Sam’s Club is a great place to save money on groceries, and it offers great deals on home goods and office supplies.
But sometimes, you just can’t stand the idea of walking into one. Here are a few reasons why you may not be that excited about going into a Sam’s Club.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today
The weekends are crowded
The weekends can be crowded at any grocery store, but you might find it’s even worse at a Sam’s Club.
There are other options, though. If you can’t go during work hours, try a weeknight trip — locations stay open until 8 p.m. and are definitely less crowded.
You need a membership
It might be frustrating if you want to shop at Sam’s Club but don’t want to pay for a membership. After all, why can’t you just go in and shop?
But compare the savings you can earn from shopping at Sam’s Club to those at a regular grocery store, and you might find the extra savings will more than cover a membership.
The produce goes bad
You may enjoy apples, strawberries, or bananas, but buying them at a bulk-food store like Sam’s Club may not be a good option.
It’s not that Sam’s Club produce goes bad quicker than produce at your local grocery store. It’s that you might have a hard time eating fresh produce before it goes bad due to the amount.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
The self-checkout isn’t quick
One of the great things about the self-checkout at Sam’s Club is that it can be convenient if you only have a few things to buy.
It can also back up quickly, though, if others try to use it and may not be as adept at getting through or are trying to check out a packed cart on their own, which means more problems for you.
You still have to go to the grocery store
Sam’s Club can be a great option if you want to buy some items in bulk, but it’s not a substitute for going to the grocery store.
There are probably some extra things on your list that you don’t want to buy in bulk, so you’ll probably still need to make another trip somewhere else to round out your shopping.
Trending Stories
The gas station has long lines
One of the benefits of a Sam’s Club membership is the lower cost of gas at the pumps.
However, that low cost can attract a lot of drivers, and it may not be worth the savings to stay in line for so long just to get a deal.
It’s too easy to bust your budget
You may go into Sam’s Club thinking you’ll pick up a few things only to come out with a cart full of items that cost much more than you expected.
Bulk items can push your bill higher because you’re buying a higher quantity so it’s important to create a list before you shop or you could end up hurting your wallet.
It’s not for single people
Sam’s Club can be a great option if you have to buy food for a family or you’re shopping for an office. But it can be tough if you’re picking up a huge pack of toilet paper just for you. And who really wants to try to finish off a flat of strawberries all by themselves before they go bad?
You need storage space
Sam’s Club is also great if you have a big house and the space to store 12 cans of chicken broth, 45 rolls of toilet paper, or 36 cans of soda.
It could be tough to find space for your bulk purchases if you don’t have the storage space in a pantry or freezer for your Sam’s Club finds.
Stop overpaying when you shop online
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2
It’s more expensive than the grocery store
It’s hard to compare the cost of an item at Sam’s Club to one at your local grocery store so it’s important to review the per-item cost.
When you do that, you may find it’s cheaper to buy certain items at your local grocery store compared to Sam’s Club. There’s usually a sale on soda at the grocery store, for example, and produce in smaller qualities could mean less waste.
Sam’s Club employees don’t get paid well
Sam’s Club, which is owned by Walmart, doesn’t pay as well as its main rival Costco. That might be an issue if you want to make sure you’re supporting a company that supports employees.
Sam’s Club employees make an average base hourly rate of $15.57, according to Payscale, while Costco workers make an average base hourly rate of $18.92.
Costco is better
You may have a Sam’s Club membership because you’re closer to a Sam’s Club, or perhaps you’re trying to save money because the Sam’s Club basic membership is cheaper than one at Costco.
But some Sam’s Club members aren’t impressed with the retailer compared to its competition.
“Having had a Sam's membership in the past, by far the best argument against one is because Costco is better,” said one Redditor.
Bottom line
Sam’s Club can help you keep money in your wallet in the long run, so you may have to ignore the things you hate if you really want to save money.
It’s also a good idea to check out the Sam’s Club mobile app to help you save time or get alerts about the latest deals for extra savings.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.