9 Facts About Sam’s Club You Didn’t Know (#7 Is Only for Members)

Sam's Club was started in 1983 in a small town in Oklahoma. It's since grown into an international retail giant, offering savings around the globe with plenty of loyal customers.

Whether you're a member or not, it's hard to ignore the appeal of the big box retailer's membership perks. And even the most seasoned Sam's shoppers may not know everything about the store. 

Here are nine fascinating things you didn't know about Sam's Club.

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The warehouse chain has multiple sizes of stores, but the average size of a Sam's Club is 134,000 sq. ft., which is more than two football fields.

While a lot of that real estate is taken up by inventory, the tire center, the optical department, the cafe, and employee-only areas, members can expect to get quite a few steps in when shopping at Sam's Club.

Despite having around 600 clubs throughout the country, clubs are missing from a few states. Alaska, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington are sans Sam's Club locations.

There were stores in Alaska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington in the past, but they all closed between 2016 and 2018 due to strategic changes in the company. Oregon and Vermont have never had locations, though.

Several international Sam's Club locations exist, but the locations are heavily concentrated in South America (Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil). 

The first Sam's Club in China was opened in Shenzhen on August 12, 1996. That's a long way from Midwest City, OK, where the first Sam's Club was opened.

Since then, Walmart has opened many more locations throughout China with over 50 clubs, and it has become the most popular membership club there.

Sam's Club has begun describing itself as "a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer" rather than just helping people save money.

The store's Scan-and-Go app feature allows members to check out as they shop throughout the store. 

When customers are done shopping, they pay on their phone and show the receipt upon exiting — removing the need to wait in long lines at checkout. Sam's Club offers exclusive savings for customers who use the Scan-and-Go app.

The savings club giant also uses AI technology in the search functions of its app and website. Sam's Club will continue using technology to streamline and reduce costs.

Walmart, Sam's Club's parent company, increased dividend payments to its investors by 9% in 2024 — the biggest increase in over 10 years. Dividend stocks pay their shareholders based on profits and the number of shares they own.

Additionally, in February, Walmart announced an annual dividend raise of 13%, bringing the annual cash dividend to $0.94 per share for the fiscal year 2026. This marked the 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases.

Sam's Club offers guest memberships to those who want to shop without purchasing a membership; however, it comes with some strict rules. 

Guest members can only shop online, not in-store or for curbside pickup. They pay an additional 10% fee on the total, and purchases are not covered by Sam's Club's satisfaction guarantee.

This is strictly a members-only benefit, but you can place an order online by 1 p.m. and have it delivered to your door that same day. Sam's Club also promises no markups when you choose this option, unlike third-party delivery services like Instacart.

Each delivery costs a flat fee of $12 for Club members and $8 for Plus members. To be eligible, members must live within a 15-mile radius of the stores and have an active membership.

Sam's Club is partnered with SimplyInsured to help small business owners offer health insurance coverage to their employees. 

The site offers hundreds of plan options from national carriers, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

The warehouse giant has a lenient return policy for members. The website states, "If you're a current member and not satisfied with a purchase made online or in club, we're happy to issue a refund or replace it, with a few exceptions." 

There are a few exceptions to this rule — cell phones, appliances, motorsport vehicles, and electronics — but it's a great way to ensure you're not wasting money on your grocery trips.

The satisfaction guarantee also includes the membership. If you aren't happy with your membership at any point, you can talk to member services and receive a refund for your membership fees.

Sam's Club continues to grow. The chain even announced plans for 30 more locations across the United States.

With the focus on technology and convenience, customers can expect AI usage to grow at their local club store. Sam's Club recognizes that the more it streamlines, the more its customers can save money on groceries and more.