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There are certain expenses in life that are pretty much unavoidable — such as utility bills, groceries, and gas. And if you’re buying gas, it often pays to turn to a warehouse club store if you’re already a paying member. Chains like Costco and Sam’s Club are known for their competitive gas prices.
But there’s a big drawback to buying gas at Sam’s Club that applies to Costco as well. Thankfully, though, there’s a way you can make up for it.
A big disappointment
If you’re joining Sam’s Club, you have choices. You could pay $50 a year for a basic membership, or $110 a year for a Plus membership.
The main benefit of the Plus membership is that it gives you 2% cash back on your Sam’s Club purchases. So if you shop there often, you may end up with a lot of money back — so much so that you’re able to cover the entire $110 fee and still end up with cash back to spare.
But unfortunately, gas purchases at Sam’s Club are not eligible for the 2% cash back reward the Plus membership offers. And incidentally, the same applies to Costco. If you pay double at Costco for its Executive membership, you’re not eligible for 2% back at the pump there, either.
Carve out your own gas rewards
It’s a bummer to not get cash back with your Plus membership at Sam’s Club fuel stations. The good news, though, is that if you apply for a gas rewards credit card, you can score extra cash back by swiping it when you go to fill up. Some cards offer 3% or 4% back on gas so you’ll be able to more than make up for not getting 2% back on your Plus membership.
Should you buy gas at Sam’s Club?
Because Sam’s Club offers great prices on gas, it could pay to fill up your car at its stations — especially if you’re already heading over there to buy groceries and other items. But whether you should make a special trip out to Sam’s Club for the sole purpose of putting gas in your car is questionable.
First of all, it’s generally not worth driving too many extra miles to save money on a per-gallon basis. If gas at Sam’s Club is $0.20 cheaper per gallon and you buy 14 gallons, that’s $2.80 in savings. But if you end up using almost an extra gallon of gas to get back and forth from Sam’s Club, you might negate that savings.
Also, the lines for gas at Sam’s Club tend to be long, especially during peak shopping hours, like on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s okay to forgo a bit of gas savings if it means saving yourself time during a busy week.
Finally, one thing you should know is that while Costco offers TOP TIER™ gas, which is said to lead to better performance, Sam’s Club does not. This doesn’t mean that the gas you’ll find at Sam’s Club is inferior to traditional gas in any way. It just means that it doesn’t have the same designation as Costco’s gas.
All told, if you go through gas frequently, filling up at Sam’s Club could save you money. But it also pays to research gas prices in your area using apps like GasBuddy or other sources. Just because Sam’s Club is known for its inexpensive gas doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best deal in town.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
FAQs
Though Sam's Club offers competitive prices on gas, you won't get 2% back with your Plus membership. You can make up that difference with a gas rewards credit card, but you may find that Sam's Club gas also isn't the highest in quality. Plus, you may get stuck waiting in a long line to fill up.
Is Sams Club worth it for fuel? ›
If you save, on average, about $0.10/gallon at Sam's Club Fuel stations, depending on your vehicle you can save around $73 a year. That more than makes up for the membership fee.
Why do people like Sam's Club gas? ›
Why Does Everyone Love Sam's Club Gas? As prices continue to rise, you'll want to make sure you learn how to get the best price on everything you need. That's where Sam's Club comes in. Like Costco and BJs, Sam's Club is a members-only warehouse known for its low prices on a wide range of products, including gas.
Which gas is better Costco or Sam's Club? ›
While both Costco and Sam's Club offer unleaded, premium, and diesel fuels (here's how to know which you should be getting), only Costco offers Top Tier fuel. If you don't have a Costco membership, you can still find Top Tier gas at other stations. “Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money,” CarFax reported.
Does Sam's Club make money on gas? ›
Gasoline sales at Costco make up about 10% – or $20 billion – of all sales. For Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club, it's about 9%. But what's the trick? How can gas prices be so much cheaper there?
Do you earn Sam's cash on fuel? ›
Scan & Go™ checkout. With a Sam's Club Mastercard®. Earn 5% back in Sam's Cash† on gas (first $6,000/year), 3% at Sam's Club for Plus members, 3% on dining and 1% on other purchases.
Is Costco better than Sam's? ›
Costco has more stores across the globe, is expanding rapidly, and generally offers cheaper prices than Sam's Club does, although the latter charges slightly less for membership, has a bigger presence in the U.S., and stocks more name brands.
Who has the best gas? ›
You'll know you're filling up with the good stuff if you spot a small green sticker on the pump that says “TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.” As of early 2022, the following stations sold Top Tier gasoline in the U.S.: 76, ARCO, Aloha, Beacon, Breakaway, CITGO, Cenex, Chevron, Conoco, Costco Wholesale, CountryMark, ...
Is Costco gas really top tier? ›
Costco is listed as a TOP TIER™ gasoline retailer. Find out more at www.toptiergas.com.
Who makes top tier gasoline? ›
Collaboratively introduced in 2004 by General Motors, BMW, Toyota, and Honda, TOP TIER™ Approved Gasoline and Diesel have become synonymous with exceptional fuel quality and engine care.
If the brand of gasoline or diesel on the signage or the dispensing pump is not listed, the fuel is not TOP TIER™. If a retailer is on the brands list but a TOP TIER™ logo isn't displayed at the station, please contact us. Consult the owner's manual for any vehicle specific instructions.
Does Sam's Club use Tier 1 gas? ›
Detergent additives help keep engines clean. Costco offers Top-tier gasoline with higher levels of required detergents; however, Sam's Club does not provide Top Tier gasoline.
Who pays more Walmart or Sam's Club? ›
The average U.S. hourly field associate now makes close to $18/hour. Walmart's starting hourly wage rates vary by region and role and have the following ranges: For store formats (e.g. Supercenter, Neighborhood Market grocery format): $14 to $32 per hour. For Sam's Club: $15 to $32 per hour.
Does Sam's actually save you money? ›
Sam's Club wins for bulk purchases
You'll find a world of discounts at Sam's Club compared to big-box retailers like Walmart. But the true savings tend to arise in the context of bulk purchases. The quantity discounts you can get at Sam's Club are really hard to beat.
What positions pay the most at Sam's Club? ›
Some of the highest wages a worker can make at Sam'S Club are in the job titles Pharmacist ($131,761), and title Staff Pharmacist ($129,810) which are the highest paying jobs at Sam'S Club.
Do you save money by going to Sam's Club? ›
You'll find a world of discounts at Sam's Club compared to big-box retailers like Walmart. But the true savings tend to arise in the context of bulk purchases. The quantity discounts you can get at Sam's Club are really hard to beat.
Is Sam's Club credit card good for gas? ›
Meet the Sam's Club Mastercard®.
5% back on gas (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% on Sam's Club purchases for Plus (1% back for Club), 3% on dining and 1% on other purchases.
Why is Sam's Club worth it? ›
The entry-level membership, Club, offers all the basics: Access to Sam's Club stores, plus savings on gift cards, travel, gas, new car purchases and home services. All members get free hearing tests and eye exams, with designer prescription glasses starting at $59.
