Although its services are mostly to its members, non-membership can also shop at Sam’s Club provided you are well informed about the processes or means involved in achieving that purpose.
Ways to Shop at Sam’s Club without a membership:
Visit Sam’s Club Online
You don’t need to be a member to shop for items on Sam’s Club’s website. However, there are some orders that you can’t make, like groceries. You cannot order groceries because a provision for transporting them hasn’t been made. You also have to pay a non-membership service charge of 10%. You will be implored to do so via a guest pass.
Identify items that you can purchase without a membership
There are goods and services shop that you don’t need a membership to purchase at Sam’s Club. Some of them include alcohol, prescribed medications, and seeing an optician. You can maximize this opportunity by buying the above-listed items and services when you next visit Sam’s Club.
Explore the option of shopping during an open house
An open house event is usually organized by Sam’s Club now and then. It is an avenue for non-members to shop at the company’s stores without paying the annual membership fee. By subscribing to the company’s email alerts, you will be well posted as to when the next open house event will be coming up. You can also do well to follow them on social media to keep yourself informed.
Tell a friend or family member to add you to Sam’s Club. Add-On Member
Members usually have the privilege of adding another member using the add-on-member option. You will be well placed to enjoy the privileges of a member if that member is your family or friend. They can add you as a complimentary member.
Another wonderful but logical alternative is to split the membership registration fee in two with your friend or family member while you both shop together and enjoy the discounts that the warehouse company has to offer.
Transact at Sam’s club via Instacart
Instacart is widely reputed as a shopping app and Sam’s club happens to be one of the stores you can access through the delivery app. You can benefit maximally from this If you have the store is situated in your area or close to your area. You can order your goods through Instacart and have them delivered to your home. This service is accessible to non-members. You must however bear in mind that this option might cost you a lot more than necessary since you will be paying a delivery fee and you will also not be making your purchases at the usual discounted price that members enjoy.
Make use of their Gift Card
The gift card is another wonderful alternative to pursue if you want to shop as a non-member. You can access the gift card by asking a member to help you with the purchase. You can then shop as a non-member with the gift card.
The 90-day Free Trial option
There are times that you will receive an email from a member who has been given access to a free trial offer to share with a relative or any person of your choice. This option confers upon you the full privileges of being a member for the duration of the offer. It even gets better in the sense that you can also add another member since you are temporarily a member as well.
Sometimes, Sam’s Club does offer people a free club membership. However, this opportunity is not open to Non-members as you have to register for their fixed rate of $45 Club membership. You get a $45 discount from your first transaction. This logically means that the company is refunding your signing-up fee.
Cons of shopping as a Non-member
You miss out on the benefits of being a member which includes the discounted prices and the other services that are exclusive to subscribers alone. Members are privileged to have their goods shipped to them without paying a dime whereas a non-member doesn’t have access to this privilege. You can earn cashback deals as a member while it is not so for a non-member. Examples of the deals are a discount on gas purchases using Master Card, a discount on dining and takeout, and a one percent cash back on your transactions wherever the Master Card is recognized and accepted.
Conclusion
As a non-member of Sam’s Club, you are not cut out from enjoying the experiences and thrills of shopping at the store. All you need is factual knowledge on how to go about it. The benefits sometimes might not be as much as that of a bonafide member but the experience is not going to be unique to members as alone. You can save money while getting your goods at a bargain price.
Will you be denied entrance to their stores as a non-member?
Answer: The answer will not outrightly be a yes or a no but you can explore other options such as shopping the store through Instacart or Sam’s club online.
Can a non-member be gifted with a credit card?
Answer: going by the normal means of obtaining it the answer would be a no but you can have access to the credit card of a registered member.