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How to test Sams before buying a membership

• You can shop without joining: Sam's Club lets non-members shop online (with a ~10% fee) or use a gift card in-store worth it on high-priced or bulk items.

• Some services are open to everyone: You can use the pharmacy, get eye exams, and walk the store all without a membership.

• Test before you commit: Walk the store, compare prices, or do a trial run with a gift card to see if a membership actually saves you money.

Are you on the fence about getting a Sams Club membership? Perhaps you only occasionally need to buy in bulk. Or maybe youre not providing for a large household.

It turns out that there are many things you can do at Sams without a membership, including getting in and buying anything you want, gas included.

This could be "news you can use"if youve been curious about the potential savings and products Sams sells. Lets break it all down.

You can shop online without a membership

Yes, non-members can shop on the Sams Club website.

However, youllget hit with a 10% non-member surcharge, and that can change the math significantly.

What most people miss is that 10% fee doesnt automatically kill the deal.

Example:

• Bulk protein powder: $40 at Sams
• Same item: $55 elsewhere

Even with the 10% fee ($44 total), you still come out ahead. Make sure you do the math first before you click the purchase button.

Where this tend to works best:

• High-margin items (electronics, appliances, furniture)
• Bulk pantry staples with big price gaps
• Name-brand items with inflated retail pricing elsewhere

Where it doesnt:

• Cheap items (youll feel the 10% more)
• Anything with thin margins (snacks, basic groceries)

Pro tip: Try reversing the decision. Instead of asking Can I shop here without a membership? ask: Does this item beat competitors by more than 10%? If yes, buy it anyway. If not, walk away.

You can use the pharmacy (this is a quiet money saver)

You do not need a membership to buy prescription medications at the Sams Club pharmacy. As long as you have a prescription, you can walk in and get it filled.

This is one of the most underused savings angles. Just tell the employee at the door that youre there to use the pharmacy, and theyll waive you through.

Why it matters:

Sams Club often prices their generic drugs aggressively to compete with big chains.

Without a membership, you can:

• Fill prescriptions
• Ask for pricing upfront
• Transfer prescriptions easily

What savvy shoppers do:

They treat pharmacies like gas stations and they shop around for the best price.

Pro tip: Run a three-way price comparison every time. Before filling a prescription, check these:

• Sams Club
• GoodRx app
• Your current pharmacy

Youll be surprised how often the cash price beats insurance, especially when you can use a GoodRX coupon.

You can get eye exams (but split the purchase)

The optometrist inside Sams Club locations are Independent Doctors of Optometry, which means anyone is allowed to walk in and pay for an eye exam.

However, if you want to actually purchase any glasses or contacts, youll need to be a Sams member.

Why this actually matters for your wallet:

Eye exams with Sams are often priced very competitively compared to private offices.

So, the smart move is to separate your exam from your purchase:

• Get your eye exam at Sams.
• Then take your prescription online and save.

Check out sites like Zenni or Warby Parker, as you can often cut your cost in half (or more).

Just make sure you walk out with a copy of your actual prescription so you can use it to buy glasses or contacts elsewhere.

You can shop with a gift card (closest thing to a loophole)

This is the workaround most people dont know about, but its the closest thing to an actual Sams membership.

Similar to Costco, if you have a Sams Club gift card, you can shop in-store without a membership. You can also shop online and not be hit by the 10% guest fee.

How people actually use this:

• Have a member (friend or family member) buy you a gift card, then pay them back.
• You can have them load $10$500 on the card.
• Then use the card to do a full test shopping trip.

Just flash the gift card at the entrance, then tell the cashier as well when checking out.

They also sell a Fuel up! gift card that can be used at Sams Club gas stations as well as in the warehouse, no membership required.

Pro tip: Use this as a trial run so you dont have to guess if a Sams membership is worth it. This allows you to do one real shopping trip and then compare your receipt to your usual store.

You can walk the store (and you should)

If you just want to get into Sams Club so you can walk around and check out the potential savings, just tell them at the entrance.

I mean, sure, you could say Im going to the pharmacy, but there is no need to. Just be honest, and theyll let you in to take a look around.

Once you make it in, be sure to walk the aisles and check:

• Meat prices
• Household staples
• Snacks
• Cleaning supplies

Pro tip: Its smart to take pictures of prices of the things you buy regularly (especially the unit price), then compare later at Walmart, Target, and Costco. This is really the only way to decide if buying bulk saves you money.

Want an actual membership? Dont pay full price for it

Sams Club is constantly running discounts on their annual membership; you just have to know where to look.

Where deals consistently show up:

• Groupon Theyre offering $15 for a one-year Club membership, $50 for the Plus membership (auto-renew must be turned on).
• Stack Social Theyre currently offering the same deal as Groupon.

Both of these require you to be a new Sams member, or have an inactive membership for at least sixmonths.

Groupon and Stack Social both run consistent deals on new Sams Club memberships. So, once the ones above expire, its just a matter of days before they offer a new deal.

A cocoa shortage is making chocolate bunnies more expensive this year

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Cocoa prices have surged to historic highs due to poor harvests in West Africa

• Supply chain and energy costs remain elevated, raising production and transport expenses

• Strong seasonal demand around Easter is allowing manufacturers and retailers to pass on higher prices

Consumers stocking up on chocolate bunnies and candy eggs this Easter season are encountering an unwelcome surprise: sharply higher prices. Industry analysts say the spike is being driven by a combination of global supply disruptions, rising input costs and predictable seasonal demand that is amplifying the impact at checkout.

