What's the current minimum? 50 dollars doesn't sound terrible for a store like Sam's where you usually buy in bulk. I easily end up paying over 50 dollars and have only 3 or 4 items.

It's a $8 flat fee BUT they prompt you for a hefty tip (15-20%) on the entire order, so if you go that route you end up paying $30-$40 extra for a $200 order.

It's a $8 flat fee BUT they prompt you for a hefty tip (15-20%) on the entire order, so if you go that route you end up paying $30-$40 extra for a $200 order.

I hate Hate HATE that we're expected to tip for everything now.

Don't give me a fake low price and then sneak tipping in at the last second. Pay your employees, price your product or service accordingly and don't hide the fact that I'm paying your employee's salary.

That's why I don't go to fancy coffee shops (I don't consider Around The Corner fancy) unless someone else wants to go. You're already earning $20/hr. What am I tipping you for? Because you swiveled the iPad around? That's worth 25%?

Sam’s Club announced that starting Aug. 19, it will no longer offer free shipping for all orders. Instead, customers must spend at least $50 before taxes to qualify for free or same-day shipping. If you spend less than $50, a flat rate of $8 will be charged.

Same-day shipping is a service offered to members who live within 15 miles of a Sam’s Club location. Previously an $8 fee was charged for all same-day deliveries.

Regular club members will be eligible for free pickup when they spend more than $50. This is a change from what used to be a flat rate of $4 for all orders. However, that flat rate fee will still apply for orders less than $50.

That's why I don't go to fancy coffee shops (I don't consider Around The Corner fancy) unless someone else wants to go. You're already earning $20/hr. What am I tipping you for? Because you swiveled the iPad around? That's worth 25%?

Counter-service with the swiveling iPad is the absolute worst.

1) Since when are we expected to tip for counter service and if we are, why shouldn't fast food people be tipped... Why not 7-11, OnCue, etc.?? ; and 2) they are asking for a tip while the employee is standing there and BEFORE any service has been provided; to me, this is the most egregious forced tipping practice.

One of the reasons I like Kroger delivery so much is they don't allow tipping.

No one has to tip anything if they don't want to. They just have to learn to not feel bad about it. Maybe just pretend you have a European accent? :)

These Walmart changes may be their way of removing tipping and being more competitive with Amazon. They may silently remove the tipping prompt. Imagine how much business Amazon would lose if people thought they had to tip their Amazon delivery driver?

Unless their legislation to force vendors to remove the tempting prompt customers will just have to take matters into their own hands.

My fear is these ones we joke about may not be far off....like tipping the Amazon driver when you make your Prime Order, or the counter at 7-11 or OnCue. I am still waiting for the self-checkout "convenience fee"

I hate Hate HATE that we're expected to tip for everything now.

Don't give me a fake low price and then sneak tipping in at the last second. Pay your employees, price your product or service accordingly and don't hide the fact that I'm paying your employee's salary.

Deliveries aren't done by employees. They are done the same way as Doordash, Uber Eats, and other delivery apps. The "delivery fee" is mostly for the privilege of ordering. The contractor sees 25%-50% of that fee as "base pay," and the rest of their earnings is from the tip amount. In the case Spark (Walmart/Sam's), the contractor is not just picking up an order. They are doing the shopping in the store for you and checking out.

So think of Walmart/Sam's delivery as an errand matchmaking service, because that is essentially how it works. By placing your order, you're saying "I am willing to pay $X for someone else to do my shopping for me." Of course, there are people dumb enough on the other end to accept zero tip orders, and the platforms also incentivize acceptance of those orders.

Counter-service with the swiveling iPad is the absolute worst.

1) Since when are we expected to tip for counter service and if we are, why shouldn't fast food people be tipped... Why not 7-11, OnCue, etc.?? ; and 2) they are asking for a tip while the employee is standing there and BEFORE any service has been provided; to me, this is the most egregious forced tipping practice.

One of the reasons I like Kroger delivery so much is they don't allow tipping.

Re-reading my post, it sounds a little strident. It was supposed to be a Seinfeld type of rant with my voice rising..."What are we tipping for!"

But that doesn't translate so well in the written word.

You mentioned it asking for a tip while the employee is standing there staring at you. I hate that. So uncomfortable. I try to hit no tip real quick before anyone sees what I'm doing but of course it doesn't register that click so I have to press longer and harder. Then they probably spit in my food. And I never go back.

