With the popularity of online shopping and increasingly busy schedules, Walmart is seeking to remain relevant in a world where convenience has become a priority in shopping. Following suit to brands like Kroger and Publix, Walmart is expanding their services to include grocery delivery.
Walmart’s grocery delivery service is currently coming to more of its stores. They have normal, express, and in-home delivery options, which customers pay for either by order or through a subscription. The service features things such as substitution and favorites to make shopping easier.
Walmart’s grocery delivery service could make life much easier for busy families, hard working entrepreneurs, and just anyone who could use more time! However, how convenient is Walmart’s delivery option? Is it a cost-effective choice? Keep reading for everything you need to know about Walmart’s grocery delivery!
Types of Delivery Offered by Walmart
Walmart has three different types of delivery services: normal, express, and in-home. Although similar, each service offers slightly different delivery options and different costs.
Walmart Grocery Delivery
The normal delivery option is simply known as Walmart Grocery Delivery. Groceries are ordered online and a delivery time is selected. Walmart requires a $35 minimum purchase to qualify for delivery.
With normal delivery, you can either schedule the delivery to be made when you will be home or you can request that the delivery be left on your porch or in your garage. Normal delivery can be paid for either through a Walmart + Subscription or by individual order.
Express Delivery
Express delivery is Walmart’s fast delivery option. If you need your groceries in 2 hours or less, you will need Express delivery rather than the normal option. Unlike the normal delivery option, Express delivery does not have a minimum purchase amount.
It will cost you extra to have your groceries delivered on short notice. Walmart charges an extra $10 per order for Express delivery. This option is great for when you need something quickly, but 2 hours or less is hardly an instant delivery. If you are already cooking supper, Walmart probably cannot get you that ingredient you need in the next five minutes.
InHome Delivery
Walmart has an option that takes delivery to another level: In-home delivery. In-home delivery does not just bring your groceries to your door, it brings them inside and puts them away per your instructions.
Walmart’s In-home services also include pharmacy deliveries and returns. You can leave your returns out for the associates to take back for you. This more extensive service works through a membership of $19.95 a month. Membership comes with unlimited deliveries.
The In-home service does require the Walmart associates to be able to enter your home. If you have a keypad on your door already this will be simple. If not Walmart will provide you with a smart lock to use for a fixed fee. If you are uncomfortable with entry to your home, In-home can also deliver to your garage.
In-home deliveries are recorded, so you receive video confirmation that everything is going smoothly. Walmart employees also sanitize when they leave for health safety. In-home deliveries occur on a set day, so they can fit into your schedule.
Walmart is hoping to provide the ultimate in grocery shopping convenience with their In-home delivery service. Unfortunately, this service is not yet available at many locations, so it remains to be seen if Walmart has hit on the future of grocery delivery with In-home.
Ways to Pay
Like almost all delivery services, getting groceries delivered from Walmart will cost you. Walmart charges this delivery fee in one of two ways.
Walmart + Subscription
The first way you can pay for deliveries from Walmart is with a Walmart + Subscription. A Walmart + Subscription costs $12.95 a month or $98 for the entire year and comes with unlimited free deliveries.
A Walmart + Subscription will give you other benefits besides free deliveries. It also comes with free shipping on online purchases, better prices on gas, and the ability to scan and pay for items with your phone. With this payment option, you pay a flat rate for delivery and get other advantages.
Please note that the Walmart + subscription does not cover the $10 fee for Express deliveries nor does it include the $19.95 monthly rate for In-home. Walmart + simply covers normal deliveries.
Walmart is currently offering free 15 day trials of the Walmart + program for those who want to test their membership system.
By Order
If Walmart is not your regular grocery store or you simply do not want a subscription, you can also pay per order. The delivery fee per order costs between $7-$10. Again this does not include the $10 added fee for Express delivery.
How Does Walmart Grocery Delivery Work?
Now that you know about the different systems and prices Walmart uses for grocery delivery, what happens when you actually make a delivery? How does Walmart grocery delivery work for the customer?
