15 Things You Should Always Buy at Sam’s Club, According to Reddit

While a Sam's Club membership might seem less prestigious than a Costco membership (it starts at $50 a year compared to Costco's $65), the true test is in the savings.

According to Reddit users, Sam's Club delivers on its promise of bulk bargains. Here are 15 items you should always buy at Sam's Club to help you save more on groceries.

Laundry detergent is a great item to buy in bulk because it is shelf-stable. You can stock up for cheap at Sam’s Club, with some shoppers buying enough suds to last a few months for around $25.

Heavy cream is not shelf-stable, but if you cook with it regularly, Sam's has it at a good deal. According to kitchen experts at Allrecipes, you can freeze heavy whipping cream.

Yogurt is a hot-ticket item in many homes. It’s compact, keeps well for perishable food, and is kid-friendly. Sam’s is a great place to stock up on multi-packs.

Redditor Elmo9607, explains: “My Sam’s food staples for a house of two are heavy cream, strawberries, greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, powdered sugar, ground beef, pork chops or loin, and stew meat.”

Sugar and other shelf-stable baking products are great to stock up on at Sam’s Club. Just make sure to safely store it so sugar bugs — actual beetles and weevils — don’t get in.

In forum after forum, shoppers everywhere sing the praises of Sam’s Club's meat selection, claiming it’s superior to Costco in flavor, quality, and price.

Redditor Tobster4040 warns customers against Costco. “Sam’s Club has the best meat, period. Costco needle[ssly] tenderizes all their cut meats.”

Parmesan cheese is a common staple for pasta, chicken breading, and more. And because it is a hard cheese, it can last nearly forever in your fridge. (We have a mold-free bag of shaved parmesan cheese that has sat in our fridge since Christmas.)

The warehouse goliath sells canisters bigger than the human head — at the bargain price of $0.46 per ounce.

Many shoppers have a Sam’s Club-first mentality for cleaning supplies. One Redditor says, “Cleaning supplies [are] the biggest savings.”

Another Redditor adds, “It's the only place I buy dishwashing soap tabs — cheaper than Kroger.”

Sam’s Club’s generic Member’s Mark brand gets solid marks from shoppers. Redditor samemamabear says, “Their own Members Mark brand items are usually good quality, so don't be afraid to buy those.”

When comparing Sam’s to BJ’s and Costco, one Redditor says, “Member’s Mark brand is a total winner.”

While the early paper-hoarding days of COVID-19 are over, buying in bulk to save on toilet paper and paper towels is an easy win. Just make sure you have enough room to store everything.

Costco is known for its five-buck cluck, but did you know that Sam’s Club sells a $4.98 rotisserie chicken, too? It gets rave reviews. Some Redditors call it " the best deal in Sam’s Club.”

If you like the value of Costco’s $5 chicken but find the quality to be hit or miss (like me), then Sam’s may be worth it for the poultry savings alone.

Daycare and diaper bills are two of the biggest scourges plaguing young parents — or at least parents of young children. My son’s daycare provider buys Member’s Mark diapers and formula since they’re the cheapest.

While the diaper quality isn’t great (they aren’t buttery soft on baby’s skin), they work. I never experienced any leaks with the Sam’s Club label.

Other Redditor parents like the diaper wipes, too, noting they are cheaper than Costco’s generic equivalent.

Pet supplies are another great item to buy in bulk — assuming you’ve got space to store 40-pound sacks of kibble. One Redditor shares that they always get Purina One dog food there. “Dog food is $2 per bag cheaper than anywhere else and you get four more pounds.”

If you eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, Sam’s Club is the way to go. Many customers belonging to Sam’s Club and Costco say that Sam’s has superior produce.

“Sam’s produce has gotten better than Costco’s,” says Redditor DFWdawg. Another adds, “Sam’s is 100% better on fresh fruit and vegetables — both in price and quality. I refuse to buy [fresh produce] at Costco.”

If you love empty calories as much as I do, Sam’s Club will not let you down — or so promise customers who belong to both Sam’s and Costco.

Redditor Jennilind19 says, “Sam’s has a bigger selection of junk food.” Another laments, “Everything at Costco is healthy… but me personally, I want more ‘junk food’ type snacks which Sam’s has.”

While not a specific product, Sam’s Club Scan & Go is such a great feature that it deserves a spot on the list.

Scan & Go is a feature in the Sam’s Club app that lets you skip checkout lines. Open the app and scan the barcodes of each item you’re buying. Then, pay in the app and get a digital receipt.

Customers praise Scan & Go as “the best invention ever.” Redditor pidancer789 says, “So much quicker I can’t comprehend the people who still use self-checkout or the checkout lines.” 

AppKatt adds, “Easily one of the biggest advantages that Sam's has over the competition.”

Costco gets all the warehouse love, but Sam’s Club delivers a better customer experience and helps you save on everyday essentials — at least when it comes to rotisserie chicken, fresh meats, and produce.

It’s not Costco versus Sam’s, though: Many shoppers belong to both. If you’ve ever considered joining Sam’s, now may be a great time if you find yourself needing these items.