READ THIS NEXT: Sam’s Club is Under Fire for Selling This to Customers. Bargain shoppers beware—if you head to Sam’s Club hoping to cash in your coupons, you’ll be disappointed, as the retailer doesn’t accept them. According to Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, although Costco has a similar policy, you can still expect to see sales and additional discounts when you’re shopping there. But while you may be disappointed to learn about Sam’s Club’s coupon policy, it could actually be a blessing in disguise. “The fact that they don’t accept coupons may make the process easier, as you don’t have to worry about showing them for redemption,” Ramhold says. “Instead, you can just confidently shop the promotions to get the best prices.” That being said, you could wait to shop the Instant Savings, which occur once a month and mean special offers and deeper discounts. “This means it’s a good time to stock up on your favorites, but also to try new things,” Ramhold says, adding that sometimes stores replace these events with a Special Savings week. When those come around, it’s a good time to purchase bigger-ticket tech items. You probably know that Sam’s Club is a subsidiary of Walmart, but what you may not have realized is that Sam’s Club will accept any Walmart gift cards burning a hole in your wallet. “Walmart and Sam’s Club gift cards are interchangeable,” Ramhold says. “So if you have some from Walmart laying around, use them for your next Sam’s Club trip!” Ramhold does offer a word of caution about unit pricing between Sam’s Club and Walmart, which is often very similar—if not identical. “In these cases the only real upside to Sam’s Club is that you’re buying a larger quantity,” she says. “If you already have a membership, that’s fine, but if you’re planning to get a membership solely because you think the prices are better at Sam’s Club, then you might want to reconsider.” READ THIS NEXT: 7 Secrets Dollar Tree Doesn’t Want You to Know. Waiting in line for groceries can be a pain, but Sam’s Club actually allows members to skip this step with an app. “Thanks to the Sam’s Club app offering Scan & Go, you can, well, scan products as you go,” Ramhold says. Once your cart is full, you can check out directly on the app and show your digital receipt when you’re leaving. “This is a huge perk for Sam’s Club shoppers and one that Costco shoppers desperately wish would be implemented,” Ramhold adds.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb For those who prefer to shop at brick-and-mortar locations, you’ll be happy to learn that it’s probably the best place to find deals at Sam’s Club. According to Ramhold, markdowns are often better in-store than they are when you’re shopping virtually. “Shopping online means having to worry about shipping, so the markdowns there may not be as good as what you’ll find in-store, where you can purchase an item and immediately take it home,” she says. “If there’s something you’re eyeing, be sure to check your local club to see if it has a better price.” For more shopping advice delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Warehouse clubs require a membership, but you may be able to find another way in. Sam’s Club used to offer 24-hour Guest Memberships, allowing you to register and shop in-store. At checkout, purchases were hit with a 10 percent non-member fee. This perk is no longer available, according to the Sam’s Club website, but thanks to new partnerships, there’s a workaround. Prefer to shop from your couch? You’re in luck. You don’t need a membership to shop and place an order via Instacart—but you will see higher prices on the platform, Slickdeals reports. If you feel like the escalated prices are worth it, just keep in mind that they might end up costing you more than the $45 Sam’s Club charges for a basic membership. If you’re looking to fill a prescription at Sam’s Club, you can bypass the membership requirement enitrely. The warehouse club confirmed this on their website: “For pharmaceuticals with a script, there is no fee for non-members.” Looking to pick up liquor or a quick snack from the café? Those don’t require a membership either. You can also take advantage of the retailer’s photo center, if you need your pictures developed in a pinch.
