Walmart follows Amazon with one-day shipping announcement
Walmart is to offer free next day delivery on its online store with orders over $35.
The service, which kicks off with 220,000 most frequently purchased items, is currently available in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and will land in Southern California in the coming days. It will roll out gradually over the coming months, with a plan to reach approximately 75% of the US population this year, which includes 40 of the top 50 major US metro areas.
The announcement closely Amazon’s decision to shift its free delivery option for Prime members from two days to one day. “This isn’t just great for customers, it also makes good business sense,” says Marc Lore, President and CEO, Walmart eCommerce US. “It will cost us less – not more – to deliver orders the next day. That’s because eligible items come from a single fulfillment centre located closest to the customer. This means the order ships in one box, or as few as possible, and it travels a shorter distance via inexpensive ground shipping. That’s in contrast to online orders that come in multiple boxes from multiple locations, which can be quite costly.”
“NextDay delivery is a great complement to our same-day Grocery Pickup and Delivery options, and free two-day shipping on millions of items. With the combination of these choices, we’re making every day easier for busy families. And, with 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart store, we’re well positioned to offer even faster delivery to customers in the future,” he concludes.
