Latest news with #Walmart+Assist
Indianapolis Star
14 hours ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Walmart opens new stores – but not to the public. Here's why.
Walmart is testing some new stores, but you won't be able to shop there. These new "dark stores" are being tested as a better way to fulfill online orders and are not open to the public. Inside, the stores – the first of which opened recently in Dallas – resemble a typical Walmart store. However, there's no signage, as customers cannot come in, a person knowledgeable about the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY. The stores do not have Walmart signage, but inside the store has many of the most popular products ordered online by customers, as a way to speed up online order fulfillment, the person told USA TODAY. JCPenney closing warehouse, laying off nearly 300 workers Another "dark store" is in the works for Bentonville, Arkansas, the home of the retailer's corporate headquarters, according to Bloomberg, which cited persons familiar with the development in its June 24 story. Walmart is experimenting with the miniature distribution centers to more quickly fill orders from customers who are paying more to get items faster, reported KFSM-TV 5 in Springdale, Arkansas. "We regularly test new tools, features, and capabilities to better connect with and serve our customers – wherever and however they choose to shop," Walmart said Friday, June 27, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Regardless of the channel, our goal remains the same: to deliver a fast, seamless, and engaging customer experience." How to cancel that subscription: Why more Americans are dumping monthly payments The retailer launched its Walmart+ subscription service in 2020 – with unlimited free delivery from stores (on orders $35 or more) – in a move to challenge Amazon Prime. The subscription is priced at $12.95 per month or $98 annually. You can get Walmart+ Assist for $6.47 monthly/$49 annually if you are getting government assistance, including SNAP, WIC and Medicaid. Amazon Prime, which launched in 2005, had a head start on Walmart+ and has grown to an estimated 186.3 million users in the U.S., up from 171 million in 2022, according to eMarketer, a market research company. Walmart+ has an estimated 34.7 million users, up from 26.5 million in 2022, according to eMarketer. In other developments, Walmart on June 24 began rolling out a suite of artificial intelligence tools to help store associates with a real-time multilingual translation feature to help communicate with customers and an augmented reality tool to make it easier to find items within the store. This expansion in AI and augmented reality came two weeks after Walmart announced plans to expand its drone delivery service to five more major U.S. cities beyond Dallas and Bentonville, Arkansas.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Walmart opens new stores – but not to the public. Here's why.
Walmart is testing some new stores, but you won't be able to shop there. These new "dark stores" are being tested as a better way to fulfill online orders and are not open to the public. Inside, the stores – the first of which opened recently in Dallas – resemble a typical Walmart store. However, there's no signage, as customers cannot come in, a person knowledgeable about the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY. The stores do not have Walmart signage, but inside the store has many of the most popular products ordered online by customers, as a way to speed up online order fulfillment, the person told USA TODAY. JCPenney closing warehouse, laying off nearly 300 workers Another "dark store" is in the works for Bentonville, Arkansas, the home of the retailer's corporate headquarters, according to Bloomberg, which cited persons familiar with the development in its June 24 story. Walmart is experimenting with the miniature distribution centers to more quickly fill orders from customers who are paying more to get items faster, reported KFSM-TV 5 in Springdale, Arkansas. "We regularly test new tools, features, and capabilities to better connect with and serve our customers – wherever and however they choose to shop," Walmart said Friday, June 27, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Regardless of the channel, our goal remains the same: to deliver a fast, seamless, and engaging customer experience." How to cancel that subscription: Why more Americans are dumping monthly payments The retailer launched its Walmart+ subscription service in 2020 – with unlimited free delivery from stores (on orders $35 or more) – in a move to challenge Amazon Prime. The subscription is priced at $12.95 per month or $98 annually. You can get Walmart+ Assist for $6.47 monthly/$49 annually if you are getting government assistance, including SNAP, WIC and Medicaid. Amazon Prime, which launched in 2005, had a head start on Walmart+ and has grown to an estimated 186.3 million users in the U.S., up from 171 million in 2022, according to eMarketer, a market research company. Walmart+ has an estimated 34.7 million users, up from 26.5 million in 2022, according to eMarketer. Walmart uses AI, augmented reality and more drones In other developments, Walmart on June 24 began rolling out a suite of artificial intelligence tools to help store associates with a real-time multilingual translation feature to help communicate with customers and an augmented reality tool to make it easier to find items within the store. This expansion in AI and augmented reality came two weeks after Walmart announced plans to expand its drone delivery service to five more major U.S. cities beyond Dallas and Bentonville, Arkansas. Contributing: Kasey Caminiti, Natalie Neysa Alund and Kathryn Palmer
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart responds to outrage over return of a harsh policy
