Most Americans love to buy in bulk. Not only can it be more cost-effective, but it can save time by eliminating how many trips to the grocery store we take. The Wall Street Journal reported that the percentage of bulk sales rose in recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this trend. People like to be prepared for the what-ifs and this type of shopping not only allows them to stock up for emergencies, but it is often less expensive to buy in multiples.
There are over 60,000 grocery stores and markets in the U.S. and bulk stores only make up a small portion of this. One of the largest names in the wholesale world is Sam’s Club. As of late 2023, this wholesale chain has almost 600 locations in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Large warehouse stores like Sam’s Club are also found in most states (although notably not in NYC) and although some items are great to purchase in bulk, not everything is always the best deal.
Pretty much anything can be found in bulk stores in super-sized quantities, from fresh produce, snacks, and bakery items to furniture, toiletries, and electronics. Clothing racks display packs of t-shirts and underwear by the dozen. At checkout, carts are filled to overflowing with enough non-perishables to last months. For businesses or big families, the appeal of Sam’s Club is clear – buy in bulk and save.
But not all of the products found at Sam’s are as good as they are in other warehouse stores, or even standard grocery stores. The quality of some products is just one reason why it’s not always the best place to shop for a few key items. Whether you’re an individual or a company buying in bulk, there are certain things you should avoid when you shop at Sam’s Club – let’s find out what they are! (If you often shop online, you may find it helpful to know about the 10 things you should never buy on Amazon.)
Methodology:
To compile a list of things you should never buy at Sam’s Club, 24/7 Tempo reviewed online shopping resources, public forums for food quality and taste, and editorial discretion (some of our own experience). Some of the following items are down to opinion, although we did our best to only select items that seem to have a wider consensus than just our own opinion.
1. Large Containers of Perishable Products
Large, single containers of food are generally not a great idea for individual shoppers or those shopping for average-sized families. It’s usually better to have a few normal-sized items instead of a single container, even if both equal the same amount of product. This is especially true when talking about food.
When you buy items in small containers or cans, like perhaps a box of eight cans of black beans, you can use each can as needed, without having to open the others. If you buy one huge container of beans, the moment you open it, a timer starts on freshness. For individuals and most families, the flexibility to use products as needed is better than the waste that can easily occur from large product containers.
Other examples of this include condiments like ketchup and mayo, salsas or dips, or cooking supplies. Just be aware of your needs, and don’t waste food because of a “deal.”
2. Brand-Named Clothing
The middle of most membership warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club are made up of large sections dedicated to clothing. Here’s the deal: the clothing these warehouse stores are putting out, even if they are brand name, are usually cheaper and lower quality than standard consumer counterparts. That isn’t to say that you can’t buy clothing from Sam’s, but it does mean that there is usually a noticeable quality difference when compared to retailers. Longevity and brand quality don’t apply in the same way here. Essentially, buying brand-name clothing from places like Sam’s isn’t a good idea because they aren’t delivering the same quality you would find in other stores.
3. Fresh Produce in Bulk
As an individual, this is another group of items that probably isn’t a good idea to buy. Produce easily goes bad, and often, the quantities that Sam’s is selling it in are not great for individuals or small families. In situations where it’s possible to just buy select amounts of produce at Sam’s, this isn’t a big deal. Many items aren’t available in that manner and require you to purchase small palettes or nets of food. However, if you own or shop for a business, this particular section doesn’t apply.
4. Organic or Natural Products
Sam’s Club doesn’t typically have a large selection of organic or all-natural products when compared to other stores. This isn’t necessarily a product we would avoid, but we wouldn’t go to Sam’s to buy them specifically. In the same vein, Costco is known to have more organic or all-natural products. Outside of warehouse stores, the selection opens up greatly. Local grocery stores and medium-sized chains will usually have a greater variety of products, and since organic and all-natural are a smaller niche, they tend to carry them more often.
5. Food Court Food
The food court at Sam’s Club isn’t all that bad, although it just doesn’t carry the same weight as some other retailers do. Chicken Bake, anyone? Sam’s has a cheaper hotdog/soda deal, cheaper whole pizzas, and even a pizza pretzel, but when it comes to customer favorites, Costco, for example, just has higher marks a lot of the time. If you get excited about warehouse store food, Sam’s can provide it, but Costco is famous for a reason.
6. Electronics
Most of the reasons that we don’t recommend using Sam’s for electronics is due to their policies. Recently, they’ve changed their very lenient returns policy and tightened it to 90 days, plus it needs to have issues or defects. Also, the selection at Sam’s isn’t as large when compared to other electronics-specific options, notably Best Buy or Newegg online. Plus, Best Buy and Newegg usually offer some sort of price matching. The main exception for this is during major holiday sales like Black Friday since large stores will give huge discounts on things like TVs for a limited time.
7. Cheesecake
Many people have said that the variety cheesecake at Sam’s isn’t a good deal compared to the nearly identical cheesecake at Walmart (in either price OR taste). Also, if you’re looking for cheesecake specifically, there are some better options out there, including Cheesecake Factory offering a quality version through Target for only a little more.
8. Bacon
Other bulk stores are well-known for their quality. Costco is one of them and bacon is one of the things that Kirkland Signature just does really well. Again, Sam’s isn’t bad, but the Costco brand bacon is well-known for its quality, taste, and value, and if you are looking for bacon in bulk, it’s probably a good idea to favor it over Sam’s. Like most things, there isn’t as much of a difference as people would have you believe, but if breakfast foods are a big thing for your household, bacon specifically, Sam’s may not be the move.
9. Books
If you’re buying books, it’s almost always going to be cheaper to do it online in a digital format. Companies like Amazon have cornered the market on this, and with technology like Kindle, it’s hard to justify the price of getting a physical book unless having a copy is a must-have for you.
Even when looking for physical copies, getting them from libraries or simply ordering them online is often going to be the cheapest (or free) option. Additionally, you can instantly look up book prices on Amazon while at a store like Sam’s, so it’s always easy to check and see if it’s worth it.
10. Specialty Coffee
Coffee has many different levels, from the elite to the regular, everyday brands, like Folgers and Maxwell House. While these brands are not the finest in the world of coffee, creating pre-ground shelf-stable stuff that is going to last forever in your pantry, if you’re a fan, then Sam’s Club is the place for you.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more elevated, Sam’s isn’t going to give you the selection you are probably looking for. Their whole-bean options (you should always buy whole-bean if you are looking for quality coffee) are extremely limited, and none of them are especially great.
The real sweet spot for Sam’s is when it comes to pods. Brands like Nespresso and K-Cup are shelf stable, and when you buy them in bulk, it makes sense to look at a warehouse store like Sam’s. If you want really good coffee, heading out to your local coffee shop or buying from a local roaster is almost always going to be better.
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