Walmart offers plenty of options for shoppers to get what they need outside of traditional in-store shopping. Whether you're grabbing groceries or a new household appliance, you can order online from the mega-retailer and have your items ready for pick-up or sent directly to your home. But delivery doesn't come without a cost, and customers are now calling out how "crazy expensive" it really is. Read on to find out about the extra delivery fee that Walmart shoppers are railing against.
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Walmart offers some shoppers the option to get delivery orders faster.
ShutterstockWalmart's delivery service can be a real time-saver, as the company's website notes.
"We partner with local, third-party drivers to bring your order right to your door," Walmart states. "After the driver picks up your order, we'll send you an email letting you know the driver is on their way."
The retailer has customers choose a delivery time slot, but in some areas, you can get your items much faster than in others. In these markets, Walmart offers express delivery for any "need-it-now moments." With this delivery option, the retailer guarantees that your order will get to you in two hours or less.
"Express delivery is subject to availability and restrictions at select stores," Walmart states on its website.
You will be charged more for this service.
ShutterstockWalmart began rolling out its express delivery for "more than 160,000 items"—including groceries, general merchandise, electronics, and toys—at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020.
"We have an opportunity to serve our customers no matter what life calls for," Tom Ward, Senior Vice President of Customer Product, said in a statement at the time. "Whether it be a last-minute ingredient, medicine when a fever hits, or the item you didn’t know you needed when checking off your chore list, time matters. Express is a solve for that."
If you are not a Walmart Plus member, you will have to pay anywhere between $7.95 to $9.95 for a delivery fee on regular orders. But the retailer's express option actually includes a separate surcharge for all shoppers—whether they're a member or not.
"Express delivery is available for an additional fee of $10.00 and is not currently waived for any customer," the retailer explains on its website.
Customers are calling out this additional fee.
The Toidi / ShutterstockShoppers are struggling to see the reason for this additional surcharge. "@Walmart express delivery really 17.95 lol like that’s so ridiculous," a Twitter user wrote on March 2.
Many customers say the added fee is especially frustrating, as Walmart often fails to meet its two-hour window with express delivery.
"Here we go again with the poor service," another shopper said in a tweeted directed at Walmart. "I paid $10 for express delivery in 2 hours or less. It's been 2 hours and 46 minutes. Take a guess whether I have my order yet!!"
Others claim that the retailer has changed its process for these orders—making it even harder to ensure a quick turnaround.
"@Walmart why have you switched your express orders to having spark drivers go in and shop for these and deliver? How can you charge $10 fee for express and still guarantee delivery within 2 hrs. 2 1/2 hrs later a driver is just now going to store," a shopper tweeted on March 26.
Best Life reached out to Walmart for comment on these customers complaints, and we will update this story with their response.
This is not the first time Walmart has faced backlash over deliveries.
iStockWalmart has faced customer complaints over delivery orders in the past. Back in December, shoppers started threatening to leave the retailer for its competitors in light of missing delivery orders.
"Just saying that Walmart delivery service sucks. It's a coin flip on if you'll get your items after you order them," one shopper tweeted. "Guess I'll stick with Amazon and Instacart."
"Walmart get it together. Y'all's delivery service is slacking," another Twitter user wrote. "Love waiting on an order all day that's never showed up!"