Walmart () , the largest retailer in the U.S., faced criticism from some consumers last week after a memo revealed it was planning to reinstate a controversial fee it had initially paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the memo, Walmart said that it will resume charging customers who are part of its Walmart+ Assist program $6.99 if their online order does not meet a $35 minimum, regardless of whether it is being picked up or delivered, according to a report from Reuters on April 30. 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰💵 Walmart+ Assist is a program that grants customers 50% off a Walmart+ membership if they are recipients of a qualifying government aid program, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Federal Public Housing Assistance."We're reinstating minimum basket fees for customers with EBT cards saved to their Walmart account," reads the memo, which was sent to customer service employees. "If an EBT customer asks why we charged them a minimum basket fee, explain this is the correct fee for orders under $35." An EBT card is a debit-like card that allows consumers to access government benefits for purchasing food. It appears that Walmart began quietly testing out the change last year, as some Walmart shoppers took to Reddit a few months ago to flag frustrations with encountering the fee. It was later speculated that Walmart made the decision to bring back the fee due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, which further angered customers. Tariffs are taxes companies pay to import goods from overseas, and the extra cost is often passed down to consumers through price hikes. 'Penalizing people who use EBT due tariffs @Walmart? What if they don't have the cash for the fee or the EBT to bring the order up to your minimum?' wrote one user on social media platform X.'@Walmart you cannot do this legally. FS are only for food not to pay a fee that you already pay your employees to do. This is downright fraud,' wrote another user on X. However, the retail giant recently shot down that speculation. A Walmart spokesperson recently confirmed with Mashable that reinstating the basket fee was not related to Trump's tariffs. They also said that the fee is a standard practice among other popular retailers, and it doesn't apply to purchases made inside of its stores. Walmart has recently been sounding the alarm about the impact President Trump's tariffs could have on its business. In November, Walmart warned that tariffs could cause it to raise prices in its stores, a move that threatens to drive away customers who are already battling inflation and a higher cost of living. 'We never want to raise prices,' said Walmart Chief Financial Officer John Rainey in an interview with CNBC in November. 'Our model is everyday low prices. But there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers.' In February, after President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all goods imported from China, Walmart made a weaker-than-expected prediction about its performance for the rest of the year. More Retail: AT&T quietly issues stern warning to customers Sam's Club makes a big change to a beloved membership perk GameStop announces risky move amid store closures In its latest earnings report, Walmart revealed that it expects its net sales to increase only by 3% to 4% and its operating income to rise by 3.5% to 5.5% during 2025, falling short of investor expectations. During an earnings call on Feb. 20, Rainey said the company's weaker guidance is based on its acknowledgement that it is operating during 'an uncertain time.' 'Our outlook assumes a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, but acknowledges that there are still uncertainties related to consumer behavior and global economic and geopolitical conditions,' said Rainey during the call. 'As a result, we've taken a similar approach to our initial guidance for you for the year as we have in the past couple of years, balancing known risk with what we can control.' Trump later heightened his tariffs on China and announced reciprocal tariffs on over 60 countries. In the midst of Trump's recent tariff policy changes, Walmart has reportedly been negotiating with its suppliers, pressuring them to cut their prices for goods. This move would shift the burden of tariffs onto those suppliers, which would allow Walmart to keep prices low in its stores. In addition to negotiating with suppliers, the retailer's executives even met with Trump last month to discuss his tariff policy. 'We had a productive meeting with President Trump and his team and appreciated the opportunity to share our insights,' said Walmart in a statement to TheStreet last in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Walmart responds to outrage over return of controversial fee
Walmart (WMT) , the largest retailer in the U.S., faced criticism from some consumers last week after a memo revealed it was planning to reinstate a controversial fee it had initially paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the memo, Walmart said that it will resume charging customers who are part of its Walmart+ Assist program $6.99 if their online order does not meet a $35 minimum, regardless of whether it is being picked up or delivered, according to a report from Reuters on April 30. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Walmart+ Assist is a program that grants customers 50% off a Walmart+ membership if they are recipients of a qualifying government aid program, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Federal Public Housing Assistance. Related: Walmart is facing a massive boycott threat from consumers "We're reinstating minimum basket fees for customers with EBT cards saved to their Walmart account," reads the memo, which was sent to customer service employees. "If an EBT customer asks why we charged them a minimum basket fee, explain this is the correct fee for orders under $35." An EBT card is a debit-like card that allows consumers to access government benefits for purchasing food. Image source: Bloomberg/Getty Images It appears that Walmart began quietly testing out the change last year, as some Walmart shoppers took to Reddit a few months ago to flag frustrations with encountering the fee. It was later speculated that Walmart made the decision to bring back the fee due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, which further angered customers. Tariffs are taxes companies pay to import goods from overseas, and the extra cost is often passed down to consumers through price hikes. "Penalizing people who use EBT due tariffs @Walmart? What if they don't have the cash for the fee or the EBT to bring the order up to your minimum?" wrote one user on social media platform X. Related: Walmart doubles down on harsh tactic to shrink threat of tariffs "@Walmart you cannot do this legally. FS are only for food not to pay a fee that you already pay your employees to