Can You Use Walmart Gift Cards at Sam’s Club? Yes, Here’s Your Complete 2023 Guide
The short answer is yes, you can absolutely use Walmart gift cards for purchases at Sam’s Club stores and online in 2023. This handy form of payment is accepted at Sam’s Club because they are owned by the same parent company, Walmart.
As an experienced ecommerce seller myself, I know how valuable gift cards can be for saving money on household essentials and supplies for your business. So I wanted to provide this comprehensive guide on maximizing your Walmart gift cards at Sam‘s Club.
In the following sections, I’ll share:
- Why Sam‘s Club takes Walmart gift cards
- Where you can use Walmart gift cards at Sam‘s Club
- Step-by-step instructions for using the cards in-store and online
- If Sam‘s Club membership is required to use the cards
- Other payment methods accepted at Sam‘s Club
- Whether Sam’s Club cards work at Walmart
- And plenty of tips and advice for getting the most from your Walmart gift cards!
Let’s dive in.
Why Does Sam’s Club Accept Walmart Gift Cards?
This is a common question many shoppers have. Sam’s Club accepts Walmart gift cards because they are both owned by the same parent company, Walmart Inc.
Sam’s Club operates as a subsidiary of Walmart, which acquired the warehouse club chain back in the early 1990s. So while the two brands have different management and store formats, Walmart retains full ownership over Sam’s Club.
And because they share this corporate connection, Sam’s Club has the capability to accept Walmart payment options like gift cards and credit cards. Customers can seamlessly use Walmart-issued cards and accounts at any of Sam’s Club’s nearly 600 warehouse locations across the U.S.
So the shared ownership between the two companies enables the acceptance of reciprocal payment methods. Convenient if you receive Walmart gift cards as gifts or rewards!
What Can You Buy with Walmart Gift Cards at Sam’s Club?
The great news is that Walmart gift cards can be used to purchase anything and everything sold at Sam’s Club, with just a couple exceptions.
As a member myself, I can tell you that Walmart gift cards work for groceries, alcohol, prescriptions, gas, tires, furniture, laptops, and any other goods at Sam’s Club.
Here are some of the many things you can buy with Walmart gift cards:
- Fresh produce, meat, dairy, frozen foods
- Wine, beer, liquor
- Gasoline at Sam’s fuel stations
- Electronics like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles
- Home furnishings and appliances
- Office supplies
- Cosmetics and skincare
- Vitamins and medications
- Toys and video games
- Tires and car batteries
- Clothing, jewelry, watches
- Garden equipment, patio sets
- And more!
The only limitations are:
- The original gift card purchaser can set restrictions on the card prohibiting certain purchases like alcohol or tobacco. This isn’t common though.
- In some states, pharmacy prescriptions cannot be paid for with gift cards if using insurance. You may need to use an alternate payment method when filling prescriptions with insurance at Sam‘s Club pharmacies due to state laws.
But overall, you‘ll have total flexibility on what you can buy with Walmart gift cards at Sam‘s Club locations across the country.
Step-By-Step: Using Walmart Gift Cards at Sam’s Club In-Store
If you have a traditional plastic Walmart gift card, using it at a Sam’s Club checkout is easy. Here are the basic steps:
When checking out, let the cashier know you will be paying with a Walmart gift card.
When prompted for payment, hand them your gift card.
The cashier will swipe your card through the payment terminal like any other credit/debit card. Make sure the gift card’s black magnetic stripe faces the right way when swiping.
If your gift card has a PIN number located under the scratch-off strip on the back, enter this into the PIN pad when prompted. If no PIN, select ‘Credit’ instead.
The gift card balance will be applied to your purchase total. Pay any remaining balance with another payment method.
And that’s it – you just purchased your items at Sam’s Club with a Walmart gift card!
You can use the same process to pay at a Sam’s Club fuel station – just insert your gift card into the payment slot on the gas pump.
Easy peasy and a great way to get more value from your Walmart gift cards!
Using Walmart Gift Cards Online at SamsClub.com
If you want to use a Walmart gift card to shop online at SamsClub.com, follow these instructions:
Add the items you want to purchase to your online cart. Proceed to checkout when ready.
