Walmart Offers 'Cash' Option For Online Shoppers

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart shoppers now will be able to pay cash for online purchases.

The world's largest retailer on Thursday said it will allow shoppers to buy items on Walmart.com and then pay for them with cash at all of its 3,800 U.S. stores. The discounter says it's the first major retailer to offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase online without a bank account, or credit, debit or prepaid card.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trying to cater more to its customers who don't have access to those financial services. After all, only about 15 percent of Wal-Mart's its transactions are paid using a credit card.

The company, based in Bentonville, Ark., the initiative was well received when it tested it in a few stores in various parts of the country over the past six weeks.

"We are going to touch a segment of the American public who hasn't been able to participate online without going through a lot of hoops," said Joel Anderson, president and CEO of Walmart.com.

It works like this: Customers go to the website to select the item and place an order. During checkout, they can select the "cash" option and their shipping preference. The shopper then has 48 hours to take the printed order confirmation to the cash register at a Wal-Mart store. Once the order is paid, the customers can either arrange to have the items shipped to a store for free or to another address for a fee.

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Comments

[sbhome1020]

02:25 PM on 05/02/2012

They are courting illegals who don't have a ssn and cannot open a bank account. Very slimy move Walmart.

[mostly808]

08:33 PM on 04/30/2012

Everyone should read labels before buying anything. Why pay for "Made in China" to support their military and weaponry dominance? They are still a communist country that supports North Korean activities. Why should everything we buy be "Made in China"? If it is, don't buy it. Be creative get something else, try something else, or just don't get it if it's "Made in China". Give Americans back their jobs. Have Americans make those things now "Made in China". No matter how poor we are, don't support "Made in China".

[nmcginni]

08:38 PM on 04/27/2012

They are just going for the lowest quality shopper. The Wal-Mart banks, bill pay services, money order services are just getting another sucker in their door.

When I was in a Wal Mart, their bank was having an interesting conversation with a customer. The person had deposited $2000 in cash in one account and wanted the deposit split between two accounts but the clerk said it would be taken care of in a transfer just the same. There was a transfer delay and he was charged overdraft fees and they would not cancel any of the fees and the transfer had not been completed yet..Their game makes payday loans sound cheap.

[lawdawg97]

04:21 PM on 04/27/2012

if you're already at the store, why not buy the item there?

[lofttypeofaview]

04:57 PM on 04/27/2012

Not all of their items are sold in stores and depending upon the size of the object, might not fit in a typical vehicle or in my case on the bus, plus it could also be extremely heavy.

[trojoe]

11:22 AM on 04/27/2012

Wal*Mart is destroying communities around the US and ensuring the lower middle class stays that way. Wal*Mart is one of the three most evil, corrupt, and destructive corporate forces in the world. Every cent spent their supports widespread business collapse, child slavery, inhumane living conditions, financial atrocities committed against employees, discrimination of all kinds, and so much more. Do yourself and your community a favor, pay a dollar more at an ethical company.

[IslamicPacifist]

04:24 AM on 04/27/2012

*shrugs*
thought you already could order online; pay cash at the store

[ReignSupreme]

12:58 AM on 04/27/2012

Finally. WTG Walmart. They should see an upstick in sales because of this.

[MicahOZ]

10:01 PM on 04/26/2012

That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard. It's like ordering a pizza to be delivered, then driving to the pizza place, paying for it, then driving home and waiting for them to deliver it...for a fee. How does that make any sense? Why not just buy the item at the store on the first outing. Their online selection can't be that much better than what they stock in the stores.

[dukeofurl01]

11:22 PM on 04/26/2012

Their online store carries many things that their retail store does not. That's why you would do it. It's basically similar to their previous deliver to store option, but previously you had to pay via credit card up front. Now you don't.

[ReignSupreme]

12:59 AM on 04/27/2012

Obviously, you must not had to buy anything they didn't stock in their store at an affordable price.

[Shonda Taylor]

09:09 PM on 04/26/2012

This is genius! Not a fan of their practices usually but this is great. Banks can suck it!!

[King7David]

08:33 PM on 04/26/2012

That's called thinking outside of the box.....

[ancientuno]

07:40 PM on 04/26/2012

I'm not fond of Walmart but please explain why they are taking advantage of anyone. People do have a CHOICE whether to purchase anything from them.

[JWerner]

04:06 AM on 04/27/2012

Not always. Not when they drive out almost every other competitor due to their practices. There are towns that are dominated by a single Walmart. It's not 'choice', per se. . .especially in a sh*tty Republican economy.

[J T K]

03:34 PM on 04/28/2012

If they drove out their competitors then more than likely it was because they were offering better deals and the competitors couldn't compete, that's how competition and free enterprise is supposed to work.

[BowlingForRevenge]

07:39 PM on 04/26/2012

Day laborers don't keep their pesos in the banks

[torriee]

05:59 PM on 04/26/2012

Walmart - what a catch, they pay the worker a pittance, there products are mostly made over seas
And now they prey on the poor even more. Banks issue debits cards which allows one to buy online and shipped goods most oftentimes for free. This is just a another attempt to take from the poor to increase their profit.

[OmegaHunter]

06:22 PM on 04/26/2012

"Banks issue debits cards which allows one to buy online and shipped goods most oftentimes for free. This is just a another attempt to take from the poor to increase their profit."

Did you read anything in the article or did you stop at the headline and make a bunch of weird assumptions as to what was in it?

[krm1255]

07:16 PM on 04/26/2012

Even if you have an account, banks don't automatically issue debit cards anymore. You have to have good credit at some banks before they'll give you a debit card.

[Adirondacker]

09:41 PM on 04/26/2012

go to a different bank or even better a credit union

[lofttypeofaview]

04:42 PM on 04/26/2012

As much as I can't stand Walmart, this is a great idea.

[LVNVprog]

04:30 PM on 04/26/2012

Not a WalMart fan, however any way possible to cut the Too Big Too Fail Banks out of the Financial Exchange process is a good one. I hope other Retailers Follow Suit.

[Yam716]

12:59 PM on 04/27/2012

RE: I hope other Retailers Follow Suit.

I think they will have to if they want to remain competitive

[metalhead556]

01:11 AM on 04/28/2012

100% agree. I stopped using banks out of principle, I don't care how inconvenient paying bills has become as a result.