# Sam's Club 1 Day Pass - What To Buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229 "2015-03-04T22:50:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/1 "2015-03-04T22:50:44Z")
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](http://help.samsclub.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/279/~/one-day-pass) 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? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/2 "2015-03-04T22:56:30Z")
They have enormous rotisserie chickens in the meat department for $4.99. They are much bigger than what you normally see in a supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/3 "2015-03-04T23:05:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/4 "2015-03-04T23:05:52Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Last_Glacial_Maximum)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/5 "2015-03-04T23:09:04Z")
- Buy a case of Mexican Coca-Cola in bottles {it’s made with cane sugar} - Buy a bottle of Kirkland rum {it’s terrific} . ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/6 "2015-03-04T23:13:22Z")
> [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](#): > > - Buy a case of Mexican Coca-Cola in bottles {it’s made with cane sugar} > > - Buy a bottle of Kirkland rum {it’s terrific} > . 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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/7 "2015-03-04T23:24:40Z")
IIRC the handle of Bombay Sapphire is several dollars cheaper than anywhere else. The Tanqueray is the same price as my liquor megastore. ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Last_Glacial_Maximum)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/8 "2015-03-04T23:43:59Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > 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. 🙂 D’oh, my bad…:smack: . ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/9 "2015-03-05T00:31:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/10 "2015-03-05T02:16:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/11 "2015-03-05T02:36:11Z")
If you use Splenda, theirs is cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/12 "2015-03-05T02:50:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/13 "2015-03-05T03:10:43Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Costco is great, and I shop there often, but don’t assume their price always beats grocery store prices. > [@PastTense](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/14 "2015-03-05T04:54:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/15 "2015-03-05T04:57:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/16 "2015-03-05T05:24:12Z")
Beef Jerky, Olives and socks. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/17 "2015-03-05T06:14:38Z")
Gas up your car. The gas prices are always cheapest at Sam’s Club or BJ’s. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/18 "2015-03-05T07:39:39Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/19 "2015-03-05T08:00:26Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > IIRC the handle of Bombay Sapphire is several dollars cheaper than anywhere else. The Tanqueray is the same price as my liquor megastore. This sounds VERY promising. > [@PastTense](#): > > 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. Paper towels is a good one too. > [@kopek](#): > > Ours has a fantastic meat department; I usually do a serious burn through there any time I visit. I’ll definitely take a look for bargains here. > [@JohnT](#): > > 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. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > 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. > [@usedtobe](#): > > 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”. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229/20 "2015-03-05T13:55:23Z")
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! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sams-club-1-day-pass-what-to-buy/714229.md?page=2)