Hey there! Are you interested in learning more about the Walmart personal shopper job? As online grocery ordering has skyrocketed in popularity, Walmart has built up an entire team of personal shoppers dedicated to making those orders happen. It‘s an important behind-the-scenes role!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about being a Walmart personal shopper including job duties, work environment, required skills, pay rates, benefits, and more. I‘ve also included helpful info for customers on getting the most out of Walmart‘s pickup and delivery services. Let‘s dive in!
What Exactly Does a Walmart Personal Shopper Do?
Walmart personal shoppers are responsible for fulfilling online grocery orders that customers place through the Walmart website or mobile app. It‘s the personal shopper‘s job to ensure those orders are 100% accurate and ready on time.
Here‘s an overview of the typical duties:
- Monitoring your handheld device constantly for new orders that need fulfillment
- Reviewing all items requested by the customer and formulating the most efficient shopping route
- Navigating the store quickly to locate every product on the list
- Ensuring you select the exact varieties, sizes, flavors, and quantities per the customer‘s specifications
- Double and triple checking for accuracy before checkout
- Bagging cold/frozen foods separately from pantry items
- Carefully packing eggs, chips, bread, and other fragile items to avoid damage
- Staging completed orders neatly in the refrigerated & non-refrigerated pickup zones
- Loading orders into the correct customer vehicles at pickup
- Delivering orders directly to customer houses for delivery orders
- Providing stellar customer service through every step of the process!
It can be physically demanding with lots of walking, lifting, carrying, and being on your feet for hours. But those efforts allow customers to skip shopping in store and have groceries brought right to their car or home!
On an average day, a Walmart personal shopper will fulfill around 30-40 online grocery orders. Orders surge during peak hours from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm when customers are ordering lunch and dinner items. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas also see 3x the regular daily order volume!
So being able to handle a fast-paced, high-volume workload while maintaining accuracy and great service is crucial. Let‘s look at some key stats:
- Walmart fulfills over 3 million online grocery orders per month across their 5,000+ stores with pickup or delivery
- Their average pickup time is currently around 26 minutes from order to loading groceries into the car
- They maintain an over 95% order accuracy rate – near perfect!
- Customer satisfaction scores for personal shoppers average around 90%
Those stats demonstrate how dedicated Walmart is to providing a top-notch pickup and delivery experience powered by their talented personal shoppers.
Step-By-Step Personal Shopping Process
Let‘s walk through what a typical online grocery order looks like from start to finish:
1. Customer places order
Using the Walmart app or website, you browse groceries and add items to your cart. After entering your zip code, you can select a pickup or delivery time. Enter payment info and submit the order.
2. Order routed to personal shopper
The order instantly appears on the personal shopper‘s handheld device with all items listed. The shopper reviews the full list carefully.
3. Personal shopper fulfills order
They walk through the store gathering everything on your list with care. Out of stocks get replaced with suitable alternatives.
4. Order staged for pickup
The shopper bags orders appropriately, including cold items separately. They organize orders in the designated zones.
5. Notification sent when ready
You receive an email and text that the order is ready for pickup at the scheduled time.
6. Personal shopper loads vehicle
When you check in, the shopper brings out the order, loads it into your car, and offers friendly assistance.
7. Complete delivery if requested
For delivery orders, the personal shopper drives to your address and brings the groceries to your door.
It‘s a smooth, convenient process when done right thanks to the hard work of personal shoppers fulfilling orders behind the scenes!
Day in the Life of a Personal Shopper
Curious what a typical workday is like for a Walmart personal shopper? Here‘s a peek into a common daily schedule:
8:00am: Arrive at store and clock in. Review order volume and prep for the day.
8:30am: Orders start coming in! Shop for first few small orders.
10:00am: Peak order time. Shop multiple large orders simultaneously.
12:00pm: Lunch break. Recharge for more orders this afternoon!
1:00pm: Fulfill steady stream of orders all afternoon. Communicate with customers.
3:00pm: Shop last batch of large orders before evening pickup rush.
5:00pm: Tackle tons of evening orders and deal with any issues.
8:00pm: Winding down for the day. Prep pickup area for tomorrow.
8:30pm: Clock out and go home after a productive day!
As you can see, the number of orders spikes in the late morning and evenings when customers are ordering groceries for same day pickup. So personal shoppers need stamina to handle the high volume.
The steady stream never stops though! Customers count on Walmart to fulfill orders accurately and quickly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It‘s a very fast-paced, detail-oriented role.
Skills and Requirements to be a Personal Shopper
Walmart looks for certain skills and traits in their personal shoppers to succeed:
-
Customer service skills – You‘ll interact with customers frequently! Patience and friendliness are musts.
-
Organization – Carefully bagging orders and managing time well are crucial to your efficiency.
-
Attention to detail – Confirming correct items, flavors, quantities is extremely important for accuracy.
