25 Great Ways to Save at Warehouse Clubs

Learn how to make the most of a Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club membership

Beth Braverman,

AARP

Comments

Published December 27, 2024

a person carrying a bag in the shape of a warehouse club

Sam Island

Warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club promise their shoppers that, in exchange for a membership fee and a no-frills shopping experience, they’ll deliver discounted prices on quality goods, often sold in bulk quantities.

It’s an offer that millions of budget-conscious consumers — or just those who enjoy the thrill of hunting for deals in cavernous warehouses — have bought into. As of mid-October 2024, 29 percent of Americans had shopped at Costco in the previous 12 weeks, 24 percent had shopped at Sam’s Club and 12 percent had made purchases from BJ’s, according to Coresight Research. Retail experts say warehouse stores can offer exceptional value to their members — including those who aren’t shopping for a large family. “As long as you are shopping regularly at these wholesale stores, you can save a lot of money, and it’s well worth the annual fee,” says Kimberly Palmer, a consumer expert at personal finance website NerdWallet.

Still, shopping at warehouse stores can lead to overspending if you don’t have a plan. So before you clear out your trunk — or your pantry — to make room for your next warehouse club haul, read these tips to optimize your savings.

1. Choose the club that makes the most sense for you

With all three of the largest warehouse clubs in expansion mode, it’s increasingly likely that you’ll have more than one local warehouse to choose from in your area — and all three allow members to shop online. But there are some notable differences between them.

BJ’s, for example, has the widest selection of products in-store, with more perishables packaged in smaller quantities, while Costco has more out-of-store offerings, such as travel and home-improvement services. Meanwhile, Sam’s Club has the most name-brand products and has invested the most in its digital shopping experience.

All three clubs offer membership refunds to customers who are unsatisfied with their experience.

2. Don't pay full price for a membership

“When you’re getting a discount, the membership fees are easily overshadowed by the discounts that you’re getting,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com.

Even so, the less you pay for a membership, the easier it is to make up for that outlay when you shop.

A base membership costs $65 per year at Costco, $55 per year at BJ’s and $50 per year at Sam’s Club — but it’s common to see promotions that can lower the price via discounts, gift cards or other incentives.

BJ’s and Sam’s Club offer membership deals for groups like veterans, educators and government employees, and Groupon recently offered a Costco deal that provided new members with an instant $45 gift card to spend at the retailer. Customers ages 50 and older can get a 60 percent discount off membership at Sam’s Club.

3. Don't buy more than you need

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to buying groceries at warehouse stores is that the stores often sell groceries in bulk, increasing the chance that perishables, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, will go bad before you’re able to use them. So don’t buy more than what you know you’ll use.

Also, keep an eye out for more shelf-stable products, like canned goods or frozen fruits and veggies, which take longer to expire. “No matter what the price is, if it’s going to expire before you finish using it, then it’s not a good deal,” says Kristen Markel, who runs the blog Warehouse Wanderer.

4. Make perishables last longer

Splitting meats into meal-size portions and freezing them can extend their shelf life considerably. Markel suggests investing in a vacuum sealer to package up and further extend the life of items in your freezer.

Other perishables might require a little additional work. For example, you can extend the life of potatoes by storing them in a cool, dark place in a breathable container, such as a cardboard box or a paper bag, or transferring dry goods like sugar or rice into sealed jars, suggests Annette Economides, co-publisher of MoneySmartFamily.com, a website that offers budgeting tips and resources.

Shoppers can save about 30 percent on groceries compared to Walmart and 54 percent compared to the cost at a supermarket.

Sam Island

5. Stock up on groceries

Higher food prices have 12 percent of shoppers looking to purchase more groceries in bulk and 16 percent looking to shop at more affordable grocery stores, according to a 2024 survey by Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability. That makes warehouse stores an increasingly popular option for food purchases.

A September analysis by the trade publication Warehouse Focus found that Sam’s Club had the lowest prices on a basket of 96 grocery items, but shoppers at any of the warehouse stores could save about 30 percent on groceries compared to Walmart and 54 percent compared to the cost at a supermarket.

6. Try store brands

While you’ll find savings on name-brand products sold at warehouse clubs, you may spot even better deals on groceries sold under the house brand (Kirkland at Costco, Member’s Mark at Sam’s Club, and Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen at BJ’s), which typically sell at about 20 percent less than comparable brands.

Purchasing the store brand doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing quality. In fact, the opposite could be true: In many cases the quality of private brands exceeds that of the national product, according to Michael Clayman, editor of Warehouse Club Focus, an industry trade publication.

7. Don't assume you're getting a deal

Savings abound in warehouse stores, but it’s still up to you to confirm that a price is better than what you’d pay elsewhere. For example, in-season produce — berries in the summer, apples in the fall — is typically cheaper at grocery stores than at warehouse clubs, says Economides. “The produce items can be a good deal, but you have to know your prices,” she says. “When something is on sale at a grocery store, it’s probably going to be a better deal.”

