Is Joining Sam’s Club Worth It in 2024?

By Ethan Blake 8 min read

Should You Join Sam's Club in 2024?

Understanding the Basics

You're interested in joining Sam's Club, a membership-based warehouse club which offers products and services at discounted prices. With countless stores all over the United States and a significant online presence, it proudly positions itself as a cost-saving goldmine for consumers. However, you're still on the fence about whether or not to approach their doors since you are unsure if the benefits will outweigh the costs. In this post, we dissect Sam's Club/delve into all the facts and facets of this establishment to help you make an informed decision.

Each year, millions of households decide to enroll in, renew, or forego their Sam's Club membership. This isn't surprising considering that everyone’s needs are unique. Their assortment of offerings appeal to different types of shoppers. What makes sense for one person might be unnecessary for another.

To determine whether buying a Sam's Club membership is worth it, there are several factors to take into account. From the budget you’ve set aside for groceries every month to how often you host dinner parties, it all has its relevance. Let's say a family of four spends about $150 weekly on groceries. Over the year, they would rack up a total grocery bill of $7,800. Here's a glimpse of how a Sam's Club membership could come into play:

The membership costs $45 annually.

You'll enjoy discounts ranging from 20-50% off regular prices.

This implies potential savings of $1560-$3900 per year for the family in question.

If they make use of additional member services like gas, tech, travel, they save even more.

Plus members also earn cashback on eligible purchases.

Online shopping as well as curbside pickup options are available.

Dining In Versus Eating Out

If your family leans towards home-cooked meals and you enjoy hosting dinner parties, then joining Sam's Club might be a good idea. They offer a wide variety of ingredients in bulk at lower-than-average prices. Additionally, the selection includes high-quality meats, fresh produce, and numerous organic options.

For those who dine out or order delivery more often than they cook at home, bulk food discounts could turn out to be less beneficial. This is not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. The value derived from a membership greatly depends on individual shopping patterns, routines, and habits.

Let's give some perspective. Meet John, a single professional who rarely cooks and mostly relies on takeouts and restaurant meals. Here's why a Sam's Club membership wouldn't be his best bet:

Apart from occasional breakfasts at home, he spends minimal time in his kitchen.

He would struggle to consume products before their sell-by date because what Sam's club sells typically come in large quantities.

Bulky items would also take up unnecessary space in his refrigerator and pantry.

While he might find cheaper gas appealing, grocery savings don’t apply to him.

Gourmet restaurants and cooking classes accessible through Sam's Club Tech services also hold little interest for him.

Since he doesn't entertain much, discounted furniture, electronics or party supplies aren't relevant perks for him either.

Weighing Financial Factors

Your financial health plays a pivotal role in determining whether a Sam's Club membership is worthwhile. If you have a tight budget, it might make sense to shop in bulk as long as the goods are affordable, easily storable, and will be used before they expire.

Conversely, if you're in a good financial position but prefer to indulge in pricier branded goods or shop at specialty stores, the savings you'd gain from Sam's Club might not be pivotal. Remember, it’s not just about saving money but also about meeting individual wants and lifestyle preferences.

Here's Amy and Rob, a couple who recently welcomed twin babies. Despite having a comfortable income, they decided to join Sam's Club, and this is why:

They found that buying diapers, formula, and baby food in bulk dramatically cut down their spending.

All these items are used up before their expiry dates making bulk-buying sensible.

Also, baby-related purchases give them plenty of cashback due to the special offer on such products.

Furniture sets for the nursery were also procured at attractive discount prices.

The convenience of free shipping combined with express curbside pickup made shopping easier for the busy parents.

Additionally, discounted auto and home insurance policies through Club Services presented further savings.

Nifty Perks and How They Align with Your Lifestyle

Beyond just groceries and household goods, Sam's Club offers numerous perks. These might include deals on things like travel services, tire installation, optical care, electronics warranties, and numerous others. However, if these are either irrelevant or underutilized, their value proposition dwindles significantly.

For instance, if an individual doesn't possess a vehicle, discounts on tire installations and gasoline carry no bearing. Or let's say, one already enjoys an uninterrupted internet service; the lure of cheaper rates might seem redundant.

Take Monica, a travel enthusiast and proud owner of a powerful gaming system. She chose to become a Sam's Club member because she saw benefits tailored to her needs and interests.

Discounted flights, hotels, and car rentals via Club Travel made her frequent trips more affordable.

