Sam’s Club has kicked off 2022 by rolling out a new rewards program called Sam’s Cash. It replaces both the Cash Rewards for Plus members and Cash Back for Sam’s Club Mastercard holders.
If you‘re a Sam’s Club Plus member, you may have heard about the program. If you’re not, this may be the time to consider joining the warehouse club.
Why a new rewards program? As a Sam’s customer, I find that one of the many things the warehouse club does very well is listening to feedback from its members. Before the new program, you had to keep track of your earnings for the membership cash back and the credit card cash back programs separately. It is now all streamlined into one pool.
Sam’s Cash Rewards Program
There are currently three ways to redeem your Sam’s Cash:
- Spend online.
- Pay your membership fees.
- Cash it out for actual cash.
And according to the Sam’s Club website, “We are adding new ways for members to earn Sam’s Cash inside and outside our clubs.”
One of the biggest changes is that you’re able to redeem your rewards monthly instead of just annually. As soon as I get this money, I put it in my vacation fund. With monthly redemption, my account is growing more quickly.
Some other highlights of the new Sam’s Cash rewards program are:
- You can now use your rewards online and via the app.
- Any available cash will be listed as a payment method in online checkout.
- Rewards NEVER expire. I repeat: NEVER expire!
- There is no minimum to redeem rewards.
- Everyone is opted in automatically; there is nothing you have to do to start earning.
Note that the Sam’s Club website says, “All memberships are eligible to earn Sam’s Cash. Club Members will have an opportunity to earn Sam’s Cash from time to time with special offers. To maximize rewards with Sam’s Cash, upgrade to a Plus Membership and/or apply for a Sam’s Club® Mastercard®.”
The maximum earning potential is $500 per year with the membership card and $5,000 with the Sam’s Mastercard.
The way to take the most advantage of Sam’s Cash is by having both a Plus membership and the Sam’s Club Mastercard — and to redeem Sam’s Cash in the store for actual cash.
Here’s an example. Before you start shopping, go to the service desk and redeem your Sam’s Cash and for $200. Awesome! Now take the cash, put it in your pocket and use a cash back credit card to pay for your $200 in merchandise. You could get cash back between $4.00 (with any of these 2% cash back cards) and $6.00 (3%) if you have the Sam’s Club Mastercard. That is additional earning and a no-brainer!
There are exclusions to the purchases that can earn Sam’s Cash. There is a complete list of items on the website; it has remained pretty standard over the years with items such as tobacco, alcohol, gift cards, and prescriptions.
Sam’s Club Credit Card Reward Perks
If you have a Sam’s Club membership, you may have noticed the different types of credit cards that the club offers. There’s a basic store card and a Mastercard for the regular Sam’s Club membership. You can also apply for a World Elite Mastercard for Plus members which is the go-to card in my wallet. With the Mastercard, you can earn up to $5,000 in Sam’s Cash in a calendar year!
Here are several reasons why I love the World Elite Mastercard from Sam’s Club:
- 5% cash back on fuel (up to $6,000 per year; Costco is 4%)
- 3% on Sam’s purchases in-store and online (Costco is 2%)
- 3% on dining including takeout
- 1% everywhere else
I use this card just for gas, dining and Sam’s purchases, as my 2% cash back card is better for other purchase categories. In addition to generous card rewards, the World Elite Mastercard comes with a host of travel benefits and other protections including cell phone insurance.
Final Thoughts
If you are debating whether or not to become a Sam’s Club member, take a look at the rewards program. Comparing it with Costco and other wholesale clubs would be a great place to start. Keep in mind some of the other differences that Sam’s Club offers such as free shipping to Plus members with no minimums and curbside pickup. In most cases, you have to spend at least $75 to get free shipping at Costco.
I will have updates on the new Sam’s Cash rewards program as the information becomes available. As of now, the benefits are mighty impressive, and I can’t wait to see what else Sam’s will add to the program.
What do you think about the changes to Sam’s Club rewards program? Share your opinion in our Clark.com Community!
