A paid store membership promises exclusive access to deals and perks. However, in 2025, many of these programs are failing to deliver real value. The annual fees have climbed higher. The benefits have become less impressive. For the average shopper, these thirteen popular store memberships often do not provide enough benefits to justify their cost. They are a questionable expense in an already tight budget.
1. Bed Bath & Beyond Welcome Rewards+
This program costs $29 per year. It offers 20% off your entire purchase every time you shop. However, the company is famous for its widely available “20% off one item” coupons. For most shoppers, using the free coupons is a much smarter strategy. The paid membership is rarely necessary.
2. Barnes & Noble Premium Membership
The bookstore’s membership costs $39.99 per year. It offers only a 10% discount on most items. This is a very poor deal compared to Amazon’s prices. The free shipping perk is also not very valuable. The membership only makes sense if you are a very frequent shopper at their physical stores
3. My Best Buy Plus / Total
Best Buy’s tiered membership program starts at $49.99 per year. The benefits include exclusive member prices and extended returns. However, the “exclusive” prices are often not much better than their regular sales. The higher “Total” tier offers tech support, but it costs a steep $179.99. Most shoppers will not use these benefits enough to justify the fee.
4. CVS CarePass
The CVS CarePass costs $5 per month or $48 per year. It gives you a $10 monthly reward. This seems like a great deal. However, it forces you to spend that $10 at CVS every single month. If you fail to use the reward, you lose it. This structure makes the program a bad deal for infrequent shoppers.
5. GameStop Pro Membership
The GameStop Pro membership costs about $25 per year. It gives you a $10 welcome reward and a $5 monthly coupon. Like the CVS program, this forces you to visit the store every month. For casual gamers or those who buy digitally, this is not worth the hassle. The benefits are designed to drive traffic, not to save you money.
6. Amazon Prime
The price of Amazon Prime keeps going up. It is now $139 per year. The core benefit of free, fast shipping is becoming less valuable. Many other retailers now offer free shipping. The included perks, like Prime Video, have strong competitors. For many casual shoppers, the high annual fee no longer pays for itself.
7. Restoration Hardware (RH) Membership
The RH Members Program has a very high annual fee of $175. It gives you 25% off full-priced items. This locks you into shopping at one of the most expensive furniture stores. You can often find similar items for less at other stores. The high fee pressures you into making large purchases.
8. Boxed Up
The online bulk retailer Boxed has a $49 annual membership called Boxed Up. It offers free shipping and 2% cash rewards. However, the standard free shipping minimum is quite low. Most customers can easily reach it without paying the fee. The 2% reward is also very small compared to many credit card offers.
9. World Market Reward
The World Market loyalty program is free to join. However, its rewards structure provides very little value. You have to spend a large amount of money to earn even a small discount coupon. The coupons also expire very quickly. The program is more effective at collecting your data than it is at saving you money.
10. AMC Stubs A-List
The AMC movie subscription service was once a great deal. However, the monthly price has increased significantly. If you do not go to the movies at least two or three times every single month, the flat fee is no longer worth it. You are better off just buying individual tickets when you want to go.
11. Panera Bread Unlimited Sip Club
Panera’s drink subscription costs about $12 per month. It gives you unlimited coffee, tea, and fountain drinks. This sounds amazing. However, you have to visit Panera almost every single day to make it pay for itself. For anyone who does not live or work right next to a Panera, it is a poor value.
12. Office Depot / OfficeMax Rewards
The rewards program at Office Depot and OfficeMax has become much less generous. The amount you have to spend to earn a reward certificate is very high. The certificates also expire quickly. The program offers very little real value compared to the rewards programs at other office supply stores like Staples.
13. Petco Vital Care
Petco offers a paid “Vital Care” membership. It costs $20 per month. It includes benefits like discounts on food and free vet exams. However, the discounts are often not very deep. The free vet exam is only available at their own in-store vet clinics. For many pet owners, the high monthly fee does not justify the limited benefits.
The value of any store membership depends entirely on your personal shopping habits. Before you pay an annual fee, you must do the math. You need to calculate if the benefits you will actually use outweigh the cost of the program. In many cases, you will find that these memberships are designed to lock you in, not to save you money.
Do you pay for any store memberships? Which ones do you think are still a good deal? Let us know your thoughts!
What to Read Next
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- Why I Canceled My Costco Membership And Never Looked Back
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