E-commerce

Walmart debuts membership service in battle against Amazon

Photo by istock.com

September 1, 2020

Walmart is officially launching its own 'Prime' membership service, called Walmart+ at a fee of $98 a year — $21 less than Amazon's popular Prime membership.

Prime doesn't require any minimum order to qualify for free shipping but Walmart+ free shipping will only be for orders over $35, according to a New York Times report. Amazon's Prime also offers free streaming channels while Walmart+ streaming will cost $12.95 a month.

The mega retailer hopes to drive its grocery business forward with the service. While some industry watchers believe Walmart+ will boost the company's e-commerce strategy, others aren't so enthusiastic, with one calling it a "think gruel," according to the Times.