Sam’s Club Evaluates Price Hikes Amid Tariffs

Raising prices for certain products may be unavoidable, the retailer said.

June 20, 2025

Sam’s Club is currently evaluating what prices may need to be raised due to tariffs, reported the Wall Street Journal this week.

“Prices matter to Sam’s Club beyond their immediate effect on sales. The warehouse-club chain, owned by Walmart, has long said it aims to keep its prices as low as possible to help boost the paid memberships that are generally required to shop in its stores. And those membership fees generate 80% to 90% of its profit, Sam’s Club has said. But for certain items, higher tariff costs could give it no choice,” per the WSJ.

Sam’s Club will reportedly try to focus tariff-related price increases on discretionary products, potentially including kitchen items and holiday decorations, in response to tariffs, Chief Financial Officer Todd Sears said in an interview.

“If we see those higher costs come in, certainly we have to take a look at all options,” Sears said.

However, Sam’s Club on Tuesday said that it will hold prices until at least July 22 on more than 1,000 summer products, followed by promotional deals on those items July 23 through August 17. The summer items include 24-count beef hot dog packs, smashed burgers, cherry limeade, rotisserie chicken, paper towels, travel jogger pants, golf balls, street corn dip and organic fruit twists, and all private-label goods.

Sam’s Club stores “stock an average of about 4,000 unique products, or SKUs,” according to WSJ.

Last month, NACS Daily reported that Walmart will raise prices for goods affected by tariffs.

“The magnitude and speed at which these prices are coming to us is somewhat unprecedented in history,” Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Walmart is the largest retailer so far that has said it will pass through rising costs to customers. It is already raising some prices as supplier costs go up—tariffs increased the price of bananas, one of the most frequently purchased items at Walmart, to 54 cents a pound, up from 50 cents, Rainey said.