If you live in the United Kingdom, you‘ve likely heard of Walmart – the largest retailer in the United States known for its "everyday low prices" on everything from groceries and household essentials to electronics, furniture, clothing and more. With over 4,700 stores across the US and a massive online presence, Walmart is the go-to shopping destination for many American consumers.
But what if you‘re a UK resident who has discovered a must-have item on Walmart‘s US website? Can you get it shipped directly to your home in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll answer the question of whether Walmart delivers to the UK and outline your options as an international shopper looking to buy from this retail giant.
Does Walmart Ship to the United Kingdom?
Let‘s get straight to the point: No, Walmart does not offer direct international shipping from the US to the UK. The company‘s website and delivery network are set up to serve only customers located in the 50 US states, APO/FPO addresses and Puerto Rico. Attempts to enter a non-US address during the checkout process on Walmart.com will result in an error message.
There are a few key reasons why Walmart has chosen not to expand its e-commerce operations to serve international customers directly:
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Walmart‘s core business is focused on the US domestic market where it already has an extensive network of retail locations and distribution centers to efficiently serve online shoppers. Setting up the global infrastructure required to handle direct international e-commerce would be a massive undertaking.
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Offering international shipping would greatly increase the complexity of Walmart‘s online operations in terms of things like currency exchanges, customs paperwork, international customer service, and managing higher shipping costs and transit times. The company has decided these challenges outweigh the potential benefits.
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In many international markets including the UK, Walmart has instead chosen to acquire or partner with existing local retailers to establish a brick-and-mortar presence rather than trying to compete directly through e-commerce. A notable example of this was Walmart‘s purchase of the ASDA supermarket chain in the UK which it owned from 1999 to 2020.
So while you won‘t be able to enter a UK address and get your order shipped directly from Walmart‘s US warehouses, there are still ways for British shoppers to buy items sold by the world‘s largest retailer and get them delivered internationally. Let‘s take a look at some options.
How to Get Walmart Orders Delivered to the UK via Package Forwarding
The most common workaround for getting orders from Walmart and other US-based retailers sent to the UK is to use a package forwarding service. These services provide you with a US shipping address that you can enter on Walmart‘s website to place your order. The package forwarder then receives your Walmart order at their US-based warehouse and ships it onwards to your home address in the UK.
Here‘s a general overview of how the process works:
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Sign up for an account with a package forwarding company and receive a unique "virtual" US address.
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Shop on Walmart.com and enter your package forwarder‘s US address as the delivery destination at checkout.
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Once your order arrives at the package forwarder‘s US warehouse, they will process it for international shipping and provide you with a cost estimate.
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After you approve the international shipping quote and pay any applicable fees, the package forwarder will ship your order to your address in the UK and provide you with tracking information.
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Your Walmart order arrives at your doorstep in the UK!
While package forwarding services make it possible to buy from Walmart and other US retailers that don‘t offer international shipping, there are some important things to keep in mind:
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Using a forwarding service will add to the total cost of your order in the form of international shipping fees charged by the package forwarder. These can vary depending on the size and weight of your order and the shipping speed you choose. Be sure to factor this in to make sure you‘re still getting a good deal.
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Delivery times will be longer than Walmart‘s domestic US shipping options since your order has to be forwarded and shipped internationally. In most cases, you can expect to receive your order within 7-14 business days, but COVID-related delays are possible.
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In general, package forwarding is best for items that are small, lightweight and not particularly fragile to keep international shipping costs down and minimize potential damage in transit.
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Most package forwarders will not handle returns, so if you need to send an item back to Walmart, you‘ll likely be responsible for shipping it back to the US yourself. Make sure you understand the return policies before ordering.
Choosing a Package Forwarding Service
There are a number of companies that offer US package forwarding to the UK, so it‘s worth comparing a few to find the best fit in terms of pricing, speed and service. Some of the most popular options for UK shoppers include:
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MyUS: With over 400,000 customers globally, MyUS is one of the most established package forwarders serving the UK market. They have multiple warehouses across the US to receive your orders and offer a variety of international shipping options. Pricing starts at around £40-£50 to forward a typical Walmart order weighing under 2 kg.
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Shipito: Shipito is another major player that offers an easy-to-use online platform for managing your packages and international shipments. They have five warehouse locations across the US including an Oregon facility that allows you to avoid state sales tax on your Walmart purchases. Shipping fees to the UK start at around £20 for small packages.
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Stackry: With its user-friendly website and no monthly membership fees, Stackry is a great choice for UK shoppers making one-off purchases from Walmart. If you have multiple orders, Stackry allows you to hold them for up to 45 days and consolidate them into a single shipment to save money. Shipping a 2 kg package costs around £30.
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ViaBox: ViaBox stands out for its flat-rate shipping options that make it easy to estimate your costs upfront. For example, you can ship a package up to 3 kg from their Florida or California warehouses to the UK for a flat rate of $49.95 USD (around £41). They also have a UK-based customer support team.
