[Software] Walmart Plus review: A fast delivery service for groceries and everything else

[Mindsphere.]

Walmart Plus review: A fast delivery service for groceries and everything else

 

 

Grocery shopping wasn't my favorite thing before the coronavirus pandemic, but once March lockdowns and quarantines began, I absolutely dreaded it. Each excursion became a tactical mission to get in and out as fast as possible to avoid catching the virus from other shoppers. It was stressful in the first months, planning trips around shipment trucks to get items before the shelves were stripped bare, and keeping a wide berth around shoppers not wearing masks. Even though time has passed and we've settled (to some extent) into this new normal, grocery shopping still makes me nervous. 

In the midst of the pandemic, Walmart launched its delivery subscription service, Walmart Plus in September, offering subscribers same-day grocery deliveries and discounts on gas and in-store Scan & Go. In some ways, it's Walmart's version of Amazon Prime. For $98 a year (or $13 a month), I found that it's worth it for me to get my groceries and anything else I'd find at a Walmart dropped off at my door quickly and without the hassle of going into the store. And with a generous free trial period, the service is worth checking out.

 

Quick sign-up, free trials and contactless delivery

Signing up for Walmart Plus is easy -- just follow the prompts on the website and enter your information. You'll get a 15-day free trial, and when I signed up, I answered a quick three-question survey and got that extended to a 30-day free trial. You'll be asked to enter billing information, but you won't be charged anything until your trial ends. I appreciated that every time I logged on to Walmart's website, it let me know very clearly how long I had left in my free trial. I was never worried that I'd forget and get charged. 

Read more: Walmart Plus vs. Amazon Prime: Price, free trial, grocery delivery and more

Before you check out, you have the option to specify any driver instructions in a text box. You can also just ask that the order be left at your door, but by checking that box, you're also agreeing that you accept responsibility for what happens to your groceries after the driver leaves. 

 

This might be less of an issue since more folks are working for home, or for those who have smart doorbells. I have a Google Nest Hello, so my phone alerts me whenever someone gets within a certain range of my porch. Walmart also emails you three times during the process, letting you know when your order is received, when it's out for delivery, and if there are any substitutions. The correspondence will also let you know what car your driver will arrive in and their name. If you add your phone number, you'll get text messages about the status of your order.

All of this is to say it's highly unlikely that your order is just going to be dropped off and you won't know.