Image Courtesy of Sam’s Club
October 15, 2025
Will Sam’s Club Benefit From Expanded Sunday Hours?
Following Costco’s recent move to tinker with its store hours, Sam’s Club announced that it will open two hours early and close two hours later on Sundays, among other expanded hours for Plus members.
The new hours will be to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. compared to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. previously, with Plus member shopping exclusive to 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The change stemmed from “overwhelming feedback” from members, Steven Zapata, director of corporate communications at Sam’s Club, told USA Today.
Sam’s Club’s Plus members, the highest-tier membership level, will still get the perk of being able to shop earlier, although access on Sundays lasts from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. versus 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. previously.
Sam’s Club’s extended hours help the warehouse club somewhat compete against its parent, Walmart, which opens most its Supercenters from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Target’s hours run from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
“Effective October 12, most clubs will move to a simplified schedule of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day,” Sam’s Club said in a statement.
However, the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. hours particularly stand out against its most direct competitor, Costco, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Sam’s Club Move Positions it Against Costco
Last fall, Costco last summer extended its Saturday closing hours for all members to 7 p.m. from 6 p.m.
Costco also began opening its stores one hour early on weekdays and Sunday, and a half-hour early on Saturdays for Executive members, who pay $130 annual for benefits — including an annual 2% reward on purchases and Instacart credits.
On a quarterly analyst call in September, Ron Vachris, Costco’s president and CEO, said the revised hours were designed to “increase value and convenience,” with the warehouse club estimating the incremental hours added about 1% to weekly U.S. sales since implementation.
Vachris added that the new Executive early-arrival perk helped drive a “meaningful increase in upgrades” from Gold Star memberships. Costco saw 9.3% year-over-year jump in membership upgrades in the quarter.
B.J.’s Wholesale Club has the most customer-friendly hours among the major warehouse clubs, opening from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Discussion Questions
What do you think was behind Sam’s Clubs move to add four more hours to its Sunday opening times, and simplified schedule overall? Will the extra hours be worth it?
What obvious and less-obvious factors should go into extending store opening hours?
Poll
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As a former Sam’s Club leader, I see this move to expand Sunday hours as a smart, member-centric decision that aligns with the club’s heritage of convenience and responsiveness. Sundays have always been one of the busiest shopping days for members, and the previous 10 a.m. opening left valuable sales and service opportunities on the table. Extending to an 8 a.m.–8 p.m. schedule simplifies the week, supports consistency for both members and associates, and gives Sam’s Club a competitive edge over Costco and other warehouse players. It’s a clear sign that Sam’s Club is listening to members and adapting to their changing shopping patterns — particularly as families look to fit bulk shopping into increasingly busy weekends.
That said, longer hours only pay off when they’re managed strategically. It’s not just about unlocking the doors earlier — it’s about ensuring the right staffing, in-stock execution, and service levels throughout the day. The incremental costs must be justified by real incremental traffic and member satisfaction, especially as Sam’s Club continues to elevate its value proposition for Plus members with early access and digital conveniences.
Ultimately, this decision reinforces what Sam’s Club has always done best — putting the member first. When executed with operational excellence, expanded hours will not only drive more sales but also strengthen loyalty, reinforcing Sam’s Club’s role as the most convenient and responsive membership warehouse club in retail.
Sunday opening times were previously a little restrictive, which is not helpful for consumers wanting to get chores out of the way. I also think there is an element of responding to Costco and its new hours here. Store hours should always be determined by demand balanced by costs.
The move must be directly related to expanding convenience to Sam’s Club’s existing customer base. The extended hours will reduce congestion in stores and make it more comfortable to shop and will afford a marginal group of customers more flexibility in doing their shopping. All of this comes at a cost, but the cost is not likely to be high enough (one or two days worth) to move the needle. It will inconvenience its employees, however. It is not likely to increase sales for that weekend period.
I believe Sam’s Club needed to stay competitive against its main competitor, and expanded hours are a visible consumer benefit that’s impossible to miss.
As the economic downturn begins to affect households and disposable income shrinks, consumers will narrow down their shopping options. That includes how many club store memberships they maintain—or whether they want them at all
Adjusting store hours to improve access and better compete is retailing 101. Extending hours seems like a good move for Sam’s Club, as long as the extended hours don’t merely shift the same traffic volume over more operating hours. This would increase operating expenses but not necessarily improve sales outcomes. The most obvious factor in store hours is store visit volume and timing. If you know how many people will likely visit and when, adjusting store hours to meet this visit demand is a straight-forward exercise. And while some retailers may be reticent to change operating hours because of the potential disruption with staff scheduling and customer confusion, adjusting hours of operation is an important way to enhance access and unlock additional sales potential without necessarily adding a lot more cost.
I share the same concern.
Grocery shopping at 8:00 am sounds super fun. Seriously, if that’s what takes to remain competitive, and your customers like it, I say go for it. It’s about time companies started really listening to their customers.
Store hours are one of the tools retailers can use to provide unique value to their customers. Sam’s Club’s extended hours offer convenience for early and late shoppers who want to avoid the hectic in-aisle maneuvering commonly seen on peak weekend hours. In response to Costco’s decision to allow early opening hours for executive members, it makes sense for Sam’s Club to experiment and proactively adjust its approach.
“The change stemmed from overwhelming feedback” from members,…” This is a no-brainer. Take care of your customers, and you don’t have to worry about competition.