PocketCoinage

I’ve been a Sam’s Club member for almost two years now and I enjoy the tremendous savings of buying in bulk.  I am able to stock up on many non-perishables and leave the local grocery store (or farmer’s market) for fresh fruits, veggies, and meats.

Recently, Sam’s Club has been asking me to upgrade to upgrade my account to a “plus” one.  A plus account adds “eValues”, which are digital coupons, to your account.  You log into your Sam’s Club account online (or at an in-store kiosk) to see what’s available.  From there, you are able to email or print the items on the list.  All you need to do is buy the items and the discounts appear at the register.  According to Sam’s Club eValue FAQs, “eValues means $300 in guaranteed savings. With eValues, you have the opportunity to save an additional $200 a year on top of the savings you already enjoy.”

So a few weeks ago I broke down and upgraded my account for $20 (this price depends on when your account will expire).  It took a few days to see the “e-values” appear under my account online.  Once there, I was offered $203 in offered e-values.  These included $100 off jewelry, $50 off a mattress, $40 of laminate flooring, and $1-$2 off various food products.  The only thing I would most likely buy is the Bertolli extra virgin olive oil at $2 off.  Other than that, I am not seeing savings for anything that I normally buy.  I usually pickup cat litter, cat food, milk, eggs, and OJ on a bi-weekly basis.

Hopefully I will get a few more “eValues” on my account over the next few weeks to make a decision if it’s worth it for me.  To make it up, I need to at least break even with the $20 upgrade fee by April.  If not, I may not continue my plus membership with them.

Do you have a Sam’s Club Advantage Plus membership?  What’s your take on the program?  Are there similar programs out there?

I posted an update to this topic in another blog post: “Update: Is Sam’s Club Plus Worth It?”  Please check it out.