At the center of the surge is cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate. Prices for cocoa beans have climbed to record levels over the past year, largely due to poor harvests in major producing countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana. Weather extremes, plant disease and aging trees have all contributed to reduced yields, tightening global supply.

In fact, chocolate may be the new gold. Over the weekend, Nestle reported thieves stole 12 tons of Kit Kat bars in Europe, presumably to sell on the black market.

Manufacturers are also grappling with higher costs beyond raw ingredients. Energy prices, packaging materials and transportation expenses have all risen in recent years. Even as broader inflation has cooled in some sectors, these cost pressures remain elevated for food producers.

Bad timing

That combination is hitting just as demand peaks. Easter is one of the most important sales periods for candy companies, second only to Halloween in the U.S. Retailers often see a surge in purchases of seasonal items such as chocolate eggs, jelly beans and marshmallow treats.

According to Datasembly, which tracks grocery prices in real time, the price of candy and gum has risen 2.3% since February 15.

Some candy makers have attempted to soften the blow by shrinking package sizes or adjusting product mixes, a strategy often referred to as shrinkflation. Others are leaning more heavily on non-chocolate candies, which are less affected by cocoa prices.

For consumers, however, the impact is clear. Shoppers report paying noticeably more for familiar Easter staples, with some opting to scale back purchases or seek out store brands and discounts.

Industry analysts say relief may not come quickly. Cocoa supply challenges are expected to persist into the next growing cycles, meaning elevated prices could extend beyond the holiday season.

In the meantime, the cost of indulging a sweet toothespecially one shaped like a chocolate bunnymay remain higher than usual.

Federal and state health agencies are continuing to investigate

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• At least nine people across three states have been sickened after consuming raw cheddar cheese products from Raw Farm LLC.

• More than half of the cases involve young children, with several hospitalizations and one severe kidney complication reported.

• Federal health officials say the cheese is the likely source of the outbreak, even as the company disputes the findings and has not issued a recall.

At least nine consumers have fallen ill after eating raw cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm LLC, prompting a multistate investigation by federal and state health officials and renewed warnings about the risks of unpasteurized dairy products.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a public health alert about the cheese earlier this month.

According to the CDC, thenine people in California, Florida, and Texas have been infected with a dangerous strain of E. coli linked to Raw Farms raw milk cheese. The illnesses date back to September 2025, with cases continuing into early 2026, suggesting a prolonged outbreak.

Health officials say epidemiological evidenceincluding interviews with sickened consumerspoints to Raw Farms raw cheddar cheese as the likely source. Several of those interviewed reported eating the product before becoming ill.

Children disproportionately affected

A notable aspect of the outbreak is its impact on young children. More than half of those sickened are under the age of five, a group particularly vulnerable to severe complications from E. coli infections.

Three people have been hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths have been reported so far.

Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, and can appear several days after exposure.

No recall despite warnings

Despite the mounting evidence, Raw Farm has declined to issue a voluntary recall of its raw cheddar cheese products. Federal regulators, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have urged the company to pull the products from the market, but the company has disputed the link, noting that product testing has not detected E. coli.

The CDC is advising consumers to avoid eating Raw Farm raw cheese and to thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have come into contact with it.

The outbreak highlights ongoing concerns about raw (unpasteurized) dairy products. Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk does not undergo a heat treatment process designed to kill harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of contamination.

Raw Farm, one of the largest raw milk producers in the United States, has previously faced scrutiny over food safety issues, including past outbreaks linked to its products.

Investigation ongoing

Federal and state health agencies continue to investigate the outbreak, including additional testing and case tracking. Officials say more cases could emerge as the investigation progresses.

In the meantime, public health experts are urging cautionparticularly for families with young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systemswhen it comes to consuming raw dairy products.

The meat was produced and distributed without an inspection

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• USDA issues public health alert for certain raw beef and pork products lacking federal inspection

• Some products may carry a false USDA inspection mark, raising safety concerns

• Consumers urged not to eat affected items and to discard or return them

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a range of raw beef and pork products that were produced without federal inspection, warning consumers that the items may pose health risks.

According to FSIS, the products were manufactured between April 2024 and March 2026 and may include a false USDA mark of inspection. Meat and poultry products that bypass federal inspection can contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants, potentially putting consumers at risk.

The alert involves several items sold under the Blackwing Organic Meats and Blackwing Meats brands. Some products improperly display the establishment number EST. 1996 inside a USDA inspection mark, which officials say was used without authorization. Other items were distributed without any inspection mark at all.

Affected products include vacuum-packed beef items such as New York strip steaks, ground beef, stew meat, and steak strips, as well as pork products like ground pork and boneless center-cut pork chops. The items were shipped to wholesale and retail locations nationwide, increasing the likelihood that they may still be in circulation or stored in consumers freezers.

FSIS said the issue was uncovered during an ongoing investigation, which remains active. Additional products could be added to the alert as more information becomes available.

No reports of illness

So far, there have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury linked to the consumption of these products. However, officials advise anyone experiencing symptoms or concerned about possible exposure to contact a healthcare provider

The agency is urging consumers not to consume any of the affected products. Instead, they should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions can contact Blackwing Meats President Roger Gerber at 847-838-4888 or via email at roger@blackwing.com. Food safety questions can also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or by email at MPHotline@usda.gov. Complaints about meat, poultry, or egg products can be submitted online through the USDAs Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.