‘Dumb move,’ Sam’s Club members rage over controversial policy as they threaten to ‘take their business to Costco’

A CHANGE to Sam’s Club’s Plus membership plan that removed free shipping has sparked complaints.

Sam’s Club Plus members are upset that they no longer have the convenient benefit with their second-tier subscriptions, insisting that Costo could be a better option.

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It costs $110 annually to be a Sam’s Club Plus member, and free shipping was one of the best perks.

Other Plus perks include free curbside pickup, early access to shopping, and savings on optical and pharmacy services.

The change begins August 19, and Plus members will only get free shipping on orders over $50.

Sam’s Club Plus member Austin Wright complained about the removal of free shipping at X and tagged the retailer.

LIMITED TO COST

Wright insisted that Sam’s Club membership was no longer worth it and would rather become a Costco member.

“Dumb move by @SamsClub to get rid of free shipping for plus members. I’m taking my business to Costco,” Wright posted in June.

The official Sam Club X account quickly responded to Wright in just about an hour.

“Hello, Austin. Thank you for contacting us. We understand your frustration with this new change. Please join PM to discuss further,” Sam’s Club said.

Wright isn’t alone in his frustration with the removal of free shipping.

Another Costco shopper responded to Wright’s thread with Sam’s Club and shared how they too are unhappy with the change.

User X and Sam’s Club shopper Marylyn Carlyle commented on how essential the free shipping benefit was to them and asked for help.

“Your new shipping policy is a real pain for me. I’m disabled and I rely on Sam’s shipping to get the products I need,” they responded.

“Many of the items I buy are only sold online, so your new free shipping (for $50 or more) at the warehouse doesn’t make sense to me. Please help.”

Membership and store cards offered by major retailers

Here’s a breakdown of store cards offered to customers from various retailers and their benefits

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Costco:

• Gold Star Membership: $60 per year, shop at all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your family.
• Executive Member: $120 per year, 2% annual rewards, discounts and additional benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store and get two additional cards for home use.
• Sign up for a Costco Membership here

Sam’s Club:

• Club membership: $50 Per Year, Bonus Offers, Same Day Delivery, Instant Savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, Members Only Fuel Savings, Tire & Battery Center, Free Membership and Complimentary Memberships.
• More membership: $110 per year, all the benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, advance purchases, and pharmacy and optical discounts.
• Sign up for Sam’s Club membership here

Target:

• Target Circle: A free rewards program that allows users to earn 1% in Target Circle Earnings rewards when a qualifying purchase is made, access personalized deals and offers, receive a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps your community .
• Target Circle Card: A credit, debit or reloadable card that offers users 5% off in-store and online, as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping and an additional 30-day return window. Formerly Target RedCard.
• Sign up for Target circle here

Walmart:

• Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with 30-day free trial. It offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ membership, car, Walmart+ travel, home returns, mobile scan and store entry, and early access to offers and product launches.
• Sign up for Walmart+ here

Sam’s Club supported its decision to remove free shipping for Plus members in a statement to The US Sun in June.

“At Sam’s Club, we continually work to provide an easier and more convenient shopping experience for our members,” a spokesperson said in the statement.

“With this change, we are giving members access to different ways to shop, making it easier for them to get the products they want, when and how they want them – all designed to help them get more value from their membership.

“As part of this change, we are also improving the availability of items online. More items will ship for free, with no additional shipping fees, to provide members with the most consistent experience in the club and online.”

Costco Executive membership costs $120 and Gold Star membership costs $60 annually, which website he said.

However, both do not include free shipping, similar to Sam’s Club’s new change.