Walmart to Launch a New Subscription Service Walmart+ on September 15
Walmart will launch its new subscription service, Walmart+, September 15, 2020.
Memberships in the new Walmart+ service will price at $98 per year, or $12.95 per month if you choose to pay month-to-month.
New members will receive a 15-day free trial before the first billing.
So, what do you get for the $98 per year or $12.95 per month?
Here are the Walmart+ benefits.
Walmart+ Membership Benefits
Walmart+ members will receive:
- Unlimited free grocery deliveries (for Walmart locations that offer grocery delivery) with orders $35 or more
- Free shipping on 160,000+ items with a minimum $35 order
- Up to five cents per gallon savings on gasoline purchases at Walmart, Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and soon to be added, Sam’s Club, gas stations
- Free scan-and-go app for faster in-store checkout (must use Walmart Pay to pay)
A Quick Breakdown of the Benefits
On first blush, it’s easy to say a Walmart+ membership is not worth the price.
As with most things, though, whether it’s a value is dependent on the individual and his/her shopping habits.
Walmart is the largest grocer in the U.S. If you do a lot of your grocery shopping at Walmart, and especially if you utilize its home delivery service, then Walmart+ might be for you.
Regular Walmart grocery delivery comes with a $7.95 or $9.95 per delivery fee.
So, roughly 10 grocery deliveries would be the break even point for the Walmart+ service. If you have more than 12 Walmart grocery deliveries in a year, then the service should save you money…just make sure each order is at least $35.
If you don’t use Walmart grocery delivery, but think you might start because of the Walmart+ service, keep in mind you should be tipping a certain amount for each delivery. So that should be factored in to the equation, too.
The free shipping benefit really isn’t a benefit at all. Walmart already provides free shipping on orders $35 or more without a membership of any kind.
The five cents per gallon savings on gasoline purchases…at least to me…isn’t much of a deal, either. Even with Sam’s Club gas stations going to be added, those are limited station options. And, many other gas stations offer similar discounts when signing up for their rewards program…Shell is one that immediately comes to mind.
Which brings me to the scan-and-go benefit. I do see the positives of this, especially during the Covid-19 period. If you shop a lot in Walmart stores, this would be an easy way to get in and out more quickly with less person-to-person interaction. Something to consider if you do shop in-store often.
But, is it worth the $98 per year fee?
That’s a question only you can answer considering your personal situation.
Wrap Up
Walmart will launch its new Walmart+ membership service September 15, 2020.
There are a few benefits associated with the program that may make it enticing for frequent Walmart shoppers.
However, before you jump on board, take the time to seriously evaluate how much you use Walmart and/or its services…especially grocery delivery…to see if the new service’s annual fee makes sense for you.
