topic Re: Sam's membership fee in Q Talk

Sam's membership fee

SharkE — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:57:18 GMT

Going up to 60 a year starting in May for basic membership. Was 50

110 to 120.00 for the Plus Membership.

Re: Sam's membership fee

skatting44 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:08:15 GMT

Membership fees at Costco and Sam's are really outrageous

Cheap employers to make customers pay for their overhead costs

Re: Sam's membership fee

Mz iMac — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:12:22 GMT

If you are a senior.......

Discontinue your membership & wait approximately 30 days.

Renew as NEW to receive 60% off on new membership & $50 off on Plus membership.

Re: Sam's membership fee

FranandZoe — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:12:27 GMT

Wow. I don't belong to Sam's anymore - it just wasn't worth it for me. A Costco is opening here in maybe a year and I thought of trying them. But I know it won't be worth it for me either.

Re: Sam's membership fee

rockygems123 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:15:47 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
If you are a senior.......

Discontinue your membership & wait approximately 30 days.
Renew as NEW to receive 60% off on new membership & $50 off on Plus membership.

@Mz iMac

I'm glad they offer a senior membership good to know.

Online says not active in the last 6 months.

Re: Sam's membership fee

Mz iMac — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:20:51 GMT

@skatting44 BJ's is the same. What I do now is instead of negotiating my membership fee every year, I let it expired w/o renewing. 30 days later, I get a $25.00/yr renew fee postcard. The very last week of the 30 days I get another post card offering $15/yr to renew. That's when I renew in person at my local Bj's.

I live in BJ's country. I have a choice of 3 to go to all less than a mile away from each other. I never heard of Cosco till I joined this message board. I don't even know if there is one in the town I live in. BJ's is king around here especiallly for the military.

Re: Sam's membership fee

kaydee50 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:24:49 GMT

DH and I have debated joining Costco for years. We are both seniors. The one Costco here is not convenient for us but can we order online??? Even if there's a big discount, would it be worth it for us? We don't buy in bulk. What are the advantages? TIA!!

Re: Sam's membership fee

Mz iMac — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:29:29 GMT

@rockygems123 wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
If you are a senior.......

Discontinue your membership & wait approximately 30 days.
Renew as NEW to receive 60% off on new membership & $50 off on Plus membership.
@Mz iMac

I'm glad they offer a senior membership good to know.

Online says not active in the last 6 months.

@rockygems123 Don't go by that. Walk into your local Cosco to plead your case. My usual line is "as a SS w/medical issues, I may not live that long."

Re: Sam's membership fee

deeva — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:30:16 GMT

I got the email too. I just renewed three days ago at the old fee.
We are Costco members too.

Re: Sam's membership fee

rockygems123 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:35:03 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@skatting44 BJ's is the same. What I do now is instead of negotiating my membership fee every year, I let it expired w/o renewing. 30 days later, I get a $25.00/yr renew fee postcard. The very last week of the 30 days I get another post card offering $15/yr to renew. That's when I renew in person at my local Bj's.

I live in BJ's country. I have a choice of 3 to go to all less than a mile away from each other. I never heard of Cosco till I joined this message board. I don't even know if there is one in the town I live in. BJ's is king around here especiallly for the military.

@Mz iMac

Even though online said 6 months, I may try this next year, cancel the Sam's membership and see if they come after me to sign up like your BJ's does.

That is significant savings as I'm guessing they will renew annually at the senior rate?

Re: Sam's membership fee

Mz iMac — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:40:12 GMT

@rockygems123 wrote:

That is significant savings as I'm guessing they will renew annually at the senior rate?

@rockygems123 You will need to call Sam's to ask. The only Sam's Club in my neck of the woods is in another county.

Re: Sam's membership fee

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:43:13 GMT

Our Costco Executive membership is $130, But we usually get at least $80.00 cash back every year depending on purchases. We buy paper essentials for out kids whenever we visit. They don't have any Costco nearby. It adds up.

Re: Sam's membership fee

Tori3569 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:17:31 GMT

@PA Mom-mom wrote:
Our Costco Executive membership is $130, But we usually get at least $80.00 cash back every year depending on purchases. We buy paper essentials for out kids whenever we visit. They don't have any Costco nearby. It adds up.

