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- Walmart makes ordering groceries online for delivery or pick-up a snap, saving its users time and money.
- Walmart+ subscribers can receive free delivery on orders over $35, bypassing a $7.95-$9.95 delivery fee.
- Express delivery can cost up to $19.95, but with Walmart+, it's a flat fee of only $10.
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There are certain groceries we all find ourselves needing to restock with startling regularity. There's never milk in the fridge when you need it — or eggs, low-fat Greek yogurt, or cream cheese. One second you have a whole loaf of bread, and the next, you can't even make toast for breakfast. These staples are the ideal groceries to get from a grocery delivery or pick-up service.
If you're unfamiliar with using a grocery service it may seem daunting, but Walmart has been doing curbside pick-ups since 2013 and has streamlined the process to work seamlessly with their customers' busy schedules. Once an order is created, users have the next several hours to make changes — useful for those last-minute additions that can make or break dinner plans.
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How to order groceries with Walmart
Orders can be placed online, or by using Walmart's mobile app. Shoppers are then able to choose the hour-long time slot that best fits their availability to pick up their order — these slots open early and don't close until later into the evening.
Once the order is confirmed, all you need to do is arrive within the one-hour window to let Walmart's staff load your car up with your groceries. If you find yourself unable to arrive during the time slot, you'll still be able to pick up your order on the same day until Walmart closes. This service is available for free to all Walmart customers, with no restrictions beyond a $35 order minimum.
Delivery works in a similar way, but depending on the specifics of how you order, delivery can have a variable fee. For Walmart+ members regular delivery is free, while Express Delivery is just $10. For those who have not subscribed, delivery costs between $9.95 and $19.95 depending on if the order is regular or express. Until very recently, all deliveries had a $35 minimum to place an order — but as of this March, Express Deliveries no longer have a minimum.
By allowing users to save Favorite and Future shopping lists, Walmart makes it incredibly simple to customize and order the basics in just a few minutes. The ease of ordering, combined with the time saved by having groceries either delivered right to your door (or picking them up at your convenience without even going inside the building), can be very significant for anyone running on a tight schedule. Walmart estimates that its delivery/pick-up service will save an average of 2.5 hours a week for a family making 3 trips to the grocery store — after only one month of use that adds up to an extra 10 hours of time saved.
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Pros and cons of Walmart's grocery delivery service
While the most obvious perk is the time this service saves users, it can also help save money. By not walking through aisles of tempting purchases, it's much easier to avoid buying the newest intriguing flavor of Oreo, and to double-check if you actually need to get another can of tomato paste.
For anyone who makes less than one trip to the grocery store a week, paying for a Walmart+ subscription may not be worth it, especially when Walmart offers free pick-up. But if you're planning on getting groceries delivered more than twice a month that's already $19.90 in delivery fees alone, compared to the $8.15 you'd pay monthly for an annual Walmart+ subscription.
Ordering groceries is in no way meant to replace the joy of visiting a farmer's market and determining which eggplant speaks to you. So for a foodie or picky shopper, Walmart's grocery services may not be the right fit. But for busy parents, tight budgeters, party planners, strict dieters, or anyone who doesn't want to deal with carrying heavy, bulky groceries themselves, it can be a game-changer. Just a few minutes spent on Walmart's app can easily free up hours a month, something we can all use more of.
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