Already the only warehouse club in the U.S. to provide a pickup option, Sam's Club has added some mobile sophistication to its Club Pickup offering to "help save its members valuable time."
Members can now build and save shopping lists online for easy reordering and trigger weekly refills with a single push of a button. Also in pilot in some clubs, a new mobile check-in will allow members to use their mobile app to notify their Sam’s Club when they arrive to pick up their order.
Overall, the new features promise to offer:
Enhanced convenience/ease-of-use: Beyond the instant reordering and text message alerts, Club Pickup features improved site performance and navigation as well as relevant substitute options for out-of-stock or no-longer-carried products. Also being added this year is the ability to pre-pay online and the option to assign a designated individual to pick up the order at the club on behalf of the member.
Photo: Sam’s Club
Seamless pickup: New technology will improve order accuracy and the ability to check in for pickup from any mobile device, as well as the new mobile check-in option that is being piloted in some clubs.
Product breath: Currently allowing orders from fresh produce to paper goods to diapers, additional categories, including fresh meat, fresh bakery and adult beverages, will be added throughout the year.
Extended availability: Orders can now be placed online until midnight (local time) and picked as soon as the next day in clubs. Club Pickup is available seven days per week during club operating hours, and members can select their preferred pick up time.
Sam's Club pointed to 2014 research from The Futures Company showing that 71 percent of business owners and families shop for essentials each week, with the average grocery trip taking approximately an hour.
Said Rosalind Brewer, president and CEO of Sam's Club, "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."