Walmart tracking

What is Walmart?

Walmart is the world's largest retailer and the world's largest company in terms of revenue. Founded on July 2, 1962 by Sam Walton and his brother James "Bud" Walton in Rogers, Arkansas, this American retailer revolutionized retail by offering brand-name products at discount prices in geographic areas previously overlooked by major chains. The first store, called "Wal-Mart Discount City," opened after a decade of experience Sam Walton gained managing a discount store called Walton's 5&10 in Bentonville.

Sam Walton's strategy was based on a strong conviction: even small towns could generate enough retail activity to make discount stores profitable. To succeed in these remote areas, he positioned regional groups of stores within a day's drive of a giant Walmart distribution center. This innovative logistics approach, combined with bulk purchasing and a low-cost delivery system, enabled Walmart to offer brand-name products at reduced prices in areas with little competition.

Today, Walmart employs more than 2 million people worldwide, making it the world's largest private employer. The company operates more than 10,000 stores across the globe, with over 5,000 in the United States and an equivalent number across 18 other countries. The Walton family, heirs to the founder, owns more than 50% of the company through Walton Enterprises and individual holdings, making Walmart the world's largest publicly traded family business.

• Founded: July 2, 1962, with the opening of the first Wal-Mart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas
• Founders: Sam Walton and James "Bud" Walton, pioneers of American discount retail
• Headquarters: Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, where the company's main offices remain
• Global workforce: Over 2.1 million employees, making it the world's largest private employer
• Number of stores: Over 10,000 retail locations across 19 countries worldwide
• Family wealth: The Walton family is the wealthiest family in the United States with a fortune estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars

Walmart's history is marked by remarkable commercial successes. The company reached one billion dollars in annual sales faster than any other company at the time, with 276 stores and 21,000 employees. In 1990, Walmart became the largest American retailer. In 2001, its revenue surpassed that of Exxon Mobil, making it the world's largest company. Sam Walton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush on March 17, 1992, shortly before his death on April 5 of that year. His eldest son, S. Robson Walton, succeeded him as chairman of the board.

Walmart unveiled a new logo in 2025, designed by Jones Knowles Ritchie and Landor agencies. That same year, the company also announced its move from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to the Nasdaq Global Select Market, marking the largest stock exchange transfer in history.

What countries does Walmart deliver to?

Walmart has a significant international presence that extends well beyond American borders. Walmart International operates in 18 countries outside the United States, serving millions of customers worldwide. This global footprint includes more than 5,500 international retail locations and employs over 500,000 associates. The company has adapted its business model to local market conditions, sometimes operating under different retail names or partnering with local players.

In North America, Walmart maintains a major presence in Canada with several hundred stores. In Mexico, the company operates an even denser network with over 3,000 retail locations, making Walmart the largest private employer in the country alongside the United States. These two North American markets are strategic pillars of Walmart's international expansion.

In Asia, Walmart employs differentiated strategies depending on the market. In China, the company operates around 400 Walmart and Sam's Club locations, with a notable feature: 80% of deliveries are completed in less than one hour. In India, Walmart chose to invest heavily in e-commerce by acquiring a majority stake in Flipkart, the country's leading e-commerce platform. The company also holds a stake in PhonePe, an Indian digital payment company.

• North America: United States (over 5,000 stores), Canada (several hundred stores), Mexico (over 3,000 stores)
• Asia: China (around 400 stores), India (via Flipkart and PhonePe)
• Central America: Presence in several Central American countries under different retail names
• Africa: High-growth potential markets for the company's future expansion

It should be noted that Walmart has made strategic adjustments to its international portfolio in recent years. The company exited the United Kingdom by selling Asda in 2021 and sold its stake in Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu. Walmart's international footprint peaked at 6,363 stores outside the United States in 2016. Since then, under the leadership of Judith McKenna, CEO of Walmart International from 2018 until her retirement, the company has exited markets including Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Japan to focus on higher growth-potential markets.

For consumers outside the United States wishing to order from Walmart, the retailer generally does not deliver directly internationally from its American website. However, several reshipping services allow access to Walmart products from abroad. These platforms offer U.S. delivery addresses and then forward packages to the destination country, with delivery times typically ranging from one to three weeks depending on the shipping method chosen.

What carriers does Walmart use?

Walmart relies on a hybrid logistics ecosystem that combines its own delivery capabilities with strategic partnerships with major market carriers. This multi-carrier approach allows the company to optimize shipping costs while ensuring maximum geographic coverage and competitive delivery times. The preferred carriers for Walmart are USPS (United States Postal Service), FedEx, and UPS, which form the foundation of its parcel delivery operations.

