I found something I REALLY wanted at Sam’s club but I didn’t want to sign up for a membership because I’m only going once.
Turns out you can print a 1 day pass from their website and just pay a 10% premium for anything you buy.
So Dopers, what should I absolutely not pass up on my one and only trip to Sam’s Club?
What do you buy there you can’t find anywhere else and just can’t live without?
What’s a bargain so bargain-y that it makes other bargains ashamed of their pitiful bargain-ness?
They have enormous rotisserie chickens in the meat department for $4.99. They are much bigger than what you normally see in a supermarket.
And the hot dog combo at the snack bar gets you a large all beef Nathan’s hot dog and a large soda for $1.50.
Toilet paper? Guaranteed to get used!
Also, it isn’t clear to me from that coupon’s wording: is the coupon not valid in CA, or is just that in CA, they can’t charge the 10% mark-up?
Buy a case of Mexican Coca-Cola in bottles {it’s made with cane sugar}
Buy a bottle of Kirkland rum {it’s terrific}
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Or just buy Pepsi Throwback or Mt. Dew Throwback and any store, also made from cane sugar.
They don’t sell Kirkland rum at Sam’s Club. 
IIRC the handle of Bombay Sapphire is several dollars cheaper than anywhere else. The Tanqueray is the same price as my liquor megastore.
D’oh, my bad…:smack:
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The six-pack of spinet pianos is always a good deal if you can use them before they go stale.
Other than the mysterious One Thing that the OP wants to get, I can’t think of anything truly earth-shaking at Sam’s or Costco that they have on a regular basis. There is a perpetual parade of seasonal and special buy things at both stores, and those are often worth buying a membership just to buy that one item. Then, being able to get nice, if not fantastic, prices on food and tires is a bonus.
Go through the consumables you regularly use and check the prices on the website. Things like soap, nonprescription drugs, paper towels, groceries. Then stock up. For example when I was a member I remember they had honey in 5 pound jars which was much cheaper than the grocery store–which didn’t sell in this big size. Get a six month supply of the stuff which lasts 6 months or more.
If you use Splenda, theirs is cheap.
I like Costco, but I don’t know about you guys; looking for weekly specials in the grocery store flyers will always beat Costco’s price, and you don’t need to buy 2 Kg at a time.
Costco is great, and I shop there often, but don’t assume their price always beats grocery store prices.
I don’t usually find deals I can’t pass up at Sam’s, since their prices are consistent with Walmart and other discount stores. The one exception is OTC meds- generic Allegra, for example, is much cheaper than I’ve found elsewhere, and I only have to buy it 3 times a year. I save more on them than I spend on membership.
Since it’s easier to bulk buy once every several months, I stock up there on toilet paper, dog food, and other big items when I go in to get drugs. If it weren’t for the drugs I’d probably not renew my membership.
Ours has a fantastic meat department; I usually do a serious burn through there any time I visit. I also like some of their mega-packs of garlic powder, onion powder and some different spices.
Well, not knowing about what it is you’re getting, if you spend more than $450, you might as well go ahead and get the membership.
Beef Jerky, Olives and socks.
Gas up your car. The gas prices are always cheapest at Sam’s Club or BJ’s.
With a 10% surcharge, just how big a bargain can you get?
I looked up a few specific items during the big opening of a Costco (they weren’t checking cards).
Their prices were MAYBE 10% off “normal”.
This sounds VERY promising.
Paper towels is a good one too.
I’ll definitely take a look for bargains here.
It’s not really a secret 
I’ve been baking a lot lately. It’s a nice hobby, there’s really a LOT to learn so it keeps me interested, and I get to eat my projects!
Flour is cheap (and I’m working an angle on this as well), salt is cheap, water is cheap, but the most expensive component (if you can call it that) is the yeast. In the grocery store a 3 pack of those little yeast packets goes for around $2. If you do some quick calculation that translates to just over $42/lbs.
Sam’s sells 2 lbs. (2 - 1lbs bags in a pack) of Fleishmann’s instant dried yeast for under $5, or just under $2.50/lbs.
So for 2 lbs. of yeast I’m saving about $79 even with the 10% premium. I’m seriously considering getting 2 or 3 of the 2 lbs. packs since they’re vacuumed sealed and until you open one it’ll last years. Once opened they recommend using it in 6 months but others have said it lasts well over a year stored in a sealed jar in the fridge.
FYI, in Indiana (at least) you do not have to be a member to purchase alcohol or prescription medications from Sam’s / Costco. So check your local laws and stock up on cheap booze!