Getting Started
Because you can pay by order, you do not have to have a Walmart + membership to place your first order. However, you will need a Walmart account. The easiest way to set up a Walmart account and get shopping is with their mobile app, but you can also start an account and shop online through their website.
Once you have an account, you will need to select delivery before you start shopping. Not all Walmarts offer delivery but most offer pickup, so the app and website will default to the pickup option.
Picking a Slot
After selecting delivery and before you start shopping you still need to reserve a time slot for delivery. You can order groceries up to a week before you schedule them to be delivered.
Because of the pandemic, more people than ever are taking advantage of grocery delivery. It is best to reserve a time slot before you shop in order to have it reserved as it can be hard to get a slot at times.
Shopping
Filling your order is as easy as selecting the items you want. Because Walmart carries much more than groceries, you can fill your shopping basket with a large variety of options. For the most part, if Walmart sells it, they will deliver it. Walmart also charges the same price for their items in-store and online, so you pay the same with mobile shopping that you would in person.
To make shopping easier next time, you can mark your favorite items with a heart. These items will be moved to your favorite list, and you will be able to quickly add them to future orders. You can put your weekly staples here for a fast grocery restock each week.
Substitutions
Sometimes what you request in your order may not be available in store. In this case, Walmart will automatically provide substitutions. If you want a particular brand of syrup, but they are out they will provide a different brand.
Substitution even has price protection. When the item you requested is substituted for a cheaper item you pay the cheaper price. However, if the item you requested is substituted with a more expensive item, you still pay the cheaper price! The cost of your order will not increase without your knowledge.
Substitution is a rather convenient system that ensures that you always have what you need. However, be aware that when performing substitutions Walmart tends to supply the store brand in place of the brand item you requested.
You will receive notification of all substitutions made and full returns on any you do not approve. You can always select which specific products you are okay with substitutions if you are not okay with substitutions for some things.
Edits
Besides substitutions, Walmart Grocery delivery also offers another feature to make your grocery shopping experience more convenient: edits. After you place your order you can make edits on it up to the day of delivery. For those of us who are constantly finding new things to add to the list, this feature is a lifesaver.
Because Walmart also sends you notifications about substitutions and out-of-stock items in your order, you can also use the edit feature to deal with these unexpected items in your order.
Tipping
As a delivery service, you may be wondering how Walmart handles its delivery drivers. The fact is that Walmart uses third-party services such as DoorDash to make their deliveries. This means that you can (and should) tip the delivery drivers. Walmart will ask you about the tip when you place and receive the order.
This does mean that when ordering from Walmart, you will likely be looking at both a delivery fee and a tip. However, for many the extreme convenience of grocery delivery far outweighs these additional costs.
InHome grocery delivery is an exception to this rule. InHome is delivered by Walmart employees, and tipping is unnecessary. The full price of the service is covered in the $19.95 monthly rate.
Refunds
If you are unhappy with one of your substitutions or if items are missing from your order, Walmart will give you a refund. You can request refunds from the Walmart app, so you do not have to go into the store to get compensated for problems with your delivery order.
Is Grocery Delivery Available at All Walmarts?
After learning so much about this delivery service, you may be disappointed to learn that it is not available at all Walmarts. With a need for third-party delivery drivers and the limits of a delivery radius, Walmart is currently offering its delivery service exclusively in more urban areas.
If you live in a rural area or simply a medium-sized town then it is best not to expect your Walmart to deliver. Hopefully, Walmart will expand its delivery option to more stores in the future, but for now, they lack the resources to offer it everywhere.
An Alternative: Free Pickup
While Walmart cannot offer delivery everywhere yet, their grocery pickup is available almost everywhere. You can still order your groceries online or through the Walmart app, and then pick them up from the store for free. While it may not be as convenient as delivery, it is still a faster option for a busy schedule.
Are There Problems with Walmart Grocery Delivery?
Nothing is perfect. There are some downsides to Walmart’s grocery delivery. Here are the things that might make you think twice about using Walmart’s grocery delivery service.
