Current Events in April 2023

Two rival retailers are throwing a lifeline to consumers stuck with expiring Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. After a prolonged struggle, the home goods chain recently announced that it was filing for bankruptcy and would be liquidating its brick-and-mortar and online inventory. 

As part of this process, shoppers had until Wednesday, April 26 to use any of their remaining coupons either online or in-store at the retailer. 

Now, The Container Store and Big Lots have announced that they will accept Bed Bath & Beyond coupons for the coming weeks. The Container Store will accept coupons for 20% off a single item through May 31, while Big Lots will be accepting coupons for 20% off orders of $50 or more through May 7. 

“So. Much. NEW,” The Container Store tweeted on Wednesday, April 26. “Bring in a blue coupon."

Are you using all you can squeeze out of your Amazon Prime membership? Probably not, especially if all you’re doing is dropping $139 a year for movies, two-day shipping, and little more. 

At a time when money is tight, ConsumerAffairs thought it might be interesting to find what unused Prime perks there are, especially ones that make perfect sense because a consumer can save money elsewhere and keep everything under one roof.

Here’s a few things that might help in that department:

Spending money and getting money back

There are lots of credit cards that offer “cash back” to customers when they make a purchase, but with Amazon Prime’s Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, eligible Prime members earn 5% back on anything they buy at Amazon.com as well as Whole Foods Market. 

And as that 5% adds up, Prime Members can apply it to future purchases. Let’s say, you buy something for $100, that’s $5 off another purchase which makes things like buying a pound of coffee really inexpensive.

One-day – or quicker – delivery

Two-day delivery is the Prime standard, but Amazon has quietly amped up delivery to 24 hours or less on 20 million items. Plus, in some U.S. cities, customers can now shop for products from their favorite local retail stores like GNC, Sur la Table, PacSun and Superdry on Amazon and have their purchases delivered on the same day to their doorstep. And if you really want lickety-split service, there’s two-hour grocery delivery, free on orders over $150.

Gamers – especially Baby Boomers – gaming delight

A recent AARP study showed that Americans aged 50-plus are playing video games more than ever – a fact that Prime can address where major, youth-leaning gaming platforms such as Twitch, might not be able to. Prime members get access to free games and in-game content at Prime Gaming every month on top of a free monthly channel subscription on Twitch.tv.

A Prime membership also gives U.S. subscribers the opportunity to play a rotating selection of free games each month on Luna, Amazon’s cloud gaming service

Audiobooks your thing?

Baby Boomers also love audiobooks and if they’re a Prime member, they can take advantage of Audible Narration on top of the digital, downloadable books they can get on their Kindle e-readers.

According to BookWritten, the only bugaboo about Audible Narration is that it’s often confused with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, a separate paid subscription.

To find free audiobooks, BookWritten’s Pradeep Kumar says all you have to do is search for “Books with Audible Narration in Prime Reading.” And Kumar says it’s a pretty good selection, too – lots of fiction and non-fiction, but romance and comics, too. He says one cool option with Audible Narration is that you can switch between reading and listening to your book. 

Try before you buy

Buying clothes online is tricky. For one thing, you can’t see the quality of the item. For another, you can’t try on the item. But with Amazon’s Prime Try Before You Buy you have seven days to try on new styles and sizes before you’re charged for the ones you want to keep. It’s a whole department store of items, too – not just clothing, but shoes and accessories as well. 

Students get even better deals

We’re a few months away from heading back to campus, but here’s one plus that the students in the family can take advantage of: If they have a valid .edu email address, they can sign up as part of the Prime Student program, which gives them a six-month free trial for Amazon Prime. If they like what they’re getting out of it, they can upgrade to a full Prime Membership for 50% off.

Another advantage is that Amazon offers textbooks, too – usually at much lower prices than the college bookstore.

Unlimited photo storage

Google Photos probably has the corner on the photo storage market, but the company also started charging for storage past a certain point. Amazon, however, gives Prime members access to unlimited high-resolution photo storage with Amazon Photos, as well as 5 GB of video storage.

If you have an iPhone, you can move on to the next ConsumerAffairs story – but if you have an Android device, your next move should be to look at all the apps on your device. Google has sent up a flare warning billions of Android users that they are in danger of being harmed by 19 different apps.

These malicious apps cover everything a scammer has in their toolbox: adware, malware, spyware, trojans, and more. All can infect a phone, steal your identity, passwords, or financial information like credit card numbers and bank accounts.