To get the most accurate pricing for your specific Walmart order, it‘s worth getting a quote from a few different package forwarders before you commit. Most will have a shipping calculator on their website where you can enter the approximate size and weight of your package to compare costs and transit times.
Is Walmart Available in the UK?
Now that we‘ve established that Walmart doesn‘t deliver directly to the UK, you may be wondering whether the retail chain has any brick-and-mortar stores on British soil. The answer is no – there are currently no Walmart-branded locations anywhere in the UK.
However, Walmart did have a major stake in the British supermarket sector through its ownership of ASDA from 1999 to 2020. During this period, ASDA operated as a subsidiary of Walmart and was the second-largest supermarket chain in the UK behind Tesco. In October 2020, Walmart announced it had sold a majority stake in ASDA to British billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital.
While ASDA stores bear many similarities to Walmart in terms of their focus on low prices and one-stop shopping, the two chains are now separate companies. ASDA‘s product assortment is tailored to the UK market and there is no direct integration with Walmart‘s US e-commerce operations.
Alternatives to Walmart in the UK
If you‘re a UK-based shopper looking for a similar experience to shopping at Walmart without having to deal with international shipping and package forwarding, there are a number of homegrown alternatives worth checking out:
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ASDA: As a former Walmart subsidiary, ASDA is probably the closest thing to Walmart you‘ll find in the UK. With over 600 locations, it‘s known for its low prices, wide selection (including the George clothing line) and large-format Supercentre stores. ASDA also offers online shopping with delivery.
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Tesco: Tesco is the UK‘s largest supermarket chain, operating everything from small neighborhood Tesco Express shops to sprawling Tesco Extra hypermarkets. You‘ll find most of the same categories as a Walmart Supercenter including groceries, clothing, home goods and electronics. Tesco also has a popular Clubcard loyalty scheme.
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Sainsbury‘s: The UK‘s second-largest grocery chain, Sainsbury‘s offers both in-store and online shopping. In addition to groceries and everyday essentials, Sainsbury‘s stocks electronics, toys, homewares and clothing from its Tu fashion label. Nectar points offer rewards on purchases.
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Argos: Now a subsidiary of Sainsbury‘s, Argos is a catalogue retailer that sells a huge variety of general merchandise including toys, tech, home and garden, clothing and more. You can browse the catalogue and order online for home delivery or click-and-collect at an Argos store or Sainsbury‘s location.
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Amazon.co.uk: The British version of the world‘s largest e-commerce company offers a similar selection and shopping experience to its US counterpart. Amazon Prime members in the UK get access to free one-day shipping on millions of items, making it a great alternative for many of the products sold on Walmart.com.
So while you can‘t shop directly from Walmart in the UK, the country‘s well-developed and competitive retail sector offers plenty of alternative options for savvy shoppers. With a little research, you should be able to find most of what you need from domestic retailers.
Walmart UK Shipping FAQs
Still have questions about getting Walmart orders delivered to the UK? We‘ve rounded up answers to some of the most common queries:
Q: Does Walmart ship to England?
A: No, Walmart does not ship directly to England or any other part of the United Kingdom. You‘ll need to use a package forwarding service that provides you with a US shipping address and then forwards your order on to the UK.
Q: Does Walmart deliver to the UK if I have an American Express card?
A: Having a US-based credit card like an American Express card does not change Walmart‘s shipping policies. The retailer still will not deliver to addresses outside of the US, regardless of your billing address or payment method.
Q: How much does it cost to ship from Walmart to the UK?
A: The cost of shipping a Walmart order to the UK via package forwarding will depend on the size and weight of your package as well as the specific forwarding service you use. On average, expect to pay at least £20-£40 to ship a small order weighing up to 2 kg. Larger and heavier orders will cost more.
Q: Are there extra taxes or duties when shipping Walmart orders to the UK?
A: When importing goods into the UK from abroad, you may be required to pay VAT and/or customs duty depending on the value and type of items you‘re ordering. Your package forwarder should provide details on any applicable taxes and help with the necessary customs paperwork. In general, expect to pay 20% VAT if your order value is over £135.
The Bottom Line
While Walmart doesn‘t deliver directly to the UK, British shoppers still have options for getting their hands on products sold by America‘s biggest retailer. By using a package forwarding service, you can have your Walmart orders sent to a US address and then shipped onward to your home in the UK.
Of course, this extra step comes with added costs and longer delivery times compared to shopping from a UK-based retailer. If you‘re looking for Walmart‘s signature combination of low prices and one-stop shopping convenience, it‘s worth checking out homegrown alternatives like ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury‘s and Argos.
Ultimately, the decision to buy from Walmart US and have your order forwarded comes down to how badly you want a specific item and whether you‘re willing to jump through a few extra hoops to get it. We hope this guide has given you the information you need to make an informed choice and happy shopping!
