How to Save More at Sam’s Club or Walmart
Is Sam’s Club cheaper than Walmart? Dealing with inflation can be tough on your budget, and you might be thinking about ways to make your money go further.
It does not matter whether or not you’re a fan of warehouse stores, buying things in large quantities is a strategy for saving money.
Is it worth it to shop at a bulk warehouse like Sam’s Club, where you need a membership, when Walmart, its sister store, doesn’t require any fees to enter? We compared prices across both stores to see if Sam’s Club truly offers better deals.
Check out the products below to see where you can get the most savings when comparing prices between Sam’s Club and Walmart.
Is Sam’s Club Cheaper than Walmart?
When you’re shopping for groceries and everyday items, Sam’s Club usually offers better prices than Walmart because you get a discount when buying in bulk.
However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean Sam’s Club is always cheaper.
Now, let’s take a look at the prices of some of their products to see how they compare.
1. Alcohol (Best Deal: Sam’s Club)
If you’re a regular alcohol buyer, getting a Sam’s Club membership is worth it because you’ll save money.
For instance, Jack Daniels Whiskey is cheaper per ounce at Sam’s Club ($0.55) compared to your nearby Walmart ($0.66).
This applies to other drinks like wine and beer too. It’s good to know that even if you’re not a member, you can still purchase alcohol from Sam’s Club and similar stores like Costco.
2. Over-the-Counter Medications (Top Savings: Sam’s Club)
When it comes to buying over-the-counter medications, Sam’s Club is the best choice for your wallet. Take 10mg of Zyrtec Allergy tablets, for instance.
You can snag a 100-count pack at Sam’s for $29.98, while you’d have to shell out $34.94 at Walmart for just 70 tablets.
The trend continues with Benadryl Allergy – a 48-count box at Sam’s costs $4.89, but the same box at Walmart is $6.48.
And it’s not just allergy meds; even something like Advil is more budget-friendly at Sam’s, where a 360-count bottle is $16.39, compared to Walmart’s $18.48 for 300 tablets.
3. Breakfast Cereal (Best Deal: Sam’s Club)
If your family loves breakfast cereal, it’s smart to grab it from Sam’s Club for the savings. For example, a two-pack of Cheerios (41 ounces in total) costs $5.68 at Sam’s, making it just $0.13 per ounce.
Now, compare that to Walmart, where an 18oz box is $3.68, making Cheerios $0.20 per ounce – a noticeable difference.
And it’s not just Cheerios; you’ll find similar great prices at Sam’s on other favorites like Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Raisin Bran.
4. Frozen Pizza (Best Deal: Sam’s Club)
For tasty frozen pizza without breaking the bank, head to Sam’s Club. Take the DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza, for instance.
At Sam’s, it’s $4.66, while it’s $5.47 at Walmart. Now, keep in mind, Sam’s sells them in a three-pack for $13.98, but if you’ve got the freezer room, it’s the more budget-friendly option.
Walmart lets you buy individual pizzas, but going for the three-pack at Sam’s is the way to get the best bang for your buck.
5. Laundry Detergent (Top Savings: Sam’s Club)
If you’re looking to save on laundry detergent, Sam’s Club is the place to go. Even though Sam’s sells bigger sizes than Walmart, their prices are lower.
For example, Tide Original Liquid Detergent is $0.095 per ounce at Sam’s, while Walmart charges almost $0.12 per ounce.
Another example is All Stainlifter detergent, which is $0.06 per ounce at Sam’s compared to $0.071 per ounce at Walmart.
6. Shampoo and Conditioner (Best Prices: Sam’s Club)
For the best deals on shampoo and conditioner, head to Sam’s Club.
They’ve got a 40oz bottle of Pantene Pro-V shampoo for $5.88, while Walmart charges more for a smaller 29oz bottle at $6.42.
It’s the same story with Nexxus Therappe shampoo – at Sam’s, it’s $0.40 per ounce, whereas it’s $0.45 at Walmart.
7. Peanut Butter (Best Deal: Sam’s Club)
Here’s an interesting find: both Walmart and Sam’s Club stock the Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter in packs of two jars, every 40 ounces.
Now, at Sam’s Club, it’s $9.18, while Walmart is a bit expensive at $10.78.
Sam’s also has a better deal on JIF peanut butter, though the savings aren’t as big as they are with Skippy for some reason.
8. Peanut Butter (Top Savings: Sam’s Club)
Both Walmart and Sam’s Club sell the Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter in packs of two jars, each 40 ounces.
At Sam’s Club, it’s $9.18, while Walmart is over a dollar and a half more expensive at $10.78.
Sam’s Club also offers a better deal on JIF peanut butter, though the savings aren’t as significant as they are with Skippy for some reason.
9. Sausage (Best Deal: Walmart)
If you’re looking to save on hot dogs and sausages, head to Walmart. They tend to have better prices compared to Sam’s Club.
For instance, you can grab a pack of 16 Ball Park franks at Walmart for $0.37 each, while at Sam’s Club, you’ll need to get a bigger pack of 24 and end up paying nearly $0.40 each.
10. Frozen Fish (Best Deal: Walmart)
If you’re into frozen fish, Walmart is the place to reel in the savings compared to Sam’s Club.