The apps that need to be deleted

When you look at the following list, there are apps you may have used in the past with zero problems. But, dastardly scammers have gone as low as they know how, downloading these apps themselves, reengineering them by adding in the malicious code and then putting them back on the Google Play store, according to MalwareFox.

1. Fare Gamehub and Box

2. Hope Camera-Picture Record

3. Same Launcher and Live Wallpaper

4. Cool Emoji Editor and Sticker

5. Amazing Wallpaper

6. Simple Note Scanner 

7. Universal PDF Scanner 

8. Private Messenger

9. Premium SMS

10. Blood Pressure Checker

11. Cool Keyboard

12. Paint Art

13. Color Message

14. Vlog Star Video Editor

15. Creative 3D Launcher

16. Wow Beauty Camera

17. Gif Emoji Keyboard

18. Instand Heart Rate Anytime

19. Delicate Messenger

We repeat -- in their original form there was nothing wrong with these apps. According to Google, scammers have changed them to make them dangerous.

In its March Consumer Price Index report, the Labor Department found inflation was continuing to fall. The year-over-year inflation rate was 5%, still high but down significantly from its 9% peak in June.

In recent weeks, as publicly traded corporations have reported their first-quarter earnings, some major brands told investors they were able to raise prices and not see much pushback from their customers.

For example, consumer products giant Procter & Gamble said it raised prices across its entire portfolio of products by 10%. It said consumers more or less accepted the price hikes as sales volumes fell by only 3%.

Consumers paid higher prices for everything from Pampers diapers to Pantene shampoo. The company said sales of Tide detergent went up, even though the product cost more.

A more expensive Coke

It was the same story for Coca-Cola, which this week reported sales and earnings that beat forecasts. During the quarter Coke continued to raise prices of its products to offset the effects of inflation.

But the impact of higher prices on company earnings was small. Coke’s unit case volume actually grew 3% in the quarter, even though sales in North America were flat.

McDonald’s is another major brand that has aggressively hiked prices. Even though company officials told investors that they were seeing some pushback from customers, that wasn’t reflected in the company’s finances. 

Higher prices aren’t keeping people out of McDonald’s

McDonald’s first-quarter earnings and revenue were higher than expected. Store traffic was up for the third straight quarter while some competitors experienced a dip in business.

In response to The Sun newspaper’s report on price increases in the UK, a McDonald’s spokesman said inflation continues to affect the company and its suppliers.

"We carefully review and adjust our prices to ensure that while some prices may change, we maintain great value and quality across our menu," the spokesman said.

In the U.S., McDonald’s has taken some social media heat for its prices. A TikTok video that went viral shows the menu board at a McDonald’s in Connecticut where the price of a Big Mac Combo Meal was $16.89. 

Lisa, of Cocoa, Fla., has also noticed higher prices at McDonald’s.

“My chicken sandwich looked like 2 chicken nuggets thrown on a bun with a pickle nothing else for twice as much as what we use to pay,” Lisa wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. Disgusting!

Most consumers know IKEA for their giant stores, cafeteria snacks, and furniture that can be difficult to put together. 

Now, the Swedish company will invest $2.2 billion into generating more business in the United States – the biggest investment since it started operating in the U.S. nearly 40 years ago. The goal of the investment is to make it easier for shoppers in the U.S. to get deliveries from IKEA, open more stores across the country, and offer home decor and goods at a price point that’s friendly for more customers. 

“The U.S. is one of our most important markets, and we see endless opportunities to grow there and get closer to many Americans with affordable products and services,” said Tolga Öncü, head of retail at IKEA. “More than ever before, we want to increase the density of our presence in the U.S., ramp up our fulfillment capacities, and make our offer even more relevant to local customers’ needs and dreams.” 

More stores, more access

With this multibillion-dollar investment, IKEA plans to do these primary things:

• Open 900 pick-up locations: These locations will serve as a post office of sorts – rather than risk missing the delivery driver, customers would have items delivered to the pick-up location, where they can retrieve them and bring them home at a time that best suits their schedules. Currently, IKEA allows shoppers to pick up items at their local FedEx locations, but these would be warehouses designed specifically for the store, located across the country. 

• Create more deliveries straight from warehouses: With this investment, the company also plans to make it easier to ship out deliveries straight from local stores themselves. While the stores will continue to serve as spaces for shoppers to peruse and get decor ideas, they will also work to create better fulfillment centers in their stores to make the delivery process smoother for shoppers. 