I am still waiting for the self-checkout "convenience fee"
Yup

It's coming and I dread it.

You think so? To me, it seems like they're doing everything they can to reduce the number of staff it takes to do this.

If you're not a plus member, then you have to pay for even the pickup service, but if you pay for plus and do even a handful of pickups, you've paid for it. Between that and the rebates it offers, it really does pay for itself pretty quickly.

Not interested in delivery if there's the fee + tip and all...yuk. Pickup is fast and "free" to me with no tip bs.

Between scan and go and the scan your stuff for the receipt stuff, i would just be surprised if they started charging for anything like that. If they did, people would go back to the lines and that would cost them a lot more from having to staff back up and the lost money on the services/hardware/time that went into the other systems. Don't underestimate the public's desire to NOT spend extra on line item charges. Roll that into the cost and they dont care. But start itemizing it and they start protesting.

The Sam's gas station on I-35 in Edmond always seems to have at least one pump out of order. And it's a whack-a-mole guessing game to figure out which one it is before pulling up to it. I don't visit the Sam's gas station at Penn and Memorial as often but it doesn't seem to have this issue. And it has many more pumps and is laid out in a way that isn't as crowded.

I should be using the Sam’s App.
Grapevine TX Sam’s no check out lanes.
https://kfor.com/news/consumer/sams-club-opening-location-in-texas-but-theres-no-checkout-lanes

I should be using the Sam’s App.
Grapevine TX Sam’s no check out lanes.
https://kfor.com/news/consumer/sams-club-opening-location-in-texas-but-theres-no-checkout-lanes

Once you use Scan 'n Go, it's hard to shop at Sam's any other way. And even harder, for me, to shop at Costco.

Once you use Scan 'n Go, it's hard to shop at Sam's any other way. And even harder, for me, to shop at Costco.

Sam's also have these fancy things called handheld scanners at self checkouts so that you don't have to awkwardly position a huge box over the scanner.

The early shopping hours are also a massive advantage.

Just went this morning for a few things and it couldn't have been quicker.

Sam's also have these fancy things called handheld scanners at self checkouts so that you don't have to awkwardly position a huge box over the scanner.

With Scan and Go you are basically carrying that hand held scanner around with you while shopping. I've been using it since they started it.

With Scan and Go you are basically carrying that hand held scanner around with you while shopping. I've been using it since they started it.

I know, its great. My comment was aimed at Costco who don't have handheld scanner.

Forcing scan and go is a good way to ensure people have valid memberships! This is a better approach than Costcos membership photo at door attempt


With going solely scan and go you’re more likely to have true members using it as you’d be less likely to let friends have your account with banking linked than you are to let them borrow a physical card.

Just a thought I had. I love scam and go as well and have used it since it came out. I’ve noticed the exit scanner technology has been improving as it learns as well and more likely than not lately I get just waved thru the exits.

I guess I have not paid attention to scan and go, how does it work? I am older so not sure what you use to scan items??

You put the Sams app on your phone. In the app is an icon to select Scan and Go. As you shop you scan the bar code on the items and quantity when you put them in your cart. When you are finished shopping you select check out. My Sams membership card is also a Sams Mastercard that is linked to the app. It charges your card for the amount and you proceed to the door. No stopping at any check out. There may be other ways to pay but that is how I do it. I also earn Sams Cash when I use the card that can be deducted from what you purchase.

And the Sams Mastercard is good to have. It pays 5% cash back on all gas purchases anywhere. Don't have to buy gas at Sams to get that. 3% back on dining anywhere and 1% back on anything else. We use it exclusively for gas and dining. Cashback is paid monthly in Sams Cash.

It's so easy to shop there, today I went twice.

That has probably never happened in the history of Costco.

I finally bit the bullet thanks to this thread. I honestly had no idea what I was missing. I’ve been pretty committed to Costco, but that changed about three weeks ago. As far as being up to date, there’s really no comparison. I haven’t used Scan & Go yet, but I’ve seen it used in the store and it’s definitely the future. In fact, I just saw on CNBC that the first all-digital Sam’ Club opens in Grapevine on Thursday. Thanks for all the encouragement from members in this thread; I really can’t see ever going back to Costco for anything other than maybe some Kirkland stuff.