Costco's rival, Sam's Club, is doing away with a long-loved free perk — and members are taking to social media to show how they feel about it.
The wholesaler emailed club members ahead of the holiday weekend and revealed that starting Aug. 19, free shipping will no longer apply to Plus member orders, only to orders of $50 or more.
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So instead of having their goods delivered for free, members who make purchases under $50 will have to pay an $8 fee. Some category exclusions still apply, the company said.
Members took to X to complain about the new changes, with some even threatening to take their business to rival Costco.
@SamsClub When we became Plus members we were sold “Free Shipping”, so we said…ok, let's join. This move is complete BS. Without this benefit why should we stay as Plus??? We see no benefit for the cost. And I'll add…, “after August 18th” when you start charging…
— ?? Secure the border ?? (@b4jc2005) July 7, 2024
.@SamsClub @samsclubhelp Getting rid of free shipping is a joke! How terrible! Time to drop my membership or just leave the club. pic.twitter.com/qyhYsgRPAT
— Ryan (@TheRyGuy86) June 19, 2024
@SamsClub Someone explain to me how having a minimum order for free shipping gives us more options? More like shafting your customers. Our family has a membership with you for more than 35 years. I'm not sure we'll have one much longer.
— Amanda Hartley (@Rogue6776) July 8, 2024
@SamsClub Been a member for 15 years and PAID a membership for a reason and shouldn't be charged even more for shipping. I literally just canceled my membership and moved to #Costco
— Drama419 (@Drama419) July 8, 2024
Sam's Club did not immediately respond entrepreneurRequest for comment but told FOX Business in a statement that the retailer is “continuously working to provide an easier and more convenient shopping experience for our members.”
Sam's Club is owned by parent company Walmart, which had a strong fiscal Q1 2025 with $161.5 billion in revenue, a 6% increase from the same period last year.
Sam's Club specifically saw net sales hit $21.4 billion in the quarter, a 4.6% increase from Q1 2024 and a 13.3% increase in membership revenue. The retailer ended the quarter with the highest membership numbers in history.
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“We are focused on saving our customers both money and time,” said Walmart Inc.'s CEO. Doug McMillon in a company. RELEASE, in that time. “We are people-led and technology-powered, and that combination is driving our business.”
Walmart Inc. it was upstairs up 34% year over year as of Monday morning.