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Walmart vs Amazon Online Shopping

Walmart vs. Amazon: Which has better prices, shipping, and customer service?

Back in the 90s, going out and physically shopping at the mall was a regular activity. You’d go there to shop for clothes, see a movie, grab lunch at the food court, or to grab that new CD you wanted from Sam Goody or Tower Records. Have you been to a mall lately, though? It’s nothing like it was back then. Most malls today are like ghost towns, with gates in front of many of the stores and few patrons shopping on any given day.

These days, so many of us do our shopping online. We can buy just about anything without getting off the couch, and have it delivered right to the front door. Two of the main players in the online shopping arena are Amazon and Walmart. Both have marketplaces, quick shipping options, and a wide variety of items ranging from electronics to clothing to kitchen gadgets to sex toys.

Walmart may be behind Amazon in terms of online performance, but the big box store has been rapidly growing its online customer base. Between early 2017 and early 2019, Walmart has seen 207% growth in its eCommerce buyer base.

Which online retailer is better? Which has the better shipping, grocery, prices, product selection, marketplace offerings, return policies and customer service? Both have their good points and bad, but we’re comparing the two side-by-side to find out which online retailer reigns supreme. Let the online shopping showdown begin!

SHIPPING

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimate that more than 100 million people in the U.S. subscribe to Amazon Prime, so most people are familiar with Amazon’s subscription service that gives you a ton of features like video content, music, books, and more for a monthly ($13) or annual fee ($119). Prime also affords subscribers free two-day shipping on eligible items, and people who live in eligible zip codes can get free one-day shipping, or even free same-day shipping.
Walmart offers a few different free shipping options, however, and you don’t have to pay any subscription fee at all. In select cities, the retailer offers free next-day shipping on qualifying orders over $35. Even if next-day shipping isn’t available in your area, you can get two-day shipping on orders over $35 regardless to where you live. Marketplace items, and certain other items are separate, and don’t count in the $35 total. For non-marketplace items that aren’t marked “free 2-day shipping,” you can usually get free 3-5 day shipping. For marketplace items, you may have to pay a separate fee for shipping though.
Winner: Walmart

GROCERY AND FOOD

caleb harper personal food computer grocery store tomatoes — FG Trade/Getty Images

Amazon offers a few different food services including Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and Prime Pantry. Prime Now delivers groceries, household items, and restaurant foods to Prime members in select cities. Amazon Fresh is an extra subscription ($14.99/month in addition to Prime) that lets you have groceries delivered to you. The two services — Amazon Fresh and Prime Now — are set to be merging. Prime Pantry is another separate paid service where you fill up a box with food items and have them shipped to your home. Most of Amazon’s food options have an added cost outside of your regular Prime membership, whether that cost be extra shipping costs or delivery fees, extra subscription fees, both a subscription cost and a delivery or shipping fee, or the option to choose between an extra subscription fee or an extra shipping cost each time you use the service.
Walmart, on the other hand, offers a grocery pickup service that’s entirely free. There are no subscription costs whatsoever. They also offer a delivery service for a small fee (usually under $10 per delivery, regardless of the amount of groceries you order). Like Amazon, Walmart’s delivery service is only available in select cities. Walmart customers can also order a wide variety of food and household items on the Walmart website and receive free 2-day delivery provided their order exceeds $35. Walmart’s digital food sales grew 53% year over year, compared to just 8% at Amazon, according to eMarketer.
Winner: Walmart

PRICES

internet purchase exchange location news handing money to transaction

In 2018, LendEDU conducted an analysis where they compared 50 identical products across a variety different categories — home goods, technology and entertainment, food and beverage, kitchen and appliances, and others. They found that Amazon was 10.37% more expensive than Walmart if a customer was to purchase the identical items from both retailers.
Amazon offers discounts and incentives, like coupons, and a variety of discounts for Prime members. However, Walmart has a slight edge over Amazon, providing a variety of rollback discounts, clearance items, incentives for customers for picking up their items in-store, as well as free shipping without a subscription fee.
Winner: Walmart

PRODUCT SELECTION

Walmart has a huge selection of items, and the selection has only widened with the addition of the online marketplace. The online retailer is no longer the budget buffet of items it once was. You can order items from brands like Nike or even Gucci, as well as the latest tech gadgets or fashion. According to Marketplace Pulse, Walmart online has roughly 43 million products as of late 2018.
While Walmart has a wide selection, Amazon has just about everything your heart could desire — virtually every size, color, shape, and brand.
Winner: Amazon

MARKETPLACES

walmart preps 50 a year shipping service to take on amazon prime

Walmart’s online marketplace is still in its infancy. Although Walmart.com launched almost two decades ago, it wasn’t until the company acquired Jet.com a few short years ago that it became a real contender in the online shopping arena.
Amazon’s third-party marketplace, however, is extremely well-established, and Amazon reports that 50% of its sales come from its third-party selection.
Winner: Amazon