• Open eight new stores: Currently, there are 52 IKEA stores nationwide. Over the next three years, the company plans to roll out another eight stores, adding 2,000 jobs in the process. 

• Stay committed to sustainability: Earlier this year, IKEA announced its efforts to create an online site for its “as-is” items – products that are either discontinued or used IKEA pieces that customers can trade in – to promote sustainable shopping. One of the company’s goals is also to be climate positive in the next seven years, and it has plans to reduce waste, use electric vehicles, and use more solar technology. 

• Open nine new Plan & Order points: Plan & Order points are IKEA locations where customers can meet with design experts to map out their big design projects. Though they are not stores to take things home, shoppers can make orders and have their items delivered. 

What will this mean for other retailers?

With just over 50 physical stores across the country, IKEA hasn’t always been the most accessible store for consumers. However, in the coming years that’s going to change, and what will that mean for other retailers who offer similar products at similar prices? The news of IKEA’s investment certainly puts pressure on all retailers for the future. 

It’s not Amazon Prime Day. It’s not Black Friday. But it sure wants to be.

That would be Wayfair’s “Way Day.” Running for the next 48 hours – through Apr 27, 2023 – Way Day is built around Wayfair’s idea of deep discounts -- up to 80% off -- on furniture, appliances, and home decor.

The best deals according to RetailMeNot’s team of shopping experts are area rugs and wall art (up to 80% off); and bedding, cookware & bakeware, curtains & drapes, kitchen faucets, mattresses, and tableware (60% off).

Discounts tier down from there and include:

• Up to 50% off bathroom vanities, bedroom furniture, entryway furniture, hardware and flooring, home office, kids bedroom, lighting, living room seating, mirrors & decor, TV stands and living room tables, outdoor furniture, outdoor lighting & decor and outdoor fireplaces.

• Up to 40% off kitchen & dining furniture, nursery, pet, small appliances, storage and organization and outdoor upgrades.

• Up to 30% off major appliances, outdoor grills and more.

Why is Wayfair's sale different than others

When ConsumerAffairs asked RetailMeNot's shopping expert Kristin McGrath where does Wayfair's sale stacks up against other doorbuster sales, she had this to say.

"You're likely to see a lot of similar deals at all these mega sales and a wide swath of products marked down. The question is whether you want to wait for Prime Day and Target Deal Days in the summer or shop right now. What makes Wayfair unique is the selection of home products it has, from furniture, down to very specific faucets and rugs for every aesthetic. These days, the retail industry is such that these mega sales are all compelling."

Boilng that down, McGrath says to take these comparisons into account:

Prime Day is a better time to shop for technology, especially Amazon products. And it tends to send other retailers into competition mode, so it's almost like Black Friday in the summer.

Target Deal Days tends to focus on clothing, beauty, food and household. However, it doesn't have the selection of rugs and household fixtures Wayfair has. 

Wayfair is focused on the home and home decor. And it takes place in spring, which can be advantageous if you're looking for outdoor furniture for summer. 

Choosing the "right" sale

Sales are sales for one reason -- because the Targets, the Amazons, the Walmarts, and now, the Wayfairs need to get rid of stuff. And to do that, they'll throw big-eyed discounts at the consumer to try and get them to buy regardless of whether they need it or not.

At that point, McGrath says that shoppers should look themselves in the mirror and ask what do they really need and when do they need to buy it.

"If you sorely need new patio chairs for this summer, for example, a deal in the spring during Way Day is going to be more advantageous than a deal late in the summer," she said.

She suggests that for popular, name-brand items, shoppers can look up the price history before they buy it using a price history tool like CamelCamelCamel to assess the strength of the deal.

"That way you can know if something is at one of its best prices ever – and take advantage if so," McGrath said, "If you need something, chances are it's going on sale in the near future. If what you need right now is home goods/decor, it's going on sale at Wayfair for Way Day."

If you’re flying somewhere this summer and think you’ll be hungry or thirsty by the time you get on the plane, you’ll certainly wind up paying the prices airport food vendors are charging these days. 

Travelers have had enough of overpriced food and drink, like $27 for a Sam Adams beer and $18 for a small pepperoni pizza, but one travel expert says that if you play your cards right, you can get inside a major airline’s lounge for little to nothing and eat and drink to your heart’s content.

You also get to escape those noisy waiting areas and time scouring the hallways looking for a power outlet to charge your devices. Some lounges even have showers for travelers looking for a quick refresh.

