Both warehouse clubs offer generous returns policies, with Costco leading the pack in terms of items eligible for return with receipt. Both stores also offer co-branded credit cards that give cash back rewards on your purchases.
Sam’s new Scan & Go feature allows members to shop more efficiently by bypassing check-out lines by scanning their phone at security arches, but there is an additional charge associated with this service.
What Is Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club is a warehouse store that requires membership for shopping. Offering exclusive discounts and perks both in stores and online, members have access to food and household items in bulk; low fuel prices at Sam’s Club gas stations; free tire repair at Auto Centers; pharmacy discounts and roadside assistance are just a few advantages offered to members; Club membership provides even more perks; Plus membership also comes with unique advantages.
Both memberships provide free shipping, Curbside Pickup, and Sam’s Club credit card benefits; Club Members can earn Sam’s Cash with eligible purchases while Plus Members will get 20% more back than Club Members on any earned Sam’s Cash earned. Customers looking to avoid crowds can take advantage of Sam’s Club’s convenient Scan & Go option which allows customers to pay via their phone instead of checkout!
Sam’s Club was established on April 7, 1983 by Walmart founder and entrepreneur Sam Walton in Midwest City, Oklahoma with a belief in leadership through service for small businesses. Today it stands as one of the leading membership-only retail chains across America with stores located both rurally and urbanly.
Sam’s Club first opened with a membership subscription fee of $50 annually and offered products such as food, automotive parts, and home goods in bulk. Their warehouse store became known for their tall shelves stacked high with items for display – some stored upright on pallets! Over time however, the company expanded and now operates over 900 locations worldwide.
Membership Plans and Benefits
Sam’s Club membership costs about $50 annually and gives members access to discounted prices on groceries, clothing and household goods – as well as discounted gas at the pump! Sam’s Club also provides free shipping for most online orders as well as early shopping hours in some stores.
Sam’s Club offers two membership plans – Club and Plus. Both provide one card for the primary account holder as well as one complimentary card per household. You can purchase these memberships either in-club at their membership desk or online via their membership desk, provided a valid form of ID such as driver’s license is presented upon joining (card numbers can also be found within an email notification, online account profile page or digital membership card).
Employees at Walmart and its affiliates can take advantage of an exclusive Sam’s Club membership at no cost, along with exclusive savings events and educational savings opportunities through Live Better U, where field associates can obtain degrees or certificates without incurring additional costs.
if you’re still uncertain if Sam’s Club membership is right for your budget, try taking part in a 15-day membership trial. This gives you a good sense of how the store suits you and whether bulk shopping fits into your lifestyle. Amanda Barroso writes for NerdWallet where she helps consumers navigate their finances; prior to that she was employed as a research analyst before earning an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University and her work has been featured by both Associated Press and Yahoo News.
Popular Products and Services
Sam Walton recognized how difficult it could be for small businesses to afford the products and services necessary for growth, so he created Sam’s Club, now widely renowned as a warehouse club with bulk items available at affordable rates as well as services such as gas discounts, pharmacy savings programs, roadside assistance as well as bakery goodies like pies, cupcakes and cookies.
Sam’s Club vs. Costco
Sam’s Club and Costco membership warehouse clubs offer name brand products at discounted rates at unbeatably competitive prices, making them great options for bulk shopping needs at discounted rates. Both offer popular name brands at significantly reduced prices as well as in-house lines like Kirkland Signature and Member’s Mark at much reduced costs. Both also have reward programs – though Costco’s can provide cash back rewards that you can spend anywhere versus Sam’s Club cash which must only be spent within their warehouses.
Both companies carry similar merchandise — TVs, cleaning supplies and food items — with both providing exceptional returns policies. Costco stores differ from their counterparts by curating its inventory with fewer stock-keeping units (SKUs) – for instance a typical grocery store may stock around 30,000 different SKUs while Costco typically stocks only around 4,000 SKUs on its shelves.
KCL TIP: Sam’s Club offers Scan & Go as a solution for long checkout lines at many stores, enabling users to scan all purchases as you walk through and skip the traditional checkout line altogether. Membership counter visits will still need to occur but this method provides time and cost savings!
Sam’s Club offers several other tips to help customers save when shopping at their warehouse. Take advantage of in-store promotions and coupons; for instance, high-value coupons on popular products such as All Free & Clear laundry detergent, Dude Wipes and Prime Hydration water bottles can often be found here. Also consider purchasing gas cards with them since Sam’s Club’s prices tend to be more cost effective.
For frequent Sam’s Club shoppers, investing in a Plus membership for $120 annually could yield additional discounts and benefits. You could qualify for a $50 rebate off their already competitively-priced fuel, roadside assistance services, pharmacy savings discounts, guest program items without membership (the latter will incur a 10% service fee and won’t have access to benefits such as curbside pickup and Scan & Go).
