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When shopping at a warehouse club, it’s easy to get carried away and end up spending more than you originally had planned.
While BJ’s Wholesale Club features bulk quantities and exciting new products that may tempt you, it’s possible to not go overboard and blow your shopping budget. Instead, you can take advantage of great deals and save money in the long run.
To do so, consider these money-saving tips during your next BJ’s trip.
Do: Look for Reduced Prices
Earlier in his career, Lou Haverty, owner of Skid Retailer, would engage in retail arbitrage by buying underpriced items at BJ’s and selling them for a profit on Amazon. His experience helped him identify ways to spot reduced prices.
“When non-perishable food items do not move as quickly as management would like, BJ’s routinely reduces prices for those items to clear space for new merchandise purchased in bulk,” Haverty said.
“The standard pricing system for products is listed with a dollar price and either 99 or 49 cents. When you see a price with a cents number that is different, such as .00 or any cents listing not at .99 or .49, this is an indicator that the listed product is at a reduced price and available for a big discount to free up shelf space.”
Do: Combine Coupons
Unlike some other wholesale clubs, BJ’s allows its customers to combine a BJ’s coupon with a manufacturer coupon on the same item, a BJ’s spokesperson confirmed.
“The largest source of savings is finding a clearance item and combining it with a manufacturer and/or BJ’s coupon,” Haverty said.
These coupons can be found once you’ve created an online account with BJ’s; or, as a member, you may even receive them in the mail.
Do: Purchase Smaller Packs of Produce
You might not think of BJ’s as selling anything in small quantities. But luckily for shoppers, they do have smaller packages of produce, which differs from some of the other wholesale clubs out there. They’re also often priced less than at typical grocery stores, according to a BJ’s spokesperson.
Do: Fill Up Your Tank at BJ’s
Since some BJ’s also feature gas stations, the store can truly be a one-stop shop that helps you save some money on more than just groceries.
“BJ’s gas is usually very competitive with local gas stations,” Haverty said. “You can further increase that discount by getting a BJ’s credit card, which gets you 5% store credit — in rewards — at BJ’s and a $0.15 discount per gallon on gas.”
Don’t: Go Overboard on Perishables
This might be easier said than done, but one of the keys to shopping at BJ’s in an efficient way financially is to ensure you’re not over-purchasing perishables. Even with smaller sizes for produce, this can still be a frequent mishap.
“The most common thing to avoid doing is purchasing fresh food that may go bad before you can finish it,” explained Haverty. “To get the most value out of BJ’s, you need to buy items in bulk. When purchasing perishable food items, you need to make sure you have enough people in your household to consume the food before it goes bad.”
Don’t: Get Too Adventurous With New Foods
It can be fun to try new types of foods and food brands. That’s typically a reasonable thing to do when grocery shopping, but doing so at a warehouse store might not be in your favor.
“Since you’re buying those items in bulk, if you’re unsure whether or not you’re going to like the product, it’s best to avoid it altogether,” Haverty recommended.
Even if you can get a refund, the extra time that it takes might not be worth it, let alone the risk of forgetting about getting a refund altogether.
Don’t: Buy New Product Lines Immediately
When you see a new type of product, you might also prefer to wait to see whether the item gets marked down, depending on sell-through rates.
“By waiting a few weeks, you have a better chance of getting a better price when prices are marked down to make room for newer items,” Haverty said. “When you shop regularly at BJ’s, you’ll start to recognize which products are new and might be most likely to fall in the potential clearance category.”
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