You don't have to pay $55 a year to shop at this wholesale club! Here's how non-members can shop at BJ's.
4 Ways to Shop at BJ’s Without a Membership
Updated on Jun. 09, 2025
Everyone is looking for ways to save money on groceries and household goods these days, and shopping at warehouse membership stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s is a great way to do just that. Of course, “membership” is the key word here. So do you need a membership to shop at BJ’s? Luckily for all of us, the answer is no. Keep reading for four little-known ways to shop at BJ’s without paying the $55 per year membership fee.
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How to shop at BJ’s without a membership
Careful shoppers have made it their business to save on essentials for themselves and their families. Here are a few of the ways they’ve found to shop at BJ’s without shelling out that pesky membership fee.
Shop online
If you don’t mind making a purchase without seeing an item in person, consider an online membership. For a $10 annual fee, the membership comes out to less than $1 a month. While not all the items in the clubs are available online, you can still score some deals on online-only clearance items.
Get a one-day pass
Want to check out the selection at an actual warehouse club? Head to the customer service desk and ask for a one-day pass. With that, you can fill up your cart for one day. As a non-member, you will have to pay a 20% surcharge on what you buy. But should you decide to invest in a membership within seven days of using the one-day pass, you can ask for BJ’s to apply the surcharge to your membership fee.
Look out for a three-week trial
In an effort to increase membership, BJ’s has held open houses that provide people with a free, short-term membership. Even better: The warehouse club doesn’t assess the usual surcharge during these promotions. Keep an eye out for the deals in your local media, or ask at the club’s customer service desk if they’re offering any free trials.
Buy alcohol in certain states
Certain states have old laws on the books that allow you to buy alcohol at warehouse clubs without a membership. The states where you can do so at BJ’s? According to Consumer Reports, they are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Vermont.
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Sources:
- Savings with Tasia: “How to Shop at BJ’s Without a Membership”
- Consumer Reports: “Hey! You Can Buy Alcohol At Costco And Sam’s Club Without A Membership!”
