3 Sam's Club Perks You Aren't Taking Advantage of -- but You Should

Shopping at Sam's Club can make financial sense for a lot of folks, and it's only partly because of the deals on everyday essentials. Sam's Club members also have access to other perks that can help you save money -- and, arguably just as valuable, help you save time.

While you may know about the usual perks, like Members-only fuel savings, some may be new to you. Even if you do know about these perks, are you taking full advantage of them? Let's take a look.

1. Sam's Cash Bonus Offers

This is one benefit even I didn't know existed until not that long ago. Essentially, members have access to a variety of partner offers that give you back a percentage of your purchase in Sam's Cash.

For example, one offer says you can get 30% back in Sam's Cash on a monthly or annual Peacock subscription. Another offers 20% back in Sam's Cash on a MasterClass online purchase.

To use Sam's Cash Bonus Offers, you need to link a credit card to your account, and then activate the offer. If you happen to be a Plus member, you can expect to see an extra 20% back on your Bonus Offers.

You can make the most of these deals by using the right rewards card. If you're going to use the Peacock deal, for instance, pick a card with streaming rewards.

2. Sam's Club Plus cash back

There are actually a few good reasons to upgrade to a Plus membership, despite the higher cost. But the 2% back you get in Sam's Cash could be all the reason you need. Here's what 2% back looks like in one year:

The difference between a regular Sam's Club membership ($50 a year) and a Plus membership ($110 a year) is $60. So you need to earn at least $60 in rewards for that to make up the difference on its own. Based on the numbers above, that means spending $250 or more at Sam's each month.

Do you look at that number and think, "How?!" Then no, upgrading isn't worth it just for the Sam's Cash. 

If you look at the number and think, "Easy!," then yes -- you're likely missing out by not upgrading. You'll earn back what you spend on the upgrade in Sam's Cash, plus you'll get extra perks like free shipping and curbside pickup.

3. Scan & Go

For everyone who has ever looked at the checkout line at Sam's Club and seriously considered simply abandoning their cart, I give you: Scan & Go. This absolutely delightful little perk allows you to skip the checkout line entirely. 

Here's how it works:

1. Download the Sam's Club app and log into your account.
2. Tap the Scan & Go button at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the barcode button to scan your items.
4. When you're done, slide the green "Slide to Pay" arrow to enter the checkout screen.
5. Add or select your payment information, then complete your checkout.
6. Show your digital receipt at the door on the way out.

Certain prohibited items can't be purchased through Scan & Go, or may require extra steps; alcohol, for instance, requires age verification before you can complete checkout. On the plus side, you can use any payment method accepted by Sam's Club. You can even use gift cards or pay with Sam's Cash.

Bonus: Sam's Club Mastercard

I'd be remiss if I didn't at least give an honorable mention to the Sam's Club Mastercard (and not just because I'm obsessed with credit cards). Why? Because it's a surprisingly interesting card, and you need a Sam's Club membership to apply, so that technically makes it a membership perk.

A lot of people talk about the gas rewards superpowers of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. (Even me!) But Sam's Club actually has one up on it -- 1% more back on gas, that is. The Sam's Club Mastercard earns:

• 5% back on gas (on up to $6,000 in purchases each year)
• 3% back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members (Club members earn 1%)
• 3% back on dining
• 1% back on other purchases

I've already done the math on whether 4% back on gas can pay for a Costco membership. So I can tell you that 5% on gas -- even with the $6,000 annual spend cap -- could potentially pay for a regular Sam's Club membership (though it probably won't cover a full Plus membership). 

You also get a decent return on Sam's Club purchases, provided you're a Plus member. If not, well, you'll probably find a lot of rewards cards with better rates for when you're shopping at Sam's Club.