Does Sam’s Club Take EBT? [Complete Guide 2024]
Whether you face budget constraints while shopping or love to save while grocery shopping, Sam’s Club made it all possible, as it permits you to claim your SNAP benefits once you are done shopping at their store.
If you have used Apple Pay at Costco then, you would have noticed that the EBT payment process is quite similar to the way Costco takes Apple Pay. The only difference is you need to contact the bill counter personnel to execute payment through Apple Pay.
Check out this article if you are eager to learn “Does Sam’s Club Take EBT” and what you can buy at Sam’s Club with EBT cards.
Table of Contents:
- What is an EBT Card?
- Does Sam’s Club Take EBT?
- Items That You Can Buy With EBT Card at Sam’s Club
- Items That You Can’t Buy With Your EBT Card at Sam’s Club
- How to Use an EBT Card at Sam’s Club?
- What are the Benefits of Using EBT Cards?
- Different Forms of Payment Accepted at Sam’s Club
- Stores Other Than Sam’s Club Which Accepts EBT Cards
- Conclusive Thoughts
- FAQs
What is an EBT Card?
Government benefits can be transferred via an EBT card. Depending on what the card is designed to cover, it typically carries a variety of benefit amounts. In most cases, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits are available.
If you have never heard of the EBT, you have most likely heard of the Common Benefit Identification Card, another name for this payment system. Its benefits could be reaped at different retail stores in the U.S.A.
Does Sam’s Club Take EBT?
Yes, Sam’s Club does take an EBT card as a payment method. You can use an EBT card at different Sam’s stores, don’t forget to locate the nearest store to you using their website.
This comes with some limitations as well:
- You can use this payment mode exclusively for buying groceries only.
- EBT payment mode cannot be used for buying goods from their website online.
- SNAP benefits are not applied at Sam’s Food Court.
What needs to be noted before you use EBT payments at this retail store is that it necessitates having a Sam’s Club membership to avail of this payment mode.
To know more about ‘Does Sam’s Club take EBT’, you can go through their payment policies by clicking here.
How to Use an EBT Card at Sam’s Club?
Many users have asked online, ‘Can I use EBT at Sam’s Club?’ The answer is yes. Now, let’s learn how to use this card at Sam’s. There are two methods for using an EBT card at Sam’s Club; let’s explore each one of them.
Use an EBT Card at the Self-Checkout Counter
Have you seen people doing self-checkouts at Sam’s Club? Did that confuse you? If yes, now you know they were using an EBT card to do so. Do you also wish to learn how to perform EBT self-checkouts? Kindly follow the instructions mentioned below.
- Firstly, go and put all the groceries in the shopping basket that you wish to purchase.
- Next, you have to scan your card on the QR code or NFC reader, whichever is applicable.
- A notification will pop on the screen, wherein you will be asked to enter your PIN, which is quite similar to the case of debit or credit cards.
- Once the transaction is complete, you will also receive a receipt of the transaction.
Note: Make sure you regularly check your EBT card balance and keep it updated.
Make Use of an EBT Card on the Scan and Go App
Scan & Go enables you to scan items on your phone and pick them up. Furthermore, it states whether you can buy it or not.
Also, you can find out about any discounts or rewards you may be eligible for. Follow the steps mentioned below to use this card via the Scan and Go app.
- Firstly, download the Scan and Go App from the Google Play Store or App Store on a compatible phone.
- Now, you can move around the store and scan the items that you need to purchase.
- Confirm your items and proceed with the payment.
- In the payment dashboard, select EBT card as your payment option.
- And in the final step, enter your PIN to complete your transaction.
Note: This mode of payment was introduced in 2022, so it’s not available on all Sam’s Club outlets.
By now, you might have precisely understood how you can use EBT at Sam’s Club.
What Are the Benefits of Using EBT Cards?
EBT cards are a boon for those who receive government benefits in the form of travel and food stamps.
- The integration of EBT card technology into merchants’ methods of payment (MOP) has significantly enhanced convenience and efficiency.
- With the elimination of the need to carry cash, individuals can now rely on this secure and convenient method to redeem their food and travel stamps.
- The inclusion of the Scan and Go feature, coupled with the utilization of mobile phones, simplifies the tracking of transactions.
- Furthermore, the widespread acceptance of EBT payments by numerous stores expands the accessibility of this payment mode.
