To buy a grocery warehouse membership or not…that is the question. So many consumers can’t seem to live without their Costco or Sam’s Club memberships, and you may wonder why if you don’t already have one. If you’re unsure about spending the yearly membership fees that can cost you $45 – $100, here are some free ways you can experience the benefits of shopping at a club store.
Note: Approach these methods as a way to sample these stores—not as a way to take advantage of them. If you feel their fees are worth the cost, consider purchasing a full membership.
Sam’s Club
1. Print out a 1-day free pass to Sam’s Club
It just makes sense that new customers might want to visit and see for themselves what all the fuss is about before shelling out $45 or $100 for an individual membership. Print out your 1-day free pass.
Note: You’ll still have to pay the 10% surcharge that non-Sam’s Club members must pay in every state except California, South Carolina, and Elmsford, NY.
2. Become a complimentary add-on member
If someone in your household is a cardholder, they can add you to their account as a complimentary add-on cardholder so you can shop at member prices online or in the stores.
3. Buy a Plus membership and earn cashback rewards up to $500 annually
If you buy a Sam’s Club Plus membership ($100/year), you’ll earn $10 for every $500 spent on qualifying purchases (excluding alcohol, tobacco, and certain other items) during the year.
Example: Say you spend $500 monthly on groceries and household items at Sam’s Club. So during the year, you’re accruing $10 every month. This gives you $120 in cashback, which is loaded right onto your club card. This can be used to pay for your renewal—plus you’ve just made an extra $20!
4. Buy only the items available for purchase by non-members
Sam’s Club offers certain items and services to non-members as well as members — such as alcohol, prescription medications, and certain services such as optical.
Related: 10 Reasons I Hate Couponing at Walmart
5. Shop at SamsClub.com without a membership
Anyone can shop at SamsClub.com! When you shop online without a membership card, you’ll pay a 10% surcharge over cardholder prices.
6. Wait for a promotional “Open House” event.
During the year, Sam’s Club designates certain dates as “open to non-members.” They do this as a promotion to draw in new members. Sign up for the email list at your local Sam’s Club to be alerted about upcoming “Open House” events.
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James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek. When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College. He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.
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