Sam’s Club is a warehouse that specializes in selling bulk items at cheap prices.
Like other warehouse retailers, Sam’s Club uses a membership business model.
Some customers might find the idea of paying to shop at a store expensive and not worth it.
However, Sam’s Club offers several perks to its members that you can’t find at other stores.
Here are 10 reasons why shopping at Sam’s Club is worth it.
Is Sam’s Club Worth It? (10 Reasons It Is)
1. Bulk Shopping
One of the biggest benefits you’ll get by shopping at Sam’s Club is bulk shopping.
Sam’s Club is a warehouse, which means it buys its products wholesale.
Since they’re buying wholesale items, they can buy everything cheap.
The store then passes those savings on to its members.
Bulk shopping is ideal for people who have the space for it.
It’s not going to do you much good if you don’t have the pantry or fridge space to house all your items.
The benefit of buying in bulk is that you buy a lot of the same products that you use a lot.
It lasts longer which means you don’t have to buy it as often.
In addition, you’re buying it at wholesale prices, which is usually cheaper in the long run.
It may seem as though you’re paying more initially, but because of the number of items that you’re buying, you end up saving money in the end.
Of course, you have to be smart about bulk buying, too.
If you’re buying perishables in bulk, then there’s a chance that some of them might spoil before you can eat them or use them.
You need to ensure that you either know how to preserve perishables correctly or that you only buy the amount that you know you’ll get through.
Sam’s Club is worth it because it helps you save money by buying in bulk.
2. Huge Selection
Another benefit of shopping at Sam’s Club is that they offer a huge selection of products.
You might worry that a warehouse retailer only specializes in certain things.
At Sam’s Club, that isn’t the case.
You can find everything from groceries to electronics.
There are even clothes that you can buy in bulk.
However, you won’t find quite as many brands.
Sam’s Club often works with generic brands or its own brand.
This helps keep operating costs low, which means they can pass on their savings to their customers.
Although they may only stick with a few brands, Sam’s Club still offers tons of different products.
If you’ve ever walked inside of Sam’s Club or seen its building, then you know how large its warehouse is.
The number of different products that Sam’s Club sells means that you don’t have to go from one store to another.
It saves you time and energy.
Shopping at Sam’s Club is worth it because of the large number of products that they offer.
3. Instant Savings
Sam’s Club doesn’t have coupons like most people think of them.
In most cases, they’re already giving you the lowest price that they can.
However, there are situations where Sam’s Club uses its Instant Savings perk.
Instant Savings is Sam’s Club’s version of coupons.
One of the best things about Instant Savings is that you don’t have to worry about finding the coupons or bringing them to the store.
Whenever Sam’s Club is running an Instant Savings promotion, it automatically adds to your Sam’s Club card for you.
If you buy the product that’s on sale, then the discount is automatically applied when you check out.
You could be saving even more money without even realizing it.
Instant Savings is a great benefit of Sam’s Club because it removes the need to hunt down every coupon available.
If you’re someone who frequently forgets their coupons at home when shopping, then it’s also beneficial.
Since it’s loaded on your card, and you can’t enter the store without your card, you never have to worry about forgetting your coupons at home.
Through their Instant Savings promotions, you can save even more money at Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club is worth it because they make saving money fast and easy.
4. Low Gas Prices
With rising gas prices, you’re probably always on the hunt for the station that offers the lowest prices.
You’ll find that Sam’s Club has some of the lowest prices on the market.
The problem is that you can only get gas at Sam’s Club’s gas station if you’re a member.
You’re not able to get access to it otherwise.
That means only a select few can get cheap prices.
That also explains why their gas prices tend to be on the lower side.
While other gas stations have a lot of demand from the general populace, that isn’t the case at Sam’s Club.
They only serve their members which is a smaller group than the general populace.
As such, there’s a smaller demand for its gas reserves than there are other gas stations that are open to everyone.
Since there’s less demand, prices are in their favor.
Sam’s Club also likely buys its oil in bulk, which lets them buy at wholesale prices.
Since that’s cheaper in the long run, they’re able to pass their savings onto the customer.
As such, Sam’s Club members are usually able to get cheaper prices than most other places.
The company also likely knows that competitive gas prices are a reason some of its customers chose to become members.
When customers can save money on gas, they’re then able to do more with their money.
If you want to save money on gas, then you might want to consider being a member of Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club is worth it because they often offer some of the cheapest gas prices in the country.
5. Tire Service
Sam’s Club doesn’t offer only groceries, gas, and general goods.
They also have a tire center.
Tires are expensive to buy for your car, and the installation of those tires can also be expensive.
If you want to save money, then you may want to consider becoming a Sam’s Club member.
At Sam’s Club, the average price of a tire is $143.
That’s well below the average of other tire stores.
The price of the installation of tires is $20 per tire.
That’s also below the average for tire installation.
Besides having cheaper rates than other businesses, Sam’s Club also offers several free services when you purchase their Premium Tire Installation Package.
One of those services is road hazard protection.
This protection means that if something damages your tires within four years, they’ll replace them free of charge.
There are certain limitations, however, like the tread depth.
If your tires have worn down their tread too much in those four years, then they won’t replace them for free.
Otherwise, you can rely on Sam’s Club to change the tires if they sustain damage.
Another free service is their 50-mile re-torque.
You’re able to get the most out of your tires when you choose their premium installation package.
Keep in mind that they’ll only offer these services if you buy tires from their warehouse and have them install them for you.
If you bring in tires from elsewhere or have your tires installed elsewhere, then you won’t qualify for their premium services.
You can also find savings on certain tire brands at Sam’s Club that can help you save even more money on your tires.
