• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
RetailSam's Club

Sam’s Club overhauls pick-up service with eye on Costco

Phil Wahba
By
Phil Wahba
Phil Wahba
Senior Writer
Phil Wahba
By
Phil Wahba
Phil Wahba
Senior Writer
June 4, 2015, 8:00 AM ET
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL - JANUARY 12:  A Sam's Club store sits next to a Walmart store January 12, 2010 in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.   (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL - JANUARY 12: A Sam's Club store sits next to a Walmart store January 12, 2010 in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Photograph by Scott Olson — Getty Images

Sam’s Club, the warehouse club operated by Walmart Stores (WMT), has overhauled its in-store pick-up service for online orders as it looks to gain an edge in e-commerce over archival Costco Wholesale (COST).

The company, the eight largest U.S. retailer with sales of $58 billion last year, already gives customers the option to order products online and pick them up in stores.

But Sam’s Club said Thursday that it has improved the service, renamed “Club Pickup” from “Click ‘n Pull,” to let customers build and save shopping lists online so they can reorder the same items later or do so automatically. They can also get suggestions for substitutions if an item is out of stock. The service, which has an expanded assortment of items available, will be open for business seven days a week rather than just five.

Sam’s Club said that could be particularly handy for its convenience store customers. That part of its business that has struggled as that area of retail has consolidated and tobacco sales softened.

The initiative is just the latest by Sam’s Club to shore up its revenue from business customers, which account for as much as one-third of Sam’sClub’s membership, according to Kantar Retail estimates. But lately, they have been a softer part of its business compared to non-business members, impeding its performance compared to Costco.

We “believe the busiest members will benefit the most, like parents and small business owners who have limited time and the most recurring needs,” said Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer.

This follows other initiatives Brewer described last year in an interview with Fortune, including a big expansion of what it sells online for small businesses.

This service could give Sam’s Club a welcome edge over Costco, which quarter in and quarter out reports better sales numbers. Costco does not yet let customers place orders online that they can retrieve at a warehouse.

Sam’s Club can use the new service to place orders online or through an app, select the location and time they want to pick up the order, and get an email or text alert when the order is ready.

For more about Walmart, watch this Fortune video:

About the Author
Phil Wahba
By Phil WahbaSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Phil Wahba is a senior writer at Fortune primarily focused on leadership coverage, with a prior focus on retail.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.