Tuesday, June 13, 2023

It’s Tom’s birthday! He finally told us what he wanted to do – go to a restaurant on the river after he gets off work, so I am excited to get all four of us out because that rarely happens these days.

So, let me explain my blog post title… Walmart has no idea who I am. I do not make any money from this post and truth be told, I lose money blogging each month. Just keeping it real. This is a hobby for me and all hobbies cost a few pennies, right?

I decided to try Walmart + for the month of June. They offer a 30 day free trial and I had nothing to lose unless I forgot to cancel before July 1. I wrote the date on my calendar and away I went.

A little history – I have said many times on this blog that I don’t like Walmart. I would down right get angry every time I tried to shop there. It’s not convenient and the one closest to my house is definitely not one of the newer and bougie-er Walmarts. So, I was never gonna do pick up there. My sister does pick up at her local Walmart and feels that she saves a lot of money versus shopping at Kroger.

First, I got the handy dandy app on my phone. It is very user friendly and I find it just as easy to use as Kroger’s.

If I choose to keep doing it, I can choose to pay $98 for the year or $12.95 per month. Now, think about it. How much do I spend by going in the store on things that weren’t on my list? I would say it’s more than that – by far!

I also choose to tip the delivery person about 10% of my order. But, again, how much do I save by not having those new products to tempt me or by something that looks or sounds good. I think I am still saving money by not going in. The Walmart app also tells me that I saved $27 and 3 hours since I started. I am not sure how this is calculated!

I have now ordered 3 times and I have another order ready to place. I can have my groceries on my doorstep in 4 hours from the time of placing the order or I can pay an extra $10 for 2 hours or less with Express. That may come in handy sometime.

So, far I am having way less substitutions than at Kroger. Kroger almost always tells me they are out of stock on something or they have a substitution for me to approve. Also, I can get some products that I can’t get at Kroger. We can’t find Gatorade Zero for Tom, Ale 8 One is not available for pick up at Kroger, Merkt’s Port Wine Cheese is not available at Kroger, Velveeta cheese slices are not available at Kroger either. These are all Tom-specific items. Man, do I cater to him!

I prefer the bags that Walmart brings the groceries in. Kroger’s pick up bags are horrible. They are plastic and thick and we just want the regular ones for Ernie’s waste.

I am also able to order most of our toiletries; they have Dr. Teal’s body wash and pretty much all of the brands we like to use. I think they are less expensive than Target.

I thought we were brand loyal to many of Kroger’s products, but it turns out that isn’t the case at all.

I think it’s pretty cool to have Trulys arrive on your doorstep! I have done that once!

You can also throw in things to your order like beach towels, kitchen items, etc. You can add anything that is sold in the store.

I really think they are competing with Amazon because you also get shipping if the item is not in stock in the store.

I don’t mind going in to the store, but I would prefer it to just be for a few things. I still plan to go in to Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Fresh Market on occasion.

At the end of the month, I will be able to compare May at Kroger to June at Walmart. I will also let you know what I decide to do after this month.

So, if you haven’t already gathered this…I am a fan! I really like it!

Thank you to those of you who gave me your opinion on it because it helped me to take the leap.

Let me know if you are also trying it! What did I forget?

Amy

36 thoughts on “An Amateur Blogger’s Take on Walmart +”

  1. I’ve never tried this service because we have never had the option of delivery (from any store other than Amazon); out of curiosity I just checked and it’s available to us! I might need to try this out.

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    1. I have heard Market Basket is a good affordable option in the northeast but we don’t have it. I have been so pleasantly surprised by lack of substitutions. It has been so bad at Kroger sometimes and sometimes you go in and there is that item on the shelf! My husband says it is to get you to go in and spend more? That sounds crazy!

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  3. I am going to being brutal I guess – I have the same relationship you had with Wal*Mart. Our nearest Wal*Mart has the rudest people and most of time is “OUT OF STOCK” on the item you need. We live in the country, so we do not have Wal*Mart +

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    1. Oh man. I’m sorry. I have had to go to my Walmart a couple of times for returns in the last couple of months and they have been nice so it’s been a better experience, but I couldn’t shop in person there. It’s so big and overwhelming. I guess your options are limited and that makes it hard.

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  4. I have not tried Walmart + but I am a big fan of the grocery pick up! So handy and convenient because the Walmart grocery is right down the road. I usually schedule my pick up for 7 am and it’s so convenient! Glad you are enjoying it and happy birthday to Tom!!!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. That is great to do it so early – I bet you do it on the way home from the gym. I just don’t want to drive that far as I am very spoiled with my Kroger lcoation!

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  5. I am a Kroger girl like you, but last week I picked up my groceries at Walmart. I do think I saved money by going there, but I didn’t like it because the drinks I ordered three packs of weren’t in stock, they said, and they did not give me an option for any others. I was turned off by that, because at this one at least, my Kroger seems to overcommunicate with me, while Walmart didn’t communicate enough. I’m sure each one is different, but that wasn’t a great first impression. I realize this is such a first world problem and I shouldn’t complain! But I went back to Kroger this week. I’ll probably try Walmart again next week, just to give it a fair chance.

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    1. Oh, shoot. Well, do try it again! I think I especially save money on canned goods and some staple items. I also think they carry different things from my Kroger. Maybe it doesn’t have to be an all or none and you can do both?

