Staying Fit
Should you give a store money before you shop so you can land a discount later on? Many of us already do. Nearly 60 percent of Americans are paying members of shopping clubs, according to a new study by Clarus Commerce. To get deals on goods or shipping, we pony up monthly or annual fees to both niche retailers and giants like Costco, Sam's Club and Amazon Prime.
Before signing up, assess your likely spending; why join if your membership fee will be greater than all the discounts you earn? Check the fine print for limitations, and note when your membership expires so you can cancel, if desired, before it automatically renews.
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Here are six clubs from major retailers to consider.
AMC Theatres
Club: Stubs A-List
Cost: $19.95 to $23.95 a month (depending on where you live)
Perks: The A-list level of AMC's Stubs program gives you three free movies per week. You also get 10 percent discounts on concessions and free size upgrades on popcorn and drinks.
The fine print: You can't roll over unused movies to the next week, and reservation no-shows count toward your balance. The program may exclude titles on a limited basis.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Club: Beyond+
Cost: $29 a year
Perks: 20 percent off purchases, free standard shipping and 30 percent off online interior decorating services from decorist.com.
The fine print: Lots of popular brands are excluded, including Dyson, Le Creuset and Miele. You can't combine the chain's numerous coupons with your membership discount.
CVS
Club: CarePass