Walmart has developed its own program called "Ship with Walmart" that enables third-party marketplace sellers to access preferred shipping rates. This program offers USPS, FedEx, and UPS for domestic shipments within the United States. For international shipments from China to the United States, Yanwen and SF Express are available, while FedEx handles shipments from India to the United States. Walmart has notably negotiated additional rate reductions with FedEx Ground for third-party sellers using Ship with Walmart.

Alongside traditional carriers, Walmart has developed its own last-mile delivery capabilities. The company has transformed over 4,000 of its stores into micro-fulfillment centers, enabling same-day and next-day deliveries through its own infrastructure. This unique approach combines product control, location visibility, and delivery management, offering a significant competitive advantage compared to traditional carriers.

• Major domestic carriers: USPS, FedEx, and UPS for the majority of parcel deliveries in the United States
• International carriers: Yanwen and SF Express (China to USA), FedEx (India to USA)
• On-demand delivery services: DoorDash and Uber for same-day and next-day delivery
• Spark platform: Network of independent drivers managed by Walmart for local deliveries
• Private fleet: Walmart trucks for store replenishment and certain direct deliveries

Walmart has also developed GoLocal, a white-label last-mile delivery service offered to other retailers. This service, launched three and a half years ago, enables partners like Home Depot, 1-800 Flowers, Books-A-Million, Hibbett, Sur La Table, UrbanStem, and Sally Beauty to use Walmart's logistics infrastructure for their own deliveries. A recent partnership with IBM integrates GoLocal into IBM's order management system, expanding its reach further.

Through its Spark independent driver platform, Walmart can now reach 93% of American households with same-day delivery. This exceptional coverage capacity, combined with partnerships with traditional carriers and on-demand delivery services, positions Walmart as a major logistics player capable of competing with Amazon on delivery speed. ShipMatrix analysts predict that the majority of growth in U.S. parcel volume over the coming years will come from Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers' private networks, resulting in flat or negative growth for UPS, FedEx, and USPS.

What are Walmart's delivery times?

Walmart offers a complete range of delivery options tailored to different customer needs and urgency levels. Delivery times vary based on product type, customer location, stock availability, and the selected delivery option. The company has significantly invested in accelerating delivery times in recent years, with strong growth in same-day deliveries.

For standard delivery, Walmart typically offers 2 to 5 business days. This option is suitable for non-urgent purchases and allows customers to benefit from the most advantageous shipping rates. Two-day delivery is available for many eligible items, offering a good balance between speed and cost. Next-day delivery is available for orders placed before a certain cutoff time, allowing customers to receive purchases the next business day.

Same-day delivery represents Walmart's fastest option. Available for groceries and many items from local stores, this service allows customers to receive purchases within hours. Walmart recently introduced the "Get It Now" feature that displays precise delivery time estimates, sometimes as short as 46 minutes for items available at a nearby store.

• Standard delivery: 2 to 5 business days depending on destination and product
• Two-day delivery: 2 business days for eligible items
• Next-day delivery: 1 business day for orders placed before the cutoff time
• Same-day delivery: A few hours for locally available items
• Express delivery: Less than 2 hours for select items
• Early Morning Delivery: Delivery as early as 6 a.m. with a minimum 30-minute window

Express delivery is Walmart's premium option, allowing customers to receive orders in less than two hours. This service is particularly suitable for urgent purchases or last-minute needs. In March 2024, Walmart launched "On-Demand Early Morning Delivery," allowing customers to order essential items such as baby products, household appliances, or work clothing and receive them as early as 6 a.m., with a minimum 30-minute window.

For store pickup (curbside pickup), orders placed before 4 p.m. are generally ready the same day. Orders placed after 4 p.m. are typically available for pickup the next day. This service is available at over 3,700 Walmart stores across the United States, offering a convenient alternative for customers preferring to pick up purchases without delivery fees.

Delivery times for international shipments through reshipping services vary considerably depending on destination. Standard shipments may take 2 to 3 weeks, while express shipments with carriers like DHL or FedEx are typically delivered in 1 to 3 days. These timeframes include processing time by the reshipping service and potential customs clearance.

What are Walmart's delivery fees?

Walmart has structured its delivery fees around several thresholds and subscription options to meet different customer profiles. The pricing policy aims to encourage larger purchases while offering advantageous solutions to regular customers through its Walmart+ membership program. Understanding these different options helps optimize shipping expenses based on shopping habits.