You can use a free mobile app like Flipp to see weekly circulars for your local grocery stores and measure warehouse prices against supermarket specials. Be sure to look at the product’s unit price, which breaks down the total cost by serving or per ounce, making it easier to compare prices of products packaged in different quantities.

8. Stick to a shopping list

Like most merchants, warehouse clubs are designed to make you spend more time — and more money — in their stores. Between the free samples and eye-catching displays of electronics, clothing and seasonal items, it’s easy to give in to the temptation of an impulse purchase.

Shopping with a list can help you stay focused on buying only the items you need. Consider making a list based on your meal plan for the week. You can write out an old-fashioned list on paper or use an app like AnyList, Listonic or Bring to keep track and check off items as you put them in your cart.

9. Take advantage of coupons

Costco and Sam’s Club publish coupon books several times per year that highlight their deals and promotional discounts. These get applied automatically at checkout, so you don’t need to clip coupons or take any other action to get the deal, but knowing what’s on sale can help you time your purchases accordingly.

BJ’s, meanwhile, publishes digital coupons that you can “clip” by clicking on them online or in the BJ’s app; those coupons get attached to your member card and automatically applied at checkout.

Note: BJ’s accepts manufacturer’s coupons; Costco and Sam’s Club do not.

Warehouse stores start stocking their Christmas and Hanukkah products in August and will try to be out of them by early- to mid-December.

Sam Island

10. Move quickly on seasonal items

Prices on seasonal items, like holiday decorations and patio furniture, are often lower at warehouse stores than at competitors. But because warehouse clubs don’t want to get stuck with excess stock, they often order these items in limited quantities — and display them well before the holiday season arrives.

“They start stocking their Christmas and Hanukkah products in August and will try to be out of them by early- to mid-December,” Clayman says.

11. Know their secret price codes

You can learn valuable intel if you know how to read the coded information on the price tags at warehouse stores. At Sam’s Club, if a price tag ends in a penny ($12.71, for example), it’s on a clearance sale, says Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com, a site that offers shopping hacks. If a product number ends with the letter “C,” it's been discontinued.

Costco products that end in 97 cents are manager’s discounts, meaning that location’s store manager marked the specific products down because they’re not selling quickly enough. Items with an asterisk (known by Costco afficionados as a “Death Star”) on the price tag have been discontinued, Markel says.

Prices at BJ’s that end with a “zero” ($15.00, for instance) are manager’s discounts, James says, meaning they’ll be marked down 10 percent per week until they’ve sold out.

“By paying attention to these details on price tags, you can identify hidden bargains and strategically plan your purchases to save, especially on stuff you know is on clearance and priced at the lowest it’s going to get,” James says.

12. Get a shopping buddy

All three warehouse clubs allow two adults from the same household to share a membership, and members can bring up two guests with them on shopping trips. Therefore, if you have a friend whose shopping schedule aligns with yours, you could effectively split the membership cost to save money.

Another benefit of shopping with a friend is you can split items that are sold in bulk. If the store sells gallons of milk bundled in twos, for example, you can each take one, splitting the price and reducing the chance that the milk will go bad before you use it.

13. Upgrade your membership if you're a big spender

Each warehouse has a premium membership tier that costs more but offers cash back on spending. Costco’s “executive” membership program costs $130 per year, while Sam’s Club’s “Plus” membership costs $110 annually. They both pay members 2 percent cash back on most purchases, up to $1,250 per year at Costco and $500 per year at Sam’s Club. Without factoring in any additional savings, you’d need to spend at least $3,250 at Costco’s per year or at least $3,000 per year at Sam’s Club for the upgraded membership to pay off.

The BJ’s “Club Plus” membership costs $110 per year and pays 2 percent cash back on most purchases, with 3 percent back on certain items, making the break-even spend $2,750. BJ’s caps the cash back that you can receive at $500 a year.

14. Shop at the right time

Warehouse clubs love to hand out free samples of new food products for customers to try. If you plan your visit around lunchtime — samples are typically available starting around 11 a.m. — you could enjoy enough free samples to replace your mid-day meal.

You’ll face the thinnest crowds if you go shopping in the morning on a weekday. That can make it easier to stay focused on purchasing the items on your list and cut down the time you spend in the store. Another benefit of shopping earlier in the day: You have a better shot at snagging a “manager’s special” price before inventory runs out, Markle says.

Make it a habit to fill up every time you shop — all three warehouse clubs offer members discounted gas at select locations.

Sam Island

15. Fill up your tank

All three warehouse clubs offer members discounted gas at select locations. “You can save a fortune buying gas at Costco and Sam’s Club because their markups are so small,” Dvorkin says. Make it a habit to fill up every time you shop.

