BUSINESS NEWS
Walmart rolls out $98 unlimited grocery delivery subscription
Dalvin Brown
USA TODAY
Published 11:39 AM EDT Sep 12, 2019
After piloting an unlimited version of its grocery delivery program in select cities this year, Walmart plans to expand the same-day delivery program throughout the nation this fall.
The “Delivery Unlimited” service will cost $98 annually or $12.95 per month and will be offered in 1,400 stores over the next few months, Walmart announced Thursday.
By year-end, it will extend to a total of 1,600 stores, which covers more than 50% of the country, Walmart said in a news release.
“Grocery Delivery takes convenience to a new level, and our customers love it. With Delivery Unlimited, we’re providing incredible value for our customers and leveraging our unique assets to save them both time and money,” said Janey Whiteside, Walmart’s chief customer officer.
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Walmart’s latest service option makes delivery more affordable for people who use the program twice a month or more. Customers will continue to have the option to pay a per-delivery fee, without a membership.
How will it work?
Your store will require a minimum purchase order of $30, and there will be a four-hour minimum wait time after you place the order until it arrives at your home.
There’s an option to order the groceries online and pick them up at your Walmart free of charge. Walmart associates will bring the groceries to you, so you don’t have to exit your car.
“By pairing our size and scale and these services, we’re making Walmart the easiest place for (consumers) to shop. Combine that with the value we can provide, our customers can’t lose,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president of digital operations at Walmart.
The unlimited membership comes with a free, 15-day trial.
Competition
Walmart’s latest move takes aim at grocery delivery options that have been around for years.
Amazon set the standard for grocery delivery with PrimeNow in 2014. The service is part of Amazon’s broader Prime membership that offers free two-day shipping on millions of items. It costs $119 per year or $12.99 per month.
Target presents an alternative to Prime in its same-day shipping offer through its Shipt service. The retailer offers a four-week, free trial for Shipt, which costs either $99 a year or $9.99 per order.
Instacart’s annual membership costs $99 and gives you access to items from multiple stores in your area.
Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.
