Online shopping has never been more popular. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, e-commerce sales increased by over 43% in 2020, largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many shoppers to avoid brick-and-mortar stores. Walmart, the nation‘s largest retailer, has made significant investments in its online presence to capture a bigger piece of this growing pie. The company‘s e-commerce sales skyrocketed by 79% in fiscal 2021 as more customers turned to Walmart.com for everything from groceries to electronics.
But with this surge in online shopping comes an increased risk of problems like late deliveries. No matter how well-oiled the e-commerce machine, there are always going to be some orders that hit snags due to factors like bad weather, system glitches, or good old-fashioned human error. As a frequent Walmart.com shopper myself, I‘ve experienced my fair share of delayed packages over the years. And while it‘s never fun to have an eagerly awaited order stuck in delivery limbo, I‘ve found that Walmart is generally pretty good about making things right when they drop the ball.
In this article, I‘ll share what I‘ve learned about Walmart‘s policies and processes for compensating customers when their deliveries are late. I‘ll also offer some tips and tricks for increasing your odds of a successful resolution, based on my own experiences and research. Whether you‘re a first-time Walmart.com shopper or a seasoned pro, this guide will help you know what to expect and how to advocate for yourself if your order goes off track.
Understanding Walmart‘s Delivery Guarantees (Or Lack Thereof)
The first thing to know about Walmart‘s delivery policies is that they don‘t actually guarantee your order will arrive by the estimated date provided at checkout. This might seem counterintuitive – after all, what‘s the point of paying for expedited shipping if there‘s no commitment to get it to you on time? But if you read the fine print on Walmart‘s website, you‘ll see that delivery dates are "estimates" and that Walmart "does its best to provide accurate dates and to deliver within that timeframe but does not guarantee delivery dates."
So right off the bat, it‘s important to manage your expectations. While Walmart clearly aims to hit its promised delivery windows the vast majority of the time, there‘s always the possibility that your order could be delayed by a day or two (or more) for reasons beyond their control. This is especially true during peak shopping periods like the holidays when order volumes are at their highest.
That said, Walmart does offer several different shipping speed options for online orders, each with its own general timeframe:
| Shipping Speed | Delivery Timeframe | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| NextDay Delivery | 1 business day | $7.95-$9.95 |
| 2-Day Delivery | 2 business days | Free for orders over $35 |
| 3-5 Day Shipping | 3-5 business days | Free for orders over $35 |
| Standard Shipping | 4-6 business days | $6.95 for orders under $35 |
For orders over $35, 2-day delivery and 3-5 day shipping are provided free of charge in most cases. NextDay Delivery is available for an additional fee starting at $7.95 (or free for some Walmart+ members on qualifying orders). And if your order total is under $35, you can still select standard shipping for a $6.95 flat rate.
It‘s important to note that these are "business day" timeframes – so weekends and holidays don‘t count. Cutoff times also apply for some speeds, typically 2 p.m. local time. So if you order something at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday and choose 2-day delivery, it may not actually arrive until Friday.
There are also some limitations on which items are eligible for each speed based on factors like size, weight, and point of origin. I‘ve sometimes been surprised to find that something as small as a toothbrush was only available with standard 4-6 day shipping. So it‘s always a good idea to pay attention to the delivery speed options (and estimated dates) listed on each product page before adding something to your cart.
Walmart‘s Delivery Performance: The Good, the Bad, and the Late
So how reliable are Walmart deliveries overall? The short answer is: pretty reliable! According to data from supply chain technology company FarEye, Walmart averaged a 95.5% on-time delivery rate in 2020 – meaning that nearly 19 out of every 20 packages arrived by the promised date. That‘s slightly behind Amazon (98.7%) but ahead of competitors like Target (94.1%) and Kroger (92.7%).
| Retailer | On-Time Delivery % (2020) |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 98.7% |
| Walmart | 95.5% |
| Target | 94.1% |
| Kroger | 92.7% |
Source: FarEye Last Mile Delivery Benchmark Report 2021
Of course, these are averages across millions of deliveries. Your individual experience may vary quite a bit depending on factors like your location, the specific items you‘re ordering, and the time of year.
In my experience, Walmart‘s 2-day deliveries are generally quite reliable. I‘d estimate that around 90% of my orders with this speed arrive on time, if not early. The rest are typically only a day or two late at most. Your mileage may vary if you live in a more rural area or if you‘re ordering items that are less common.
I‘ve had more mixed results with the cheaper 3-5 day and standard delivery options. These seem to be more prone to delays, often arriving a day or two later than the estimated window. Part of this is simply because there‘s more room for variability with the longer timeframes. And I suspect that Walmart likely prioritizes its premium 2-day deliveries over the slower speeds when allocating inventory and logistics resources.
Delivery delays also tend to spike during busy periods like the holidays, when carriers are stretched thin and Walmart‘s supply chain is under maximum strain. According to data from logistics software provider ShipMatrix, UPS and FedEx saw on-time performance dip to around 95% during the peak weeks of December 2020, down from their usual 98-99% average. So if you‘re ordering gifts at the last minute, it‘s always a good idea to pad in some extra time for potential delays.