“With so many ways to get lounge access today, from credit cards, lounge membership programs, and day passes, a comfortable space with amenities is never too far out of reach,” Katy Nastro of Going.com, told ConsumerAffairs.

“If you’re considering paying high markups on sour patch kids and pretzels, why not use those funds towards a relaxing space with unlimited snacks and fast wifi while you’re at it?”

Two 'free’ish' ways into an airport lounge

Nastro's primer on how a traveler can get access to lounge life is fairly 1-2-3’ish. On top of automatic lounge access for those flying in First or Business class or who have Elite status with an airline because of all the miles they’ve acquired, there are also ways to get in for free, too. 

There are two “frees” – one truly free and one sort of free. If you’re a member of the military, American Airlines Admirals Club and United Airlines United Club both offer complimentary lounge access to active military members who present their military ID and same-day ticket on that airline, in any class at the lounge door. American Airlines requires you to be in uniform, while United does not, Nastro said.

The other “free” is when a traveler has a certain credit card. You’ve probably seen all those airline-branded credit card offers land in your mailbox over the years and as competition has gotten fiercer, the deals have gotten sweeter. Many credit cards include complimentary lounge access as a cardholder benefit, as ConsumerAffairs Kathryn Parkman found, including Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum card.

However, when it comes to airline-branded credit cards, remember that it’s “pay to play” and most any credit card that provides lounge access charges an annual fee – and those can run anywhere from under $100 to more than $500. Nastro tosses in this reminder for those situations: in addition to being a cardholder, you may also need to enroll in a lounge’s membership program before you receive your lounge benefits.

“Check your credit card’s details for more info before you travel,” she said.

Day and annual passes

The two most intriguing lounge access suggestions Nastro shared are subscription-based – where a person buys access to an airport lounge for a day or a year.

Examples that Nastro gave for day passes are American Airlines Admirals Club and United Airlines United Club. Passes can be purchased for $59 by those flying either the parent airline or a partner airline. 

As for longer-term passes, he suggests a company called Priority Pass that allows travelers to pick and choose access to about 1,300 airport lounges in 650 airports across 148 countries. Memberships range from $99 to $429. 

For travelers who want a specific perk, the amenities at participating lounges range from comped refreshments and free wi-fi to spa treatments, massage rooms, and sleeping areas, Nastro said. Parkman noted that one credit card that includes free Priority Pass membership as a card benefit is Chase Sapphire Reserve.

For cat owners, it isn’t uncommon for your pet to wander off, hiding somewhere completely out of sight. 

To help ease some of that anxiety while you’re looking under beds and in your closets, Tile, the company that has created bluetooth devices to help consumers keep track of the essentials like their keys or wallets, has now created a similar device – Tile for Cats. 

The latest bluetooth device is the company’s smallest tracker, and it’s designed to be attached directly onto a cat’s collar. Once activated, cat owners will be able to track their pet’s whereabouts within a 250-foot range. 

“Pets play an important role in our lives and we strive to meet the needs of the entire family, or chosen family,” said Chris Hulls, co-founder and CEO of Life360, Tile’s parent company. “Our designers saw that users were seeking ways to monitor their cat’s whereabouts and creating makeshift attachments. So it was a no-brainer to develop a much-needed cat accessory for our ecosystem that connects and protects everyone and everything that matters most.”

What pet owners should know 

The traditional tile product works as follows: consumers receive a physical tile to keep track of an important item, like a wallet. The tile uses bluetooth connectivity to link to a mobile app – either Android or Apple – so when the item inevitably goes missing, the app serves as a tracker to locate the lost item. 

Tile for Cats works in exactly the same way. Cat owners need to affix the Tile for Cats sticker to their cat’s collar, and then link the accessory to their Tile account. New users can create an account. Tile for Cats will also be compatible with Life360, and cat owners who utilize that tracking app can add their cat’s sticker to their account there. 

The bluetooth technology in Tile for Cats will track your pets up to 250 feet away – any further than that won’t register on the app. Additionally, this Tile tracker will work with other compatible devices, like Siri, Alexa, or Google, so you can keep track of your pet without having to pick up your phone. 

When attaching the sticker to your cat’s collar, keep in mind that it shouldn’t be dangling – it should be close to the cat’s neck. The Tile device has a protective coating to prevent anything from getting stuck to it – fur, dust, etc. – and it also has a non-removable battery that should last for up to three years, at which point the device needs to be replaced. 

The Tile for Cats stickers are available in black or white and will cost $39.99. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has implemented new regulations that require furniture makers to meet a standard for safety and stability.