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  6. I’m a fan too…I’m HORRIBLE with impulse buying so I know it saves me money. I am also more likely to do better at meal planning and it helps eliminate situations where “I don’t know if I have [ingredient x] at home so I’ll get it”….and then I end up with 17 ingredient Xs.

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    1. Right! I agree on all of that! I love being able to sit with a recipe and my app open. I also love to add things to the app as I run out. It’s pretty amazing! Hi Beth! I hope to see you this summer!

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  7. I am so glad to have found your blog! You have so many talents! I was surprised to read today that your blog costs you money. I don’t know exactly how all that works with readers clicking on links and the blogger getting compensation since I am not a blogger, but when reading your blog I have often wished that you had included the link to items and recipes. I am sure that is time-consuming, but it could hopefully earn some compensation for you and would be helpful to your readers.

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    1. Well, thank you Julie! Yes, it costs about $500 per year because I have to pay for my WordPress blog account and then I pay extra to have the search feature. I include lots of links but lately I have not included as many due to time issues with the crazy end of school and my mom’s stroke. Anytime you see red font, that is a clickable link. I do not have the viewership needed to run ads on my blog and I really don’t want to hurt the integrity of my blog by doing sponsored posts. I would only do that if I believed in the product before they approached me. I also don’t want the complications from taxes due to blog income. I’m keeping it simple over here so that it remains fun and a passion and doesn’t feel like work. That is for now…when I retire, I may look to turn this into something more.
      If you are a new reader, I hope you will go back and see how many clickable links I offer. I offer links back to older posts and to certain products I like.
      If you read my blog on a phone, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and put anything in the search feature. If you are on a laptop it is in the top right corner. I hope that helps if you were not aware. And, if you were, I apologize. I think you may have just given me an idea for a blog post!

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  9. How’s the produce so far? That’s my only big complaint with both of the Walmarts nearby- produce looks like it was the last toy chosen on the playground and for obvious reasons…

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      2. I guess you could return anything unsatisfactory but they are also trying to get you to rate them each time so they want a good rating.

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  11. Doesn’t your Kroger have Kroger Plus that includes delivery? We had Wal-Mart + for a year. We liked it but went with Kroger plus when the Wal-Mart subscription expired. Kroger is $60 for a year and you get double fuel points on all purchases and extra coupons. I think we will stick with Kroger when our year is up. Love grocery delivery. It is such a time saver.

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    1. I don’t believe we do. Instacart delivers Kroger and you don’t get any of your Kroger plus card discounts. Maybe it’s coming? Good to know that is out there! But, I really don’t need Kroger delivery because it is like 1/4 mile away. Maybe it would still be nice?

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  13. We don’t have a Kroger or any other grocery chain so I rely on Walmart pickup at least once a week. I do throw in all kinds of things that we need, not just groceries, so it is handy. I don’t mind going to the pick-up spot. I guess this walmart does free delivery but you have to live without 9 miles and we’re like 12 miles.

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    1. Yes, the pick up isn’t bad at all. It was just perfect for me right as I left school and now I guess I am just enjoying the delivery since I am home more and without a routine. It’s great to also be able to add in toiletries and home goods.

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  14. Oh, good to know. I am a little weary of our local Wal Mart and delivery, but may give this a try sometime. I still go in person and alternate Kroger/Wal Mart. I agree, I always come out of the stores with more than I had on my list!

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    1. I am really enjoying it – I don’t know if I want to add another monthly bill of $12 and I will see if I really think I’m saving money at the end of the month.

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  15. Years ago I did not like Walmart at all. However in the last few years that has changed. It really started with Covid when our local HEB was so crowded and everyone was trying to distance themselves. Walmart wasn’t nearly as busy so I started shopping there more. They are carrying nicer brands and they have some really good clothes. They are definitely popular with fashion bloggers/vloggers. I ordered something from them awhile back and they offered free shipping thru Walmart+ trial membership so I signed up. At this point I may keep using it for another month because I really like it!

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    1. I agree. I think they have upped their game. Covid changed many things! I also think the blogger/vloggers are getting big money. I am really liking it, too. We shall see what I decide on July 1!

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  18. I had Walmart+ at my mom’s in Arkansas but they didn’t deliver in her tiny town so I had to do the order online and pickup, which was fine, but I could only do it once a week.

    When I moved back to L.A. I wondered if I would continue with Walmart+. Well, it only took one delivery order to say YES, I will continue it. When I first got here I discovered there were no bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, so I was grateful to be able to have those delivered in just a few hours. Did I mention I don’t currently have a car? In L.A.? Yeah. So Walmart+ has been a lifesaver.

    So far all their Great Value products are just as good as national products EXCEPT cream cheese…nothing but Philly will do….and all their Cranberry beverages (Cran-grape, cran black cherry…) are actually BETTER than Ocean Spray.

    They’ve only screwed up one order so far…didn’t deliver my frozen ravioli, and I was never able to find a way to call and tell them to see what they do to make you happy. I didn’t find anything on the app or the website. A friend who WORKS for Walmart in Arkansas told me to call my local store directly. Well, after several attempts, no one answered so I finally gave up.

    But yah. I love Walmart+ Totally worth the money. And if they don’t have something for delivery, they can next-day ship it to you.

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    1. I bet that would be really handy in a place like LA without a car! I am tempted to take them up on their $49 a year offer, but for now I am back to Kroger. We shall see!

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