Our Economy and Business Practices

PickyPicky3 · ‎10-22-2018

Some days I think I have an understanding of this topic.

Some days I don't.

Since the new year, Walmart has delivered single items to me four times. A jar of mayo, rotini, Ritz crackers and tonight a can of soup.

We all know has this happens. You put in a free shipping order of over $35 and Walmart decides how they get each item to you. In my area Walmart uses uber for home deliveries. My driver tonight was funny. I met him at the door and told him Walmart must be crazy to do this.

uberGuy: Everybody says that to me. It's very depressing. You must have really wanted this can of soup. They don't tell me how much you pay for the delivery.

Me: Nothing -- it's part of free shipping over $35.

uberGuy: Not even the $10/month delivery program?

Me: No.

uberGuy: You're right. It's crazy.

I don't understand why they don't just put it in a box with the other shipped order items, which often also arrive one item in a box.

On It · ‎03-15-2021

This started happening to me earlier in the year. It is so inefficient and has to be a money losing proposition for Walmart. I got so frustrated after two deliveries were lost that I stopped ordering from Walmart for a while. I needed some larger items that were bigger ticket items, so I tried again, and they were shipped from a warehouse. Somebody in upper management has made some weird decisions. I think they are trying to challenge Amazon. Big mistake! Walmart should stay in their lane which is their distribution and shipping system not same day delivery. I don't usually have an emergency need for a can of soup that must be delivered that day.

PickyPicky3 · ‎10-22-2018

@On It Last year a Walmart manager told me every decision they make is to close the gap with Amazon inch by inch. They experiment constantly and drop ideas that don't work quickly. How long will this last?

On It · ‎03-15-2021

@PickyPicky3 wrote:
@On It Last year a Walmart manager told me every decision they make is to close the gap with Amazon inch by inch. They experiment constantly and drop ideas that don't work quickly. How long will this last?

I am glad someone told you their rationale. My frustration level got so high that I tried curbside delivery recently and was pleasantly surprised. It is efficient and well organized.

Walmart has a huge computer system that should have picked up these loses. I do not understand.

PickyPicky3 · ‎10-22-2018

Walmart tries out different versions of an experiment in different locations at the same time. Initial losses are OK if their data show our ordering habits are changing because of this. We're being tracked, don'tcha know.

This won't affect my ordering habits, except that I like their cute GPS tracker.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I had two WM items from two different orders that got lost in the mail so I called WM CS and they refunded me the money. Two days later the items showed up at my door. I got free stuff from WM. But my point is, how many times does that happen? They gotta be losing money there? They probably wrote it off on some insurance claim...'lost packages' or something like that.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

I quit ordering from them about a year ago for the same reason. I got 1 bottle of syrup shipped. Then a box of oatleal in a single box.

The oatmeal was out for delivery 5 days in a row. They refunded my $ and the box showed up, the oatmeal was all over the inside of the box.

It's rare I order from the A. They are awful.

Snoopp · ‎02-02-2015

I order from Walmart frequently. I’ve started to get used to the shipping in separate boxes. What I have a big problem with is delivery-dropping a box at the curb or in the middle of my driveway instead of bringing the box to the front door.

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

There's always at least one here who says they aren't having problems with a retailer, so it looks like it will be me this time. Lol.

To answer a few here who don't like orders sent in multiple boxes, there is a reason.

I used to get all my orders from a warehouse in Ohio, then Covid and shortages hit. Instead of telling us something is out of stock, Walmart's system looks at all their other warehouses, if in stock, will send it from that one or from a local store.

I'd rather receive my order in multiple boxes and from the store than be told "out of stock."

Of course...Walmart doesn't want their customers going to Amazon if something is out of stock or can't be delivered quickly.

I'm getting some of my orders delivered from the local store, either the same day or next morning, and other items shipped next day.

Local residents wanting to make extra money deliver from my Walmart store. No Uber or any other company.

The only problems I have had with Walmart were not receiving two orders that were Fedex's fault. Walmart refunded me immediately. No questions asked, no implying I was a thief. It's nice to be believed.

The second problem was before Covid when the warehouse was adding additional items I didn't order to the box. Everything else was there. One call to CS and that stopped.

A third problem, also before Covid, was when the Ohio warehouse was not packing the box properly. One call and that stopped.