Hey there! Are you someone who loves the convenience of online shopping but hates waiting around for delivery? Do crowded stores stress you out but you still want fresh groceries? If so, Walmart‘s pickup service may be perfect for you!
In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how Walmart pickup works, the different options available, tips to save you time, and all your frequently asked questions answered.
Walmart pickup has become an increasingly popular way for busy folks to grab essentials without stepping foot in a busy store or waiting at home for a delivery. Keep reading to see if it could work for your lifestyle too!
An Introduction to Walmart Pickup
Walmart pickup allows you to order items online or through the app and then drive to your local store to pick them up at a scheduled time. There are two main types:
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In-Store Pickup: Order general merchandise online and retrieve inside the store. Ready in a few hours or by next day.
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Curbside Grocery Pickup: Order fresh groceries online and have them brought out to your car. Ready in 1-2 days.
This pickup service essentially acts as a personal shopper and checkout lane to save you time! According to Walmart‘s website, over 3,500 Walmart locations now offer grocery pickup in the United States.
How Many People Are Using Walmart Pickup?
To give you an idea of how popular pickup has become, Walmart‘s Q1 2022 earnings reported:
- 7 million pickup orders placed during Q1
- 500% increase in pickup orders since 2018
- Walmart is on track to double online sales by the end of 2022
Clearly, this pickup option is gaining momentum with Walmart shoppers! The convenience factor is a big appeal for many customers.
Benefits of Using Walmart Pickup
Here are some of the main advantages to using Walmart‘s pickup services:
- Saves time – Avoid wandering store aisles and standing in checkout lines
- Convenience – Order from anywhere and just drive by to pick up
- Efficiency – Walmart employees do the shopping and loading for you
- Curbside ease – Groceries loaded right into your car
- Perfect produce – Workers hand select fresh fruits and veggies
- Free to use – No fees or tipping required!
Keep reading for more details on how it all works.
How Does the Walmart Pickup Process Work?
If you‘re wondering how Walmart makes the pickup system work so smoothly, here is an inside look at the behind-the-scenes process:
Ordering Online
Everything starts with you placing an order online at Walmart.com or in the app. During checkout, you‘ll select a 1-hour pickup window.
According to a Walmart supply chain report, orders must be placed at least 4 hours ahead of time for in-store pickup. For grocery orders, it‘s at least 8 hours in advance.
Personal Shoppers Assemble Order
Once your order is placed, a Walmart personal shopper will view your items on a mobile device and walk through the store gathering everything on your list.
The shopper scans and ensures each item is up to standards and found the optimal replacements if anything is out of stock. According to Walmart, personal shoppers fill an average of nearly 200 orders per week!
Notification of Order Readiness
After everything has been carefully picked and packed, you‘ll receive a notification via email and text that your order is now "Ready for Pickup." This is your cue to head to the store during your scheduled window!
Quick & Easy Car-Side or In-Store Retrieval
Upon arrival, check-in through the app or at a pickup kiosk so employees know to bring out your order. For groceries, they‘ll load it into your car. For general merchandise, just head inside to the pickup counter. And that‘s it – so fast!
Now that you understand how it works behind the scenes, let‘s go over the logistics for customers.
Step-By-Step Guide to Walmart Pickup
If you‘re ready to give Walmart pickup a try, follow these steps for a smooth pick up experience:
1. Place Your Order Online
Add items to your cart through the Walmart website or mobile app. During checkout, select "Pickup" for the delivery method.
2. Choose a Pickup Timeframe
Pick a 1-hour window for when you‘d like to retrieve your order. Most locations offer in-store pickup from 8am-8pm.
3. Receive Ready for Pickup Notification
Once your order has been prepped, you‘ll get an email and text alert that it‘s ready for pickup.
4. Check-in On Arrival
When you get to the store, open the app or go to the pickup kiosk to alert employees you‘re here.
5. Pick Up Your Items!
For grocery pickup, park in a designated curbside spot. An associate will bring out and load your order into your car.
For in-store pickup, head inside to the pickup counter and present your confirmation code. An employee will retrieve your order from storage.
And that‘s all it takes to enjoy the perks of quick and convenient Walmart pickup!
Walmart Pickup for Groceries vs General Merchandise
The items available for Walmart pickup depend on whether you choose curbside grocery pickup versus in-store pickup.
Curbside Grocery Pickup
Walmart‘s grocery pickup allows you to order all your fresh food essentials online for pickup within 1-2 days. Groceries available for pickup include:
- Produce
- Meat and seafood
- Dairy and eggs
- Bakery goods
- Frozen foods
- Pantry staples
- Household items
- Baby products
- Pet supplies
To ensure freshness, pickup hours for groceries are typically 8am-8pm at most stores. Alcohol is not available for pickup.
