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SAM’S Club shoppers are outraged over the retailer’s new policy, which has them paying extra fees despite their member status.
Customers feel the new rule makes their high-cost membership no longer worth it, leading many to call it quits with Sam’s Club.
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Shoppers who pay $110 annually for the Sam’s Club premium Plus membership status enjoy several perks, including free curbside pickup, pharmacy savings, and access to the store’s early shopping hours.
Plus members also could enjoy free shipping on any order, which was one of the more popular perks among members.
However, the warehouse club announced Plus members would soon need to pay an extra fee for shipping orders that didn’t meet a minimum.
Starting August 19, the retailer will charge members an $8 fee for shipping orders under $50.
CUSTOMER CLAPBACK
The new policy has many Plus members up in arms, bashing Sam’s Club online.
“What genius there decided to take away the one factor that made your Plus membership worth keeping with the free delivery?” asked one customer on X in a post from early July.
Sam’s Club Membership Tiers
Sam’s Club shoppers can pick between two membership levels.
Club Membership:
- $50 per year
- Bonus offers
- Same-day delivery
- Instant savings
- Sam’s Club Mastercard
- Members-only fuel savings
- Tire and battery center
Plus Membership:
- $110 per year
- All benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash
- Free shipping on eligible orders
- Free curbside pickup
- Early shopping
- Pharmacy and optical savings.
“Please explain why going to Costco shouldn’t be the next move? This is a terrible decision.”
Sam’s Club responded to the shopper, saying Plus members would still be eligible for free shipping and would be “unaffected” by the new policy most of the time.
The shopper retorted that the policy would negatively impact elderly customers who relied on free shipping as a cheap and easy grocery option.
“That’s not going to help the seniors on fixed incomes who depend on this service and cannot afford to reach $50 minimums just to get the products that they physically cannot get themselves,” bashed the shopper, calling the new policy “unethical.”
Another Plus member called out the retailer for tacking on fees outside the new $8 charge.
Shopper Diane Paris shared that her online order was $150 which was normal for her, but that this time Sam’s Club added a $12.99 shipping fee.
“For me, this defeats the purpose of a premier membership. I will be canceling my Sam’s Club membership which was opened in 2000,” she fumed.
Customers may incur higher shipping costs due to the size or weight of items, the distance from the shipping center, or the selection of expedited shipping options, even with a Plus membership.
Another Plus member claimed they had paid for the premium membership for years but were no longer going to after the policy change.
“We pay $110 yearly for this service and now you are putting conditions on it,” wrote the shopper.
“I won’t be renewing unless this changes back and I’m sure there are many who won’t be either. Shame on you Sam’s Club!”
Shoppers have voiced their complaints online over other policy changes.
Sam’s Club members are upset after the store changed its ordering policy in one department – but employees say it’s for good reason.
Plus, a Sam’s Club shopper claimed it was “an inconvenience” after being told she couldn’t bag items due to a new exit procedure.