When prompted for payment, choose ‘Gift Card’ as the payment method.
You will need to enter the gift card number and PIN printed on the physical card or provided on the eGift email confirmation. Double check you are entering the numbers correctly.
Follow any additional prompts to finish checking out with your gift card payment. Make sure your gift card balance covers the total order amount.
For eGift cards bought online, refer back to the gift card email receipt for the required card number and PIN to enter during online checkout.
I recommend printing the eGift email and bringing it to any Walmart store’s customer service desk to exchange it for a plastic gift card. This makes the card number and PIN more readily accessible for online Sam’s Club purchases.
Can You Use Walmart Gift Cards at Sam’s Club Without a Membership?
This is an important question for anyone looking to shop at Sam’s Club using Walmart gift cards but unsure about paying for a membership.
The answer is yes, you can use Walmart gift cards to shop at Sam‘s Club without being a member. However, non-members will be charged an extra 10% service fee at checkout when using their gift cards, either in-store or online.
This service fee is applied to the total purchase amount after the gift card balance is deducted. You would need to pay the remaining total plus the 10% non-member surcharge with another payment method.
So while membership is not required, you will end up paying more as a non-member using the gift cards due to this extra fee.
My advice would be to consider signing up for at least a Sam‘s Club basic membership if you plan to frequently shop there with Walmart gift cards. An annual membership eliminates having to pay the surcharge on every visit.
Here’s a breakdown of the Sam’s Club membership options:
Sam’s Club Membership – $45/year. Gives access to Sam’s Club warehouse prices and ability to shop in-club or online.
Sam‘s Club Plus Membership – $100/year. Adds perks like cash rewards on purchases, free shipping, Rx savings, and extra discounts.
For most shoppers, the basic $45 membership can pay for itself pretty quickly if you shop at Sam‘s Club often and want to make the most of your Walmart gift cards. Avoiding just a few 10% non-member fees typically covers the annual cost.
Other Payment Methods Accepted at Sam’s Club
In addition to Walmart gift cards, here are some of the other payment options accepted at all Sam’s Club locations:
- Sam’s Club credit card – Get 5% cash back on Sam‘s Club purchases
- Cash
- Checks – Must provide valid photo ID
- Debit cards – Such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Credit cards – Including Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover
- SNAP benefits – Government food assistance is accepted
- Walmart Mastercard – Can be used like a gift card at Sam‘s Club
- Walmart Rewards card – Earn redemption points for discounts
Sam’s Club also has its own shopper credit card that members can sign up for. It provides 5% back in cash rewards on all Sam‘s Club purchases.
So in summary, Sam’s Club gives you tons of flexibility in how you can pay, including Walmart gift cards. You just need to factor in the potential fees if shopping without a membership.
Can Sam’s Club Gift Cards Be Used at Walmart?
While Walmart gift cards work at Sam’s Club, the reverse is NOT true.
Sam’s Club gift cards can only be redeemed at Sam’s Club locations and on SamsClub.com. They cannot be used to make purchases at Walmart.
This is because Sam’s Club and Walmart have separate payment systems and accounts. So Walmart does not have the capability to accept Sam‘s Club-issued gift cards.
If you receive a Sam’s Club gift card, you will need to use it for merchandise or services at Sam’s Club only. You cannot convert or exchange it for a Walmart gift card instead.
The acceptance of gift cards only works one way between the two retailers – Walmart cards are valid at Sam’s Club, but not vice versa. Good to keep in mind if you ever receive a Sam’s Club gift card as a gift.
Putting Your Walmart Gift Cards to Good Use
To wrap up, Walmart gift cards definitely provide excellent savings opportunities thanks to their wide acceptance at Sam’s Club warehouse stores across America.
As a budget-savvy shopper myself, I highly recommend joining Sam’s Club if you receive Walmart gift cards often and want to avoid non-member fees when using them at checkout.
The basic membership fee is generally nominal compared to the 10% surcharge incurred each visit as a non-member. And a Sam’s Club membership gives you discounts on bulk essentials for your home, family, or business year-round anyway.
So be sure to make the most of any Walmart gift cards you receive by putting them to use at Sam’s Club! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about maximizing these valuable cards. Happy saving!