- This expansion of the participating EBT merchant universe ultimately facilitates assistance to receivers in obtaining healthier and more nutritious food options.
Also Read: Multiply Your Returns on Investments with How2Invest
Items That You Can Buy With EBT Card at Sam’s Club
‘Can you use EBT at Sam’s Club for purchasing goods? I have made a list of items that you can purchase with your EBT card at this retail store.
Before diving deeper into that, you should be aware of one significant piece of information: if your card is cash-assisted only, then you can buy diversified products using the EBT payment mode. Otherwise, if your card isn’t assisted, you can only purchase food and groceries from it.
Here’s a list of items you can conveniently buy at Sam’s Club Stores:
- Steak, fresh fish, lobster, eggs, beef, chicken, and meat.
- Spices: Red chilies, oregano, salt, sugar, etc.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Dairy Products: Milk, curd, cheese, ice creams, whisked creams, and yogurt.
- Cereals: Maize, wheat, rice, millet, barley, and many more.
- Breads and Spreads.
- Canned foods.
- Packed snacks.
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Squash, fruit juice, cold drinks.
If you want Sam’s Club to accept EBT, you must make purchases from the list mentioned above or make a separate bill for other items and pay with a different payment mode.
Items That You Can’t Buy With Your EBT Card at Sam’s Club
Do you want Sam’s Club to accept EBT for your purchase? In that case, avoid adding these items to your shopping bag to avoid missing out on various discounts and rewards.
- Tobacco and alcohol.
- Paper goods (such as paper plates, bowls, napkins, and towels).
- Products for personal hygiene (baby wipes, sanitary pads, tampons, toilet paper, etc.).
- Seafood.
- Products for health (medication with prescription, vitamins and supplements, bandages, etc.).
- Something besides a grocery store food item.
- Beauty items (including cosmetics and skincare).
- Products for household cleaning (sponges, cleaners, plungers, etc.).
- Dog food.
These are the items to avoid if you wish Sam’s Club to accept EBT for your purchase.
Different Forms of Payment Accepted at Sam’s Club
Now that you know the precise answer to ‘Can you use EBT at Sam’s Club’, let’s discover what other payment options this retail giant accepts apart from EBT.
| Accepted in Sam’s Club | Accepted @ SamsClub.com |
| Cash or Check | Sam’s Club Credit |
| Prepaid Credit Cards | Debit card |
| Credit cards (Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Discover) | Credit cards (Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Discover) |
| Debit Card | |
| Walmart & Sam’s Club Gift Card | |
| Walmart Credit | |
| SNAP/EBT | |
| Sam’s Club Credit Direct Accounts | |
| Digital Wallet |
Also Read: 10 Ways to Sell Gift Cards for Instant Payment [Cash and PayPal]
Other Stores Accepting EBT Cards
Let’s look at the retailers and wholesalers who accept payment through EBT.
These are some retail outlets that allow you to make payments via EBT.
Also Read: Does Walmart Cash Personal Checks? Walmart Check Cashing Guide [Requirements, Fees, and Limits]
Conclusive Thoughts
I believe by now you must have gotten your answer for ‘Does Sam’s Club take EBT’. You already know that if you want to access EBT in Sam’s Club, you should have a membership in this retail store.
This might have disappointed you, but don’t worry; if you are a user of Instacart, you do not require its membership. You can enjoy saving by shopping for groceries. Like Walgreens do cashback, Sam’s Club offers groceries at half the price. This is how these shopping retailers enhance your shopping experience.
Happy Shopping!
FAQs
Ans: You will unfortunately need to visit a physical store to use your EBT card when shopping on Sam’s website.
Ans: No, Sam’s Club only permits its members to shop at their store for the moment. If you don’t have a Sam’s Club membership for purchases, you can still use a guest membership.
You would have to pay a 10% service charge for this visitor membership, and it isn’t even valid for in-club purchases.
Ans: The majority of SNAP beneficiaries are unable to shop at the food court. This is because most of the things from food courts, such as hot-cooked dishes, are not covered by SNAP.
Sources:
1. 10 Places You Didn’t Know You Could Use SNAP Payments by Yahoo!finance
2. Using EBT at Sam’s Club by Reddit
3. Accepted Payment Methods by Sam’s Club
