On July 20th, The Wall Street Journal published a story claiming that Walmart was offering a 50%-off discount on its Walmart+ membership program to recipients of various government assistance programs including those on Social Security. Wow!
Walmart+, which is regularly $98/yr, is similar to Amazon Prime giving members free shipping even on small orders and other benefits such as a free Paramount+ membership.
At just $49, even MrConsumer, who refuses to pay $139 for Amazon Prime, might consider a Walmart+ Assist membership. But being a good and suspicious consumer, he wanted to review the fine print terms and conditions first.
*MOUSE PRINT:
In that alphabet soup of government programs, Social Security is not listed. And even in Walmart’s press release announcing the Walmart+ Assist program, there is no mention of Social Security recipients being eligible for it.
So why in the world did the Wall Street Journal, right in its headline, say that those on Social Security qualified? The reporter, a summer intern at the paper, probably thought that SSI meant “Social Security” when in fact it stands for “Supplemental Security Income” — a program that provides monthly payments for those with disabilities or blindness.
But, within two hours of our writing to her, the headline was corrected, and a note about the error was appended to the end of the story.
*MOUSE PRINT:
So the lesson here is… if a news story sounds too good to be true, sometimes it is.
I’m 77 and have never understood the so-called benefit of Walmart’s membership. I regularly order from them. Orders of $35+ ship free. What am I missing?
Marty… they give you free shipping on small orders with the membership (under $35), and some other benefits like free (maybe same day in some cases) delivery from the store on $35+ orders, and a free Paramount+ membership.
Thanks. Each person makes their own cost/benefit ratio. For me, it’s not hard to reach the $35 threshold. As for those few added inducements meant to sweeten the pot, are of no benefit. I unplugged my TV back in ’15. There is enough free streaming on the internet.
There is no true benefit. With prices being as high as they are who cannot easily reach that magic number which is usually about $35? I keep a running list, of things I need or intend to buy and when I reach that magic number or above that’s when I submit my order, for both Walmart and amazon. I’m not joining their clubs just so I can ship them a designated amount of money every month. I talked to a lot of people who have Amazon and probably now Walmart, but for the life of me I cannot understand why anybody would belong to either one of those. Like Amazon they’re supposed to have all these movies and shows and everything and anytime I recommend a movie or a show to somebody who has Amazon they come back and tell me where they had to pay extra for that. Well what are you paying Amazon for then? The whole thing is just a big rip off.
Amazon Prime has a similar program for SNAP benefits recipients. $6.99/month.
SSI is for LOW INCOME folks with disabilities. SSDI is for folks who have disabilities and have contributed into the system.
Like many here, I find joining a club and paying for a membership to shop somewhere to be ludicrous! I also find them to be detrimental on many levels such as encouraging consumerism and creating more environmental waste. Most everyone I know has Amazon Prime and get at least one, usually more, packages ever other day, if not daily! They are more inclined to buy impulsively and place orders for single items than those of us who have to reach a minimum for free shipping. I’ve had things in my cart for weeks and eventually realized, I don’t need that!
That said, Walmart was very helpful for me during the pandemic. I don’t have one near me and they were great to get pantry staples and such delivered. It was never difficult to reach the $35 minimum. However, lately, what I am seeing more and more is that many items on their site that I’ve ordered in the past are unavailable for shipping and say “Pickup, today at…”. Below that, there is a box advertising “Walmart+ Get free delivery, shipping and more”. I’ve never understood, and haven’t inquired, if that means that the membership would make those ‘unavailable for shipping’ items deliverable again. Does anyone know?
It depends. We’re remodeling a house and Amazon does come 3-5 times a week. The store shelves are so empty and traffic is so complicated, I just order it. It’s correct though about the movies. $3.95 or more for most of them. There’s a free Kindle book every month, but usually I never finish my selection.
My daughter is disabled and uses Walmart delivery, it’s been a godsend for her. But you’re supposed to tip the delivery guy, they make about 3$/hour. That really adds up. There’s 10 cents off of gallon of gas too, her husband can use that.