The 3 Best and Worst Products I've Bought at Sam's Club

I'm a Sam's Club member, and I love shopping at the warehouse club. The low prices on offer help me avoid running up a big credit card bill, and it's always exciting to check out the ever-changing array of products in different seasons.

But while there are great items that are well worth paying for out of your checking account, there are also products that are not worth purchasing there. Take a look at three of the best and worst products I purchased at Sam's Club.

These are the best products I bought at Sam's Club

Here are some of the best purchases I've ever made at Sam's Club.

1. Patio furniture: Over a decade ago, I bought a patio set at Sam's Club that came with a couch, two chairs, and a table. At the time, it was $699, although the same set now costs $999 (thanks inflation!). The set is still a huge bargain compared with similar items priced at almost $4,000. And it has held up amazingly well. I haven't even had to replace the cushions!
2. Shoes: I've purchased numerous pairs of shoes at Sam's Club, including Skechers sneakers that I paid $19 for -- even though they were selling for $40 on the Skechers site. My husband also paid $19.88 for a pair of Eddie Bauer hiking boots. The shoes are name brand and sell for awesome prices, and since your feet don't know where you bought them, they're a great deal.
3. Throw blankets: Sam's has a great selection of blankets for under $20 that I've found to be velvety soft and durable, even when used heavily by a dog and two kids under age five. Sam's Club also sells a $40 knit throw that's extremely similar to items that are triple the price.

If you're in the market for any of these items, check them out at Sam's Club. You likely won't be disappointed.

These are the worst products I bought at Sam's Club

Although I've loved many of Sam's Club products, I've had really bad experiences with these three items in particular.

1. Produce: I've found Sam's Club has a very poor selection of organic produce (read: nonexistent at my local club). When I have bought produce from there, I've found it goes bad very quickly -- well before we can eat what we purchased.
2. Sunscreen: Sam's sunscreen is another product I've had issues with. The bottles are simply so large that they expire before we're able to use them all up. We end up overpaying because we aren't spending every single day at the beach to go through an industrial-sized bottle.
3. Prepared salads: Sam's Club prepared salads have largely been a disappointment as well -- particularly the Everything Avocado bowl. It has surprisingly few ingredients that are actually avocado (only the dressing is avocado, and there are no actual avocados in the salad at all!)

The bottom line is, when you buy something at Sam's Club and it doesn't work out, you're out a lot of money because the package sizes are usually pretty large -- and therefore cost more. So before you purchase from there, make sure to read reviews, check expiration dates carefully, and consider your consumption habits. You may also want to try smaller quantities purchased elsewhere first so you aren't left with regrets.