Let’s talk about warehouse shopping mistakes and how they can cost you money!

Low prices are the big draw of warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and Costco. That’s why many shoppers turned to these huge stores during the recession, according to recent data. But it’s not just during tough times when shoppers stock up at warehouse clubs to make the most out of discount pricing.

These bulk-product chains have seen rapid growth over the past 10 years, and their share of the retail sector is predicted to grow further.

If you shop smart, there are definitely some great savings that you can take advantage of at warehouse clubs. However, there’s a chance you’re wasting more cash than you’re saving. If you’re not approaching shopping trips smartly, you could end up throwing money away, regardless of which chain you choose.

Here are some warehouse shopping mistakes you may be making without even realizing it. Remember them next time you do your groceries at Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ.

1. Assuming you need a membership

Thinking the only way to save money is by rushing into membership is by far one of the biggest warehouse shopping mistakes you can make. There are many products you can purchase at a warehouse club without a membership, especially if you’re willing to get things online or shop with a relative or friend who has a membership to the store.

In fact, you’ll be surprised to know that some people will save money overall by paying nonmember surcharges instead of paying an annual membership fee.

Let’s take Costco, for example. Signing up will cost you at least $60, a fee you’ll have to pay annually, while not joining means you’ll pay a 5% nonmember surcharge on most purchases.

So, basically, if you spend less than $1,300 per year at Costco, you can save money by paying the surcharge instead of the membership fee.

2. Not earning cash back

Hopefully, you already know there are several methods to earn cash back when shopping online, including spending money on wholesale clubs’ websites. But if you aren’t also earning cash back every time you shop at a Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco store, you’re making one of the biggest warehouse shopping mistakes.

Meet Ibotta, a free app that routinely offers cash rebates on goods purchased from these three mega-stores—among many other retailers’ stores.

You’ll need to sign up for an account to use the app. Once you do that, you can select Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s from the list of retailers to have a look at the cash rebates Ibotta is currently giving for purchases from these wholesale clubs.

But Ibotta isn’t the only way you can earn cashback. A cash-back credit card can do the same thing. In fact, we can use both methods!

3. Not reviewing deals and ads

Moving forward with the list of warehouse shopping mistakes, we have one that is pretty common. Let me ask you something. Do you do a bit of research before heading to the store?

Warehouse stores already boast good prices on a lot of products compared with regular stores. But most warehouse clubs offer even deeper discounts, and not reviewing them is one of the biggest warehouse shopping mistakes you can make. To find those deals, check the fliers and ads just like you would at a regular supermarket.

For instance, I used to check the Costco app to see what deals were coming up. You can also find Costco’s periodic offerings on its website. The same thing applies to Sam’s Club as well.

4. Not planning your meals

Large packages of cheap products such as pasta and rice make bulk shopping seem tempting. And for families who go through such things quickly, they are a great investment. But if your family seldom uses these items, you’ll only wind up with a lot of food going to waste.

Before you head to the warehouse store, plan meals for the next several weeks so you know exactly what to buy. Walking into any grocery store without a list of what you need to buy is one of the worst warehouse shopping mistakes you can make.

But the omission can be particularly costly at warehouse clubs because these retailers sell such a wide range of goods in such large quantities that you might be tempted to purchase—even if you don’t need them.

If you’re new to the meal planning concept, start with one or two meals you plan on cooking the following week, then add other meals to your list when you feel familiarized with the whole new thing. Here’s a notebook where you can write your weekly meals!

Read on to discover other warehouse shopping mistakes!

5. Keeping items you don’t need

Have you ever bought something that you eventually realized you didn’t actually need, like, or want? Have you held on to it or tossed it out—barely used—because you weren’t sure you could return it? It must have happened to you at least once because it’s one of the most common warehouse shopping mistakes.

However, before trashing or stashing it, check the return policy of the store where you purchased it. For instance, Costco has one of the best return policies for both in-store and online purchases. Some products do have a return window, such as 90 days for many electronic items, but you can return most products at any time.

6. Not figuring out what you actually need

Ok, so you need a certain thing, but will you use the entire package? Not thinking of this aspect is also among the warehouse shopping mistakes that can cost you money.

If you’re going to buy that pack of batteries, for example, make sure you’re ready to use them all before the expiration date. Similar to many other products sold in bulk, batteries do have a shelf life.

So, before you make this type of purchase at a warehouse club, ask yourself how many of the objects you actually will use. If they go bad before you use them, the bulk package isn’t the great deal it might seem to be.

7. Ignoring your household size

Bulk items are meant to care for and feed a lot of people. One of the biggest warehouse shopping mistakes you can make is overlooking important details like the size of your family when doing groceries.

You should choose the products that fit your household, so if your parents live with you or you’ve got kids at home, it’s easier to justify larger quantities. But if it’s just you and your partner, think twice before making certain purchases—or split them with another household.

8. Not being flexible about your shopping list

Sure, eating the tempting samples at a warehouse store is like having a free snack. They could also help you avoid warehouse shopping mistakes and make better shopping decisions.

Wouldn’t you rather purchase something that you know is good than spend your money blindly on something? That’s why samples exist—to allow you to try something you wouldn’t otherwise eat. So even if you have a similar product written on your shopping list, if you discover something new that seems as good, or perhaps better, than what you used to have, go for the new one!

9. Forgetting your house’s space limits

Last but not least on our list of warehouse shopping mistakes, we have this pretty common one: buying more than you need and struggling to store those things. You might think that purchasing toilet paper in bulk will save you some extra dollars, and the truth is that it might. But do you have a spot to put all those extra rolls?

Larger bulk items aren’t worth buying if you don’t have a place to store the excess. So evaluate your house’s storage space before splurging on larger quantities.

If you liked our article on warehouse shopping mistakes, you may also want to read These 5 Grocery Stores Have the Best Deals for Frugal People.