How much time do you think you spend at the grocery store? For many families, it can really add up every week, just to get the necessities. Walmart hopes its new program could change that.
Click, pay, drive and done. Walmart says its new Grocery Pickup really is that easy.
Customers simply select their items online from Walmart’s website, submit their orders and then set a pickup time.
When you arrive at the store, just make a call and Walmart brings the groceries to you.
The program first began in select stores in Denver, San Jose and Bentonville, Ark.
Now Walmart wants to focus on customers in the Arizona Valley, offering the free service at these three stores:
- 1175 S. Arizona Ave., Chandle, AZ
- 1710 S. Greenfield Road, Mesa, AZ
- 240 W. Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ
The testing officially began one week ago and already the corporate office is calling it a success.
“Even though it’s the first week, we’re really excited,” said Ravi Jariwala, Walmart’s director of public relations. “Our teams are fired up and trying to deliver a very good experience to customers.”
But Walmart isn’t the only store changing things up.
While there are no immediate plans for the Valley, Kroger (which owns Fry’s) is testing a program that’s been successful in other parts of the country.
“Our Harris Teeter stores in the mid-Atlantic region of the country operate a successful ‘order online, pick up at the store’ program,” said Jo Lynn, Fry’s public affairs director. “Kroger is testing that model in Cincinnati with the intention of expanding it over time.”
Safeway offers grocery delivery, for a fee. Bashas’ used to, but discontinued it, adding that there are no plans right now to revive that service.
“Home delivery and order-ahead programs aren’t for everyone,” said Bashas’ spokesman Rob Johnson. “When it comes to groceries — and particularly things like produce and meat — customers like to pick out their own items. They like to thump the watermelon, choose from several packages of steaks, look at date codes, read ingredients labels, etc.”
Walmart says its employees see customers who want options.
“It’s a new way of serving customers and customer shopping behavior is changing,” said Jariwala. “So they’re really excited to be able to offer this to customers in Phoenix.”