RETURN POLICIES

Walmart typically allows customers to return items in the store or by mail within 90-days of purchase. Certain items, like electronics, have a smaller return window (15 to 30 days depending on the item). If you buy an item from a Walmart marketplace seller, things get a bit tricky though. The seller can set their own return policy, as long as it meets Walmart’s minimum standards (i.e. the seller is allowed to charge a maximum restocking fee of 20%, and a return shipping fee).
Amazon and most of the sellers on Amazon allow you return items within 30 days of shipment. Because Amazon has so many Marketplace sellers, most of them adhere to Amazon’s return policies. If not, Amazon third-party sellers must provide a return address within the United States, provide a prepaid return label, or offer a full refund without requesting the item be returned so the customer is not left paying a huge shipping bill. Amazon also has an A-to-Z guarantee to protect customers from unfair return policies. Amazon even has “try before you buy” services like Prime Wardrobe, so you can find out if a clothing item is the right fit and style before you decide to keep it.
Winner: Amazon

Overall Winner

Depending on that you like, it can be a tough choice. However in my opinion, when it comes to branding, Walmart is still the ultimate winner. It gives us a sense of belonging and a giant fighting Amazon. Let’s give Walmart a chance see how far it can go.

16 Tips for Saving Money at Kohl’s

Kohl’s is your one-stop shop for everything to spruce up your space and update your look for less — and there are many ways to save on top of Kohl’s promo codes. Check out these simple ways to shop at Kohl’s while getting the most for your money, especially when you shop with Ebates to earn Cash Back on all your purchases.

1. Sign Up for Mobile Alerts

With our busy schedules, we don’t always have time to keep up with the sales at our favorite department stores. But Kohl’s now offers text-message alerts to notify you of upcoming promotions and events. Text “SAVE07” to 56457 to get a 15% off Kohl’s coupon sent to your phone and sign up for mobile sale alerts. Kohl’s sends only five to seven texts per month, and you can opt out at any time.

2. Shop During Kohl’s Cash Promos

Every so often, Kohl’s runs a Kohl’s Cash promotion in which you receive $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent in-store or online on all regular, sale and clearance items (excluding gift cards). Kohl’s policy reads that you only need to get within $2 of the first threshold to your Kohl’s Cash.
Spend your Kohl’s Cash online or in Kohl’s stores during the specified time period, which is typically about 10 days following the promotion’s end. There is no minimum price on the items you can redeem, so if you’ve had your eye on a pair of earrings or something else under $10, use your Kohl’s Cash and snag it for free.

3. Save Retroactively

If you forgot to use your coupons while shopping on Kohls.com, don’t worry. As long as your coupons are still valid, you can call customer service and ask them to apply the coupon codes to your order.

4. Shop the Gold Star Clearance Event

Kohl’s already has some of the best clearance racks around, but prices get even better during the Gold Star Clearance Event! With prices up to 80% off, find the dresses and beauty products you’ve been wanting or stock up on kids’ and men’s apparel for the rest of the family. In addition, you can still use any Kohl’s coupons (or Kohl’s coupon codes if you’re shopping online) for extra savings.

5. Yes2You Rewards

With Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards, you get one point for every dollar you spend by simply showing your card at the register or providing your email address. For every 100 points you collect, you receive a $5 reward and 30 days to redeem it. You can even share your points with family, friends and charities through Kohl’s Cares.
As a Yes2You Rewards member, you’ll enjoy a special birthday gift, eight savings offers annually and additional opportunities to earn bonus points. Download the Kohl’s app to earn 50 Yes2You points.

6. Open a Kohl’s Credit Card

If you are a frequent shopper at Kohl’s, you may want to look into opening a Kohl’s credit card. As a cardholder, you’ll be able to take advantage of benefits such as special discounts of 15% to 30% at least 12 times a year. You’ll get 25% off your first purchase using your new Kohl’s card and receive a 15% off Kohl’s coupon in the mail with your card.
If you charge $600 a year on your Kohl’s card, you’ll become a Most Valued Customer and receive at least 18 exclusive discounts annually, such as pick-a-day savings or additional coupons. Stack these savings on top of your Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards points, and you’ll be able to find some great bargains.

7. Free Shipping and Returns

Spend just $75 on Kohls.com and get free shipping on your order, plus free returns at any Kohl’s stores. With the original receipt, you’ll get a full refund or exchange, and other payment methods will be refunded in Merchandise Credit. You can still return online orders by mail by printing out your order invoice, packing up your items and shipping them. Kohl’s is not responsible for return shipping costs.

