I Tried Sam’s Club Plus to See If the Upgrade Was Really Worth It

I have always been a little skeptical of membership upgrades. Once I am already paying for access to a store, I want to know exactly what I am getting by paying more. More perks sound appealing on paper, but that does not necessarily mean I will use them enough to justify the extra cost.

That was exactly how I felt when I started looking at Sam’s Club Plus. I already understood the appeal of a regular membership. I could shop at the club, take advantage of member pricing, use curbside pickup, and enjoy member only fuel prices. The question was whether paying more for Plus would actually change the way I shop.

Instead of assuming the answer was yes, I decided to look at the benefits I would realistically use. After going through them, a few stood out much more than the rest.

I Started With the Benefits I Could Actually Use

The first thing that caught my attention was the 2% Sam’s Cash benefit on eligible in club purchases. That sounded useful, but I did not want to treat it as free money. I thought about how often I actually shop for groceries, household supplies, and other necessities at Sam’s Club. For someone who regularly makes larger purchases there, that percentage can gradually add up. Sam’s Club says Plus members earn 2% Sam’s Cash on eligible in club purchases, subject to the program’s terms.

What made the upgrade more interesting to me was that the value did not stop at shopping in the warehouse. Sam’s Club Plus also includes free shipping on eligible orders over $50 and free delivery from the club on eligible orders over $50.

That is the type of benefit I could see myself using when I do not want to make another trip to the store. There are times when I need household essentials but would rather stay home, especially when my schedule is already packed. Being able to order those items and potentially avoid an additional delivery charge makes the membership feel more practical.

Then there is early shopping. Sam’s Club Plus gives members access to early shopping hours at participating clubs, as well as certain special online events. At first, I thought this would be the least important benefit for me. After thinking about crowded weekends and busy shopping periods, though, I could understand why someone who values a quieter shopping experience might appreciate it.

The Benefits I Almost Overlooked

The more I looked at Sam’s Club Plus, the more I realized that some of the benefits are not really about grocery shopping at all.

Pharmacy and optical savings could matter considerably for someone who regularly uses those services. Sam’s Club currently advertises pharmacy savings for Plus members, including free RX delivery for eligible prescriptions, while its optical benefit includes 40% off additional pairs after purchasing one complete pair of prescription eyewear. These benefits have specific terms and eligibility requirements, so they are worth checking before assuming they apply to every purchase.

I also found the Tire & Battery Center benefits worth considering. Sam’s Club lists Plus savings that include 50% off tire installation on four tires, along with tire maintenance benefits for qualifying purchases. I would not upgrade solely because of this, but if I were already planning to replace a set of tires, it could make the membership more valuable during that particular year.

That became the biggest lesson from my little experiment with Sam’s Club Plus. The upgrade is not automatically worthwhile for everyone. It depends on how often you shop, how much you typically spend, whether you order online, and whether you can actually use the health, optical, or automotive benefits.

For me, the combination was more convincing than any single perk. The 2% Sam’s Cash could reward regular in club spending. Free shipping and delivery could save me trips and additional costs on eligible orders. Early shopping could make busy shopping days easier, while pharmacy, optical, and tire benefits could become valuable when I actually need those services.

After looking at everything together, I stopped thinking about Sam’s Club Plus as simply a more expensive membership. I started seeing it as something that makes more sense when the benefits line up with your normal routine.

If you already have a regular membership, I would not upgrade just because the Plus label sounds better. Take a few minutes to look at your actual shopping habits, estimate how often you could use the benefits, and see whether the added value fits your lifestyle. If you regularly shop at Sam’s Club and can take advantage of several of these perks, Sam’s Club Plus may be worth testing for yourself.