Key Takeaways
- Uber’s partnership with Walmart ended, but Uber Eats offers an alternative for Walmart grocery deliveries.
- Shop and Pay feature allows drivers to shop for and deliver groceries, with payment flexibility.
- Consider the delivery drivers’ effort and include tips to ensure your Walmart orders are accepted.
- Explore alternative delivery services like Walmart InHome, Instacart, or DoorDash for more efficient service.
- A Guide to Making Uber Walmart Delivery Requests
- The Short-Lived Uber/Walmart Partnership
- How Ordering Walmart Grocery Deliveries Through Uber Eats Works
- The Main Factor to Consider When Using Uber Eats for Walmart Delivery Requests
- Alternative Solutions to Uber Eats for Walmart Deliveries
- Final Thoughts
A Guide to Making Uber Walmart Delivery Requests
Uber regularly features stores like CVS and Sam’s Club on its delivery app.
Unfortunately, the company ended its partnership with Walmart several years ago, but that doesn’t mean getting your groceries from the popular hypermarket is out of the question.
If you’re wondering how Uber-Walmart delivery requests work, look no further. We’ll explain how you can order from Walmart via Uber’s Shop and Pay and what to consider when doing so.
The Short-Lived Uber/Walmart Partnership
Before 2018, you could use your Uber account to process Walmart orders directly, thanks to the partnership forged between the two in 2016.
The Walmart Rush program, the banner under which its short-lived partnership with Uber operated, saw Uber drivers whizzing from one Walmart location to the next to pick up and deliver groceries for the retail giant.
However, less than two years later, Uber ended the partnership in March 2018. The decoupling process was finalized in June of the same year. To this day, Uber has yet to publicize its reason for tanking the partnership.
While you can use Uber Eats to get Walmart groceries delivered to your doorstep, it’s less straightforward than before.
Releated: How to order Walmart using Instacart
How Ordering Walmart Grocery Deliveries Through Uber Eats Works
Uber’s Shop and Pay lets Uber drivers accept grocery delivery jobs from retailers across the country. These deliveries work slightly differently from typical Uber Eats deliveries.
Instead of picking up your order, the driver will go to one of the Uber Eats-affiliated grocery stores, including some—but not all—Walmarts, and shop for the items you specify in your order.
They pay for them in one of two ways: Uber’s Plus Card or out of pocket.
The Uber Plus card is akin to a prepaid debit card. Neither you nor the Uber delivery driver have to fund it; Uber will authorize the card with the expected total of your order, which you’ll pay when you receive your delivery via your current payment method.
If they pay for your groceries out of pocket, you’ll have to reimburse them.
Making Walmart Delivery Requests Through Uber Eats
The official Uber Eats YouTube account has a that explains how to order groceries from stores near you.
This five-step process, which assumes you’re a new user, goes as follows:
- Log in to your Uber account with your mobile phone number and verify it using the code sent via text or phone call. Next, use your Uber account password to log in.
- Add your delivery address to see the stores near you.
- Click on the “Grocery” tab at the bottom of the screen and select the local store you want (in this case, Walmart).
- Begin shopping for items. Either use the search bar at the top of the screen or the “Aisles” button to shop by category. Click “Add to Cart” to place any items you want in your shopping cart.
- Place your order by tapping on the “View Cart” option. Once you’re happy with your cart, tap the “Go to Checkout” button, review the order, and tap “Place order.”
You can track your order via the app to see its estimated delivery time.
Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert
If you plan to use the Uber Eats platform as a way of fulfilling a grocery delivery order, give it a second thought. You might find it quicker and easier to simply order from Walmart directly.
I know of a lot of drivers who have experienced significant delays at Walmart while shopping with Uber Eats for customers.
Wait times can sometimes be longer than 20 minutes due to staffing issues or hiccups with the operational systems.
Some of these same drivers didn’t know that they needed a 4-digit pickup code, which isn’t always provided by the Uber Eats app or by Walmart staff.
In addition, there are also reported inconsistencies with how Walmart prepares and handles orders being fulfilled by Uber Eats drivers. Some are ready on time, others are a bit chaotic.
All of these issues frustrate drivers, but in the long run, the customers who are making the orders.
My Suggestion: Instead of using Uber Eats, I suggest using Walmart’s same-day delivery service.
These orders use a large network of drivers through Walmart’s Spark delivery service, which has tighter quality controls and is oftentimes more efficient than Uber Eats orders.
The Main Factor to Consider When Using Uber Eats for Walmart Delivery Requests
It’s important to remember that Uber Eats is primarily a food delivery service; many Uber delivery drivers aren’t fond of grocery deliveries.
Depending on the size or nature of your order, you may experience multiple declined requests.
Uber drivers tend to avoid Walmart deliveries for several reasons. The main one is that they think the orders aren’t worth the effort or money.
Reddit is awash with posts made by Uber Eats delivery drivers. Some have complained about the difficulty they’ve faced hauling heavy orders up flights of stairs.
Others lament about burning fuel on grocery deliveries that amount to a handful of items and an equally small amount of money. Others highlight how these orders don’t include tips.
The takeaway is that you’ll need to keep the delivery drivers’ time and energy in mind when placing your orders. Your grocery delivery requests should strike the right balance of size and value.
Related: Uber Eats Fees and Pricing Explained
Alternative Solutions to Uber Eats for Walmart Deliveries
If you’d like to avoid the frustrations you might face ordering groceries from Walmart via Uber Eats, consider the following platforms:
1. Walmart InHome
Following the end of its partnership with Uber, Walmart launched a similar delivery service: Walmart Inhome.
It allows you to order groceries and have them delivered inside your home, garage, or refrigerator by a vetted Walmart associate, but it’s not available everywhere yet.
The application is available on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
2. Instacart
Instacart allows you to order groceries and other items from various retailers, Walmart included.
They’re delivered to your doorstep by Instacart shoppers, and there’s a dedicated customer application where you can make changes to your order, and chat with and tip them.
3. DoorDash
As a last resort, consider other services like DoorDash. It’s cheaper than Uber Eats, and it allows you to order from restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other businesses.
Similarly, independent contractors called Dashers deliver your order, and you can use the DoorDash app to track it and tip them.
Final Thoughts
You can order Walmart groceries through Uber Eats, even though they ended their partnership.
Uber’s Shop and Pay feature lets you pay others to shop on your behalf, using their Uber Plus card or their own money, but remember that Uber delivery drivers might not always accept your requests if you don’t balance order value and size.
If you face frustrations trying to order groceries from Walmart via Uber, consider using alternatives such as DoorDash and Instacart!
