Sam's Club Review

Sam's Club (starting at $40): Our in-store Sam's Club review found much to praise: The superstore was clean, well-organized, and well-stocked; membership enrollment was easy; and checkout was super fast. Consumers who regularly shop at the store and have contributed Sam's Club reviews to Viewpoints say the membership ensures HUGE savings. Shoppers write about stocking up on paper products and frozen goods, and taking advantage of deals on home office supplies and other items that come in bulk.

Sam's Club delivers substantial savings and perks to members in more than just the grocery and home goods areas. The superstore also offers discounted gasoline, electronics (along with installation, delivery, and 24/7 technical support), furniture, pharmacy services, vision testing, contact lenses, eyeglasses, photo printing, and select financial services. Health screenings, tire repair, car battery testing, and wiper blade installation are free. Members also receive an extra year warranty at no cost when purchasing a warranty on electronics. Online shopping is also possible. Multiple payment methods include cash, check, debit card, MasterCard, and Discover.

We conducted a shopping cart test as part of our in-store Sam's Club review. The cart was filled with 38 items, including bulk quantities of paper plates, tissues, toilet paper, baby formula, diapers, dairy products, frozen meats, cereal, snacks, milk, and juice. The total bill came to $215.65, which was $11.43 cheaper than a comparable cart at Costco.

We're big fans of wholesale shopping, especially at Sam's Club. We found that the departments featured a wide assortment of items and brands, including the in-house Member's Mark label. The delivery and installation services, extra year warranty, and 24/7 technical support on big-ticket items are big draws. We also dig the free tire repair and the big savings at the pharmacy; the free health screenings are an incomparable deal if you're among the first 100 people to show up the day they're offered. In all, our Sam's Club review concluded that this mega-chain is the reigning king of wholesale-superstore shopping. You'd be hard-pressed to beat the store's discounts and services.