When it comes to bulk shopping, Sam’s Club is often the preferred destination for scoring fantastic deals on everyday necessities. However, while purchasing in large quantities can be economical, it isn’t always the wisest option for certain products. Shopping experts suggest that stockpiling some items might lead to waste, diminished quality, or even higher costs over time. To get the most out of your membership, it’s important to identify which products are best bought in smaller amounts.
From large bottles of shampoo that lose potency to cooking oils that spoil before you finish them, several household goods are better acquired in modest quantities. Finance Buzz’s Stacy Garrels recently provided insight into why some bulk purchases, like spices and diapers, may not be advantageous at Sam’s Club. Here’s a detailed look at seven items you might want to reconsider before placing them in your cart.
Shopping Experts Share 7 Items To Avoid Buying At Sam’s Club
1. Shampoo
If you care about your hair, buying shampoo and conditioner in bulk may not be the best option—even if it does save you a few bucks. Sure, investing in Sam's Club's three-packs of mega shampoo bottles may give you the most bang for your buck, but here's the catch: those products won't work as well over time. Ultimately, this will leave you with shampoo and conditioner that doesn't quite do the trick when you get to the bottom of that lost bottle. Not only will your hair potentially look worse, but it could also become damaged.
2. Cooking Oil
Stocking up on kitchen essentials like cooking oil in bulk may be a good idea to save some money if you have a big family. However, for smaller households, those big bottles of cooking oil probably aren't going to be worth it. This is for the same reason you should avoid huge shampoo bottles: the cooking oil will likely go bad over time. In fact, Finance Buzz notes that olive oil is good for around four months. If you can't use a whole gallon-sized bottle within that time frame, just stick to the smaller ones at other grocery stores.
3. Diapers
Not all diapers are created equal. Garrels points out that Maker's Mark diapers, sold at Sam's Club, are priced around $0.15 each. This is the same price as Target's Up & Up brand diapers. The difference, in addition to quality (Garrels says Maker's Mark diapers tend to leak), is that Target frequently runs sales on diapers. Ultimately, by stocking up at Target, you're more likely to save more money.
4. Chicken
Looking to save the most money on your dinner ingredients? If chicken's on the menu, you may be surprised to hear that Sam's Club isn't the cheapest option. In fact, Walmart may be your best bet. "Currently, prices are nearly identical, with chicken running $2.67 per pound at Walmart versus $2.68 per pound at Sam’s Club, but at times, Walmart’s savings can be even greater," Garrels writes. Noted!
5. Spices
Can spices go bad? Well, not necessarily—but they certainly don't taste as good after a certain amount of time. Even if you leave them unopened, ground spices will usually only last about six months. After that, they'll lose their potency and flavor. That means you may be better off buying smaller jars than choosing Sam's Club-sized spices, especially when it comes to spices you're less likely to use frequently.
6. Gift Wrap
Garrels writes that buying gift wraps, "especially in holiday-themed prints," can be a "ginormous waste when purchased in packs of four or more" at Sam's Club. She goes on to say that "you’ll likely tire of the paper before you go through the entire roll, and dollar stores offer a cheaper way to get new-season variety every year."
7. Salmon
The expert also points out that Sam’s Club sells "fresh salmon at the bargain price" of $10.98 per pound. However, Garrels concludes that "the farm-raised salmon you’ll find at the discount retailer has numerous health concerns." She adds that "farm-raised salmon contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) linked to type-2 diabetes, obesity, and increased risk of stroke." In addition, "red dye is added to color their gray-tinge flesh pink, and they also contain higher levels of saturated fat."
The Bottom Line
Exploring the aisles of Sam's Club, the popular wholesale giant, can provide an excellent opportunity to cut down on everyday expenses. The store offers a wide variety of products, particularly beneficial for large households and events that require bulk purchases. Despite the appealing savings per item, not all products offer the best value when bought in large quantities from this retailer.
