Walmart Is Asking Customers To Deliver Packages To Neighbors

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Would you drop off a package from a store in exchange for a price break on your own stuff? Walmart is hoping the answer to that question is yes. According to PSFK, the retailer is considering offering a discount to in-store shoppers who are willing to deliver merchandise to online customers.

The idea is that Walmart customers would register their address and sign up to deliver packages for online buyers who live nearby or along their route home. In exchange, they would receive a discount on their own purchases. Reports PSFK, "the concept is still in its initial planning stage since the company needs to flesh out any legal and privacy implications associated with this type of arrangement."

Assuming the company does pursue crowdsourced deliveries, it would address several issues for Walmart, whose e-commerce presence has lagged behind competitors like Amazon and Target.

For one thing, it would give them an edge on same-day delivery, which is currently the holy grail of e-commerce. And for another, it would cut down on transportation costs by shipping orders directly from their physical stores. While Walmart's distribution centers are spread out over the country—which makes rush deliveries expensive—96% of Americans live within 20 miles of a Walmart, which means most people are just a short drive away.

And if nothing else, this certainly would open up a whole new world of missed connection opportunities.
· Walmart Considering Crowdsourcing Its Customers To Deliver Online Purchases [PSFK]
· 6 Mindblowing Missed Connections From America's Walmarts [Racked]
· How Walmart Intends To Revolutionize E-Commerce [Racked]