Walmart expanding 'InHome' delivery service to Columbus
Columbus residents' future Walmart orders could soon be delivered straight to their fridge or inside their garage.
The world’s largest retailer announced Wednesday that it is expanding its “InHome” delivery service from 6 million to 30 million U.S. households by the end of the year, including to customers in Greater Columbus.
The program launched in 2019 and is currently available in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, southeast Florida, northwest Arkansas, Atlanta, Phoenix and Washington D.C., Tom Ward, Walmart U.S. senior vice president, last mile, told Paste BN.
A complete list of the cities that Walmart InHome is expanding to was not available, but Walmart said the program will roll out to major cities including Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago and Indianapolis.
Walmart did not say when the service would be available in Columbus, beyond "by the end of the year."
Ward said the company plans to hire more than 3,000 associate delivery drivers this year and build out a fleet of 100% all-electric delivery vans for the expansion.
"It's the ultimate convenience for customers," Ward said. "We recognize it's not always useful for people to have to worry about being home to receive deliveries every second."
The service costs $19.95 per month or $148 per year with no additional fees, including tips, which are built into the membership price.
To get an InHome delivery, customers must have a smart lock, garage keypad or they can purchase a new smart lock from InHome for $49.95.
Here’s how Walmart's program works:
Sign up: To find out if InHome is available near you, go to Inhome.walmart.com/get-started, where you can also sign up for a 30-day trial if eligible. According to the website, current Walmart+ members are not eligible for the free trial but can upgrade their membership.
Order: Once signed up for InHome, a customer places their order on the Walmart app or website and selects InHome as their preferred delivery option. According to the website, a 30-day trial is available.
Deliver: The InHome associate uses a one-time access code to unlock the customer’s door or garage through their InHome app, which pairs with smart entry technology. The app notifies the customer and a camera, worn on the associates’ vest, records the entire delivery, which customers have access to from their phones for up to a week after each delivery. Employees also wear masks and sanitize all the surfaces they touch during the delivery.
Store returns: Walmart online orders can be returned through InHome. No boxes or shipping labels are needed, just tell Walmart your return is ready, place the item in its original packaging inside your door and it will be picked up.
More information: Walmart+ benefits are included with the InHome subscription, which includes fuel discounts and the Scan & Go feature for in-store shopping. A Walmart+ subscription costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month.
Information from The Columbus Dispatch was included in this report.
Follow Paste BN reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko.