Walmart Offers Half-Price Membership To Attract Amazon Shoppers Before Prime Day

Although Walmart’s members-only sales event has ended and Amazon’s Prime Day is still a week away, the fierce competition between these two retail giants continues at full speed.

According to Business Insider, Walmart is offering Walmart+ memberships for $49 annually, a 50% discount from the regular $98 fee, until July 18. This promotion strategically leads up to Amazon’s Prime Day event, which is scheduled for July 16 and 17.

For the past decade, Amazon’s annual Prime Day event has become a staple in American retail, significantly boosting new memberships for the company. In response to this competition and wanting a piece of the pie, Walmart has launched its own membership deals, aiming to capture some of the market share.

According to Walmart’s chief financial officer, John David Rainey, the company has seen a shift where delivery orders have surpassed in-store pickups in recent months. Rainey also observed that Walmart+ members are increasingly placing more regular orders, typically with fewer products, resembling the shopping habits seen among Amazon customers.

Walmart has also actively expanded its marketplace of third-party sellers, mirroring Amazon’s strategy to offer a diverse range of products on its website. The retailer’s improvements in its “store of the future” are also contributing, leveraging its network of 4,700 U.S. locations to cater to online orders.

Rainey mentioned last month that Walmart experienced a rise in sales following a renovation. He said, “You would expect the in-store benefit perhaps. But we also see that there’s an uplift in e-commerce sales in those areas where we’ve done a remodel.”

Walmart has made numerous Target-like strategies to attract customers and is now incorporating even more elements from Amazon’s playbook.

Additionally, the retailer didn’t stop providing deals after Walmart+ Week ended last month. As another way to compete with Amazon Prime Day, Walmart is offering new discounts this week. Walmart’s July Deals event is currently live and features substantial discounts on a broad range of products, including TVs, laptops, smartwatches, vacuums, kitchen appliances, toys, and more.