About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, is a major chain of membership-only warehouse club retail stores. Founded in 1983 by Sam Walton, it offers a limited-item business model, selling merchandise primarily in bulk, directly off pallets, at exceptional values to its members.

The product range is extensive, including groceries, electronics, furniture, apparel, tires, and pharmacy services. It serves millions of members across the U.S. and internationally, aiming to be the most valuable membership for families and small businesses by offering quality products and services at wholesale prices.

Sam’s Club Affiliate Program Overview

The Sam’s Club Affiliate Program allows publishers, marketers, and content creators to earn commissions by referring customers to SamsClub.com, particularly for product purchases and new membership sign-ups. The program operates through popular third-party affiliate networks. It is a straightforward way for affiliates to monetize traffic related to wholesale shopping, bulk purchases, and general retail goods.

Information Details
Industry Retail / Warehouse Club / E-commerce (All-Around)
Product Type Physical Goods (Groceries, Electronics, Home Goods, Apparel, etc.) and Memberships
Affiliate Program Type Cost Per Sale (CPS) / Affiliate Network (e.g., Rakuten Advertising, FlexOffers)

Sam’s Club Affiliate Program Offers

Sam’s Club provides affiliates with the necessary tools to promote their products and memberships. A key factor is the relatively short cookie duration compared to some other programs, which means the referred customer must purchase quickly for the affiliate to earn a commission.

Offer Detail Specification
Promotional Materials Text links, promotional banners, creative assets, ongoing promotions, build-your-own-link feature, and data feed.
Affiliate Cookie Duration 3 Days (Some sources mention 30 days, but 3 days is commonly cited for the main program).
Accepted Traffic Source Generally accepts website traffic (blogs, content sites), and likely social media/email marketing (adhering to network/brand terms). Restrictions may apply to paid advertising (PPC) and branding.
Accepted Countries United States is the primary market (as the program is run through networks like Rakuten Advertising for the U.S. market).
Explicit Content Not accepted (Standard affiliate network policy to disallow content promoting illegal activities, offensive content, etc.).
Religious or political content Not accepted (Standard affiliate network policy to disallow content that is defamatory, violent, or promotes discrimination).

Sam’s Club Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The program features a differentiated commission structure, offering a higher percentage for generating new memberships, which are highly valuable to a membership club business model.

Commission & Payment Detail Specification
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) Not applicable. The program is a standard affiliate marketing structure.
Commission Rate Up to 12% (Higher for new memberships).
Commission Structure Differentiated/Tiered: ~12% of new memberships. ~1.6% to 2.4% for product sales (which can vary by category like pickups, same-day deliveries, or general sales).
Payout Frequency Monthly (Typically paid out by the affiliate network, e.g., Rakuten).
Payout Methods PayPal, Direct Deposit (ACH), or Check (Depends on the affiliate network).
Minimum Payout $50 (Minimum threshold set by the affiliate network, e.g., Rakuten).

Suitable Affiliates for Sam’s Club Affiliate

The Sam’s Club affiliate program is best suited for affiliates whose audience is interested in saving money, buying in bulk, or purchasing high-value items like electronics and home goods.

  • Bloggers: Highly suitable. Especially those focused on frugal living, family budgeting, meal planning, product reviews (electronics, home goods, groceries), or small business tips (as Sam’s Club caters to small businesses).
  • TikTokers/Influencers/YouTubers/KOL/KOC/Livestreamers: Highly suitable. Content creators who focus on “Hauls,” “What to Buy in Bulk,” “Money-Saving Tips,” home organization/decor, or tech reviews can effectively showcase Sam’s Club products and membership benefits.
  • Video editors: Suitable, as they are often the workforce behind content creators (YouTubers, TikTokers) who can leverage this program.

Sam’s Club Affiliate Software

Sam’s Club generally utilizes a third-party affiliate management software or affiliate network to run its program, rather than an in-house solution.

The program is known to be managed through major networks such as Rakuten Advertising (formerly LinkShare) and FlexOffers. These networks handle tracking, reporting, and payment processing for the brand.

3 Alternatives for Sam’s Club Affiliate Program

Sam’s Club competes primarily with other warehouse clubs and major general retailers. Here is a comparison with two direct warehouse club competitors, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club, and a major general e-commerce retailer, Walmart. Note: Details can change, and program availability may vary.

Comparison Factor Sam’s Club (Warehouse Club) Costco (Warehouse Club) BJ’s Wholesale Club (Warehouse Club) Walmart (General Retail)
Average Bill (AOV) ~$265 (High) High (Similar to Sam’s Club) High (Similar to others) Varies, generally lower than warehouse clubs
Entry Fees Free to join the affiliate program Free to join the affiliate program Free to join the affiliate program Free to join the affiliate program
Withdrawal Threshold $50 (Typical for Rakuten) Varies by network (e.g., $100 for some networks) Varies by network $50 (Typical for Rakuten)
Payment Frequency Monthly (Via Network) Monthly (Via Network) Monthly (Via Network) Monthly (Via Network)
Commission Up to 12% (High for memberships, low for products: 1.6%-2.4%) Flat rate for memberships (e.g., $3–$6 per membership). Product commissions are often not offered or are very low. Percentage-based (e.g., up to 4% for certain categories, plus a flat rate for new memberships). Percentage-based (Tiers vary by product, often 1%-4% for general goods).
Conversion New Member sign-ups and Bulk Purchases New Member sign-ups New Member sign-ups and Bulk Purchases General E-commerce Sales
Marketing Materials Banners, Text Links, Data Feed, Build-a-link Banners, Text Links Banners, Text Links Banners, Text Links, Product Feeds