Walmart remains the largest retailer in the world, with more than 4,600 locations in the U.S. alone, Forbes reports. But as we all know, Amazon has revolutionized e-commerce so much that it’s become the main shopping option for many people. Interestingly, both behemoth retailers still fervently compete with one another, often challenging the other’s area of expertise with new innovations.
But even as the older brick-and-mortar operator, Walmart has surprisingly been able to best Amazon with a few shopping perks that customers may not even know about. Read on to see which secret weapons the iconic store has in the battle against its biggest competitor—and how you can be the winner in this retail battle.
RELATED: 17 Worst Items to Buy at Walmart in 2025, Retail Experts Say.
1 | Walmart can often deliver faster.
Walmart
One of the great conveniences about Walmart tends to be that there’s always one nearby. But if you’re weighing using Amazon to save yourself some time on a run to the store, it can be helpful to know that Walmart can be even more expedient at getting things to your front door.
“I am very, very grateful that we have 4,700, roughly, stores,” John Furner, chief executive of Walmart U.S., told The Wall Street Journal in an interview, clarifying that they’re also used as delivery hubs. “It’s something that perhaps a few years ago people would not have expected we would have been able to deliver at scale.”
In many cases, this vast network of fulfillment centers can make getting what you need much faster from Walmart. The retailer even developed its own delivery logistics company, Spark, to help streamline the process and keep costs relatively low for everyone involved.
2 | You’ll pay less for Walmart+ .
Walmart is providing a more streamlined experience.
Shutterstock
Amazon Prime and Walmart+ both provide free expedited shipping and delivery on orders, which can immediately rack up savings if you’re planning on making a few purchases per month.
However, Walmart+ has a distinct advantage for the truly price-conscious. The service costs just $98 per year, as opposed to the $129 annual charge for Amazon Prime.
3 | It’s better for groceries.
Walmart
For years, Amazon has tried to break through on its ability to deliver fresh ingredients like produce and frozen goods faster than it fulfills its typical shipping. But even with its network of Whole Foods grocery stores and the advent of Amazon Go grocery shops, the company has been forced to retool its Amazon Fresh delivery in an effort to build a system that works for both customers and the company.
On the other hand, Walmart has found serious success in its ability to get essentials to customers as quickly as possible. Compared to 2023, the coverage network for same-day grocery deliveries has jumped from 76 percent of all American households to 93 percent today, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The other notable perk is that Walmart+ removes the delivery fee from same-day grocery orders that are $35 or more—while Amazon Prime members need to spend $100 to get their Fresh deliveries without an added charge.
RELATED: 4 Ways to Get Things for Free at Walmart.
4 | Walmart+ members get loads of freebies.
Shutterstock
Of course, members aren’t just saving on delivery and shipping fees when they pay for Walmart+. There are other free perks that come with the service that make it all the more enticing compared to Amazon Prime.
Most notably, Walmart+ members get free access to an ad-supported Paramount Plus streaming service subscription, which normally costs $4.99 per month.
Subscribers can also look forward to free food from Burger King every few months, free online pet care from virtual vet Pawp, free flat tire repair on tires purchased at Walmart, and even free same-day pharmacy delivery, according to the company’s website.
By comparison, Amazon Prime’s perks include free access to a reduced tier of its Prime Video streaming service, Amazon Music, books on Prime Reading, and Prime Gaming.
5 | …And they also get some nice discounts.
9 | GasShutterstock
You can also save big time on other services using a Walmart+ account, most notably a discount on gas for $0.10 off per gallon. The deal is available at more than 13,000 stations across the U.S., including Exxon, Mobil, Walmart & Murphy stations.
Besides the free burgers included with your subscription, you can also get 25 percent off every online purchase with Burger King.
Plus, there’s access to a rotating selection of offers, including everything from a free five-month subscription to Apple Music, four months of Apple Fitness, and 25 percent of live tax help from Intuit, to name a few.
6 | Walmart will put your groceries away for you.
Walmart
One of the problems with grocery delivery can be coordinating a handoff. After all, no one wants their milk, eggs, and ice cream sitting in the sun for hours before you make it home from work and get it inside.
However, Walmart takes grocery delivery to the next level for some shoppers. For an additional $7 per month or $40 per year, Walmart+ subscribers can opt into the store’s InHome delivery service.
This allows customers to choose to have their grocery deliveries left on their front door, dropped off safely inside their garage, or even have the delivery person put away sensitive items right into your fridge for you. It’s a unique add-on that can come in handy for those who may not have the time to spare.
RELATED: Walmart Tiny Homes Are Selling for Under $9,000—Are They Worth It?
7 | Walmart fine-tuned its delivery zones.
You might notice a new section on Walmart’s website.
iStock
Besides making it easier to groceries delivered to you, Walmart has gone an extra step to ensure you don’t regret outsourcing the chore. While fine tuning its offerings during its expansion, the company was able to calculate everything from how long drivers could feasibly drive given local conditions like urban density and traffic.
The new system makes it less likely that perishable items won’t survive a super long trip—and less likely a Spark driver will give up or become frustrated due to an especially long delivery time, The Wall Street Journal reports. The company also invested in new training and systems to help ensure there are fewer errors during deliveries.
And while it might cost a little extra in fees to ensure a drop-off within the next few hours, Walmart executives say more than a third of customers opt to pay for the convenience, per The Wall Street Journal.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.