Skip to main content

We’ve come a long way since bag boys and doorstep deliveries were the norm. In some parts of our great country, you can still find bag boys at the grocery stores, and, believe it or not, doorstep delivery is making a comeback.

I have begun using the life-changing service known as Walmart Grocery Pick-Up. Is it worth your time? Does it save you money? How exactly does it work? I answer all that and more in this post, so keep reading to find out how to use Walmart Grocery Pick-Up!

How to Use Walmart Grocery Pick-Up

First, you need to download the Walmart Grocery Pick-Up app. It’s orange, not blue. The blue Walmart app is for ordering other items and “site to store” pick-up. After downloading the app, log in with your Walmart.com profile or create one if you do not already have one. You will need a credit/debit card in order to take full advantage of the Walmart Grocery Pick-Up app.

Set a Pick-Up Time

My first helpful hint is to set your pick-up time. I ordered my groceries in the morning and picked them up later in the afternoon on the same day, but I wouldn’t advise that. I always feel rushed when I do it. Setting a time allows you to add items to your cart at your own pace. Yes, it does say the time “will expire” after a few hours, but I have found that starting to fill my cart early helps me. I don’t feel rushed to finish my list in one sitting, and the time slot usually stays open at least 12 hours in advance. For example, my usual pick-up day is Friday morning. I start adding things to my cart on Monday to ” check out” by Thursday afternoon.

Sarah’s Tip: The app gives you about 3 hours to load up your cart and checkout. I recommend checking out at least 12 hours before you plan to pick up to ensure that the time slot is still available.

Add Grocery Items

One of the features I love on the app is the ability to have items suggested to me. I purchase a lot of the same grocery items every week, and having them conveniently on the front page helps my cart fill up faster.

I also utilize the search function located at the bottom of the app. Sometimes I can’t remember a brand or product name, but I can get close enough that the app usually finds it for me.

Sarah’s Tip: Pay attention to the size of items. The photos look similar, but the items may differ greatly in terms of weight and/or amount!

Check Out

Finally, it’s time to check out! At the end of the process, you can provide your phone number for text updates (I recommend this if your phone plan is compatible) and decide what items you are comfortable with being substituted if necessary.

The employees working specifically with Walmart Grocery Pick-Up do their best to get everything on your list, but sometimes they can’t. If you’re not picky about your brand of peanut butter, leave the check mark on that item so it can be substituted. If you can’t live without Colgate toothpaste, make sure you uncheck the substitute mark on that item. This lets the grocery picker know that you’re not okay with anything else if they don’t have your item.

Sarah’s Tip: Choose the smallest sized items you can for each grocery item. If Walmart is out of your favorite 12-ounce jar of peanut butter, they will give you the 24-ounce jar for the same price as the 12-ounce jar!

Head Out to the Grocery Pick Up

Now it’s time to actually physically pick up your items. What happens now? This part may be different depending on your location and your Walmart. My Walmart has a designated spot for grocery pick-up. The signs and drive-up spots are easily seen because they are marked with orange paint and large “Pick Up” signs.

Upon arrival, I enter my first and last name, confirm my grocery order, and proceed to the waiting area. Even on busy days (i.e., the weekends usually), I’ve never waited more than 10-15 minutes for the entire process. I open my trunk, they tell me if anything has been substituted, load in my items, and I sign off that I received my order and drive away!

Pros and Cons of Grocery Pick-Up

Walmart and I have a love/hate relationship. Their prices are usually unbeatable, but I hate going into the store. I get distracted by all the things (can I get a witness, y’all?) and usually end up blowing my budget because I add things to my cart that I don’t really need.

Such is the crux of the relationship.

However, with Walmart Grocery Pick Up being in my life for the last several months, I’ve been able to get control of our grocery spending and really be savvy with my shopping. In addition to saving my family significant money on our grocery spending, I rarely have to step foot in the store anymore. That’s a big win for someone like me who easily gets distracted by the beauty section that’s parked right next to grocery!

Sarah’s Tip: The minimum grocery order is $30. Pick-up is free, but you do have to get out and go to the store.

Is Walmart Grocery Pick-Up Worth It?

While not a perfect system, Walmart Grocery Pick-Up is 100% worth it to me. I have had a handful of not-so-great experiences with it (forgotten items, broken items, etc), but they have always rectified the situation.

Walmart is smart to do their grocery system this way. They know that (usually) moms are the ones handling this part of the family needs and budget, and time is valuable to us! We’ve got jobs to attend, kids to pick up in carpool, and soccer practice to get to, and Walmart knows that keeping us as customers must go hand in hand with making our lives a little more convenient.

For the small number of times I’ve had issues, the convenience of saving my family time and money makes Walmart Grocery Pick-Up a win for me.