Sam’s Club is one of the top warehouse retailers in the world, offering their customers low prices for bulk items, from groceries to paper products to clothing.
Because Sam’s Club members have access to the store’s millions of products, you may be wondering: what does a Sam’s Club Plus membership entail? Here is what discovered!
Sam’s Club Plus Membership
A Sam’s Club Plus membership costs $100 per year and includes benefits such as 2% cash back rewards, free shipping for online orders, extended pickup and in-store shopping hours, discounts on prescription medications, discounts on glasses, and access to a range of cheap automotive services.
To learn all the ins and outs of a Sam’s Club Plus membership, what’s included, and what the difference is between a normal membership, continue reading!
What Is Included In A Sam’s Club Plus Membership?
A Sam’s Club Plus membership comes with several desirable perks for you and your family. For online purchases on Sam’s Club’s website, Plus members receive free shipping every day!
Sam’s Club also rewards their Plus members with 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, both for in-store and pickup orders.
Unfortunately, this cash-back benefit cannot be applied to online purchases.
Additionally, Plus members have access to early bird shopping hours, allowing you to beat the crowds.
To find out when your local Sam’s Club opens for Plus members, give your store a call.
In addition to extended in-store shopping hours, Plus members receive special pickup hours as well. The pickup hours for Plus members begin at 7 A.M. on Monday-Saturday, and 10 A.M. on Sunday.
Most Sam’s Clubs include a pharmacy within the store. When you become a Plus member, you receive select generic prescriptions for free, 30% off select medicines, and 600+ medications for $10 or less.
If you wear glasses or contacts, becoming a Plus member allows you to access 20% off glasses as well as free shipping on contact lenses.
Finally, Sam’s Club offers 15% off a Pandora music streaming subscription when you upgrade to a Plus membership.
Are There Limitations For Sam’s Club Plus Membership Cash Rewards?
One of the most enticing factors that sway people to purchase the Sam’s Club Plus membership is the store’s cash rewards.
However, there are certain limitations on the amount of cashback you can receive each year.
As a Sam’s Club Plus member, you receive 2% cash back on qualifying purchases with a maximum reward of $500 for every 12-month membership period.
Your cash rewards are awarded at the end of the year, loaded onto your membership card, or redeemable for cash. You can only use your cash rewards in-store and not for any online purchases.
What Is The Cost Difference Between A Sam’s Club Plus And Regular Membership?
Sam’s Club requires all of its customers to have a membership with the store. Depending on your personal preference, Sam’s Club offers 2 types of membership plans; Basic and Plus.
Besides the difference in added benefits Plus members have access to, there is also a price difference in the cost of the membership plan.
For example, a Sam’s Club Plus Membership plan costs $100 per year, and the Basic plan costs $45 per year.
If you would like to upgrade your basic membership plan at any point in the year, you can do so at any time for a prorated cost, meaning you will only pay for a portion of the remaining year.
Can You Buy A Sam’s Club Plus Membership Online?
Whether you are looking to upgrade your current membership or buy one for the first time, Sam’s Club allows you to do so all from the comfort of your home!
After locating Sam’s Club’s website, click the ‘Join’ link, which you can find above the ‘Cart’ button near the top of the page.
If you are a current member of Sam’s Club with a basic membership plan, make sure you enter your login information first.
The website will take you to a page with a quick overview of both membership plans and pricing. Select the ‘Plus’ option and enter the requested information.
How Does A Sam’s Club Plus Membership Compare To A Costco Executive Membership?
Like Sam’s Club, Costco offers a membership plan with added benefits for an extra yearly fee. Costco’s Executive membership plan best compares to a Sam’s Club Plus membership.
The main differences between a Plus and Executive membership are the yearly cost and the restrictions on cash-back rewards.
A Costco Executive plan costs $120 per year. Additionally, Executive members get 2% cash back rewards up to $1000 on qualifying purchases each year.
Like Sam’s Club, Costco also offers Executive members additional benefits and savings in various departments in the store.
Is A Sam’s Club Plus Membership Worth It?
You may be wondering if a Plus membership is worth the additional cost. Fortunately, there are a few factors to help you quickly assess whether or not a Plus membership is right for you!
Monthly Groceries
If you find yourself spending at least $400 in groceries, household supplies, and other items at Sam’s Club every month, then a Plus membership is right for you and will essentially pay for itself!
Business Owner
If you are running a business, a Plus membership is something you can use to your advantage. The cash-back rewards and free shipping alone are enough to help your business run as smoothly as possible.
Instead of running all the way to your Sam’s Club warehouse to purchase supplies, you can have items delivered to your business with no shipping fee!
Crowds
If you constantly wish you could shop at Sam’s Club without the crowds, a Plus membership is perfect for you!
Plus members have access to Sam’s Club before regular members, allowing you to start shopping as early as 7 A.M.
To learn more, you can see our related posts on whether or not Sam’s Club accepts EBT, if Sam’s Club takes Apple Pay, and the Sam’s Club price adjustment policy.
Conclusion
Sam’s Club Plus members have access to a wide array of additional perks.
As a Plus member, you can enjoy extended shopping hours, free shipping for online orders, discounts in the pharmacy and vision department, 2% cash back rewards, and a discount on a Pandora subscription!