-
Physical stamina – On your feet for hours walking, lifting, carrying. It‘s physically demanding.
-
Grocery knowledge – Knowing the store layout and products helps you shop faster.
-
Multi-tasker – Fulfilling multiple orders at once while communicating with customers.
-
Tech savvy – Comfortable learning the handheld device system and apps.
-
Problem solver – Able to suggest replacements for out of stocks and resolve issues.
-
Team player – Ready to pitch in and help other departments when needed.
Walmart also prefers personal shopper candidates to have a high school diploma or GED. Some grocery or retail experience is ideal as well.
If you possess those skills and meet basic requirements, you can have a very rewarding experience as a member of Walmart‘s personal shopping team!
What is the Pay and Benefits for Walmart Personal Shoppers?
The pay and benefits available make the personal shopper role appealing for job seekers:
-
Hourly wage – Walmart personal shoppers earn around $13 per hour on average. Those with more experience can earn up to $15-18 per hour based on their performance.
-
Full-time schedules – Most personal shoppers work full-time with 32-40 hours per week on average. Benefits kick in at an average of 34 hrs/week.
-
Health insurance – Associates can choose from medical plans starting at around $40 per month in premiums.
-
401(k) with match – Associates over 18 are eligible for Walmart‘s 401(k) plan with up to a 6% company match.
-
Stock purchase plan – Associates can buy Walmart stock at a 15% discount through their Associate Stock Purchase Plan.
-
Merchandise discount – All associates earn a 10% discount on regular-priced general merchandise at Walmart.
-
Paid time off – Personal shoppers earn up to 6 days of PTO per year to start. That increases with tenure.
The competitive hourly wages, full medical benefits, retirement saving options, merch discounts, and paid time off make this a desirable retail job. The stability of a major company like Walmart is appealing too.
Walmart vs. Other Retail Personal Shopper Jobs
How does working as a Walmart personal shopper compare to similar roles at other major retailers? Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Retailer | Avg. Hourly Pay | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $13 | 10% merchandise discount |
| Target | $15 | 10% merchandise discount |
| Kroger | $12 | Associate fuel points |
| Amazon | $18 | Flexible schedules |
| Instacart | $16 | Tips from customers |
The pay rates are fairly comparable, although Amazon and Instacart pay higher wages in most markets. But Walmart stands out for its stability as the world‘s largest company with competitive benefits. The set schedules and merchandise discounts are big perks over gig jobs like Instacart too.
Many personal shoppers enjoy the steady, regular hours and predictable income that Walmart provides versus other retailers and platforms.
The Pros and Cons of Being a Personal Shopper
Before applying for a personal shopper job, it‘s helpful to weigh the potential advantages and downsides:
Pros
- Steady, guaranteed income with full-time hours
- Benefits like insurance, retirement savings, merch discounts
- Set schedule allows for work/life balance
- Gain retail skills and experience
- Opportunity to earn raises and advance over time
- Tuition reimbursement and college credits available
- Interact directly with customers and provide helpful service
- Stay active on your feet versus sitting at a desk
- Understand store operations and grocery industry
Cons
- Can be physically demanding (walking, lifting, standing)
- Repetitive motions like bending, reaching can be tiring
- Dealing with grumpy customers on occasion
- Challenging work during peak holiday rushes
- Less flexibility than gig jobs like Instacart
- Usually no tips like delivery drivers receive
- Advancement limited compared to corporate roles
Overall though, most Walmart personal shoppers feel the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to stable hours, competitive pay, robust benefits, and gaining valuable retail experience. It‘s a job where you can make a real impact in customers‘ lives.
Tips for Customers Ordering Groceries
As a customer, you can make the personal shopper‘s job easier and get better results by following these tips:
-
Give adequate time – Order at least 4+ hours ahead for best order availability.
-
Add lots of replacements – Pick 2-3 alternatives for each item in case something is out of stock.
-
Note preferences – Add special instructions on varieties or sizes you want.
-
Respond to texts – Reply promptly if your shopper has an inventory question.
-
Check expiration dates – When picking up your order, review dates on dairy, etc.
-
Be polite – Your shopper is working hard for you! Say thanks and give a rating.
-
Tip generously – Consider giving even $3-5 extra for great service if it‘s in your budget.
By being responsive, reasonable, and appreciative as a customer, you‘ll get the best results from your dedicated Walmart personal shopper.
Walmart Personal Shopping: Convenient Grocery Options
Walmart‘s personal shoppers are the magic behind grocery pickup and delivery orders. They work extremely hard every day to ensure customers get quality service and accurate orders delivered conveniently.
The role offers stability, competitive pay and benefits, and a chance to gain skills in a growing retail segment. Yes, it can be physically tiring. But personal shoppers take pride in fulfilling an essential service that helps busy families and seniors get groceries without leaving home.
So next time you‘re enjoying the perks of pickup or delivery, take a moment to appreciate just how much effort your personal shopper put into making it happen!
