Sam’s Club adding new pickup option

Kelly Tyko
USA TODAYPublished 8:21 AM EDT Jun 11, 2020Sam’s Club is rolling out curbside pickup to its nearly 600 clubs nationwide.The new service, which will be free for plus-level members, is expected to be available by the end of June, the retailer announced Thursday.On-demand shopping for delivery and curbside pickup have grown in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic as some shoppers make fewer trips into stores. Retailers including Best Buy, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Old Navy and Signet Jewelers have recently added the option allowing consumers to pickup groceries and other products without leaving the car.Lance de la Rosa, Sam’s Club chief operating officer, said in a statement to USA TODAY the company is “proud to be the only warehouse chain offering curbside pickup service nationwide.”Save better, spend better:  Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up hereThe wholesale club says it expedited the launch after piloting curbside at 16 clubs across the country.Sam’s Club has a two-tiered membership with the club level costing $45 and plus level at $100 annually. Plus membership also includes early shopping hours, free shipping on most online items, 2% cash back on qualifying in-club and pickup purchases.Retail apocalypse 2020: Are more store closings coming? As many as 25,000 stores could shutter in 2020 due to COVID-19 impactWill your local Starbucks close?: Coffee giant says it will close 400 stores but expanding pickup options“While free Curbside Pickup is a new Plus member benefit, we recognize all of our members are looking for contact-free shopping options as part of the current environment,” de la Rosa said in a news release. “Because of that, we are going to temporarily make the service available for every member and do what we can to help them get the products they need, when and how they want them.”How to use Sam’s Club curbside pickupCurbside pickup at Sam’s Club will work like Walmart and other grocery retailers where you select an available pickup time. Sam’s Club says same-day pickup will be an option.Members can shop using either the Sam’s Club app or website and eligible products will be marked “Pick up in Club.”Plus members will be able to schedule curbside pickup orders between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For a limited time, non-plus members will be able to use the service for free with shortened pickup hours, which are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.Stores will have designated pickup parking spots and a store associate will load items into cars.Sam’s Club senior shopping continuesSam’s Club says it will continue its twice-weekly “Shop from Your Car” concierge service for seniors, people with disabilities and those with compromised immune systems until further notice.In late March, Sam’s Club started designating two hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for the at-risk shoppers to shop in clubs and the concierge service, which is different from curbside pickup as shoppers place orders from their cars not in advance online.Sam’s Club also is continuing its “Hero Hours” every Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m. until further notice for health care workers and first responders.Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


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