For non-member customers, Walmart applies a free shipping threshold of $35. Orders reaching this minimum amount enjoy free shipping for eligible items sold and shipped by Walmart. Orders below this threshold are subject to variable shipping fees, typically ranging from $7.95 to $9.95 depending on the chosen delivery method and destination.

Walmart+ membership represents the most advantageous option for regular customers. At $12.95 per month or $98 per year (plus applicable taxes), this membership offers free shipping with no minimum order requirement for items sold and shipped by Walmart. However, deliveries from a local store still require a $35 minimum for free shipping. Students and those receiving government benefits can access Walmart+ Assist at half price, at $6.47 per month or $49 per year.

• Free standard shipping: For orders of $35 or more (eligible items)
• Non-member shipping fees: Between $7.95 and $9.95 depending on service
• Walmart+ monthly: $12.95 per month for free shipping with no minimum
• Walmart+ annual: $98 per year (savings versus monthly)
• Walmart+ Assist: $6.47 per month or $49 per year for eligible members
• Express fees: $10 additional for delivery under 2 hours
• Below minimum fees: $5.99 for Walmart+ members if order is below $35 (store delivery)

Express delivery, allowing orders to arrive in less than two hours, incurs an additional $10 charge. This supplement applies even to Walmart+ members, in addition to any standard shipping fees. This option is designed for urgent situations where speed takes priority over cost.

Walmart also offers a premium subscription called Walmart+ InHome at $19.95 per month or $138 per year. This service includes unlimited free deliveries to the door, garage, or even directly into the customer's kitchen. All InHome deliveries are performed by full-time Walmart employees and can be completed whether the customer is home or away, thanks to a camera system enabling real-time delivery tracking.

For businesses, Walmart Business+ offers free standard delivery from stores with a $35 minimum order, plus free shipping with no minimum for items shipped from Walmart distribution centers. This program, however, excludes most items sold by third-party marketplace sellers as well as surcharges for bulky items or remote destinations.

What are Walmart's delivery options?

Walmart has developed a comprehensive range of delivery options to accommodate each customer's preferences and constraints. From traditional home delivery to innovative solutions like garage delivery or drone delivery, the company covers the entire spectrum of package reception needs. This flexibility represents a major competitive advantage in a market where consumer expectations are evolving rapidly.

Standard home delivery remains the most common option. The customer selects a delivery window from available options and a driver drops off the package at the specified address. Walmart typically offers delivery windows ranging from a few hours to several days, allowing customers to plan package reception according to their schedule. Email and mobile app notifications keep customers informed of order progress.

The Walmart+ InHome service takes home delivery experience even further. Drivers, all full-time trained and vetted Walmart employees, can access the customer's home to place groceries directly in the refrigerator or storage areas. This option requires installation of a compatible smart lock and activation of the InHome camera, allowing customers to track delivery in real time even when away from home.

• Standard home delivery: Package drop-off at the specified address during the chosen window
• InHome delivery: Groceries placed directly in refrigerator or home storage
• Garage delivery: Secure drop-off in customer's garage via smart lock
• In-store pickup (Pickup): Retrieve purchases at dedicated store counter
• Drive-through pickup (Curbside Pickup): Items loaded into vehicle in the parking lot
• Drone delivery: Fast aerial delivery for lightweight packages in eligible areas
• Lockers: Drop-off in secured lockers accessible 24/7

In-store pickup offers two main options. Traditional Pickup allows customers to retrieve orders at the store's dedicated counter, typically located at the entrance or in a specific area. Curbside Pickup, particularly popular since the pandemic, allows customers to remain in their vehicle: customers park at a designated spot, confirm arrival via the app, and a Walmart employee loads purchases directly into the trunk. Over 3,700 Walmart stores offer this service across the United States.

Walmart is also experimenting with innovative delivery modes. The drone delivery program enables the transport of lightweight packages over short distances within minutes. These operations follow defined air corridors and strict safety protocols. Autonomous vehicles are also being tested for recurring routes, aiming to improve delivery reliability and reduce operational variability.

Notifications and order tracking form an essential element of the Walmart delivery experience. Customers receive alerts at each key stage: order confirmation, preparation start, shipment, out for delivery, and delivery completed. The Walmart app enables real-time tracking of driver location during same-day deliveries, providing precise visibility on estimated arrival time.

