5 Underrated Perks of a Sam's Club Membership

Want to get more from your Sam's Club membership? Check to see if you're ignoring valuable perks. Check out these unsung Sam's Club benefits.

5 Underrated Perks of a Sam's Club Membership

Two paper shopping bags full of food

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A Sam's Club membership can help you save on groceries, household goods, and other essentials. If you have a Sam's Club membership or are considering joining soon, it's recommended that you familiarize yourself with the membership perks provided so you can get the most value from your annual fee. Here are a few underrated perks of a Sam's Club membership.

1. Save time with Scan & Go

You're missing out if you're not using Scan & Go. This feature is available to all Sam's Club members, regardless of their membership level. With Scan & Go, you can scan items with your phone as you shop and save time by skipping the regular checkout line. The app will display your cart total as you shop, which can help you stay on budget.

Here's how it works:

  1. Use the Scan & Go feature in the Sam's Club mobile app to scan each item's barcode
  2. When you finish shopping, complete the payment process through the app
  3. Show your digital receipt to a staff member before walking out the door

This membership perk could save you time and improve your shopping experience.

2. Beat the crowds with early shopping hours

This valuable perk is only available to Sam's Club shoppers with Plus memberships. A Plus membership costs $110 annually, while a Club membership costs $50 annually. One of the added perks of a higher-tier membership is early shopping hours.

Plus members can shop in-store one or two hours before Club members. This perk is available at select club locations. Shopping during these earlier hours could help you save time because fewer shoppers may be around. Exact early shopping hours may vary, so check your club's hours of operation to confirm so you can plan accordingly.

3. Buy discounted sports tickets

Booking travel through Sam's Club Travel and Entertainment can save you money. You can also get a deal on admission tickets to top amusement parks. But did you know that your membership perks provide discounted tickets to sporting events? You can score cheaper tickets for MLB, NFL, and NBA games, as well as other popular sports events.

4. Earn Sam's Cash through Sam's Cash Bonus Offers

Sam's Club Plus members earn 2% Sam's Cash on qualifying in-club purchases and curbside pickup orders, for a total of $500 in earnings per year. However, all members can earn Sam's Cash in another way.

The retailer has a program called Sam's Cash Bonus Offers. Members can earn Sam's Cash when completing qualifying activities or making eligible purchases with participating retailers. You must link a debit or credit card to your account first and then activate offers that interest you. If you're a Plus member, you'll earn 20% more when you complete Sam's Cash Bonus Offers.

Sam's Cash is issued directly to your membership card each month. You can apply your rewards to purchases online, in-club, or in the mobile app. Alternatively, you can cash out your rewards at a Sam's Club register. This is an easy way to boost your checking account balance.

5. Get curbside pickup for a low fee (or for free)

Here's another valuable perk: Sam's Club offers curbside pickup. This service is free for Sam's Club Plus members, but if you have a standard Club membership, you can place a curbside pickup order for a low fee of $4 per order.

You can shop and pay online, park in a curbside pickup spot, and check in on your mobile device. An employee will then bring out your order and load your car. While not all items are available for curbside pickup, many items are. As you load up your virtual cart, look for items marked as pickup-eligible.

Put your Sam's Club benefits to use

If you're paying a yearly membership to shop at Sam's Club, ensure you get the most from your membership. Take advantage of valuable benefits made available to members. Thanks to these perks, you could save time, earn more rewards, and get bigger discounts. Check out our best budgeting apps list if you're looking for other ways to reduce your spending. Learning to budget with these apps can help you free up more income for your personal finance goals.

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