8. Check for Rebates

Save even more with mail-in rebates on select items. Check your purchase for a message about potential mail-in rebates. Kohl’s rebates can save you even more money in just a few minutes. See the current list of Kohl’s rebates. This is a great opportunity to save on household goods and essentials.

9. Stack Up to Four Coupon Codes Online

Kohl’s will let you use up to four Kohl’s coupon codes on your online order, as long as they are different types of coupons (percent off, dollar off, free shipping and Kohl’s Cash or Yes2You rewards). Take note that when you shop on a mobile device (not the Kohl’s app), you are only allowed to use a maximum of two promo codes. Although you may enter your promo codes in a different order, they will always be applied in the following order during checkout:

Department-specific dollar-off or percent-off promo codes will be applied to the qualifying items.
Any dollar-off coupons (such as Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards) will be subtracted from your subtotal.
One sitewide percent-off discount will be applied.

10. Always Have Your Coupons Handy

If you received Kohl’s coupons in the mail, avoid losing them by scanning them with the Kohl’s app. In the app, go to “Wallet” then “Scan to Enter” to secure your money-savers.

11. Shop Power Hours

Shop Power Hour specials (typically every second and fourth weekend of the month) to save an additional 10% to 25% both in-store and online. Night owls can shop in-store from 3 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, while early birds can hit the racks on Saturday mornings when stores open.

12. Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store

Buy online and choose the option for free in-store pickup if you need something quick. All orders are ready to be picked up in just two hours, and you will get an email letting you know that it is ready.

13. Price Adjustments

If the price of an item you purchased is further reduced within 14 days, bring your receipt to Kohl’s and they’ll pay you back for the difference (excluding clearance and BOGO merchandise). Head to the customer-service counter or call 855-564-5705 and request a partial refund. See Kohl’s full price-adjustment policy here.

14. Senior-Citizen Discounts

Wednesdays are senior days at Kohl’s stores. People over age 60 receive a special 15% discount in stores. The discount is good on regular-priced, sale and clearance merchandise, but it cannot be used in conjunction with Kohl’s Cash or other discounts, so it might be best to use on hot items that you want to snag before they get to the clearance rack.

15. Download the Kohl’s App

“It’s coupons. It’s a store. It’s so much more.” Kohl’s is right. With the Kohl’s mobile app, you can find everything right in the palm of your hand. Store and access your Kohl’s Cash, Yes2You rewards points and more on your mobile device. When you shop at Kohl’s stores, you’ll have a handy price scanner, too.

16. Get Cash Back at Ebates

Use Ebates to earn Cash Back on your online purchases. Join for free, and use the Ebates portal to shop online at Kohl’s and earn a percentage of your purchase back. Ebates has Double Cash Back specials every week that feature select stores (including Kohl’s on occasion). The Ebates app also has a Mobile Monday event on select dates during which you can earn Extra Cash Back for purchases through the app. Join Ebates today, subscribe to our emails and favorite Kohl’s so you can always get alerts on Cash Back specials just for Kohl’s.

Vivaterra

OFFERING THE PERFECT HABITAT FOR OUR WINGED POLLINATORS

More and more it has become so important to help provide a safe habitat for our winged friends. Perfect places like your garden, balcony, workplace, or community garden are areas you can make a huge difference right away.
Not just here in the U.S. but also throughout the world, there have been significant losses in natural bee habitats. Right here in the United States, grassland prairies which were once rich habitats supporting all of the winged pollinators as well as wildlife are becoming more and more threatened. Due to the increasing agricultural growth, recent surveys suggest close to a 99.9% loss in habitat spaces over the last 150 years. In the UK, almost 97% of native wildflower habitats have been lost since the 1950’s for the same reason.
These types of losses are occurring in other ecosystems that once generously supported our winged pollinators. Increasing population growth in the suburban and rural areas is creating even more conversion of wild areas for farmland, suburban, and urban purposes. With this industrialization our winged pollinators are further threatened. By increased pesticide use, thoughtless habitat management practices (mowing down wildflowers before they are able to set seed), and other various problems that come with living within a growing human population, our perfect pollinators are becoming more and more threatened.
Beautiful Habitats +
While we recognize that growth is inevitable, we also recognize that we must do whatever we can to prevent the extinction of any of our winged pollinators. Regardless of the wildlife, bees, butterflies and birds, they all need our help to provide them with the shelter and habitat to allow them to thrive. These winged friends hold the key to a prosperous future for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our habitats are designed to offer a safe haven for these winged pollinators to thrive and reproduce. In addition to the habitats, find a way to plant a wildflower garden. Not only are they bright and beautiful but they also create the perfect environment to allow all of our winged friends to survive and flourish.

Visit Vivaterra to see more designs.