The coronavirus pandemic has caused us all to make adjustments to every aspect of our daily lives, from the minor (like washing our hands more regularly) to the major (like doing work and school from home). But there's been one mainstay amid the changes that we've depended on more than ever, grocery shopping, though it's also looked a little different these days. Now, one of the most trusted names in the game is bringing back something customers have been longing for since Walmart changed many of its policies for safety purposes in March. According to its Twitter account, Walmart will be extending its hours in mid-November—that is, unless government regulations don't allow them to do so. Read on for the details, and if you're wondering when to avoid this superstore, check out This Is the Absolute Worst Time to Shop at Walmart, Employees Say.
"Starting November 14, Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets will be open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice," the company tweeted on Oct. 23. "This will give customers more time to shop and help us disperse traffic throughout the day. Stores with more reduced hours will keep current hours of operation." Currently, the hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Walmart representatives told a local news station in Syracuse, New York that the expanded hours will still include a special shopping hour every Tuesday for people age 60 and older and other individuals who are most vulnerable to COVID. This will be held one hour before the store opens and both pharmacies and vision centers will be available during this time.
According to the retail giant's spokespeople, the company's stores will continue health and safety measures, such as social distancing, health screenings, plastic barriers at the registers, and requiring face masks. Read on to discover additional Walmart changes you should know about, and for more on when you should hit up the store, check out This Is the Best Time of Month to Score Walmart Deals.
1 | Walmart is ending its price-matching program in some places.
Shutterstock/Erin DeleonAs of Oct. 15, Walmart customers in Canada are no longer able to request a price match if they find the same product for a cheaper price at another store. Apparently, customers just weren't taking advantage of it all that often.
"Over time, we have seen minimal usage of our Ad Match program, while at the same time the program has been causing delays at the checkout," Felicia Fefer, manager of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada, said in a statement to Sault Online. And for more shopping tips for Walmart, check out This Secret Trick Will Get You the Best of Walmart's Clearance Sales.
2 | Walmart sued the U.S. government.
Shutterstock/QualityHDJust a day after Purdue Pharma, the maker of powerful painkiller OxyContin, pled guilty to three federal criminal charges for its role in creating the nation's opioid crisis in mid-October, Walmart Inc. filed a suit of its own against the federal government. The move appeared to be a preemptive strike, calling for clearer legal parameters regarding the obligation of pharmacists to refuse filling a potentially dangerous prescription. And for more on this situation, check out Walmart Is Under Fire For Its Policies Around This Medication.
3 | Walmart is selling Medicare insurance plans.
Shutterstock/FreedomzIn early October, Walmart released a statement saying that during the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, the company would sell Medicare insurance plans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Walmart Insurance Services will provide Medicare plans (Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement plans) offered by Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Amerigroup, Simply Health, Wellcare (Centene), Clover Health, and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. And for more up-to-date news that affects your everyday life, sign up for our daily newsletter.
4 | Walmarts are being redesigned.
WalmartOn Sept. 30, Walmart announced its stores will be getting a brand new redesign. The goal of the new look is to reflect customers' preference for shopping multiple ways: in-store, online, and via the app. "The design creates an elevated experience that appeals to shoppers through a sleek design aesthetic, a layout that spotlights products and an end-to-end digital navigation that guides customers throughout their journeys," Walmart executive vice president and chief customer officer Janey Whiteside said in a statement. The redesign has already been tested in some Walmart locations, and will be rolled out to 200 Walmart Supercenter locations by the end of the fiscal year. The goal is to have 1,000 stores transformed by the end of 2021. And for the one state that may not reap these benefits, check out This Is the Only State Without a Walmart Supercenter.
