March 6, 2007 5:49 AM PST

Free shipping from Walmart.com...with store pickup

Wal-Mart launched on Tuesday its Site to Store program, in which Walmart.com customers can opt for free shipping--provided they are willing to pick up their order at a Wal-Mart store instead of having it sent to their home. The items ordered are shipped within 7 to 10 business days to a Wal-Mart store, and then an e-mail is sent to the buyer that alerts him or her to pick up the order.

Wal-Mart has been testing the program since 2004 in a small number of stores. Although not all of the company's products will be eligible for free shipping, a statement touts that "tens of thousands" of items--some of which are not normally available in Wal-Mart's stores--will be covered. The initial phase of the Site to Store program covers 750 Wal-Mart's stores in all of New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri; as well as parts of Texas, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi. The company expects to have all 3,300 of its U.S. stores covered under Site to Store late this summer.

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14 comments

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I used to unload Wal-Mart trucks...
I would advise against doing this if you care about the product you're purchasing - that is if they're being sent along with the rest of the store's general merchandise.

The reason I say this is because they jam those trailers so full that your purchase is in danger of being smashed. Along with that risk, they also stack the trailers without thinking (ie: laundry soap 10' up on top of sponges). Of course the issue isn't that it may hurt someone, but the fact that it may come crashing down and spill all over the place and possibly all over your purchase. Or even worse.. the same scenario but with pickles! How would you like your pillowcases to smell like dill pickles? O_o

All of that said, I would not opt for this and come to think of it... they are definitely going to ship your purchase with the rest of the store's general merchandise because it's Wal-Mart! Free shipping = "you get what you pay for" attitude.

Beware!
Posted by 8ball629 (80 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Not anymore
First off, Walmart does not pack pickles or any other kind of
food in with the general merchandise, they are two seperate
trucks on seperate sides of the building. I also work at walmart
and have unloaded a few trucks and you are right about them
being jam packed but we will soon be going to a palletized
unloading where everything will be loaded on a pallet and be
able to just pull it out. With that, the products will be packed
better so that they are stable on the pallets. I think the site to
store program is great... there are a lot of higher end items
online that people will definately take advantage of to get free
shipping and what better way to use the now empty layaway
area. I am looking forward to using the service!
Posted by wbkmc (1 comment )
Link Flag
other retailers?
Don't most other retailers already do this? I know Lowe's does, and I think Sears, so what's so special about Wal-Mart's program?
Posted by kteag84 (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
Nothing
Wal-Mart is just acting like it is doing something BIG. Just like the prescription drug program. K-Mart had been doing this for years, but Wal-Mart acted like they invented it or something. Typical Wal-Mart. Another reason to avoid them.
Posted by rstinnett (41 comments )
Link Flag
gee
How exciting - NaziMart is now offering a "we can get it for you
from our other store" policy that EVERY OTHER DECENT RETAILER
HAS OFFERED FOR DECADES and they call this an improvement.

I'll tell you what an improvement is - a world where NaziMart and
it's supporters are non-existent.
Posted by Dalkorian (3000 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Who buys from WalMart?
I wouldn't buy a loaf of bread from them, let alone a high-priced item. They are the cheap, junk seller. You can buy a DVD player there, if you want to be buying a new one every few months to fix the one that just broke. Or you can spend your money to buy a decent one somewhere else and be done with it.
Posted by rstinnett (41 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Um?
So the Sony DVD player at Wal Mart is somehow different from the Sondy DVD player at Best Buy or Frys or <insert high end electronics store here>?

Geez, I hate Wal Mart but it has more to do with their policies and average shoppers than the quality of merchandise.
Posted by grandllama (1 comment )
Link Flag
Who Buys from WalMart?
It sounds as though you may have had a bad experience at one time with Walmart. I shop there at least once every week and sometimes more often. I have found the quality of goods at least equal or better than what is available at other local merchants and the prices are substantially lower than other merchants. If you have plenty of money then shop elsewhere, but you will be missing a good deal. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
Posted by jpritch (2 comments )
Link Flag
Free but not fast nor accurate
I have tried the walmart.com site to store free shipment and found it has problems.

1. Shipped the wrong item (2 weeks) I did not accept the item at the store.
2. Customer service could not locate the item and requested that I return the item for a refund. I do not/nor have I had the item in my hot little hands.
3. I have now reordered the item and only hope that walmart.com can find the (wrong) item and refund my original order.
4. The projected availability will now mean that if they actually ship the correct item I will have my order about one month after originally ordering the item.
5. And because they would (only) allow for a return with refund and a reorder via walmart.com customer service, their records will not reflect the 'actual' order delay. Walmart knows how to make themselves look good.
6. If this is not an isolated event, walmart.com site to store conceipt will not be a useful option.
Posted by srudland (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
they actully lost my shipped item and upon calling the customer service for refund was told that the store where it was to be shipped needed to issue me a refund. totally worthless program. Am waiting for a call from custome service representative but called up the credit card company and put a dispute and got the credit back
Posted by Vallydeb (1 comment )
Link Flag
Sorry, but it is definitely NOT free shipping like they say...
As listed on their website, prints delivered to your home are .09 cents each Plus Shipping,
OR,
you can get their "Free Shipping" to the store by paying .15 cents per print. That comes to an additional .06 cents per print to have them shipped for ??? "FREE"???
What a SCAM!
Who thinks of these things?
Posted by dan5842 (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
Went to walmart to pick up my shipped order. Was given the runaround the first hour. . . After finally being there for 2 hours was told, they couldn't locate the item. . . possibly lost, given away to wrong customer, etc., . . . was given no refund and was told to call 800# for Walmart for them to assist me. Will have to spend 2 more hours on the phone to fight to get my money refunded:(. . I learned my lesson. . this is so not worth the hassle.
Posted by notawalmartfan (1 comment )
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