A CUSTOMER has slammed the retailer for a new shopping charge.
Sam’s Club members must now spend a minimum of $50 to qualify for free shipping.
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Shoppers said they are thinking of suspending their memberships.
“That’s…extreme,” tweeted one shopper.
“$25 would be reasonable, but $50? Who do they think they are, Nike? This is groceries we’re talking about, not Air Jordans.”
The retailer responded to the tweet, saying they “value” customer feedback.
“Plus members will continue to have early shopping hours, along with free Curbside Pickup,” the retailer replied.
“This means you can beat the crowds and shop with ease before regular Club hours. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. Thank you for choosing Sam’s Club.”
Consumers said the membership isn’t worth the price point anymore.
“A $50 minimum order on top of the annual fee is outrageous,” one X, formerly Twitter, user commented. “I’m probably not going to renew as it’s just not worth the cost.”
“The whole point of paying the extra fees for plus was to get free shipping,” echoed another.
“Now we’re going to have to spend even more to access the perks? What’s the point?”
MEMBERS ONLY
Club Members who have the $50 membership will only receive free shipping on items denoted by “Free shipping.”
However, to enjoy free shipping on most items, Club Members are now encouraged to upgrade to a Plus membership.
Plus Members with an active membership receive free shipping on eligible items, with no minimum purchase, according to the Sam’s Club website.
A Plus membership costs $110 a year as opposed to $50 a year for the Club membership.
Free shipping at Sam’s Club
Club Members who have the $50 membership will only receive free shipping on items denoted by “Free shipping.”
However, to enjoy free shipping on most items, Club Members are encouraged to upgrade to a Plus membership (members only pay prorated charges).
Plus Members (Primary & Complimentary)Â with an active membership receive free shipping on eligible items, with no minimum purchase.
Additional perks include early shopping perks, pharmacy savings, and free curbside pickup.
SAY WHAT?
Consumers are also fed up with a little-known policy at Sam’s Club that auto-charges based on the last card they used to check out.
Many consumers don’t recall signing up for the new feature but are receiving automatic payments to a secondary card.
Shoppers said that the retailer should notify consumers who are opted-in to the auto-charge feature in the first place.
The website has an entire page dedicated to the new policy, including how to enable and disable the feature.
Meanwhile, a Costco shopper was surprised at how strict the retailer’s card membership policy was.
And shoppers are frustrated with Walmart’s new strict return policy.Â