on your way out.

There are a few restrictions on Scan & Go. First, it's exclusively available to Sam's Club members through the app, which is only available on phones, not tablets. While there's no minimum purchase amount to use the feature, there is a maximum of $1,500 per purchase, and you can't spend more than $3,000 in a day using Scan & Go, so be mindful if you're there to make a really big purchase.

In 2022, Sam's Club made a huge change to its rewards program. Now, all Sam's Club members can earn Sam's Cash through qualifying purchases and special promotions, not just Plus members or Sam's Club Mastercard holders. Of course, being a Plus member does mean that you have more opportunities to accumulate Sam's Cash, earning 2% cash back on in-club purchases. Plus members who also use their Sam's Club Mastercard earn 3% cash back, while Club members with the Mastercard earn 1%.

If you don't have the store-brand credit card, you can instead link a different credit card to your Sam's Club account in order to earn Sam's Cash on purchases outside the club. Just be sure to check that your card is eligible first, as this feature doesn't work with every credit card brand.

Once you've earned your cash-back rewards, you can spend it as you would other forms of payment: in-club, online, or in the app. You can also put it toward your membership renewal fee. You'll want to keep your membership active at least until the Cash is spent, as it expires as soon as membership lapses. You can also redeem your rewards for actual cash in stores to use however and wherever you want.

Sam's Club has one of the best return policies in grocery with a 100% satisfaction guarantee on nearly all of its items, offering a complete refund or item replacement when possible. This includes both online and in-club purchases. (Gift cards, tickets, and collectibles are a few notable exceptions.) Having the original receipt always helps, but it's not necessary to process a return if you can't find it. Most items can be returned to any Sam's Club location, not necessarily the one where you purchased them. Some purchases, such as alcoholic beverages and prescription medications, are subject to local laws and ordinances, so you'll have to check with your store to see whether or not you can return those items.

Certain items must be returned within a specific time period in order to be eligible. Cell phones only have a two-week window, motorsport products and heavy commercial equipment get 30 days, and home electronics and appliances have up to 90 days. If the possibility of needing to return an item concerns you, you can check with Sam's Club either online or in person to make sure you have the correct info on your specific purchase.