In-Store Pickup
With in-store pickup, you can order practically anything sold at Walmart for retrieval inside the store. General merchandise categories include:
- Electronics, media, gaming
- Toys, crafts, party supplies
- Clothing, shoes, accessories
- Home goods, furnishings
- Outdoor equipment, sporting goods
- Health and wellness products
- Auto supplies
- Home improvement and tools
Most non-grocery items ordered by 1pm can be picked up same day. Otherwise, next day pickup is common.
Now that you know what you can buy, let‘s go over the costs.
Walmart Pickup Pricing and Fees
Here is the best news about using Walmart pickup services – it‘s completely free! There are:
- No service fees
- No inflated item prices
- No expected tips
- No membership required
The only requirement is a minimum $35 order total before pickup eligibility. This helps Walmart offset the costs of staffing personal shoppers.
As long as your pre-tax order is above $35, you can take advantage of unlimited free Walmart pickup. There are also no delivery charges since you drive to collect your items.
Pickup From a Busy Shopper‘s Perspective
As a busy parent or working professional, grocery runs are likely low on your list of preferred activities. But your family still needs to eat!
Walmart‘s contactless curbside grocery pickup saves you time by delivering fresh food right to your car so you can quickly get on with life.
You‘ll skip wandering store aisles or waiting in checkout lines. No more impulse purchases weighing down your cart! Plus, Walmart personal shoppers carefully hand select quality fruits, vegetables, and meats for you.
Curbside pickup allows you to cut out the chore of grocery shopping while still getting what you need. And pulling up to a designated parking spot to have bags loaded into your trunk makes pickup a total breeze.
Pickup From a Comparison Shopper‘s View
Maybe you are a savvy shopper who likes to compare prices and hunt down the best deals. But crowded weekend stores make that difficult!
Walmart‘s in-store pickup lets you hand pick the most affordable electronics, home goods, clothing items and more from the comfort of your couch. No more dealing with crowds blocking you from price checking.
You can take time thoroughly browsing and adding items to your online cart. Walmart pickup allows you to score the lowest prices without sacrificing convenience. Keep your budget on track by skipping impulse purchases too.
Order your items by 1pm and swing by later that day for same day in-store pickup at your chosen Walmart location. It‘s the perfect way for smart shoppers to save!
Tips for a Smooth Walmart Pickup Experience
To make sure your Walmart pickup goes off without a hitch, keep these tips in mind:
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Check pickup slot availability in advance. Weekday and evening times book up fast.
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For groceries, opt for curbside pickup to get the freshest produce picked for you.
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Use Walmart promo codes and coupons to maximize your savings.
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Can‘t resist those enticing impulse buys? Add to your pickup order instead!
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Pick alternates for any out of stock grocery items to ensure order completion.
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Monitor your order status and wait for the "Ready" notification before heading to store.
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Use the Walmart app for easier curbside check-in than the website.
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Have your ID ready if retrieving age-restricted items like tobacco or alcohol.
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For curbside pickup, be sure to arrive within your scheduled 1-hour window.
Walmart Pickup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Still have some lingering questions about how Walmart pickup works? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:
What are the pickup timeframes?
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In-store pickup is available from 8am to 8pm at most Walmart locations.
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Curbside grocery pickup windows are also generally 8am to 8pm.
Can I order pickup on the Walmart website?
Yes, Walmart pickup can be ordered directly at Walmart.com. Simply select "Pickup" as the delivery method during online checkout.
What is the minimum order amount?
Walmart currently requires a $35 minimum pre-tax order total to qualify for free pickup. There is no maximum order amount.
Do I need to tip for curbside pickup?
No, tipping is not expected or required for Walmart pickup. Employees are provided hourly wages rather than tips.
Can I order alcohol through grocery pickup?
Unfortunately at this time, beer, wine, and spirits are not available for curbside grocery pickup. Pickup is limited to non-alcohol items only.
What if some of my items are out of stock?
Your personal shopper will choose similar replacement items if your first choices are unavailable. You‘ll have a chance to approve subs when you get the "Ready" notification.
Can I use Walmart promo codes and coupons?
Absolutely! You can take advantage of any valid Walmart coupons, promos and current sales when placing a pickup order online.
Convenience Without Compromise
After reading this guide, you can see why Walmart pickup has become so popular. It allows you to skip crowded stores and checkout lines without sacrificing value, quality, or convenience.
You can still hand pick affordable items online. Curbside grocery pickup gives you access to fresh, high-quality food. And with no fees or tipping, Walmart pickup provides speed and efficiency on a budget.
So next time you need to stock up on household staples or groceries, try out the easy Walmart pickup experience for yourself. Let me know if you have any other questions!