I was waiting for someone to bring up Costco's money back. We usually get more back than the exec membership fee. There are 2 of us, 3 dogs, 3 cats and it's never hard for us to shop there.

The OTC medications I take alone save me a bundle at Costco. Kirkland brand Claritin D 24 is $8.99 for 15 vs the brand name at $28.99. Even the CVS or Walgreens brand are now $24.99 or more. I'll never leave Costco.

Re: Sam's membership fee

brandiwine — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:40:08 GMT

There is NO senior discount membership @ Costco and I don't believe there is one for Sam's. If you don't have a membership at Sam's they do offer discounted rates for the 1st year. People can play all the games they want and if they save some money great. I personally don't want to be in a position where I can't shop where I want. I have a membership for a reason. I use their goods & services, from food, housewares, gasoline, gifts & travel. This last year alone I got a $325 Costco card for 1 trip. My Costco Citi Bank paid me over $700 cash for purchases over the year. I now have a check waiting when I renew my membership for $225. Does my Executive Membership pay? You bet.

Re: Sam's membership fee

rockygems123 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:40:41 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
DH and I have debated joining Costco for years. We are both seniors. The one Costco here is not convenient for us but can we order online??? Even if there's a big discount, would it be worth it for us? We don't buy in bulk. What are the advantages? TIA!!

@kaydee50

Maybe contact Costco directly to see what your shipping options may be in your area.

I'm a Costco member and shipping sometimes is free mostly on clothes as they up the price of the item for delivery. Not sure on bigger / heavier items. Also costco online doesn't have everything in the store. Sam's Club seems to offer all items for delivery plus more choices online.

Sam's Club offers the Sams Club Plus which gives you free shipping on anything as long as the cart is $50 or above. That includes fresh produce and other fresh food.

Re: Sam's membership fee

rockygems123 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:41:13 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@rockygems123 wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
If you are a senior.......

Discontinue your membership & wait approximately 30 days.
Renew as NEW to receive 60% off on new membership & $50 off on Plus membership.
@Mz iMac

I'm glad they offer a senior membership good to know.

Online says not active in the last 6 months.
@rockygems123 Don't go by that. Walk into your local Cosco to plead your case. My usual line is "as a SS w/medical issues, I may not live that long."

@Mz iMac

I love it!

Re: Sam's membership fee

spumoni99 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:51:38 GMT

We always get enough back from costco and sams to cover the membership fees.

Re: Sam's membership fee

tansy — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:54:49 GMT

@Tori3569 wrote:
@PA Mom-mom wrote:
Our Costco Executive membership is $130, But we usually get at least $80.00 cash back every year depending on purchases. We buy paper essentials for out kids whenever we visit. They don't have any Costco nearby. It adds up.

I was waiting for someone to bring up Costco's money back. We usually get more back than the exec membership fee. There are 2 of us, 3 dogs, 3 cats and it's never hard for us to shop there.

The OTC medications I take alone save me a bundle at Costco. Kirkland brand Claritin D 24 is $8.99 for 15 vs the brand name at $28.99. Even the CVS or Walgreens brand are now $24.99 or more. I'll never leave Costco.

Two seniors and we usually break even on the money-back. My husband has a new pair of their hearing aids. Excellent care. Hands down my favorite store.

Re: Sam's membership fee

tansy — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:57:34 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
Membership fees at Costco and Sam's are really outrageous
Cheap employers to make customers pay for their overhead costs

I don't know about Sam's but Costco is a good employer and it shows in their customer service, @skatting44.

Re: Sam's membership fee

conlt — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:29:59 GMT

I belong to both Costco and Sam's and I am alone. I have dogs and parrots and I use a lot of cleaning supplies, swiffer's, paper towels etc.

My Costco membership just came due this month and I got $92 off because if you are an executive member, you get money back on each purchase. I pass Costco several times a week and get gas there. I get cash back on that too with my Costco Credit Card.

Let's talk over the counter medications. Last week I bought 15 packages on Kirkland Signature Nexium. It was on sale for $9.99 x 42 capsules and I take 4 per day (per doctors order). That is an inexpensive price for those.

I also purchase Tylenol on sale as well as other medications.

I purchase dog treats, toilet paper, food, Protein drinks.

Costco and Sam's memberships are worth it to me.

I shop Sam's many times online. Costco, I usually go in because I drive by at least 2 x per week.