Why Is Walmart Pickup Not Working In 2022? (An Expert Seller‘s Perspective)
As an experienced ecommerce seller, I know firsthand how valuable online order pickup options are for today‘s omnichannel shoppers. Walmart has been at the forefront of adopting digital shopping services like grocery and merchandise pickup. However, even the largest retailers still struggle to make these services completely seamless for customers.
In my experience managing and fulfilling thousands of online orders, I‘ve discovered the main operational challenges that can cause hiccups with pickup services from a seller‘s perspective. Here is an in-depth look at why you may be having issues with Walmart pickup this year, along with my expert advice on how to troubleshoot problems and ensure a smooth shopper journey.
The Scale of Walmart Pickup Operations
To understand some of the issues with Walmart pickup, it helps to comprehend just how massive their pickup operations have become:
Walmart offers pickup at over 3,000 of its stores nationwide.
In 2021, Walmart fulfilled over 200 million pickup orders – a 34% increase from 2020.
Over 75% of Walmart‘s U.S. ecommerce sales now come from pickup and delivery services.
Their pickup sales alone grew to $13 billion in 2021 – up from just $2 billion in 2018.
With this huge volume of digital orders flowing through its pickup operation combined with complex in-store fulfillment, even minor hiccups can cause big problems for Walmart and its customers.
Why Your Pickup Order May Not Be Ready
From both a technical and operational perspective, here are the most common reasons you might have trouble getting your Walmart pickup order:
Technical Difficulties
App/Website Outages – Temporary IT issues can disrupt order placement. Trying again later typically resolves it.
GPS/Location Problems – Delivery apps rely on location services. Ensure this is enabled on your device.
Buggy Updates – Newly updated apps can have glitches. Updating your device OS can help.
Operational Challenges
| Issue | Examples |
|---|---|
| Stockouts | Popular or seasonal items sell out Supply chain shortages |
| Fulfillment Delays | Staffing shortages Sudden order spikes Operational bottlenecks |
| Adverse Weather | Winter storms, hurricanes Hot/cold temperature extremes |
| Store Disruptions | Power outages Equipment failures Local emergencies |
Shopper Account Problems
Payment Declines – Outdated payment methods lead to order failures. Keep your info current.
Notifications Disabled – Without alerts, you won‘t know if there are issues. Double check your settings.
Order Never Finalized – Don‘t just "abandon cart." Confirm your pickup order was placed successfully!
Expert Tips to Avoid Pickup Problems
Here are my top suggestions to avoid headaches with Walmart pickup:
Plan Ahead for Peak Times – Give yourself extra lead time around holidays, weekends.
Track Real-time Inventory – Use the app to see in-stock status before ordering out-of-stocks.
Set a Backup Pickup Window – Schedule a later time in case issues arise with your initial slot.
Add Multiple Payment Options – Redundant payment details prevent order failures due to expired/declined payment methods.
Take Advantage of Substitution Options – For key items, opt for substitutions to prevent stockouts from derailing your entire order.
Bundle Orders Strategically – Breaking orders into separate trips can work around fulfillment bottlenecks.
Shop Early in the Day – Gives staff more time to fulfill your order before close.
Troubleshooting When Your Pickup Fails
Despite best efforts issues occur, so have a backup plan if your pickup order is not ready on time:
Call the store to check order status. Staff can look into delays.
Come inside the store to retrieve your order. Usually available at customer service.
If needed, cancel the problematic pickup and re-order the items again later.
As a last resort if order cannot be fulfilled, request refund or account credit.
Improving Pickup Reliability is a Never-Ending Endeavor
Walmart has made great strides expanding its pickup operation. But the reality is, predictable pickup execution at massive scale is an incredibly tricky problem in retail logistics. Inventory fluctuations, technical glitches, traffic spikes, weather events, and staffing challenges all collude to thwart even the most seasoned logistics professionals!
But coming from an ecommerce perspective, I‘m confident Walmart is investing heavily to enhance pickup reliability. By leveraging the latest in omnichannel retail innovations and constantly optimizing stores for digital order fulfillment, they are getting better each day. So be patient, keep communicating with your store, and remember that pickup hiccups are usually temporary setbacks rather than systemic failures.
