In just a period of 7 months, the Walmart+ membership program which is launched by the world’s largest retailer has been successful to build a base of over 60 million U.S consumers subscribed to the $98-per-year service, not only offers online delivery but also in-store savings and convenience offerings.
Walmart+ is a new membership that gives you access to benefits that help save time and money.
What’s included?
- W+ free shipping
Free two-day & next-day shipping on items shipped by Walmart – no order minimum required.
- Free delivery from your store
Offers free delivery of groceries.
- Member prices on fuel
Save up to 5 cents per gallon at Walmart and Murphy fuel stations. Plus, access member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers.
- Mobile scan & go
Shop and check out with your phone in-store using the Walmart app. It’s contact-free!
Although the gap between the two rivalry services, Walmart+ and rival Amazon Prime is impressively large of around 100 million members wide, the upstart entry from Arkansas has been trending higher in the first quarter of 2021, at a time when the dominant digital leader has experienced a few months of slippage in its overall share of the category. Hence, even though Amazon seems to be leading by 100 million members, Walmart can still claim the fact that in just a matter of 4 months, that margin has narrowed by approximately 30 million subscribers.
Like we recently reported, of all eight major retail categories in which Amazon and Walmart compete, the food and beverage space is the one in which the chain store operator most dominates its digital rival — but it is also its single largest source of revenue, accounting for 56 percent.
Considering that, one of the key drivers of new subscriptions to Walmart+ is its leadership in groceries and the convenience that comes with running over 5,000 U.S. stores. In short, the new data shows that when it comes to just grocery purchases, Walmart’s pricing advantage — combined with its in-store and curbside pickup options — is clearly attracting people to its membership program and getting them to shift their behavior. Twenty-eight percent of Walmart+ customers said they made the shift in their grocery-buying during the pandemic compared to about 19 percent of Amazon customers who did. However, with Walmart winning in groceries, but Amazon still dominates in its overall assortment. It’s a shopping dichotomy that is driving an increase in so-called “combo subscribers” who belong to both Prime and Plus.