Specifically, dressers, armoires, wardrobes, and other clothing storage units must be made in such a way, or secured against a wall to prevent them from tipping over and crushing small children. These types of accidents occur more frequently than you might think.

According to the CPSC, 234 people, mostly children, have been killed by falling furniture since 2000. During that time 84,100 people have been injured by furniture tip-overs, averaging 5,300 injuries each year.

Congress passed a law late last year called  Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) that moved away from voluntary standards and toward mandatory requirements. It’s designed to protect children up to age six by setting requirements that include:

• Tests for stability when the unit is placed on carpeting

• Tests for stability with loaded drawers and with multiple drawers open

• Tests that simulate the weight of children up to 60 pounds interacting with the unit

Increased vigilance 

“With the implementation of the new mandatory standard, I expect industry to shift their efforts to quickly comply with these new safety requirements,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “The CPSC will be actively monitoring the marketplace and enforcing this important safety standard.”

A number of public interest groups, including Kids In Danger, pushed for the new mandatory standards. The group’s executive director, Nancy Cowles, said parents who lost children to tip-over accidents made significant contributions to the effort.

Child deaths from falling furniture have led to a number of furniture recalls over the years. One of the latest came in January 2021 when Chicago-based CB2 recalled about 11,355 Junction Tall Chests and Low Dressers sold in the U.S. and Canada. The company said it had received 10 reports of the chests and dressers falling but did not receive reports of any injuries.

Amid growing pressure, IKEA recalled Malm dressers in 2016 but not all of the recalled dressers were removed or anchored to the wall. By 2017 the dressers were believed to be responsible for eight deaths.

If you shopped at IKEA and used a payment card between Oct. 18, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2019, you could be eligible for compensation from a $24 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit.

The retail chain was accused of violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act’s (FACTA) provisions on Identity Theft Prevention and Credit History Restoration. It allegedly printed more than the last five digits of the card number on receipts. The company agreed to the settlement without admitting any wrongdoing.

The first step in making a claim is to visit the settlement website. There, you can print out and submit a claim form, but you shouldn’t delay. The filing deadline is May 4, 2023.

“You will receive a payment and will give up your rights to sue IKEA and/or any other released parties (“Defendant Releasees,” as defined in the Settlement Agreement) on any Released Claim, as defined in the Settlement Agreement,” the claims administrator writes. “The claims administrator may seek additional information from persons who submit publication claim forms to validate claims.”

Payouts are expected to be small

It is not yet known how much eligible customers will receive. It’s estimated that 40% of the $24,000 will cover attorney’s fees so consumers will split about $15 million.

Payments will also be contingent on court approval of the settlement. A decision could come after the May 4 deadline for filing a claim.

Also, customers should no that compensation is not expected to be all that generous. In its analysis, CNET estimates each claimant will get between $30 to $60.

FACTA is a federal law enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2003. Its stated purpose is to enhance consumer protection, particularly in relation to identity theft.

Consumers hoping to purchase an affordable electric vehicle (EV) will soon have fewer options. General Motors (GM) has announced an end to production of the Chevy Bolt at the end of 2023.

The announcement by GM CEO Mary Barra took the industry by surprise. GM had been singing the praises of the Bolt, noting that it racked up three consecutive quarters of record deliveries.

The Bolt’s popularity may have something to do with its sticker price. According to automotive publisher Edmunds, the Bolt typically sells for less than $28,000. The fact that both the Bolt and the Chevy Equinox EV are really the only two affordable EVs qualifying for the 2023 EV tax credit makes the decision harder on budget-conscious EV shoppers.

Nick Sandbulte of Savage, Minn., had been eyeing the Bolt and said he was disappointed to hear the news.

“I was hoping to wait next year to buy one so I could sign the federal rebate over to the dealership rather than take out a big loan and then get a rebate later, but that won't be an option now,” he told ConsumerAffairs. “It wouldn't be so bad if they were replacing it with a similar car, but it doesn't sound like that will be the case, so I imagine there will be a scramble for the remaining cars they make.”

Several advantages

In addition to its relatively low price, the Bolt also offers a fairly decent range. GM says it has a range of between 247 and 259 miles between charges.

The Bolt has made a strong comeback after a recent painful recall. The automaker suspended production of both the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV for six months to investigate the cause of a large number of battery fires.

GM eventually replaced battery modules on some modules but had to inspect about 141,000 Bolts sold in North America.

