Bj's membership expiring. Any deals?

[Disneefun]

I can't decide whether to renew this year or not. Leaning toward not. We used to get our money out of it in gas alone, but this year some new stations have opened and Bj's isn't even in the top 5 cheapest anymore most of the time. There isn't anything there I can't get elsewhere for the same price (esp. if I wait for sales and coupons). It is convenient and nice to have an alternate source to shop, but I'm thinking not worth the $50 they want for renewal. We just don't use it like we used to.

So if I let it lapse, is there any chance they'll send a renewal letter with a lower price to get me back, or does anyone know if there are any discounts anywhere?

 

[cruisers5]

Can you split the membership with someone? When you join it's good for 2 cards. But only one of the card members will get the coupon books. A friend and I just did this. She also had a coupon for BJ's for $10 off membership and an extra 3 months on the membership from the Entertainment Book. I like BJ's as you can combine one of their coupons with a manufacturer's coupon for "extra" savings. Also, say you're buying a cellophaned package of 4 boxes of Crest Toothpaste, and they have in their coupon book a $2 off coupon you can use that and if you have 4 manufacturer's coupon for a "single box" of toothpaste, you can use four of them along with the BJ's coupon. It will only work on items that have an individual bar code. So for toothpaste, mouthwash, two tubs of butter, two bottles of pasta sauce. You can not do it for a large box of cereal that has 2 bags it it. Then you could only use one manufacturer's coupon for that box, even though there are two bags inside.

 

[amcnj]

I have received $10 off coupons for renewing with a certain credit card in the past. I have seen those free pass offers, but forget what the terms are for using it so far as having been a former member.

Another thing to consider is if you let your membership lapse you can restart it again at a future date, and if it is over 2 months after your expiration date I believe, then your membership date restarts. So say you had just stocked up, and then don't visit for 3 months, you can restart the membership from that date. It is a way to stretch the membership fee over a longer time period.

The idea of going in with a realtive or a friend as suggested above is another good way to cut the cost.