A paid retail membership can be a great way to access exclusive discounts and perks that save you money in the long run. However, many of these programs have been devalued over the years, with rising fees and diminishing benefits. As consumers scrutinize their budgets in 2025, they are finding that many of these once-valuable memberships no longer provide a return on their investment. For the average shopper, these nine retail memberships have become a questionable expense rather than a smart savings tool.
1. Barnes & Noble Premium Membership
The Barnes & Noble membership, which costs $39.99 per year, offers a 10% discount on most purchases and free shipping. However, in an era dominated by Amazon, this is a poor value proposition. The online retail giant consistently offers book prices that are more than 10% lower than Barnes & Noble’s list price, and its Prime membership provides faster shipping and many other benefits. The bookstore’s membership only makes sense for the most frequent, loyal customers.
2. Restoration Hardware (RH) Membership
The RH Members Program comes with a steep annual fee of $175. In exchange, members get 25% off all full-priced merchandise. This seems great, but it locks you into shopping at one of the most expensive furniture stores in the country. The high fee creates immense pressure to make large purchases to justify the cost, and you can often find similar quality furniture at other retailers for less than the “discounted” RH price.
3. AMC Stubs A-List
For avid moviegoers, the AMC Stubs A-List, a subscription service that allows you to see multiple movies per month for a flat fee, was once an unbeatable deal. However, as the monthly price has crept upward, its value has diminished for many. If you do not consistently see at least two or three movies every single month, you are likely better off just buying individual tickets when you want to go.
4. Bed Bath & Beyond’s Welcome Rewards+
Bed Bath & Beyond’s paid membership tier, Welcome Rewards+, costs $29 per year and offers 20% off your entire purchase every time you shop. This sounds great, but the company is famous for its widely available “20% off one item” coupons. For most shoppers who only make occasional purchases, using the free coupons is a much more economical strategy than paying an annual fee for a similar discount.
5. Amazon Prime
For years, Amazon Prime was an automatic renewal for millions. However, with the annual fee now at $139, many customers are starting to question its value. If you do not regularly use the included perks like Prime Video and Amazon Music, the membership is essentially just a very expensive shipping subscription. Many shoppers are finding that they can easily reach the standard free shipping threshold without paying the hefty annual fee.
6. My Best Buy Plus
Best Buy has pushed its tiered paid membership program, with the “Plus” level costing $49.99 per year. The program offers exclusive member prices and an extended return window. However, many of the “exclusive” prices are not significantly better than the store’s regular sale prices, which are available to everyone. For most consumers, the annual fee is not worth the limited and often underwhelming benefits.
7. CVS CarePass
The CVS CarePass program costs $5 per month, or $48 per year. In return, you receive a $10 monthly ExtraBucks reward. While this seems like you are doubling your money, it forces you to spend that $10 at CVS every single month. If you fail to use it, you lose it, and many people find they do not need to make a monthly CVS run, effectively wasting their membership fee.
8. Boxed Up
The online bulk retailer Boxed offers a premium membership called Boxed Up for $49 a year, which provides free shipping and 2% cash rewards. However, the standard free shipping minimum is relatively low. Most customers will find that they can easily reach the free shipping threshold on their own, making the annual fee an unnecessary expense just for a meager 2% reward.
9. GameStop Pro Membership
The GameStop Pro membership, which costs around $25 per year, gives you a $10 welcome reward and a $5 monthly coupon. Similar to the CVS program, this structure forces you to visit the store every month to get the full value. For casual gamers or those who are increasingly buying their games digitally, this forced monthly engagement is not worth the membership fee.
Do the Math on Your Memberships
The value of a paid retail membership is not a given. It requires a careful and honest assessment of your personal shopping habits. Before you pay an annual fee, you should do the math to see if your expected savings will actually outweigh the cost. In many cases, you will find that these programs are designed to benefit the store’s bottom line more than your own.
Do you pay for any retail memberships? Which ones do you think are still a great value, and which ones are not? Let us know!
Read More
9 Costco Items That Aren’t Worth Renewing Your Membership For
8 Ways Membership Clubs Can Overpromise and Underdeliver (And How to Assess Value)
The post 9 Retail Store Memberships That No Longer Pay for Themselves appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
