Walmart gets speedier with two-day delivery
In its latest effort to take on Amazon, the company says it will deliver your packages one day faster than it did before.
Walmart says it can now get packages to you in two days instead of three -- if you're part of its limited pilot program.
Walmart just ramped up the competition with Amazon -- at least when it comes to delivering your packages.
The company now guarantees that purchases will be delivered to your home in two days instead of the three it promised before. But this applies only to people who pay $49 for Walmart's ShippingPass pilot program, an amount that's down $1 from the previous rate.
Unlike Amazon Prime, the Walmart service isn't available everywhere, and it includes fewer extras, like Amazon's bundled video-streaming service and cloud storage. But ShippingPass costs half the price of Amazon's $99 annual service that guarantees delivery within two days. Customers also get free returns online and in stores, and there's no minimum-order requirements.
Walmart said it "can offer faster and more affordable shipping because we have a unique fulfillment network that includes new large-scale fulfillment centers, stores, distribution centers and our transportation network."
Amazon, meanwhile, said it doesn't "discuss other companies, and we are laser focused on our customers, especially the massive growing base of loyal Prime members who have enjoyed guaranteed, predictable fast free shipping for more than 10 years."
CNET's Ben Fox Rubin contributed to this report.
Update, 11:40 a.m. PT: Adds comment from Walmart.