The Nissan Leaf is another affordable EV, with a sticker price similar to the Chevy Bolt. However, it is not eligible for the $7,500 2023 EV tax credit.

For more than 20 years savers have earned next to nothing on savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CD). During that time, inflation remained low and so did interest rates. 

In the last year, that’s changed. A number of banks have raised the rates they pay on deposits, even short-term deposits. Since Treasury bond yields have risen banks are having to compete for cash by paying higher interest rates.

While your local bank may offer a competitive rate, we found four banks that are paying north of 4% on fairly short-term CDs and may be worth consideration. All of the banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for deposits of up to $250,000.

Wells Fargo

Local and regional banks tend to offer higher interest rates than the large national banks but Wells Fargo is an exception. Currently, Wells Fargo pays 4.02% on a five-month CD when you open one of its Special Fixed-Rate CD accounts, with a minimum deposit of $5,000.

Ally Bank

Ally Bank, a national, internet-only institution, currently has a couple of compelling offers. Ally’s High-Yield CD pays an interest rate based on the length of the term. A three-month CD pays only 2% but a 12-month CD pays 4.5%. Lock it in for 18 months and the rate rises to 4.8%.

There is no minimum deposit required but you’ll pay a penalty if you withdraw the money before the term is up.

For people who think they may need to tap their savings before the end of the term, Ally’s No Penalty CD may be a good alternative. It pays 4.25% interest and you can withdraw all of your money any time after the first six days following the date you funded the account, and keep the interest earned with no penalties. There is no minimum deposit.

CIT Bank

CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, pays an even high rate of interest. Its six-month CD currently pays 5% with a $1,000 minimum deposit. It might be a good choice for savers who want a high rate of return but don’t want to tie up their money for more than six months.

Synchrony

Synchrony, another national, internet-only bank pays even more. It currently offers a 14-month CD that pays 5.15%. However, there is no minimum deposit required.

Synchrony also offers a No Penalty CD that pays 4.10%. It’s an 11-month term but there is no early withdrawal penalty if you need to access to your money.

For the first time in two decades, it’s now possible to sock money away and actually have it earn interest in a safe environment. As always, before making a major financial or investment decision it is a good idea to seek advice from a trusted and objective adviser.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, Walmart is gearing up to honor new moms in the coming weeks. 

The company is launching a new campaign dubbed, the “Mother of All Savings Memberships,” in which it will donate one year of a Walmart+ membership to as many as 20,000 new mothers during the month of May. 

“Walmart+ brings together benefits that will help save moms precious time,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Walmart. “Whether it’s getting diapers delivered straight to their door or saving on gas for the carpool, we’ve got their back. To celebrate moms, we’ve committed to gifting 20,000 Walmart+ memberships to some of our most important customers, making life a little easier for them.” 

Partnering with Pampers and famous moms

Walmart will be working with a group of celebrity moms as well as the Pampers company to help bring 20,000 new mothers a year of Walmart+ for free. During the month of May, mothers giving birth at hospitals across the country will receive goodie bags that include important newborn and postpartum necessities – and the chance to redeem 12 months of Walmart+ for free. 

Some of the perks of Walmart+ that could be the most beneficial to new moms include: 

• Free shipping with no order minimum

• Returns from home

• Free delivery from your local store

• Walmart rewards for members 

• Mobile scan & go 

In addition, Walmart air commercials and other media items including a group of celebrity moms – Jenny Slate, Stephanie Beatriz, Cardi B, and Janelle James. The women will share their parenting hacks with mothers across the country, as well as explain how they make the most of a Walmart+ membership. 

“The beauty of motherhood is that it brings moms together with a bond regardless of where they are in their lives,” said Courtney Carlson, senior vice president of retail marketing atWalmart. “Every mom loves to trade their parenting hacks, and we’re excited for this campaign to showcase the biggest hack of all being ‘The Mother of All Savings’ – a Walmart+ membership.” 

Getting a gift

While a year of Walmart+ typically costs just under $100, Walmart is also running special deals and offering gift guidance in advance of Mother's Day. The Walmart website has a special page dedicated to gift ideas for moms, aunts, grandmas, sisters, cousins, etc. 

There are gift sets, options for gifts in different price ranges (as low as $15 and under all the way to $100 and under), help with creating themed gift kits, options for different interests like cooking or gardening, ideas for splitting gifts among a group, and more.

Shoppers can choose based on different activity ideas – movie night, paint and sip, breakfast in bed, and more – or “more ways to make her day” – like mommy & me, brunch, or baking.