Sam’s Club was founded in 1983 by Walmart Inc. and was named after Walmart founder Sam Walton. They operate as a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs, with about 600 membership warehouse clubs in 44 different states in America. Among products sold at Sam’s Club outlets include designer goods, apparel, electronics, food, meats, and even our topic of conversation, gasoline.
If this is your first time making a decision to purchase gas from Sam’s Club and you’re wondering if their gasoline is Top Tier certified, read on to find out more!
Is Sam’s Club Gas Top Tier?
Most gas stations have their gasoline quality rated based on a fuel performance system called Top Tier. According to Sam’s Club, the gasoline sold at their outlets are not Top Tier certified, as they have yet to acquire the Top Tier license for their fuel.
Based on Sam’s Club’s website and product policy, the gas they sell is considered a high-quality gas with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
If customers are not satisfied with any of their purchases and products from the store, Sam’s Club will process a full refund on their purchase as well as the shipping cost incurred. This gives a strong statement of intent to give customers confidence in their fuel quality.
What is Top Tier Gas?
You may be wondering, what is Top Tier gas? Top Tier gasoline is a license and trademark standard that recognizes premier fuel and gasoline performance. The body measures the efficiency & performance of the gasoline on a consumer’s car engines. Brands that have Top Tier licenses usually have additional additives that help optimize fuel economy and the overall health of the car engine.
Top Tier gas was introduced in 2004 but automakers to help regulate the standards of gasoline sold in the market and has become the main standard ever since.
According to a study by the American Automobile Association, they found that Top Tier gas had a cleansing effect on the engines of automobiles when used, reducing engine valve deposits by 45-72 percent over a 5,000-mile interval.
This widely enhances the preservation and efficiency of vehicles and is why there has been a point of emphasis on consumers switching from normal gas to Top Tier gas over the last decade. The lack of this certification does put Sam’s Club at a disadvantage in terms of providing quality to customers.
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What Kind of Gas Does Sam’s Club Sell?
Since Sam’s Club operates independent, self-branded fuel stations, they do not source its fuel from a single oil company. Even they do not disclose what type of fuel is being sold. Their gas is said to meet the minimum guidelines for fuel set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), government regulators, and the relevant regulatory bodies.
What we do know is since Walmart operates Sam’s Club as its parent company and they recently cut ties with their long-time fuel provider, Murphy USA in 2016 which rules them out of the list of Sam’s Club’s potential fuel suppliers.
How does Sam’s Club Gas Stack Up Against Other Gas Brands?
Since Sam’s Club Gas is not Top Tier, their selling point is more centered around pricing, convenience, and affordability. Sam’s Club is known for its low gas prices due to its membership model, with only Costco coming close to competing with their rates.
With a Sam’s Club Membership, a customer is able to capitalize on the perks and discounts that enrich the purchasing experience. We will explore more of the membership perks below!
How Do I Buy Gas At Sam’s Club?
In order to purchase gas at Sam’s Club, you need to sign up as a Sam’s Club member. You can sign up as a member at Sam’s Club’s official website or at any Sam’s Club stations. Non-members are not allowed to purchase gas from Sam’s Club. There are two types of Sam’s Club Membership available.
- Standard Personal/Business Sam’s Club Membership
The Standard Personal/Business Sam’s Club Membership costs 45$ per year and has the following perks:
- Free Curbside Pickup
- Same-Day Delivery
- Instant Savings
- Sam’s Club Mastercard
- Members-only fuel savings
- Tire & Battery Centre
- Complimentary Membership
2. Sam’s Plus Membership
The Sam’s Plus Membership costs $100 per year and has all the perks of the Standard Personal Sam’s Club Membership, along with these additional features:
- Sam’s Cash for PLUS
- Free Shipping for Sam’s Club Products
- Sam’s Club Pharmacy Savings
- Sam’s Club Optical Savings
Once you have obtained a Sam’s Club Membership, the next step is to locate a Sam’s Club Fuel Centre with the Sam’s Club locater and drive to your nearest fuel center. Once you are there, you can use the following payment methods to purchase gas from Sam’s Club.
Types of Payment Methods
- Sam’s Club Mastercard (for 5% cashback on gas purchases)
- Walmart or Sam’s Clubs Gift Cards
- Walmart Rewards Card
- Capital One Walmart Rewards Card
- Cash
- Checks
- Debit Cards
- Credit Cards
With the variety of features and perks that come with the Sam’s Club Membership, the purchasing process of gas from Sam’s club is pretty easy and convenient. With the variety of payment methods and benefits of the membership, a customer will be able to save costs on fuel and other Sam’s Club products in the long run.
Conclusion
Sam’s Club gasoline standards might not be Top Tier, but the gas they sell definitely meets the minimum requirements of the EPA, and they have a Satisfaction Guarantee policy for their gas which boosts consumer confidence. The availability of the fuel at a competitive price coupled with Sam’s Club membership ecosystem makes up for its perceived lack of quality as a result of not having Top Tier certification.