6 Sam's Club Features You Aren't Taking Advantage of -- but Should

Whether you've recently become a Sam's Club member or have shopped at the warehouse store for years, there may be some perks of membership you're not taking advantage of. Here are six of those perks.

1. Scan & Go

If you're standing in a long line, waiting to check out at Sam's Club, you don't have to. You can check yourself out as you shop. Here's how it works:

• You download the Sam's Club app on your iPhone or Android. Once you store payment information in your account on the app, you're ready to shop. Sam's Cash, EBT, and all major credit cards are accepted as forms of payment.
• When you find something you want to buy, you scan the product barcode using your smartphone. If you have trouble, you can always use the "find the item" feature on the Sam's Club app to look the product up and add it to your virtual basket.
• Once you've filled your real-life cart with the items you wish to purchase and have scanned the barcodes for each item, it's time to pay. Fortunately, it's as easy as pushing the pay button on the app.
• Instead of showing a paper receipt to a Sam's Club employee on the way out of the store, you'll show them the virtual receipt on your phone.

Scan & Go can even help you save money on groceries by tracking your purchases. Try it once, and you may enjoy the extra time (and money) it saves.

2. Curbside pickup

There may be a million ways that going inside the store to pick up the things you need would be a challenge. Maybe you're recovering from surgery, not feeling well, have mobility issues, or have a car full of kids you don't want to drag through the entire club. Whatever your reason, now's a good time to take advantage of curbside pickup.

Buying is as easy as logging onto your computer or going into the Sam's Club app on your phone and picking the items you need. As with Scan & Go, you can pay for purchases using Sam's Cash, EBT, and all major credit cards.

When you arrive at the store, park in a designated curbside pickup spot and check in on your phone. Within minutes, your items will be brought to your vehicle. That 48 pounds of dog food? It's no problem. Someone will bring it out to you.

One other advantage of curbside pickup: If you have a problem with impulse buying, you may find it easier to control if you don't stroll through the store to check out new items.

3. Guest membership

Maybe you've never been a Sam's Club member and wonder if it's right for you, or perhaps you want to see if shopping at Sam's would leave you with a little extra money to invest. Whatever your reason, you can sign up for a guest membership that gives you access to Sam's Club online. As a guest, you'll have to pay a 10% service fee per order, but you'll still have the opportunity to experience what shopping through Sam's is all about. There's no charge to become a guest member for a day.

4. Car rentals

Just as Sam's Club members have access to discount vacation packages, they also have access to discount car rentals. Members score discounts of up to 25% on rentals nationwide. And these aren't cars from no-name rental companies but from big players like Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar. You can set up a rental online or, if you need help, by calling (833) 494-7267.

5. Special item requests

Have you ever wished Sam's Club carried a specific brand of toothpaste or type of battery? If so, you may not realize that Sam's accepts requests. To request an item from Sam's Club, you'll fill out an online request form, and your request will be submitted to the buying team. While there's no guarantee that Sam's will begin carrying the product, it will look into adding it to its everyday purchases.

Note: The more information you can provide about the product via the request form, the better. For example, if there's a UPC or model number, include it with your request.

6. Overnight RV parking

Like its parent company Walmart, Sam's Club is a big fan of those traveling by RV. Some Sam's Clubs allow RVs to save the hassle of finding a campground by parking in their lots overnight. Parking policies vary by club due to local zoning restrictions, but if you're curious about a city where you plan to stop, this club locator will tell you where you can find the nearest Sam's Club. Once you know where it is, call the club to ask about their overnight parking policy. If it's permissible, tell them when you plan to spend the night there.

Sam's Club and Costco may be the two largest warehouse retailers in the U.S., but that doesn't mean they will stop coming up with new ways to impress members. If you're paying for an annual membership anyway, why not take advantage of all that membership offers?