How to Request (and Receive) Compensation for a Late Walmart Delivery
Okay, so let‘s say your Walmart delivery does end up arriving late – now what? The first thing to know is that you won‘t be automatically compensated for the delay. There‘s no system in place that proactively reaches out to affected customers and offers them a coupon or partial refund. If you want Walmart to make it right, you‘ll need to go through a (relatively painless) process to request compensation yourself.
Here‘s a step-by-step guide:
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Wait an extra day or two after the estimated delivery date. This gives Walmart and the carrier a bit of wiggle room in case your package is just slightly delayed in transit. Sometimes orders will show up a day late without any explanation. It‘s annoying but not worth getting too worked up over if everything else arrives intact.
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Check your order status for updates. Log into your Walmart.com account and view your recent orders. If your package has been delayed more than a day or two past the original estimate, you should see a notification that Walmart is aware of the issue and working to resolve it. This is a good sign that you‘ve got a case for compensation.
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Gather your information. Make a note of key details like your order number, original estimated delivery date, items ordered, and total amount paid (including any shipping fees). You may need to reference this info when contacting Walmart support.
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Contact Walmart customer care. You can get in touch with a service rep via phone (1-800-925-6278), email ([email protected]), or live chat on Walmart.com. I recommend using live chat if possible, as it tends to be the fastest and most convenient option. Just click the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the site, then select the "Chat With Us" option.
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Explain the situation and request compensation. Once you‘re connected with a rep, calmly and politely explain that your delivery is late and that you‘d like to see if you‘re eligible for any compensation as a result. Be prepared to provide your order number and other relevant details.
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See what they offer. In most cases, the rep will offer you one of a few different types of compensation for your trouble:
- A partial refund (usually 5-15% of your order total)
- A promo code or gift card for a future purchase
- An extension of your free trial or paid membership to Walmart+ (if applicable)
- Expedited shipping on a replacement order (if the original is lost or damaged)
- Escalate if needed. If you‘re not satisfied with the initial offer, don‘t be afraid to respectfully push back and request a supervisor. Politely explain why you feel you deserve a more generous resolution, citing Walmart‘s commitment to customer satisfaction. As a last resort, you can threaten to file a formal complaint with your credit card company or the Better Business Bureau.
In my experience, Walmart reps have quite a bit of discretion to extend compensation offers as they see fit. I‘ve received everything from a measly 5% discount to a full refund and expedited re-shipment in cases of truly egregious delays. A lot depends on the specific situation and the rep you happen to get. It never hurts to recount your loyalty as a Walmart customer and ask them to do what they can to make things right. After all, they want to keep you coming back!
Tips for Avoiding Late Deliveries from Walmart.com
Of course, the best way to deal with late Walmart deliveries is to not have to deal with them at all! While you can‘t control things like weather or carrier delays, there are a few steps you can take as a shopper to reduce the odds of your order getting hung up:
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Choose in-store or curbside pickup when possible. If you live near a physical Walmart store, choosing to pick up your online order in person is a great way to avoid the vagaries of shipping entirely. Many items are available for same-day pickup, and Walmart will hold your order for at least 7 days in most cases.
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Pay attention to delivery estimates before you order. If you need something by a specific date, make sure to filter your search results by delivery speed and check the estimated arrival date for each item before you add it to your cart. Don‘t assume everything is available for 2-day delivery.
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Avoid ordering at the last minute. This is especially important during high-demand periods like the holidays. Give yourself a buffer of at least a few days to account for potential delays. Remember, carriers like FedEx and UPS get overwhelmed with volume in November and December. Ordering early is key.
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Consider upgrading to Walmart+. If you find yourself frequently shopping on Walmart.com, the Walmart+ subscription service could be worth the $98/year price tag. Members get free NextDay and 2-day shipping on a wider selection of items with no order minimum. That can help you avoid delays on smaller orders.
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Check "Out of Stock" items before you buy. If an item is listed as "Out of Stock" or "In Stock Soon," that‘s a red flag that delays are possible – even if the listing promises delivery by a certain date. It‘s always safer to choose items that are fully stocked and ready to ship from a local fulfillment center.
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Be wary of third-party Marketplace sellers. In addition to items sold and shipped directly by Walmart, Walmart.com also includes millions of listings from approved third-party sellers (similar to Amazon). While these sellers have to meet certain performance standards, they don‘t always live up to Walmart‘s usual delivery promises. I‘ve found that Marketplace orders are more likely to encounter delays. Check seller reviews and ratings before you buy.
The Bottom Line
Late deliveries are an unfortunate reality of online shopping, even when ordering from a massive and generally reliable retailer like Walmart. While Walmart doesn‘t guarantee delivery dates in the strictest sense, the company is usually willing to work with customers to resolve issues when they do occur.
In my experience, requesting compensation for a late Walmart delivery is a pretty painless process – as long as you‘re willing to be proactive and advocate for yourself. By contacting customer service promptly and making a polite but firm case, you can often score a decent discount or some other form of recompense for your trouble.
At the same time, there are steps you can take as a shopper to reduce the risk of delays in the first place. Choosing in-store pickup, paying close attention to delivery estimates, and giving yourself a buffer when ordering time-sensitive items can all help ensure your packages arrive when you need them.
No online retailer is perfect, but I‘ve found that Walmart does a solid job of living up to its delivery commitments the vast majority of the time. And when they do slip up, they‘re usually pretty good about making things right if you give them the chance. Happy (on-time) shopping!
