Is it worth paying $40 to shop at a Sam's Club?
By EdwardF
@EdwardF (431)
United States
January 16, 2007 9:07pm CST
There is a membership fee of $40 to shop at a Sam's Club. They also have an upgraded membership for $100. I shop there because my wife works there and I get a free membership. My family and friends say they aren't going to pay to shop at a store. The Sam's Club she works at packs the people in. Most of the time I have to wait up to 20 minutes to check out with all of the registers running. Also... there is a Super Walmart next door where there is no membership fee. Do you have a Sam's membership or feel you would get your money's worth from it? Obviously a lot of people do.
2 people like this
10 responses
@lauriefnp (5109)
• United States
17 Jan 07
We have both Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale club in our area. I pay for a BJ's membership- I think that it's probably the same price as Sam's club, but I'm not sure. I think that it is very much worth it. BJ's has gasoline, which is always 6-7 cents cheaper per gallon than the regular gas station. That alone makes it worth the membership. I also buy a lot of things there at great prices- the meat there is fantastic, at a great price.
1 person likes this
@thunderofsins (738)
• United States
9 Feb 07
It is VERY well worth it to me. The lines are usually pretty short at the one by my house. Last time I went I saved over $30 on just a few things, over the course of the year I'm saving WAY more than the $40 I spent to shop there. There is a wal-mart next to the Sam's club I shop at but the prices are better at Sam's...especially for things i'd need to buy a lot of anyway. Sam's is run by Wal-Mart so they aren't going to be in competition with eachother, even if they are next door.
1 person likes this
@MakDomMom (1474)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I do ave a Sam's Club membership (the $40 one). I think is worth every penny. I run an in-home daycare so I am able to use the bulk packages of chicken nuggets, hotdogs, fish sticks, frech toast sticks, vegetables, etc... It saves me a lot of money buying it that way instead of a bag that is less than half the size for almost the same amount of money at a different store. We also use Sam's Club purachses for a Softball tournament that we run each year. We save lots of money on hotdogs, brats, water, and gaterade.
1 person likes this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
17 Jan 07
If you are a person who buy things in bulk, it worth paying to shop at Sam's Club. Meat and and some ready to eat food are really cheap there.
1 person likes this
@ControlledChaos (179)
• United States
18 Jan 07
I've been wondering the same thing... But I have no experience with Sam's Club. There's a new one opening here in my town soon. I live alone, so I doubt that it would be worthwhile for me... but I was thinking it may be a good way to get non-perishable stuff, frozen foods and maybe dog food if they carry it. I haven't made up my mind just yet.
@jbrowsin66 (1321)
• United States
29 Jan 07
Surely Sam's Club would profit more from letting everyone buy there than charging fees to shop. Most times you end up spending way more than you want to because of the larger packaging. I don't think there is enough savings to warrant the fees, but they do have some unusual products you don't find anywhere else --but they don't always stock them repeatedly.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I'm always amazed that they continue to thrive. I personally don't think the $40 is worth it. You would have to spend quite a bit to make up the difference if you ask me and now many regular stores offer the large quantity items at the same prices.
@Hellslayer (114)
• United States
20 Jun 07
i prefer sams club dont think we have a costco or a bj's down here
@amazing_Grace (479)
• United States
29 Jan 07
I don't have a membership to Sam's. I have gone there a few times after receiving a free admission slip. But to me, it's not worth it. I live a good hour and a half away from the nearest Sam's.
@x3temptationx (677)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I dont normally shop there but my mother used to, she cooked for tons of people which required tons of food. So if you buy for a big family and use it often then its worth it because it will add up, otherwise probably no.
