Does it Pay to Save with a Savings and Discount Club?

Merchants offer savings with membership clubs, and discount cards, but those offerings are not free. Discounts and savings offered to customers in yesteryear reflected a credit to the wallet, not a debit. Many merchants offer a savings card or discount club for a fee. To pay for savings seems inconceivable, but loyal shoppers would rather pay to save and enjoy the discount at their favorite merchants. Does it pay to save?

Overstock offers Club O, a savings club for those who pay $29.95 a year for savings of 5% off every order, $1 dollar shipping regardless of the items size, access, to customer service agents, and other club only savings. The potential for savings is unlimited because of the steep discount on shipping.

The Domestications Buyers Club is a savings club similar to Overstock, for those who pay $29.95 that includes 10% savings on every item for one year. It would pay to save if you almost $300 a year with this merchant, justifying purchase of the Buyers Club.

Amazon has an Amazon Prime membership for $79 a year and this is for free two day shipping on most of the items sold by Amazon. The benefits of this club include taking a priority over those who purchase from Amazon with free Super Saver Shipping, getting your purchased items at your door within two business days, with no minimum purchase, and a discount overnight shipping fee for only $3.99 if you want it even faster. The downside is that not all items listed on the website are eligible for the fast shipping method, and some items require a signature from UPS upon delivery. It will pay to save if you like super fast free shipping.

The Smart Bargains Smart Shoppers club is available to those who pay $9.95 a year for a shipping rate discount of $2.95 per order. It also includes special savings and discounts especially for club members, and access to a special customer service line. This pays to save if you are going to buy at least four times a year, and the savings will barely justify the purchase.

Sally Beauty offers a club discount card for only $5 a year and this is a different kind of discount. Sally Beauty has the discount of each item on the price tag, where the regular price is in bold and the discount price in small numbers located at the top of the price tag. This is most likely the best all around deal you can get because most items discount about twenty percent per item. Oftentimes, the discount card pays for itself with one visit and the savings last all year.

Some of the savings and discount clubs are reducing the benefits to buyers who do not pay to save. For instance, a membership club that offers special customer service to members reduces service to non-members. Where did the service, normally expected, go to all of their customers whether they pay to save or not?

A savings and discount club will prove it does pay to save if you spend a great deal with a particular merchant. However, if you are not going to spend regularly with a merchant, then the savings cards and discount clubs will only discount your wallet.