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A Sam's Club membership comes with lots of perks, like home improvement discounts, travel and entertainment deals, and affordable health insurance for small-business owners. A Club membership costs $50 per year, while a Plus membership will set your budget back $110 annually.
Most people who shell out for a membership will get to take advantage of these perks without any issue. But there are a few circumstances in which Sam's Club could revoke your membership. (Note: Sam's Club also says on its website that it reserves the right to revoke your membership for any reason without cause.)
1. Writing bad checks
A lot of people reading this may not know how to write a check , given that checks have gone the way of flip-phones and VHS tapes. But if you're unfamiliar with checks, writing a bad check usually means that you either didn't have sufficient funds in your account to cover the purchase, or you told your bank to stop the payment without a legit reason.
Writing bad checks is considered a crime in many states, and it's also grounds for Sam's Club to cancel your membership. But as long as you have enough money in your checking account to cover the amount of your check, you can avoid running afoul of this rule.
2. Shoplifting
Retailers generally have the right to ban people accused of shoplifting from the premises, and Sam's Club is no different. Fortunately, this is another rule that's easy to avoid breaking as long as you follow the law. Ensure you're paying for all your Sam's Club purchases and you can keep your membership.
3. Making questionable returns
Sam's Club can cancel your membership for making questionable returns. Though it doesn't specify what that constitutes, you might raise red flags if you attempt to return goods long after purchasing them, if you buy and return large quantities of products, or if you frequently return items that have clearly been worn or used.
Overall, Sam's Club has a pretty generous return policy, though. You can return most items at any time if you're not satisfied, though there are a few exceptions:
- Cellphones: Within 14 days
- Commercial motor and heavy equipment: Within 30 days
- Electronics and major appliances: Within 90 days
4. Violent, threatening, or abusive behavior
It should go without saying, but you should treat associates and fellow shoppers with respect. Sam's Club will revoke your membership if you display violent behavior, use profanity toward an associate, or engage in abusive, disrespective, or threatening behavior with an associate.
Is a Sam's Club membership worth it?
A Sam's Club membership may be worth it if you frequently buy in bulk, you're feeding a household with multiple people, you have sufficient storage space in your home, you live near a warehouse club, and you'd take advantage of other discounts, like travel and entertainment deals.
Just be sure to compare Sam's Club against alternatives like Costco and BJ's, as well, if there are multiple warehouse clubs near you.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Robin Hartill has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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