For example, they may offer $20 off certain tire brands.
Having your tires replaced is also easy since you’re able to bring your car to your technicians, then shop at Sam’s Club while they take care of it.
Sam’s Club is worth it because you can get some extra tire services out of their tire center.
6. Free Battery Services
Along with tires, Sam’s Club also offers battery services for your car.
As long as you buy a new battery at Sam’s Club and have it installed there, then you get a few services for free.
For one, the installation of your battery is free when you buy a new battery at their store.
If you’re worried about handling your car’s cables and putting in a new battery, then their team can save you time and worry.
They also allow you to have free battery check-ups when you buy a battery from them.
After a few months, if you’re concerned about the state of your battery, then they can test it for you.
If something looks awry, then they can inform you of the steps that you need to take from there.
Like with their tires, you can sometimes score even more savings with their car batteries.
If there’s an Instant Savings promotion running with their batteries, then you can save money and get a free service out of it.
Sam’s Club is worth it because you’re able to get cheaper car batteries and various free services for it.
7. Early Shopping Hours
There are two different tiers of Sam’s Club membership.
The basic tier lets you inside the store and access Instant Savings.
You can also enjoy some of the other perks like access to their gas station and tire center.
The other membership, the Pro Plan, gives you a few more perks.
One of those perks is early shopping hours.
Only those with a Pro membership can shop early at Sam’s Club.
They open their doors at 7 AM for Pro members.
If you don’t have a Pro membership, then you’re unable to gain access to the store.
This is beneficial for many reasons.
For one, the store is less busy.
This is ideal for people who prefer a quieter and more relaxed shopping experience.
It also means you don’t have to wait in line as long to check out.
For those who want to avoid people to also avoid sickness, then shopping when there are fewer people around is also ideal.
It also means that you have a better chance of getting items that are highly valued.
For example, if Sam’s Club is running an Instant Savings sale on a valued item, then you can be sure everyone is going to flock there immediately.
You’re able to get ahead of most of the crowd with the early hour shopping.
This is especially advantageous during the holiday season when you’re looking to buy coveted items at a great price.
Sam’s Club is worth it because of the ability to shop earlier than standard members.
8. Hearing And Eye Exams
Sam’s Club offers several services to its members.
One of those is hearing and eye services.
You can get your hearing and eyes tested at Sam’s Club for low prices.
Their professionals can even make you some custom hearing aids if your test comes out less than stellar.
They also have several glasses for sale that you can buy immediately.
Sam’s Club makes staying on top of your health easy and affordable.
The best part is you can stop in while you’re shopping.
Using their services helps you save time.
Sam’s Club is worth it because you’re able to get certain health tests done affordably and quickly.
9. Free Prescriptions
If you have a Pro membership, then you’re also able to get a certain number of prescriptions completely free from their pharmacy.
In the past, it’s been up to five prescriptions free.
Considering the high price of prescription medications, this feature alone can save people a lot of money.
It’s also convenient since you can pick up your prescriptions while doing your usual weekly shopping.
Even if you don’t have a Pro membership, Sam’s Club often offers savings on prescription medications and other medications.
Even medications for pets are cheap.
Through their Instant Savings, you’re able to save a lot of money on medications for yourself and your pets.
Sam’s Club is worth it because of the perk of getting free prescriptions.
10. Free Health Screenings
A final reason Sam’s Club is worth it is the ability to get free health screenings.
Once a month, members can get a free health screening at Sam’s Club.
The screening includes checking blood pressure, glucose levels, cholesterol, as well as vision and hearing.
Since it’s completely free, members can keep tabs on their health with ease.
It’s also available every month, so members can keep good track of their health over the years.
Sam’s Club is worth it because it helps its members stay on top of their health.
How Much Are Sam’s Club Memberships?
If all the perks listed above have convinced you to get a Sam’s Club membership, then you may wonder how much they cost.
The basic membership costs $45 a year.
The Pro membership, which now includes the business membership, costs $100 a year.
With the basic membership, you unlock the following features:
- Free curbside pickup
- Instant Savings
- Sam’s Club MasterCard
- Members-only fuel savings
- Tire and battery center access
- Complimentary membership
- Add-on memberships
It’s worth mentioning that with the Sam’s Club MasterCard, you’re able to get 1% cash back on certain purchases.
It also includes gas purchases with 5% cash back on the first $6,000.
The complimentary membership means you’re able to share your card with one other person.
With the pro membership, you unlock the following features:
- Sam’s Cash
- Free Shipping
- Free Curbside Pickup
- Pharmacy Savings
- Optical Savings
- Instant Savings
- Sam’s Club MasterCard
- Members-only fuel savings
- Tire and battery center access
- Complimentary membership
- Add-on memberships
The Pro membership also adds on more perks of certain features.
For example, with the Sam’s Club MasterCard, members can earn 3% cash back on certain purchases in the store rather than 1%.
Members are able to get free shipping on most items when buying on the Sam’s Club app.
Choosing between either membership can be difficult.
If you think you’re going to use Sam’s Club for most of your auto and health needs, then you might want to consider the Pro membership.
However, if you’re only going to be using Sam’s Club for its groceries and gas savings, then the basic membership may be perfect for you.
Can You Share Your Sam’s Club Membership With Someone Outside Of Your Household?
No, Sam’s Club does not want you to share your complimentary membership with someone outside of your household.
They usually check the card and a license or some other form of ID to prove you’re in the same household.
As such, giving your membership to a friend or someone outside of the household is difficult.
Conclusion
Sam’s Club delivers on savings for most of its items.
However, it’s through its cheap and free services that its membership plans really shine.
The features and perks listed above can help you determine if Sam’s Club is worth it for you.
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