Cost of a Sam's Club Membership
Sam's Club, the popular membership-only retailer, offers two tiers of membership: Club ($50/year) and Plus ($110/year). Both memberships provide access to in-store shopping, discounted gas, free curbside pickup on eligible orders over $50, and a second household member card. However, the Plus membership offers additional benefits that make it more appealing for frequent or larger-scale shoppers.
The key differences and advantages of Plus over Club include:
- 2% Cash Back Rewards: Plus members can earn 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, capped at $500 annually.
- Free Shipping and Delivery: Plus members enjoy free shipping and delivery on orders of $50 or more, whereas Club members only get this benefit on select orders over $50.
- Early Shopping Hours: Plus members can shop earlier than Club members, giving them first dibs on the best deals.
- Additional Savings: Plus members can save more on pharmacy, optical, tire, and battery purchases.
- Free Curbside Pickup with No Minimum Order Amount: Plus members can enjoy free curbside pickup with no minimum order amount, unlike Club members who have this benefit only on select orders over $50.
The standard Club membership offers good basic access and savings, but upgrading to Plus adds cash back rewards and several premium perks, making it a more attractive option for many shoppers. Both memberships provide the Scan & Go feature to skip checkout lines and allow adding extra members at a reduced rate.
Amanda Barroso, a Sam's Club Plus member, finds the early shopping hours beneficial. She also values the convenience of the Plus membership, especially its location near her driving route. Amanda appreciates the Scan & Go feature for budget management.
Both memberships offer a refund of the amount paid toward the current year membership if unsatisfied. A digital membership card can be obtained online, and a physical membership card can be requested in-store. Only Plus members are eligible for Sam's Cash.
In summary, the Plus membership is better for those who want more savings (especially through 2% cash back), free shipping, earlier access, and additional health-related discounts. Club membership is sufficient for basic shopping needs at Sam's Club.
[1] Sam's Club Membership Information [2] Sam's Club Plus Membership Benefits [3] Sam's Club Scan & Go [4] Sam's Club Refund Policy
- To maximize finance-related benefits, consider the Sam's Club Plus membership, as it offers 2% cash back rewards, free shipping, and early shopping hours that aren't available with the basic Club membership.
- While the Club membership provides a decent lifestyle experience with savings, the Plus membership offers additional perks like saving more on home-and-garden items due to Sam's Cash eligibility.
- In addition to the features they share, the Plus membership provides the additional advantage of free curbside pickup with no minimum order amount, which isn't available with the Club membership.