For bulky or heavy items, Walmart offers specialized delivery services including installation or setup. These deliveries are typically performed by appointment by two-person teams equipped to handle heavy loads. Some sensitive products require identity verification upon delivery, with mandatory signature.

What should I do if my Walmart order is lost or damaged?

Walmart has established clear procedures to handle situations where an order does not arrive or arrives damaged. The company's customer service handles all types of order-related issues, including shipping delays, missing items, and damaged products. Understanding these procedures enables quick and effective action to obtain resolution.

Walmart distinguishes between two categories of lost packages based on when the problem occurs. A package is considered "Lost After Delivery" when the carrier scanned and delivered it to the correct address, but the customer has still not received it 48 hours later. A package is considered "Lost in Transit" if tracking shows no movement for 48 hours and more than 48 hours have passed since the carrier's estimated delivery date.

To file a claim, customers have a window of 10 to 50 days after the confirmed delivery date shown in tracking. This timeframe ensures the package has not simply been delayed while providing sufficient time to report an actual problem. Claims filed outside this window may be rejected.

• Reporting timeframe: Between 10 and 50 days after delivery date per tracking
• Refund-eligible categories: Lost in transit, damaged item, damaged shipping box, late arrival, wrong item received
• Maximum refund amount: Up to $300 per eligible individual item
• Lost after delivery definition: 48 hours after delivery scan without receipt
• Lost in transit definition: No movement for 48 hours after estimated delivery date

Walmart only reimburses claims where its responsibility is established. Eligible situations include: lost in transit, damaged item, damaged shipping box, late delivery, and receipt of wrong item. Maximum reimbursement is $300 for an eligible individual item. Situations resulting from customer error (incorrect address, absence at delivery appointment time, etc.) are generally not covered.

To maximize chances of obtaining a refund, it is recommended to gather all available documentation: order confirmation, payment receipt, tracking screenshots, photos of damaged packaging or product, and communication history with Walmart. Walmart's return policy states that a full refund is due if the order is not received, an argument worth reiterating if necessary when dealing with customer service.

For unresolved issues through standard channels, customers can escalate their claim via social media by contacting @WalmartHelp, or file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. It is advisable to maintain a history of all interactions with customer service, including dates, times, and names of agents contacted.

For purchases from third-party marketplace sellers that arrive damaged or do not match the description, Walmart can intervene if the seller does not respond. The process begins by initiating the online return process, then contacting support if the seller does not cooperate within 48 hours of contact.

How do I contact Walmart?

Walmart provides its customers with several contact channels to answer questions, resolve problems, and assist with purchases. Customer service is accessible by phone, live chat, email, and social media, offering appreciated flexibility based on individual communication preferences. Availability and response times vary depending on the chosen channel and time of year.

Phone support remains the preferred channel for complex questions requiring direct interaction. Agents can access order details, review communication history, and make real-time decisions to resolve issues. This channel is particularly recommended for claims concerning lost or damaged packages, billing disputes, or urgent questions.

Live chat, accessible from Walmart.com and the mobile app, offers a convenient alternative for simple questions or order tracking. This channel provides quick answers without phone wait times, and written conversation facilitates maintaining a communication history. Chat can also be used to initiate returns or refund requests.

• Phone: Phone support for complex questions and claims
• Live chat: Available on Walmart.com and mobile app for quick assistance
• Email: [email protected] for non-urgent requests
• Social media: @WalmartHelp on Twitter/X to report issues or escalate claims
• Online help center: Comprehensive knowledge base with articles and FAQ
• In-store: Customer service desk in all Walmart locations

Walmart's online help center is a valuable resource for finding answers without contacting customer service directly. This knowledge base covers the most frequently asked topics: order tracking, returns and refunds, Walmart+ account management, delivery options, and payment problems. Articles are regularly updated to reflect policy and service changes.

On social media, the @WalmartHelp account on Twitter/X represents an effective channel to report issues or escalate unresolved claims through traditional channels. The dedicated social media team can direct requests to the appropriate contacts and accelerate resolution of complex cases. This channel often benefits from internal visibility that can favor priority handling.

For customers visiting a store, the customer service desk offers in-person assistance for returns, exchanges, questions about online orders, and various problems. This option is particularly convenient for returning bulky items or for situations requiring physical product inspection. Customer service hours in-store generally match the store's operating hours.

Walmart recommends always having your order number, tracking information, and any relevant documents readily available before contacting customer service. This preparation enables more efficient request handling and reduces resolution time.

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking a Walmart package online, various statuses may appear. Here are the main statuses and their meanings: