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Walmart Launches Express On-Demand Early-Morning Delivery
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Walmart has launched an early delivery service it says will get products to your door on demand in as little as 30 minutes, starting at 6 a.m.
The new Express On-Demand Early Morning Delivery is an expansion of efforts that began with store curbside delivery in 2013 and since added doorstep and InHome delivery, the company said.
“Starting at 6 a.m., earlier than ever before, customers can enjoy the convenience of On-Demand delivery,” the company said in a statement. “With hundreds of thousands of items available in-store and hundreds of millions more online, customers can easily get what they need during the early-morning hours from fashion to furniture and beyond in as soon as 30 minutes.”
The new early-hours delivery program is an example of how major retailers are competing for customers in stores and in their homes.
Target announced recently it would join competitors Amazon and Walmart, launching a paid membership program that will offer unlimited free same-day delivery in as little as an hour for some purchases.
The program, called Target Circle 360, is part of a reintroduction to Target Circle, a customer loyalty program. Both are to kick off April 7.
Walmart is the nation’s largest retailer. It estimates its 2.1 million employees worldwide serve 255 million customers each week in more than 10,500 stores and eCommerce websites in 19 countries. Walmart recorded revenue of nearly $650 billion in 2024.
The early-morning delivery joins an array of shopping programs that includes Late-Night Express Delivery, Live Shopper for real-time communication with shoppers and On-Demand Delivery for same-day convenience.
The services are free for paid subscribers to Walmart+ — and there is a free trial.
The company’s new delivery option is aimed at meeting the start-of-the-day needs of customers, Walmart said. Some examples cited:
- The household that runs out of formula or diapers and needs them quickly in the morning.
- The worker who finds last-minute needs while preparing to leave for the job.
- Appliance needs when those used in the daily routine break down by surprise.
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“This expanded timing offers them peace of mind knowing they can get things they need at their doorstep to kick-start the day,” the company said.
The company will begin delivering live bait from more than 3,000 stores for anglers looking to hit the lake early. That product joins other outdoor gear, such as tents and camping chairs, that can be delivered to the door.
Walmart Inc. ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America.
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