A basic Sam's Club membership costs $50 per year and gives you access to warehouses full of great products. And while the low prices alone could put your personal finance worries at ease, Sam's Club offers a higher-tier membership -- Sam's Club Plus -- that might give you more value.
It's not for everyone, but frequent shoppers could save more money overall than they could with a basic membership. If you love Sam's Club, let's take a look at what its Plus membership has to offer and see if it's right for you.
The membership costs $110 per year
But if you sign up before Jan. 31, 2024, Sam's Club may give you $40 off. The retailer is currently offering a promotion to new members who link a valid credit card and enroll in auto renew. This will make your first year of Sam's Club Plus cost $70, then $110 after.
You'll earn 2% back on Sam's Club purchases
That's 2% cash back on in-club purchases, up to $500 in earnings per year, or roughly $25,000 spent. This cash back ("Sam's Cash") is deposited into your account on a monthly basis and never expires.
Shipping and curbside pickup are free
Plus members get free standard shipping for most items purchased online. The standard shipping will put groceries at your door within three to five business days. If you need your stuff faster, you'll pay a flat $8 for same-day delivery, or you can have your purchases delivered at curbside pickup, which is also free with a Plus membership.
Shop during special hours
One super unique perk with this membership is that it can help you avoid big crowds by giving you early access to warehouses. While these special hours can vary by store, Sam's Club itself lists them as 8 a.m. to 10 a.m on weekdays (two hours early) and 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays (one hour early).
Save big on prescription drugs
Plus members get amazing deals on prescription drugs through the pharmacy at Sam's Club.
For starters, your Plus membership will reduce the price on over 600 generic drugs to just $10 or less. This is for a 30-day supply and might cost extra for any quantity greater than that.
Secondly, being a Plus member means getting 10 free prescriptions for select generic drugs, including amlodipine, donepezil, escitalopram, finasteride, lisinopril, metformin, montelukast, pioglitazone, sertraline, and vitamin D2 (Sam's Club members in Arizona, California, or Minnesota can buy these drugs for $2). Again, this is for a 30-day supply. Regular Sam's Club members, on the other hand, would get these same drugs for $4.
Finally, Plus members get 8% off on pet medications, unless the pet is taking human medications -- in which case the regular Plus discounts from above would apply.
Get 20% off on your next pair of glasses
If your Sam's Club has an Optical Center, you can get 20% off your next pair of glasses with a valid prescription (this discount excludes add-ons like tints, coatings, and mirroring). Not only that, but you can also get free shipping on contact lenses.
Are all these perks worth $110?
First off, if you can get a Plus membership for only $70, then, yes, this membership could easily pay for itself. At that price, you would only need to spend $1,000 to make up the difference between basic and Plus ($20).
At the regular price -- $110 -- you would need to spend $3,000 to earn the difference ($60). Not a major feat. In fact, if you take advantage of the other perks -- like savings on prescriptions and eyewear – Plus status could be more beneficial than a basic membership.
Now, depending on how much you shop at Sam's Club, you might also want to take advantage of the Sam's Club Mastercard. This card earns 3% back on Sam's Club purchases (which becomes 5% with a Plus membership), plus 3% back on dining and takeout and 1% everywhere else. Combine this with your Sam's Club Plus membership and you would only need to spend $2,200 to earn enough to pay for a $110 membership.
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