Sam's Club Membership Guide

As one of the top contenders in warehouse shopping, Sam's Club offers plenty of ways to save money and time. Whether you're new to Sam's Club or an experienced shopper, this Sam's Club membership shopping guide will show you all the reasons you should be shopping at Sam's.

For up-to-date Sam's Club tips and deal alerts be sure to download the KCL app.

1. Select a Sam's Club membership that fits your needs.

Sam's Club offers two memberships: the Club or the Plus. You can join Sam's Club online or in person at the Member Services desk inside the club.

The basic "Club" membership is $50/year. Perks include:

• Instant savings

• Fuel savings

• Tire and Battery Center (free flat repairs)

• Add on up to eight memberships

The upgraded "Plus" membership is $110/year. Get all the perks of a $50 membership, as well as:

• Earn 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, up to $500/year

• Free shipping with no minimum purchase

• Free curbside pickup

• Early shopping hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (two hours before stores open to all members)

• Free select prescriptions: save on select name-brand prescriptions and access over 600 generic prescriptions for $10 or less

• Optical savings: 20% off a complete pair of eyeglasses and free shipping on contact lenses

• Add on up to 16 memberships

TIP: If you want the Sam's Plus membership and you're joining online, you must first sign up for the regular membership. They'll charge you a total of $110, $50 for the Club membership, and the $60 difference to upgrade.

2. Never pay full price for a Sam's Club basic membership.

Sam's Club often offers signup incentives like gift cards and discounts. If you're not getting some freebies or gift cards back on a $50 membership, wait to sign up. KCL regularly posts about Sam's Club deals. Here are just a few membership deals we've published in the past:

• Score $50 in Freebies at Sam's Club

• Membership for $35 + $30 in Free eGift Cards

• $8 Sam's Club membership (offered in January 2022 and June 2022)

• 50% - 70% off a new Sam's Club membership

Save 60% on a Sam's Club basic membership through Dec. 31:

Pay just $20 for a whole year of membership with this latest deal.

Get a Sam's Club teacher discount mid-July through September:

Only for new members (and only for a two-and-a-half month period each year), you can sign up and get 60% off a Sam's Club membership ($20/year) if you're a teacher or educator. The Sam's Club teacher discount offer was most recently offered July 17 - Sept. 30, 2023, and you had to be a state-licensed or state-certified educator for these grade levels:

• Pre-K - grade 12 classroom teacher

• Pre-K - grade 12 principal or assistant principal

• Pre-K - grade 12 school employee

• College or university professor

3. You can shop at SamsClub.com without a membership.

Don't want a Sam's Club membership? Sign up for a 24-hour guest membership to shop anything online without a membership card. A 10% service fee will apply to your order, and you will miss out on member-only pricing. All you have to do is create a guest account when prompted to sign in during checkout. Pickup is not available for guest members. The following areas are exempt from the service fee: California, South Carolina, and Elmsford, NY.

4. Buy booze, prescriptions, and food court items at Sam's Club without a membership.

Fill your prescriptions and enjoy food court items without needing a membership. You can also buy alcohol without a membership in the following states:

• Arizona

• California

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Hawaii

• Indiana

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• New York

• Texas

• Vermont

TIP: A membership is not required to see the optometrist at Sam's Club, but you have to be a member to buy optical products.