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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.
