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Sam's Club Facts You Probably Didn't Know

How well do you know this warehouse chain?

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated April 16, 2026

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Sam's Club was started in 1983 in Midwest City, 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 getting to save money at Sam's Club. And even the most seasoned Sam's shoppers may not know everything about the store.

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

Sam's Club is bigger than a football field

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.

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Sam's Club is not in all 50 states

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

Sam's Club is in China (and it's popular)

Several international Sam's Club locations exist, but the locations are heavily concentrated in 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, Oklahoma, 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 one of the most popular membership clubs there.

Sam's Club is embracing technology

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 is continuing to use technology to streamline and reduce costs.

Sam's Club pays dividends

In February 2024, Walmart announced a 9% dividend increase for fiscal year 2025, which is the biggest bump in over a decade. Then in February 2025, the company followed up with a 13% increase, bringing the annual dividend to $0.94 per share for fiscal year 2026 and marking 52 consecutive years of raises.

You can shop at Sam's Club without a membership

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.

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Sam's Club offers one-hour delivery

A new option is to get your order delivered in as little as an hour, which is subject to availability. This costs $10 extra and does not require an order minimum.

Sam's Club offers health insurance

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.

Sam's Club has a 100% satisfaction guarantee

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 the club, we're happy to issue a refund or replace it, with a few exceptions."

There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as gift cards, tickets, and collectibles, but it's a great way to avoid 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.

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Bottom line

Sam's Club continues to grow. The chain even announced plans for six more locations across the United States in 2026.

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.

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