Sam’s Club, which offers free pickup for online orders, says it has “dramatically” enhanced this service to include new features designed to help the warehouse club’s small business members (among other customers) save on that most precious of commodities: time.
Club Pickup, formerly called “Click ‘n Pull,” now enables members to build and save online shopping lists for easier reordering. The new service will especially benefit the warehouse club’s independent retailers in that they can now refill their weekly orders with a click of a button.
The service also now includes a mobile app with a check-in option that enables members to notify the warehouse club of the time they plan to arrive at the store location. Orders can be ready as soon as one day after an online order is placed (even if the order is placed as late as midnight the night before pickup).
The warehouse club will email or text message a confirmation to the customer that their order is ready, saving more time.
The mobile check-in feature is available at some Sam’s Clubs and will roll out to all of them by the year’s end.
Some 71 percent of small retailers shop weekly for their store’s essentials, according to a 2014 survey by the Futures Company. These shopping excursions are, on average, one hour long, per Bureau of Labor statistics.
Rosalind Brewer, president and CEO of Sam’s Club, said of the new Club Pickup enhancements:
“With Club Pickup, every member has the opportunity to choose when, where and how they shop for savings at Sam’s Club. It’s a convenience that can add a significant amount of time back into a member’s day. We know this service can make a big impact on every member’s time, and believe our busiest members will benefit the most, like parents and small business owners who have limited time and the most recurring needs.”
Club Pickup members now also can access check-in kiosks.
Other enhancements the company notes include improved online performance and site navigation. Online functionality, for example, can now provide substitute options for products not available due to inventory shortages or because a product was discontinued.
Another Club Pickup feature rolling out is the ability to prepay online. Also, small business owners can designate someone to pick up a product order on their behalf.
There’s also a planned expansion of offered product categories.
As of now, Club Pickup members can order a vast range of products, including fresh produce, paper goods and diapers; other categories slated to be added to the service this year include fresh meat, fresh bakery and adult beverages.
Club Pickup is the latest addition to Sam’s Club member-exclusive services. Nine online business services also are on top for what the warehouse club calls “critical needs,” including identity protection and tax preparation.
Sam’s Club, a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. division, has millions of members visiting its 651 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Sam’s Club Photo via Shutterstock
Aira Bongco
This is good for companies who doesn’t have a physical office. They can just direct customer to a place where they can pick up their goods.