dvd-4-life

This is supposed to begin September 15th nation wide and I am guessing depending on where you live you will be able to get same day delivery (for free if the order is 35 plus dollars ).

One question-Are the store prices the same as the delivery prices?

I belong to Shipt and the jack up prices from Meijer when delivering groceries.

slybone

I would hope that the prices won’t be jacked up, but so far I haven’t had experience with their delivery service. We’ve been using the shit out of their grocery pickup, and there’s no up charge there, so I hope that delivery follows suit.

WM gets a lot of shit about being a big, evil corporation that treats their employees badly, and I’m sure that for some locations that is true, but IMO since the beginning of this pandemic WM seems to be genuinely doing what it can to see that it’s customers are able to get what they need with little health risk, and (so far) at absolutely no extra cost (for pickup).

fujishig

That's the only way they could continue to sell stuff, though. If you're saying that they have been a decent enough service during these times, I'll agree with you but that doesn't take away from how they (and amazon, who are also very useful) are basically big, "evil" corporations.

Since this is a competitor to Prime, I would think other than maybe regional variations in price, the price should be the same as in store because it's not being jacked up by a middleman. Like Prime, it's a way to get you locked into their ecosystem (I'm paying 100 bucks a year, I might as well buy from them, it's convenient enough, etc.).

TomOpus

Already paying $99/yr for a local grocery delivery service. They use DoorDash for delivery after the store has "shopped" my stuff.

dvd-4-life

At least with Shipt I know approx. when the order will arrive but sounds like with Walmart there won't be no set time for delivery.

Shipt was way in over their head's when the pandemic arrived so it will be interesting too see how Walmart handle's it as the pandemic heads into fall and winter .

Alan Smithee

Too bad they already sold Vudu, having a selection of commercial-free movies with this might have made it worth it.

dvd-4-life

It's supposed to start nationwide today.

I am less than 7 miles away from the nearest Walmart.

I typed in my address and it's still not available in my area.

They need to get a video/audio service along with the other perks you get from Amazon if they really want this to take off.

They already have Amazon beat in the grocery department but the one question is will it be able to handle the demand especially with a pandemic that's not letting up.

It does mention same everyday low prices so it look's like they aren't jacking up the prices for delivered items.

fujishig

It's available here, but I have a question (which is going to make me sound cheap):
Are you supposed to tip the delivery person if you sign up for this service?

That is a not-insignificant cost if you want to use this program. I think Amazon Fresh and their Wholefoods delivery also suggest you to tip, but if I had to tip for delivery on every Prime shipment I would cancel in a heartbeat.

Also their scan and go in store feature still forces you to use the self checkout? What's the point?

TomOpus

I think you should tip ANY delivery person, especially now. I don't use Walmart's service but the one I use for a regional chain has a place to add the tip at checkout.

fujishig

I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to tip your USPS driver, and I'm not sure of many who tip their UPS/Amazon delivery drivers outside of groceries. Not that they stick around for it anyway.

But that's what I'm asking, is it customary to tip (in which case I will) or do they actually pay them a decent wage and tip is not even optional? I know, I know, we're talking about Walmart here.

Decker

I get what you are saying and kind of feel the same way. I don't want to have to tip for every delivery.

This could be a very useful service. They come to my address and to my mother's (she pays a lot for grocery delivery every month). I need to read the fine print. Like can I have things delivered to my office and house or is it only one address? I would like to be able to have food delivered to my daughter at college, but they don't deliver in NYC yet.


The only restrictions and fine print I see are "$35 minimum order. Restrictions apply"

TomOpus

Okay, stand corrected about my use of ANY. I know people tip their USPS drivers at Christmas. But, if you order food/groceries, you should tip, regardless of how well they might be paid.

fujishig

Not to turn this into YATT, but why food/groceries?

TomOpus

Jesus...never fucking mind

kenbuzz

But isn't that the minimum for free shipping anyway? I'm having a difficult time seeing what the $98/yr buys me if I can already order stuff for 2nd day delivery, I can already do curbside grocery... I guess if I need something urgent I could order it and have it delivered pronto but dropping nearly a c-note to have a bag of flour or an emergency can of deodorant spray show up... but in MORE time than it would take for me to just hop in the car and go there (4 miles) or hit my Kroger (0.5 miles) makes no financial sense to me. And the nickel a gallon will save me 50 cents a month since Im using barely a tank of gas every 4-5 weeks with the pandemic still going on.

I don't get it. Honestly. What am I not seeing?

slybone

It’s for shut-ins, which it sounds like you are not one of.

dvd-4-life

I am disabled and no longer drive so this would be a Godsend as long as the prices remain the same as the store prices.

Decker

My mother is elderly and spends a lot for grocery delivery services because she is so careful about avoiding COVID-19. I told her yesterday about this and she said "I don't shop at Wal-Mart" but I explained to her that she could use this for her groceries and now she's interested in it.

PhantomStranger

I think that is Walmart's target audience for this service. I don't think Walmart plans to directly go after the typical Amazon Prime user. Most grocery chains already have some kind of service but their pricing usually isn't that great.

dvd-4-life

They want to compete against Amazon Prime.

It would help for better perks.

They do offer a gas discount.