do. This is downright fraud," wrote another user on X. However, the retail giant recently shot down that speculation. A Walmart spokesperson recently confirmed with Mashable that reinstating the basket fee was not related to Trump's tariffs. They also said that the fee is a standard practice among other popular retailers, and it doesn't apply to purchases made inside of its stores. Walmart has recently been sounding the alarm about the impact President Trump's tariffs could have on its business. In November, Walmart warned that tariffs could cause it to raise prices in its stores, a move that threatens to drive away customers who are already battling inflation and a higher cost of living. "We never want to raise prices," said Walmart Chief Financial Officer John Rainey in an interview with CNBC in November. "Our model is everyday low prices. But there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers." In February, after President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all goods imported from China, Walmart made a weaker-than-expected prediction about its performance for the rest of the year. More Retail: AT&T quietly issues stern warning to customersSam's Club makes a big change to a beloved membership perkGameStop announces risky move amid store closures In its latest earnings report, Walmart revealed that it expects its net sales to increase only by 3% to 4% and its operating income to rise by 3.5% to 5.5% during 2025, falling short of investor expectations. During an earnings call on Feb. 20, Rainey said the company's weaker guidance is based on its acknowledgement that it is operating during "an uncertain time." "Our outlook assumes a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, but acknowledges that there are still uncertainties related to consumer behavior and global economic and geopolitical conditions," said Rainey during the call. "As a result, we've taken a similar approach to our initial guidance for you for the year as we have in the past couple of years, balancing known risk with what we can control." Trump later heightened his tariffs on China and announced reciprocal tariffs on over 60 countries. In the midst of Trump's recent tariff policy changes, Walmart has reportedly been negotiating with its suppliers, pressuring them to cut their prices for goods. This move would shift the burden of tariffs onto those suppliers, which would allow Walmart to keep prices low in its stores. In addition to negotiating with suppliers, the retailer's executives even met with Trump last month to discuss his tariff policy. "We had a productive meeting with President Trump and his team and appreciated the opportunity to share our insights," said Walmart in a statement to TheStreet last month. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Walmart revives $6.99 minimum basket fee for EBT grocery orders under $35
Walmart revives $6.99 minimum basket fee for EBT grocery orders under $35 Show Caption Hide Caption USDA to fast-track state bans on using SNAP for candy, soda The USDA is reportedly planning to fast-track state bans on using SNAP food stamp benefits to buy candy and soda. Straight Arrow News Walmart WMT.N is reinstating a minimum basket fee for customers who qualify for U.S. government assistance and those subscribed to its Walmart+ Assist program, according to a memo seen by Reuters and confirmed by Walmart. The move to reinstate the fee, which was waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, comes as the largest U.S. retailer is bracing for a tough year ahead as its customers, who typically skew low income, temper spending. Recipients of government assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payments will now pay a minimum basket fee of $6.99 for pick up and delivery of grocery purchases from a store if they do not meet a $35 threshold. Previously, this fee was waived for those on SNAP. EBT is a system used by the U.S. government to deliver government assistance benefits, commonly known as food stamps, and works like a prepaid debit card. "We're reinstating minimum basket fees for customers with EBT cards saved to their Walmart account," an internal guidance memo sent to its customer service staff on Monday read. See locations receiving a makeover: Walmart remodeling over 650 stores in 2025 A minimum basket fee covers the costs of picking and packing an order from a store, which can be more expensive than shipping from a warehouse and does not include delivery charges. "If an EBT customer asks why we charged them a minimum basket fee, explain this is the correct fee for orders under $35," the memo said. Walmart+ Assist is a membership plan offered by Walmart that gives shoppers on government assistance a 50% discount on the standard Walmart+ membership, reducing the annual cost to $49 compared with the regular $98 fee. Walmart said it had previously removed the minimum basket fee due to social distancing restrictions. "Moving forward, the standard $35 minimum basket fee will be in place for all orders," a Walmart spokesperson said on Wednesday. Research from data analytics firm Numerator shows Walmart accounts for nearly 26% of spending by SNAP recipients. The retailer has been trying to rein in costs by closing offices and asking staff to relocate to its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters, or asking some of its suppliers to absorb price hikes caused by tariffs. The retailer issued disappointing guidance for 2025 in part due to the uncertainty surrounding tariffs, but it also posted a 10% rise in quarterly income boosted by its advertising and Walmart+ business, which are more profitable than its core business of selling low-margin groceries. Walmart+ has been a strong driver of loyalty and sales with growth coming from both lower and higher income households, Seth Dallaire, Walmart's chief growth officer, said at an April investor conference. Subscribers visit Walmart's stores twice as much and spend three times as much as non-members, he said, adding that membership income rose nearly 40% in its most recent quarter ended January. Lower-income households "love" Walmart+ because of grocery delivery, Dallaire said. "The delivery saves you the cost of public transportation or fuel costs, or you using a ride-sharing app, for instance, like a Lyft or Uber. They tell us they really value it that way." Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy
