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Walmart rolls out a new shopping perk aimed at shoppers who consider Costco
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Business/The Apex Times/Oct 17, 9:13 AM EDT

Walmart rolls out a new shopping perk aimed at shoppers who consider Costco

A report says Walmart is adding another convenience feature for online and in-store shoppers, seeking to narrow the gap with Costco’s loyalty draw.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Walmart is adding what a recent market report describes as a new shopping perk designed to strengthen its appeal to consumers who often weigh the warehouse-club option, including Costco. The move is the latest example of how major U.S. retailers are competing on convenience and service layers, not just price, as shoppers can buy a wide range of goods through multiple formats.

According to Yahoo Finance, which pointed readers to a retail report, Walmart’s initiative is framed as a direct effort to give shoppers another reason to choose Walmart over Costco. The report emphasizes that the perk is meant to change the shopping experience, rather than introduce a new private brand or a headline-grabbing store expansion.

The specific feature referenced in the report’s title is “express pickup,” a shorthand for faster order collection for online purchases. Express pickup typically means customers can choose delivery or a quicker in-store pickup window, reducing the time between placing an order and getting it into their hands. For Walmart, that type of service can translate into more frequent online orders and fewer abandoned carts if shoppers perceive pickup as reliable and time-efficient.

While the report centers on Walmart’s attempt to counter Costco, the broader competitive dynamic is familiar. Costco’s strongest draw has long been tied to membership value and the warehouse club experience, including the perception that shoppers can find bulk items and curated assortments at consistently competitive prices. Walmart’s counter is not membership, but cross-channel convenience: using stores and fulfillment options to meet customers where they shop.

The report did not provide, in the material available here, detailed information such as the regions where the express pickup perk is available, whether it is limited to certain order sizes or categories, or if it carries additional fees. It also did not specify how Walmart measures success for the program, such as targeted adoption rates or changes to conversion and retention.

Company-level context matters here because Walmart’s retail strategy has increasingly relied on turning its physical footprint into an advantage for online ordering. When shoppers can pick up quickly, retailers can reduce logistics costs that come with last-mile delivery while still offering an online experience that customers expect.

For Costco, the counter-argument generally comes back to trust in value, inventory, and service. Walmart’s bet is that convenience upgrades can influence even membership-conscious shoppers, especially those who want speed and flexibility without committing to a warehouse-club membership.

What to watch next is whether Walmart will expand express pickup beyond early rollouts, whether it will tie the perk to loyalty programs or promotions, and how customer adoption trends evolve. Another key sign will be whether the company updates its public disclosures on fulfillment and omnichannel performance, if any such updates occur.

Why It Matters

  • Retail competition is increasingly about convenience speed and order fulfillment options, not only price.
  • If express pickup improves perceived reliability and reduces pickup time, it can support higher online order conversion and retention.
  • The Costco comparison indicates that Walmart is targeting a segment of shoppers who value warehouse-club convenience and perceived value.
  • The absence of disclosed rollout and pricing details means the competitive impact will depend on how broadly the perk is deployed and how customers adopt it.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Walmart is introducing a new shopping perk, described in a report as “express pickup.”
  • The reported initiative is positioned as a way to make Walmart more attractive to consumers who may otherwise choose Costco.
  • The referenced “express pickup” concept generally relates to faster in-store collection of online orders.
  • The available report material does not include details on rollout geography, eligibility rules, or pricing/fees for the perk.
  • No additional program metrics or targets were disclosed in the material provided here.

Retail & Consumer Related