16. Look at big-ticket items

If you’re in the market for a large purchase, such as a household appliance, a mattress or a television, warehouse clubs often offer great deals. Typically you’ll find the best prices on these more-expensive items on Black Friday or over long weekends around secular holidays like Presidents Day and Memorial Day.

17. Score discounts on gift cards

Warehouse clubs typically sell gift cards to major retailers, airlines, theme parks, chain restaurants and movie theaters at a discount from their face value, often 10 to 20 percent off. You may even see better gift card deals during promotional events, such as Black Friday, Mother’s Day or around graduation season.

18. Shop online and pick up at the store

If shopping in-store often leads you to make impulse purchases, or if you simply don’t want to battle the crowds, consider shopping on the company’s website and picking up your haul in person to avoid shipping fees. Sam’s Club and BJ’s offer curbside pickup to members for purchases made online.

Costco provides online ordering and pickup for only certain items, including electronic devices and jewelry, but not for orders of most items. The chain does have a partnership for grocery delivery via Instacart and two-day shipping on non-perishable items, but products ordered through those programs may cost more than what you’d pay in-store.

19. Take advantage of free tire rotations and flat tire repairs

All three stores offer savings on name-brand tires, which includes free rotations and flat repairs. In addition, Costco has a partnership with local auto service centers to provide maintenance services at 15 percent off the cost of parts, labor and accessories, up to $500 per visit.

Warehouse clubs sell travel services a la carte, so you may still find savings by purchasing a standalone car rental, for example, or theme park tickets.

Sam Island

20. Make them your travel agent ...

Warehouse clubs leverage their economies of scale to offer customers deals on travel and other services the same way they do for material goods. Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s sell full vacation packages that include hotel and plane tickets, along with cruises, tickets to local attractions or events, and rental cars. (One caveat: Sam’s Club does not offer airfare.)

The warehouse clubs also sell travel services a la carte, so you may still find savings by purchasing a standalone car rental, for example, or theme park tickets instead of a travel package. Some also offer gift cards for members who purchase vacations through them — BJ’s, for example, is currently offering customers a BJ’s gift card of up to a $500 value for customers who book a qualifying cruise.

21. ... and your car dealer

Shopping for a new car? Sam’s Club has an auto sales program that offers members discounts on certain vehicles — recently, $500 to $5,000 off certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It also has a used-car-buying program that provides near-instant cash offers to members looking to sell their vehicles.

Costco offers deals for discounted car purchases from some manufacturers. Recently, members could get $1,000 to $2,000 off the purchase of select new Volvos, Chevrolets and Cadillacs.

BJ’s no longer has a car-buying service.

22. Consider hiring them for home renovations

Each warehouse club provides home improvement services to members. At Costco and BJ’s, that includes discounted projects like replacing countertops and floors, installing solar panels and remodeling bathrooms. Sam’s Club’s offers home services through a variety of partnerships, such as Angi for assembly and installation of items like flooring or garage storage systems and Vivint for home security systems.

23. Save on eye exams and prescriptions

Members can get full optical services, including eye exams and discounted contact lenses and glasses, at all three warehouse stores. Sam’s Club and Costco also have hearing centers where members can get hearing screenings and discounted hearing aids (both over-the-counter and prescription devices) and batteries.

Moreover, you can fill prescriptions and get vaccines at Sam’s Club and Costco. Sam's Club sells certain generic medications starting at just $4 and provides some of them for free to members of its “Plus” program, while Costco offers drug discounts of up to 80 percent and 90-day supplies of some common medications for only $10. Through a partnership with Sesame, Sam’s Club members can access $29 virtual primary care visits and get 10 percent off specialty doctor’s appointments.

24. Don't wallow in buyer's remorse

Not satisfied with a particular purchase? Sam’s Club and Costco have generous return policies. With a few exceptions (such as electronics and appliances), both warehouse clubs accept returns at any time. BJ’s has a one-year return window for most merchandise, which is not as generous as the other membership clubs but is still longer than the 90-day return window on most items purchased from Target or Walmart.

25. Use the right credit card

All three warehouse clubs have co-branded credit cards that offer additional rewards or cash back on warehouse purchases, so they’re worth considering. While the cards may make sense for frequent warehouse shoppers, those who shop at a wider variety of merchants might benefit from a more all-purpose rewards card that still provides cash back or points for warehouse purchases.

When choosing the best credit card for your warehouse shopping trip, keep in mind that Costco only accepts Visa. Also, be mindful that warehouse clubs typically do not qualify as “supermarkets” for cards that give bonus rewards for grocery purchases.

None of the warehouse cards has an annual fee. Their rates range from 20 percent to 30 percent, putting them in line with the current average 20 percent rate across credit cards. As with all rewards cards, if you carry a balance on your card, the cost of interest may cancel out any financial benefit you get from the card’s rewards.

%{postComment}%

Beth Braverman is a contributing writer who has covered shopping and personal finance for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in Consumer Reports, CNNMoney.com, CNBC.com, and dozens of other outlets.