- No coupons. Walmart does not have a coupon system on its app. If you are a big coupon shopper, then this could be a major blow to your savings. Walmart does have a Rollback system where some items are periodically put on sale.
- It can be hard to get a slot. Because of the high demand for delivered groceries, getting a time slot for Walmart’s normal delivery service can be tricky. This service is great if you are someone who plans ahead, but it is not the best for people who do their grocery shopping at the last minute or spontaneously.
- Lack of personal choice. How many times have you searched for the longest expiration date or the ripest bananas at the store? With Walmart’s grocery delivery, your ability to pick and choose produce and other products are gone. You can always ask for a refund if you are unhappy, but you will have to settle for not being able to handpick your items.
- Organization! If you are the type of person who walks out of the store with twice as many things as you came in to get, then Walmart grocery delivery may not be the best choice. Buying your groceries in advance requires having a clear plan. If you lack organization you may find yourself consistently without the items you need when using delivery.
Tips to Make Walmart Grocery Delivery Work Well for You
Just like with normal shopping, there is shopping and then there is shopping smart with Walmart’s grocery delivery service. Here are some tips to make your experience with Walmart Grocery Delivery as smooth as possible.
What If I Can’t Get a Time Slot?
Not being able to get a time slot is one of the biggest frustrations with grocery delivery services. While you cannot magically make a busy delivery schedule work in your favor, there are some ways to mitigate these frustrations.
The biggest way to ensure that you do not get frustrated by a lack of availability is to plan ahead! If you give yourself a week in which to have groceries delivered rather than a day, chances are you will find a slot that works for you. Remember that you can make edits to your order until the day of delivery, so placing an order days in advance will not overly restrict your shopping.
You can also buy many non-perishable items from Walmart.com. If you have a Walmart + account you qualify for free shipping and many items come with next-day delivery. If you need something tomorrow but can’t get a delivery slot then try Walmart.com!
Also if you cannot get a delivery time slot, you might try booking a pickup time instead. It may not be as convenient, but if your local store is busy with a delivery, pickup could offer a solution.
How Can I Save with My Shopping?
Without the use of coupons is there any way to save money when shopping with the Walmart app for delivery? While there are few sales (except Rollback) at Walmart, you can still save money with rebates and rewards.
Using rebate programs like Ibotta or a Walmart rewards credit card can give you up to 5% cashback on your delivery orders. If Walmart is your regular grocery store that can quickly add up over time to quite a lot of money back! It may not be direct savings, but cashback can still add quite the bonus to your needed grocery purchases.
Pros and Cons to Walmart Grocery Delivery
Everything we have mentioned can be a lot to think about when deciding whether or not to try Walmart grocery delivery. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons.
Pros
- Walmart does not charge more for items online.
- Walmart has things other than food, so you can get whatever you need to be delivered.
- Their delivery fee is competitive compared to other grocery delivery services.
- You can edit your order after making it.
- Walmart provides substitutions for the items you approve.
- Walmart gives you price protection in their substitutions and through refunds.
Cons
- It is not available at all Walmart’s.
- For normal delivery, you need to tip and pay the delivery fee separately.
- They do not deliver prescriptions.
- You cannot use coupons.
- You sacrifice personal choice with your produce and other items.
- You will need to stay organized to shop effectively using this method.
- You cannot use cash, checks, or gift cards to pay.
Who Would Likely Enjoy Walmart Grocery Delivery?
Walmart Grocery Delivery is all about convenience. You sacrifice a little money in the way of a Walmart + membership or delivery fees and the ability to personally pick your products, for the ultimate convenience of having your groceries brought to you.
With that in mind, Walmart Grocery Delivery is perfect for those with jam-packed schedules. Not having to devote several hours to grocery shopping a week could reduce your stress levels and give you some much-needed me-time.
Grocery delivery is also great for those who do not want to go to the store for various reasons. Whether you have small children that make long shopping trips difficult or at risk due to the Covid-19 virus, Walmart grocery delivery allows you to stay safe at home and still get your needed supplies.
