In a move that’s certain to ruffle some feathers at Lowe’s, Best Buy, and other competitors, Walmart has announced that it will now be offering installation services.
The big-box retailer is entering into a new arrangement with in-home services provider Angi (formerly Angie’s List) to help homeowners do everything from setting up electronics to flooring, painting, plumbing, electrical, and assembly services for furniture.
By the time everything is in place, Angi said its services will be available in nearly 4,000 Walmart stores across all 50 states. For the moment, the Walmart-Angi deal is exclusive for a limited time.
“Since the start of the pandemic, the home is in focus and people across the U.S. are doing more home improvement, maintenance and repair work and they are often turning to Walmart to find the tools and materials needed to start those projects,” said Angi CEO Oisin Hanrahan.
"Things like sprucing up an entertaining space by installing a new smart TV, painting a nursery for a family addition, and transforming an outdoor space and adding a patio are now projects that Walmart customers can get done seamlessly with the help of an Angi pro as part of the Walmart shopping experience.”
Good deal for consumers
If Angi and Walmart can stick to their guns on pricing, what they’re offering looks like a pretty good deal. As an example, ConsumerAffairs did an apples-to-apples comparison on what Best Buy’s Totaltech charges for a flat TV installation vs. what Angi is pitching. Best Buy lists its price for that service at $199.99. Angi says its starting price for the same service is $79. HomeAdvisor estimates that the price range for installing a TV is between $159 and $361, or an average of $260.
The cost of furniture assembly appears to be another plum for Angi. Target lists a price of $76.99 for its “large furniture assembly powered by Handy;" the price Angi/Walmart announced starts at $49.
There are several things consumers should keep in mind when looking at installation prices, though. One of those is the phrase “starting price” – a factor that a consumer would have to ask for more specifics on before moving ahead with ordering an installation.
Another thing consumers should watch out for is the possibility that Angi’s prices are “introductory” and could change after a certain period of time. Thirdly, advertised prices may not include labor, the TV mount, or reflect the complexity of the job. Smart consumers should be prepared to ask a lot of questions before agreeing to use the service.
Depending on the item, purchasing a service can either be done when buying it in-store at Walmart. For more complicated installations like flooring, consumers can go online to Walmart.com.
Angi’s pitch to consumers is that the process is as easy as purchasing any other item at Walmart. Once the item is purchased, Angi will reach out to coordinate booking and ensure that the service is completed to the customer’s satisfaction.