A WALMART customer was left fuming after spotting a $6.99 fee tacked onto their order, pushing them to cancel their Walmart+ subscription.
The shopper called out the retail giant for abruptly switching up its delivery terms under a major policy U-turn, vowing to take their business to rival Target.
A Walmart shopper called out the retailer over an abrupt policy switch-up[/caption]
The Walmart+ member criticized the chain for all of the sudden implementing a $6.99 fee[/caption]
A Walmart+ membership comes with a number of benefits, from access to Paramount+ streaming and free shipping with no order minimum to returns from home and member prices on fuel.
Another popular perk is free same-day delivery, which many paying members use to order their groceries right to their doorstep.
One Walmart+ member was up in arms after the retail giant added a $6.99 delivery fee to their order because it did not meet the $35 order minimum.
The customer complained that they have had their subscription for roughly two years and that had never happened to them before.
“For the first time, you are trying to charge me a ridiculous, bull**** fee of $6.99 for orders under $35. F*** YOU. That’s not how ‘free delivery’ works. You can’t change the delivery terms midstream,” the shopper ranted in an X post.
They argued that they could pay $6.99 to get their groceries delivered from any other service, so it made no sense for them to shell out extra cash on a Walmart+ membership if the perk was not included.
“I have canceled my membership, and I am sure that many others will now do the same,” complained the customer. “Kiss my a**, Walmart. Hello, Target!”
Walmart promptly responded to the shopper’s concerns, encouraging them to direct message the company’s X account so it could provide further assistance.
“There aren’t any details to DM you,” retorted the customer. “You have now added a $6.99 fee on deliveries under $35. This has never happened in the entire 2-year history of me ordering from you.
“That’s it. There’s your story. I have terminated my membership due to this.”
FEE FURY
Walmart customers without a membership are charged a fee ranging from $7.95 to $9.95 for delivery.
On the other hand, customers who pay for a Walmart+ subscription – which costs $12.95 per month or $98 annually – receive free delivery on orders that are $35 or more.
Walmart+ members who place a delivery order under $35 were subject to a $6.99 minimum order fee.
The retail giant switched up its policy regarding this fee, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
How to sign up to Walmart+
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Here’s how to sign up to Walmart+:
- Head to the Walmart website.
- Select ‘Account’ and then ‘Walmart+’.
- Click ‘Start free 30-day trial’.
- Enter your information.
- Enjoy the trial and benefits.
Remember to cancel before the 30 days are up, or pay $12.95 per month (which you can cancel at any time) or $98 for the annual plan if you want to keep it.
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Health concerns and social distancing rules made grocery shopping difficult, pushing Walmart to waive the $6.99 fee for shoppers who qualify for US government assistance and those in the Walmart+ Assist program.
Walmart+ Assist is a membership plan that provides customers on government assistance half off the standard Walmart+ membership, charging $49 rather than the regular $98 fee.
The retailer eventually brought back the $6.99 fee for all shoppers in late April this year, including those on Walmart+ Assist.
“We’re reinstating minimum basket fees for customers with EBT cards saved to their Walmart account,” an internal memo previously seen by Reuters read.
The “minimum basket fee” helps to cover the cost associated with retrieving and packing an order from Walmart, which can be more costly than shipping from a warehouse and does not cover delivery charges.
Many customers on SNAP or members of the Walmart+ Assist plan were frustrated by the policy change, as it placed it even more financial strain on their wallets.
Millions of SNAP recipients rely on Walmart for groceries, with the retailer accounting for roughly 26% of food stamps spending, per research from data analytics firm Numerator.
Americans who buy food via the federal government program are given EBT, or Electronic Benefit Transfer, cards that work similarly to prepaid debit cards.
Although all Walmart shoppers are once again subject to the $6.99 fee for delivery orders under $35, the retailer is offering up savings elsewhere.
For example, Walmart is going head to head with Target and Amazon in a “savings” battle just days after the Prime announcement.
The company is also selling a $0.97 summer product that’s “money well spent” – and it’s perfect for July Fourth parties.
