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8 Behaviors That Will Get You Kicked Out of Sam's Club

Don't put your membership card in jeopardy.

By Erica Loop , Edited by Amanda Machado

Updated May 20, 2026

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You joined for the bulk buy bargains and savings on Member's Mark generics. And now that you know all the ways to make a Sam's Club membership worth it, you're ready to start shopping. But wait, some seemingly unobjectionable actions could get you kicked out of the store.

What customer behaviors won't Sam's tolerate? Don't stress, we've got you covered with a warehouse club member etiquette primer. From abusing the return policy to sharing your card, here are the seven things you should never do in the store.

Abusing the club's return policy

Like many other retailers, Sam's Club has a generous return policy. Per the retailer's website, the store offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. And that means current members can return most items at any time. Of course, the Sam's does have some exclusions and limitations.

Electronics and major appliances are subject to a 90-day return policy; you only have 14 days to return a cell phone, and you can't bring back gift cards, prepaid cards, tickets, collectibles, trading cards, custom-made items, prescriptions, and other excluded products.

Sam's terms and conditions do mention fraud and abuse of privileges, but don't specify a number of returns that could result in a loss of membership. Some shoppers cite excessive returns as a problem that could lead the warehouse club to revoke a member's card. Redditor teambroto reported (in the Sam's Club subreddit), "They are starting to flag people on stuff like this."

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Sharing your membership card

Your membership card is yours and yours alone. According to the company's website, cards are non-transferable and inclusive to the cardholder. Of course, you can add one household member to your account. But they will get their own card. That means you can't pass your card back and forth.

Even though you can only designate one household member as a user on your account, you do have another option. Large families can choose an add-on membership. For $55 per person annually, basic Sam's Club members can add up to eight other people. Sam's Plus members can add up to 16.

Shopping without a card

Don't try to shop at this store without a card. The retailer will deny you entry. In other words, they'll kick you out of the store. But there is a sort of sneaky workaround. Sam's does allow members to bring a guest. That said, guests cannot make their own purchases. So if you want to tag along with a friend, you aren't permitted to shop (or buy anything) on your own.

Disrespecting store employees

This rule isn't just a Sam's Club thing. Most retailers have a zero-tolerance policy for violence or abuse against store employees. This means you can't threaten, verbally assault, physically assault, or in any other way disrespect the retailer's team members.

Using profanity in the store

While you won't find a specific clause in Sam's Club's terms referring to the use of profanity in the store, it's typically frowned upon. Keep in mind, the retailer states it can revoke a membership at any time, with or without cause, "at its sole discretion." So if you're swearing up a storm, the management may make you leave.

Wasting perishable products

You pick up a pack of ground beef and decide you really don't need the bulk buy. But the meat cooler is so far away. Do you leave the perishable product sitting on a case of canned tomatoes, or do you bring it back?

Even though wasting unpurchased perishables isn't technically a membership violation, Sam's management could use the "at its sole discretion" clause to kick you out. When one employee posted a photo on Reddit illustrating this issue, user GertrudeGarnarcowitz replied, "Find the person on camera and trace it to the checkout and member ID. Revoke membership. Do this to enough members, and the problem would be solved."

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Writing bad checks

One honest mistake probably won't get you banned from the store. But repeated offenders could face a penalty.

How will Sam's Club know if you have already written bad checks? Like other retailers, most warehouse clubs use the TeleCheck system. This risk analytics service allows the club to securely process transactions and approve or decline payments.

Shoplifting

Theft is never acceptable. The size and scope of the stock make warehouse clubs particularly vulnerable to this issue. In response, Sam's and Costco routinely employ receipt checkers at the exits to mitigate this problem.

The warehouse club world has gone high-tech in its efforts to stop members from stealing. Back in 2024, Sam's started using an AI-based camera system in some clubs to scan receipts and stop shoplifting.

Bottom line

When it comes down to it, Sam's members have to follow the club's policies. Failure to do so could get you kicked out of the store, or worse, you could completely lose your membership. So if you don't want to risk your access to the retailer's discounts and deals, keep our handy guide in mind.

Provided you don't break the rules, Sam's Club offers almost unbeatable bargains. How can you save money on groceries and so much more? Here are a few easy-to-follow hints: Use the store's Scan & Go app to score special deals and swap brand names for private label generics.

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