Through Tech Savings, she was able to snag good deals on video game titles she had her eye on.

She also secured a lower rate for her internet service, which enhanced her online gaming experience.

Additionally, she protected her home theater system with an extended warranty bought at a deduction.

The discounted rates on vision and dental care came as added benefits since she didn't have a robust insurance policy.

In the home section, she found some stylish decor items and furnishing upgrades at attractive prices.

Extra Convenience or Unnecessary Hassle

The convenience offered by Sam's Club is worth its weight in gold for many. Members can beat long queues by checking out with the Scan & Go feature in their mobile app. Additionally, the ‘Club Pickup’ service allows you to order what you need from their website and have it ready for you to grab at your local club.

However, for those who prefer shopping at different places for variety, or have a habit of popping by their neighborhood grocer for a few items when required, it might not work out. They will find themselves going out of their way to make the membership count.

Suppose Sandra resides quite far from any Sam's Club locations. Here's how the convenience factor doesn’t apply to her case:

The closest Sam's Club is about 40 miles away.

Making a special trip just to shop at Sam’s Club isn't feasible.

While online shopping and home delivery are options, not all products she likes are available online.

Certain perishable items aren't always available for shipping due to distance.

Even if there was a store nearby, this busy mom rarely stocks up for more than a week hence bulk-buying is unsuitable.

Sandra prefers a mixture of retail experiences rather than being limited to a single point of purchase.

Membership Tiers – Regular or Plus

Understanding what each membership tier has to offer also plays an integral role in making this decision. The regular Sam's Club membership costs $45 annually, gives access to the exclusive member savings and services, but doesn’t include any cash rewards.

On the contrary, a Sam's Club Plus member will pay $100 yearly for added benefits like free shipping on most items, 2% back in cash rewards, early shopping, and discounts on services. This may be suitable if you plan to do a majority of your shopping at Sam’s Club and use their additional services regularly.

Take George, a retiree living alone with his pet dog Max. He originally signed up for the regular Sam's Club membership. Here's what prompted him to upgrade to a Plus membership:

Free shipping made it more convenient for him given his limited mobility.

His pet-oriented purchases offered a substantial cashback under the Plus membership.

He availed himself of discounted pet medication through the pharmacy service, which he could have delivered to his home.

With extra time in hand, he enjoyed taking advantage of the “early hours” to shop leisurely before general members were allowed entry.

The free tire and battery services came in handy for maintaining his car without a charge.

Given his frequent use of the various facilities, he found the Plus membership to be extremely good value for money.

Frequent Promotions and Special Events

Sam's Club often hosts special events and promotions exclusive to their members. These not only create the opportunity for additional discounts but also add an element of surprise shopping where one can pick up unanticipated great deals.

However, if you're someone who follows a strait-laced shopping list and remains unfazed by sales, these additional deals might not be worth the membership fee. It depends on your shopping style and how susceptible you are to impulse buying.

Imagine, Mike, a fitness enthusiast who lives promising himself that he'll resist all temptation when it comes to food. During one of Sam’s Club's 'Taste and Tips' events, this happened:

Mike stumbled upon low-calorie protein bars at a steal of a price.

The club was also giving out tasting samples of the Torani Sugar-Free Syrup which he ended up purchasing for his protein shakes.

A surprise sale on workout gear helped him replace his worn-out dumbbells without burning a hole in his pocket.

At the Pharmacy, he found an unexpected sale on multivitamins he regularly consumes.

In the frozen-food aisle, he discovered his favorite brand of low-carb meals on discount.

Mindful of the fact that these weren't impulsive but useful purchases, he considered these surprise deals as additional perks of his membership.

Guesswork Versus an Informed Decision

Ultimately, the decision about whether to join Sam's Club needs to be based on an evaluation of your individual situation. What works for others might not work for you. You can either make an impulse decision or an informed decision. And as we’ve realized so far, knowledge empowers!

To summarize our findings:

| Consideration | Worth Joining Sam's Club? |
|————–|—————————–|
| On a tight budget & buying in bulk suits lifestyle | Yes |
| Frequent large entertaining at home | Yes |
| Use other club services like gas, tech often | Yes |
| Eating out/takeaway forms the mainstay | No |
| Shopping habits aren't compatible/supportable by bulk buys | No |
| Live far off from a Sam’s Club and don't shop online often | No |

Hopefully, these insights help to shed some light on your decision-making process. Happy shopping!