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Sam’s Club can be an awesome place to shop. The low prices at the warehouse club mean you can keep more money in your bank account while still buying things you love.
Just because Sam’s Club offers deals, though, does not mean that everyone should become a member. If you’re a current member, it also doesn’t mean you should go to the warehouse club regularly.
In fact, current and future potential Sam’s Club members should be on the lookout for these four signs that you shouldn’t set foot into a Sam’s Club store.
1. You get sick of products really quickly
The biggest sign that you shouldn’t set foot in Sam’s Club is if you tend to get sick of things you buy really fast.
For example, if you like to switch toothpaste brands often because you get tired of the taste, the five-pack of Crest toothpaste available at Sam’s Club would be a huge waste for you. A 33-ounce jar of cashews probably wouldn’t work out well for you either if you just wanted to grab a few nuts.
Think carefully about how you tend to consume the things you buy. Americans throw about 40% of all purchased food into landfills because they don’t eat it. If you’re bulk-buying huge packages of food and beauty products, the level of waste just increases.
You’re far better off at a standard supermarket buying smaller portions — even if they’re a bit more expensive — so you can use up the items you’ve bought before you get tired of them.
2. You have no storage space
If you lack storage space in your home, it also makes good sense to steer clear of Sam’s Club. Again, the warehouse club is known for its large item quantities. If you don’t have the space to put a dozen rolls of paper towels, it makes no sense for you to visit Sam’s and buy so many at once.
The sad reality is that U.S. households spend around $38 billion per year collectively at storage facilities. We simply have too much stuff. There’s no reason to overload your house with items from Sam’s Club, only to find yourself stumbling over cans of tuna in your closet or, worse, having to rent a self-storage unit to keep your possessions in to make room for your bulk groceries.
3. You regularly give into impulse purchases
The last time I went to Sam’s Club to buy aluminum foil, I ended up leaving with a new set of summer dishes and an entire cake (to my defense, it was on sale and was really delicious and I didn’t eat it all myself).
I’m definitely not alone when it comes to unexpected purchases. Research shows around 89% of all shoppers have some history of impulse buying. Sam’s Club sets up these eager shoppers for failure by making customers navigate through high-risk areas (like the bakery, as well as seasonal and rotating sales items) to get to the essentials.
Impulse buying is more expensive at Sam’s than at many other places, thanks to the size of the items on sale. It costs you a lot more to buy a bag of 200 lollipops, rather than two lollipops at the grocery or drug store.
4. You’re a PLUS member with a big order
Finally, if you’re a PLUS member with a large order — especially if it contains heavy stuff like dog food — you shouldn’t physically set foot in the store.
You can order online instead, pay the same price you pay at the warehouse club, enjoy free shipping if your items total over $50, and not have to carry your items — or be tempted into making impulse buys.
If you spot any of these signs, just say no to a Sam’s Club visit. Your credit card bills will be lower and your wallet will thank you.
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