Finally, Walmart Grocery Delivery is a great option for those shopping on a budget or trying to eat healthier. Shopping through the app allows you to easily track your spending before you checkout, and not having to physically wander the aisles will greatly reduce impulse buys.
Who Would Not Like Walmart Grocery Delivery?
That being said, Walmart Grocery Delivery is not for everyone. There are some types of shoppers who may not appreciate this service.
There is no getting around the fact that this service does not allow the use of coupons. If you are a big coupon shopper, then the convenience of delivery is not likely to outweigh the savings you will have to sacrifice without the use of coupons.
Let’s face it. Some of us are pickier than others when it comes to the quality of the items we purchase. If you are picky with your produce and/or you are not a fan of Walmart brand items, Walmart Grocery delivery may not be for you. Substitutions tend to be for the Walmart brand of items, and while the prices are great, some shoppers may dislike the quality.
We have already mentioned this several times, but the more disorganized shoppers may have a hard time getting into the swing of things with Walmart’s grocery delivery. You need a plan to shop effectively, so shoppers who tend to shop in a hurry may find that Walmart’s grocery delivery is too slow and requires too much forethought.
What Type of Shopping is Walmart Grocery Delivery Best For?
Walmart grocery delivery is better for the scheduled weekly grocery run rather than for unexpected grocery runs. The delivery service is great for working into your schedule, but it is not flexible nor fast.
Making Walmart Grocery Delivery the normal way you acquire groceries will also save you money. If you shop at Walmart regularly, paying for the Walmart + subscription is much more cost-effective than paying per order. It only takes two delivery orders for the Walmart + membership to more than pay for itself in a month.
Are There Times When Walmart Grocery Delivery Is a Bad Option?
Walmart offers grocery delivery all the time, but that does not mean using this feature is your best choice all the time.
During the holidays, you are most likely better off shopping in-store. People shop more than usual during the holidays, which means that time slots become harder to find and items are more frequently unavailable. During December, it may actually be more convenient to do your shopping yourself rather than fighting the crowds for time slots.
If you order fresh produce frequently, you may want to take note of when your local store restocks. Most of us do not want the produce that has been sitting in the store for a long time, so if you care particularly about freshness then arranging your delivery with your local store’s schedule could prove worthwhile.
When you need something in a hurry, Walmart delivery is not the quickest option. It can be difficult to get a time slot, and Express delivery costs an extra $10 and still takes up to 2 hours. If you need some milk within the next ten minutes, you are better off getting in the car and going to the store yourself.
Is Walmart Grocery Delivery Better Than Other Store’s Delivery Options?
Walmart Grocery Delivery does not exist within a void. Many other stores and companies are offering grocery delivery services with which Walmart is directly competing, so how does Walmart stack up against the competition.
In terms of price, it is hard to beat Walmart’s option. They do not raise the prices of their products online, and their delivery fee is not extravagant. With a Walmart + subscription, the cost of delivery is even better.
Walmart also has the advantage of having a lot of items besides groceries. You can also get your other essentials like makeup, outdoor needs, shampoo, toilet paper, and so much more in your Walmart grocery order. This wide range allows you to do all your shopping in one place and get it delivered.
However, it cannot be denied that when it comes to groceries Walmart is not the highest quality store. For better produce and meat options, other grocery stores simply have higher-end products. Some may find that Walmart’s prices are not worth having to lower their standards.
In addition, Walmart, though it has a large variety of products, does not carry many harder-to-find grocery products. Walmart is not known for its selection of exotic and healthy food choices. For more specific ingredients or particular brands, you may find that Walmart does not carry what you want.
Walmart also does not have a member rewards program that is as extensive as some other grocery stores. Walmart has low prices, but other stores may outweigh this by offering more savings through coupons and member deals.
Conclusion
Thanks to the pandemic, more people than ever are turning to grocery delivery services, and as perhaps the biggest chain in the country, Walmart is no exception. Walmart Grocery Delivery offers its typical low prices with the convenience of delivery. While this service may not be for everyone, it has definite appeal and will likely expand to more of their stores soon.
Sources
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/04/30/walmart-introduces-express-delivery