Walmart Folds Two Memberships Into One $120 Plan Priced Against $218 For Both Separately, But Current Walmart+ Members Must Pay An Extra $22 A Year To Switch

Jane Clark

2 hours ago

Walmart just changed the math on its membership programs, and the new price tag may have you pulling out a calculator. The retail giant is combining its Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus memberships into one plan that costs $120 a year, and it says shoppers could save close to $100 compared with paying for both.

The plan became available October 20. Walmart announced it first on Good Morning America, where President and CEO John Furner gave his first broadcast interview since taking the job.

Source: Good Morning America.

$218 For Both Memberships Separately, $120 Together

Buying the two memberships on their own adds up to $218. The combined plan costs $120 per year, plus any applicable taxes.

For that price, members get access to Sam’s Club warehouse stores and free delivery on qualifying orders. They also get a choice of either a Peacock or a Paramount+ streaming subscription.

Gas drivers get a perk too: savings of 10 cents per gallon at more than 17,000 participating stations. “You can save 10 cents per gallon at over 17,000 stations now,” Furner said.

Here Is The Catch For Current Walmart+ Members

Not everyone gets the same deal. Existing Walmart+ annual members can switch to the combined plan for an additional $22 per year.

Sam’s Club Plus members, on the other hand, can activate Walmart+ at no additional cost.

There are also strings on how you pay. The membership must be paid annually, with no monthly option and no free trial. If you are used to paying month to month, that is a big change in cash flow.

The Prices Behind The Headline: Inflation At 3.7% And Gas Up 34.2%

The announcement comes with a tough backdrop for shoppers. The article cites government data showing inflation rose 3.7% in September compared with a year earlier, while gas prices rose 34.2% over the same period.

Furner acknowledged that some customers are feeling the squeeze. He said Walmart saw some stress on some customers at the end of the first quarter, and that some customers’ spending changed. Before that, he described shoppers as resilient over the previous several quarters.

He also talked about prices. Walmart had more than 7,000 price rollbacks at the end of its first quarter, he said, and the number rose to about 11,000 by the end of the second quarter.

Asked if Walmart can keep lowering prices, Furner said the company will keep them as low as it can in any environment, as long as it can. Asked about raising prices if costs keep climbing, he acknowledged retailers can move with commodity costs, but said the priority is finding a way to save people money.

What The Merger Means If You Already Shop Both Stores

For a family that already pays for both memberships, the new plan looks like the clearest win. Dropping from $218 to $120 frees up nearly $100 a year, and the Sam’s Club side of the deal comes along with it.

For someone who shops at only one of the two stores, the answer is less obvious. A shopper who rarely visits a warehouse club may pay for perks that never get used. Before you switch, think about how far you live from a Sam’s Club and whether you would really make the drive on a regular basis.

It is also worth asking whether you would still pick the streaming service you are offered. Peacock and Paramount+ are two very different libraries, and the choice is yours when you sign up.

Is It Worth It For Your Family? Do This Math First

A membership only pays off if you use it. Before you hand over $120, run through this checklist:

Add up last year’s spending. Look at how many delivery orders you placed and what you paid in delivery fees. If you rarely order, the free delivery perk may not matter.
Count your gas stops. At 10 cents per gallon, a family that buys 15 gallons a week saves about $1.50 a week, or around $78 a year. A smaller tank or fewer fill-ups means less savings.
Value the streaming perk honestly. If you already pay for Peacock or Paramount+, the bundled service could replace that bill. If you would never subscribe, it is not worth much to you.
Be honest about warehouse trips. Bulk buying only saves money if you use everything before it expires. Wasted food erases the discount in a hurry.
Mark your calendar. With only an annual plan, set a reminder a few weeks before renewal so you decide on purpose and do not get billed automatically.

Smart Ways To Stretch A Membership Even Further

If you do sign up, a few habits can help you get your money’s worth. Pick one day a month for a bulk run and write a list ahead of time. Compare unit prices instead of sticker prices, since the biggest package is not always the cheapest per ounce.

Share storage with a neighbor or relative for items you cannot use fast enough, such as large packs of paper goods or frozen meat. And keep your pantry in check, because a membership that fills your shelves with doubles of everything you already own can leave you with more clutter than savings.

For families watching every dollar before the holidays, the combined plan could be a real bargain, or a needless expense. A few minutes with your receipts will tell you which one it is.