Sam’s Club ‘Benefit’ No Longer Offered to Louisiana Shoppers

At fourteen different locations across Louisiana including the cities of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Harvey, Lake Charles, and Denham Springs, shoppers in Louisiana can load up on oversized portions of the items they use every day. Such is the life of a Sam's Club Shopper. You don't really need six gallons of mayonnaise but the price is too hard to pass up, right?

A lot of us do find great value in shopping at warehouse clubs. In Louisiana, there are fourteen Sam's Club locations. Costco, the other warehouse giant retailer only has three locations in The Boot. Those stores are located in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette.  The concept behind warehouse clubs is pretty simple. You buy in bulk and save.

However, most experts agree it takes a combination of bargain hunting at warehouse clubs combined with smart shopping at the regular grocery store to get the most bang for your disposable dollars. But it is true, you can find some amazing deals at places like Sam's Club and Costco.

Sam's Club Discontinuing Popular Membership "Perk"

For Sam's Club Plus members one of the longstanding benefits of membership has been free shipping. As of August 19th that "benefit of membership" will go away. As of that date Plus Members will only get free shipping on qualifying orders made from the store's website or app that total $50 or more.

For club members whose orders don't total $50 or more, you will be charged a flat rate for shipping. That fee will be $8 dollars. The company explained the "change" in the Frequently Asked Questions page of its website. Here is the quote from that site.

By adding a cart minimum, we are increasing access to different ways of shopping for our members. This will make it easier for you to get the products you want, the way and at the time you want.

To quote the late Gary Coleman of TV's Diff'rent Strokes, "Whatcha Talkin' 'bout Willis"?

How does adding a "cart minimum" do anything but make people spend more than they originally wanted to spend just to get free shipping? No, nothing in the policy change makes "getting the products you want easier". The policy change does nothing but eliminate a benefit that many members actually use and enjoy. Oh, it makes the company money, it does do that. 

So, next time you pop into your neighborhood Sam's Club to do your shopping in person because "free shipping" costs too much be sure and mention what we've discussed to the person who is scanning your buggy for all those items you didn't steal. It's just one of the "perks" of paying for the privilege to shop at a place where they already think you're a thief before you walk in the door. It's a heck of a business model.