At Walmart, you can get wild salmon fillets in a two-pound bag for $9.86, which breaks down to $0.31 per ounce.
On the other hand, Sam’s Club offers farmed Atlantic salmon in a three-pound bag for $22.47, making it $0.47 per ounce.
11. Blank Media (Best Deal: Walmart)
If you’re looking for blank CDs and DVDs, Walmart is the budget-friendly choice.
Take the Verbatim DVD-R 100-pack, for instance – it’s only $20.40 at Walmart, but it’s $22.48 at Sam’s.
And for blank CDs, Walmart has the Verbatim 100-pack for $16.99, while Sam’s sells the same thing for $17.97. So, when it comes to blank media, Walmart is the more affordable option.
12. Sports Drinks (Top Savings: Sam’s Club)
When it comes to sports drinks for your kids’ games, Sam’s Club is where you’ll find the better prices.
A 28-pack of 12oz Gatorades is $10.48 at Sam’s, making it $0.03 per ounce. Meanwhile, Walmart sells an 18-pack of the same size bottles for $8.68, or $0.04 per ounce.
These savings can make a difference, especially if you’re in charge of providing snacks and drinks for the entire team during the sports season.
13. Diapers (Best Deal: Sam’s Club)
A box of 162 Pampers (size 2) at Sam’s costs $33.98, making each diaper $0.21.
At Walmart, the same size box will cost you over $0.25 per diaper.
It might not sound like a lot, but those four cents can add up, especially when you’re going through a bunch of diapers before the potty-training stage. You’ll find similar savings on Huggies and Luvs in all sizes at Sam’s Club too.
Comparing Sam’s Club and Walmart Services
Sam’s Club and Walmart are both under the same company, Walmart Inc., but they operate quite differently.
Some of their services include:
1. Membership Fees
At Sam’s Club, to access their warehouse, you need to pay for a membership.
The Club card costs at least $45 per year, while the Plus card, offering additional perks, can go up to $100 annually.
Walmart, on the other hand, doesn’t require a membership for regular shopping.
However, they offer Walmart Plus for $98 per year or $12.95 per month, providing special benefits like free shipping and delivery.
2. Shipping
Sam’s Club extends free shipping to Plus Members for most items, with some exceptions.
The shipping cost for Club Members depends on the size, weight, and shipping method.
Walmart offers free three to five-day delivery for orders of $35 or more, which makes it easy for its customers.
3. Curbside Pickup
Sam’s Club has a curbside pickup service which is very convenient.
This service is free for Plus Members and for a limited time for Club Members.
Walmart also offers same-day free curbside pickup, providing convenience for customers.
4. Delivery
Delivery through Instacart is facilitated by Sam’s Club, but it has a price.
The cost of same-day delivery is $8.99, and one-hour delivery is $10.99 for orders over $35.
Walmart offers free next-day and two-day delivery on select items for orders exceeding $35, providing a swift and cost-effective option for shoppers.
5. Coupon Policy
Sam’s Club has a strict policy of not accepting any coupons, be it from manufacturers or competitors.
In contrast, Walmart is more coupon-friendly, accepting both paper manufacturer coupons and print-at-home coupons, enhancing the opportunities for discounts.
6. Return Policy
Sam’s Club has a very liberal return policy; in fact, it provides the ability to return items in-store, through its online website, or a call. There are some restrictions on certain items.
As for Walmart, their return time frame is 90 days for most merchandise and it is willing to accept returns without receipts under some conditions assuring flexibility to customers.
7. Loyalty Programs
Sam’s Club also offers exclusive privileges to Club Plus cardholders, such as the right to enter the warehouse, low gas, etc.
Frequent shoppers need the perks that Walmart Plus provides, such as free shipping, delivery, mobile check-out, and discounts on prescriptions and gas.
8. Customer Service
Considering that Sam’s Club and Walmart are sister companies, their customer service is parallel.
However, reviews on Trustpilot suggest that while they provide low-cost options, there may be some shortcomings in the quality of customer service.
Do Walmart Employees Get a Discount at Sam’s Club?
Walmart workers receive no discount on Sam’s Club products.
Although Walmart and Sam’s Club belong to the same company, Walmart employees are not exempt from paying the annual fee of $45 for membership to Sam’s Club.
They have to pay the regular price, and it’s deducted from their paychecks.
Wage Structure of Walmart and Sam’s Club Employees
Walmart pays cashiers an average of $10.17 per hour, which is 8% below the national average.
On the other hand, Sam’s Club pays cashiers and sales employees an average of $12.04 per hour, which is 12% higher than the national average.
Sam’s Club can afford to pay more because it’s a wholesale store, needing skilled workers and employing fewer people than Walmart.
Can I Use a Sam’s Club Gift Card at Walmart?
Yes, if you have a gift card from Sam’s Club, you can use it at Walmart, and vice versa.
The value remains the same, and you won’t need a membership to access either store.
Walmart gift cards also work at Sam’s Club stores, gas stations, and online. So, feel free to use them interchangeably.
Deciding between Sam’s Club and Walmart comes down to what suits your style of shopping.
If you like the idea of a membership at Sam’s Club or the simplicity of no membership at Walmart, it depends on what you’re looking for and what works best for your shopping routine.
