Sam’s Club members are about to spend a little more.
The Walmart-owned warehouse club said Wednesday that it will raise its annual membership fee by $10.
Starting May 1, a basic membership to Sam’s Club will cost $60, and its higher-tier option will be $120. Currently, Sam’s Club charges $50 for club members and $110 for Plus members.
“We have adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love,” the company said in a statement to USA Today, citing perks such as its variety, expanded hours, and better curbside pickup and delivery options.
Sam’s Club members were informed about the price increase via email.
With the price hike, Plus members will get a 2% increase in their Sam’s Cash rewards cap, raising from $500 to $750 per year.
Customers had mixed reactions to the news. One commented on a Facebook post that they’re going to switch to BJ’s now, while another said that they’ll likely upgrade their membership to Plus to get the new cash rewards perk.
One person even shared a hack that will help customers put off the increase.
“If you’re a current Sam’s Club member, there’s a ‘Renew Early’ option under Account and Manage Memberships,” a shopper shared. “Mine expires in September, but it looks like I can renew now for the current price and my expiration date will be bumped out to September 2027.”
The last time Sam’s Club raised their annual fees was in October 2022. At the time, fees increased from $45 to $50 for a basic membership and $100 to $110 for Plus.
Even with the price hike, the membership fees are less than Costco’s, which charges $65 per year for its basic Gold Star Membership and $130 per year for its Executive Membership.
However, these prices now bring Sam’s Club in line with its other competitor, BJ’s Wholesale Club, which also charges $60 per year for its basic membership and $120 per year for the higher-tier membership.
The new fee costs come as Sam’s Club plans to open six new stores in the United States this year, with locations in Tennessee, California and Texas, USA Today reported.
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