Wholesale clubs are those places where you/we buy stuff to save. Yes we buy in big quantities which means better organization, but it’s well worth the effort.
Despite BJ’s great prices on a wide selection of products, we think there is still room for savings. And that’s the point of this article — to show you how you can save even more so you could easily pay off that membership fee. Here are…
9 Ways to Save at BJ’s Wholesale
A few tricks you may haven’t heard before…
1. Save on membership
Before becoming a BJ’s member, make sure to search the internet to potentially find a better deal and save a few dollars at least in your first year. This doesn’t apply to college students, and US Military veterans and active personnel — for them BJ’s is offering 30% discount on all membership fees, plus a $10 coupon.
2. Get the BJ’s Perks Rewards Membership
This is a more premium option that costs $100 per year, and is worth every penny. For one thing, the Perks Rewards Membership gets you 2% cash-back on most purchases at BJ’s and at their website. Plus, there are other benefits included, such as special credit cards, offering 10 cents off per gallon of gas at BJ’s, 3 or 5 back (two cards are available) on most in-store and online purchases made at BJ’s, 2% cash back on dining out and at non-BJ’s gas stations, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. So yes, you will easily pay off those extra $50.
3. Use coupons and pre-owned gift cards
Like with any other store, you’ll want to come prepared and by that we mean having your coupons ready before opening the door. Search for them online and check sites such as Retailmenot.com and Slickdeals.net for this. Additionally, you may want to grab one of those pre-owned gift cards, which are available at sites like Gift Card Granny and Raise. Since BJ’s prices are already low, don’t expect to save a ton, though. Nevertheless, every little counts. And in that sense, go thoroughly through the BJ’s Member Journal which regularly includes a number of coupons for BJ’s members.
4. Look for price reduction signs
This is how you can score great deals, though unfortunately it is not as straightforward to notice the price reduction as we would like it to be. And it’s a shame since these reductions can be huge and let you save, big time. You are best off looking at the end of the product isles, as well as online, searching for things like “BJs price reduction” and then add a product category to the search query. Also, you may want to check out a Facebook group dedicated to couponing at BJ’s.
5. Check out the clearance section
Pretty much ever BJ’s warehouse has one, and it’s usually located at the very end of the store. You may want to ask an associate about it so that you don’t have to wander around. Also, make sure to visit the clearance section at BJ’s website. It offers a number of deals on electronics, furniture, toys, outdoor and home stuff. It’s a mixed bag, as some of the deals we’ve seen are not that great. Check it out, nonetheless.
6. Eat at BJ’s
Eating at BJ’s may not be best for your health, but it’s great for your wallet. Generally speaking, the prices in the in-store cafes are absurdly low, so if you get hungry while shopping, I guess it’s ok to take a break and fill your stomach. Just don’t go over yourself with sandwiches, hot dogs, and pizzas.
7. Shop travel at BJ’s
You shouldn’t look for just flights or hotel stays here — there are dedicated sites for that — look for packages, instead. That’s where you can find some rock solid deals, with BJ’s offering up to a $500 BJ’s gift card on select stuff like vacation packages and cruises. Also, some savings apply to hotels and car rentals.
8. Buy new tires
BJ’s has a wide selection of tires, some of which are offered with instant savings. The company also offers a $15 tire installation that includes maintenance for the life of the tire (tire rotation, wheel re-balancing, flat repairs and inflation check), as well as a full road hazard warranty. In case you wonder, BJ’s uses state-of-the-arts tool and equipment, and its process is approved by the Tire Industry Association.
9. Check out BJ’s partner offers
BJ’s made sure its customers get good deals on other services, as well. So it has partnered with a number of companies to deliver on that promise, offering services from the likes of Verizon Wireless, HearUSA, DirecTV and Geico, among others. You can see the list of all the services offered from BJ’s website by clicking on “Shop Products and Services” and then “Travel & Services.”
Final word
As we usually say at Wallet Weekly, no matter how good the deal is — if you don’t need some product, don’t buy it. Always prepare a shopping list before visiting the store and try your best to stick to it. This is the number one way to save money.
Other than that, we hope we’ve covered it all. If you disagree, feel free to drop your two cents in the comments form below…