Walmart says shoppers will find the same bargains normally limited to the Friday after Thanksgiving all month long. It joins Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, which have all announced similar plans. However, Walmart is adding a wrinkle to this year’s promotion. Members of Walmart + will get access to the sale prices four hours earlier than everyone else.
“We continue to build Walmart+ to be the ultimate life hack for our customers,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer for Walmart U.S. “That means we’re there for our customers during the everyday with key benefits like free unlimited delivery from stores and free shipping with no order minimum.”
The game plan is much the same as in 2020. Walmart will spread out its Black Friday deals with three events throughout November to offer customers discounted prices on popular holiday gift items. Each event will begin online at Walmart.com and continue with the same deals in Walmart stores.
“The team has worked hard to prepare for another outstanding holiday season, and no matter how or where our customers choose to shop – from the shelf in a store, ordering online and picking it up curbside or having it delivered to their front door – they can depend on us for a safe and convenient shopping experience,” said Scott McCall, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S.
COVID-19 pandemic creates more complications
In recent years, retailers have moved away from kicking off holiday shopping promotions on Black Friday to offering deals much earlier. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated that trend.
This year, there is the added complication of pandemic-created supply and shipping issues. Consumers are being urged to do their shopping early because those waiting until the week before Christmas could face much smaller selections.
Walmart will begin its first Black Friday promotion online on Nov. 3 and continue it in stores on Nov. 5. The promotion will focus on home electronics, toys, and appliances.
The second promotion will begin online on Nov. 10 and continue in stores on Nov. 12. The retailer will offer discounted prices on items such as a Blackstone 22-inch Griddle with a hard cover and carrying case for $117, an HP i3 Laptop for $279, and a Shark EZ Robot Vacuum for $288.
The third event in the series starts online at the end of the month. The company said it’s saving its best deals for the final event.