Amazon vs. Walmart: Which Retail Store Is the Best?
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Walmart has long been the number one retailer across all of the United States, but with the age of online shopping in full swing, Amazon has been creeping up on the brick-and-mortar giant and, according to Supermarket News, is set to surpass Walmart in sales by 2024.
The two stores offer similar services — an all around shopping experience that has everything from food to clothes to beauty products to household items — to consumers in totally different ways.
There are a number of things to consider before you decide which of these retail mega stores you want to make your next purchase from, and it goes beyond just a preference for shopping online vs. in-person. How easy the products are to get, the number of product options, and, most importantly, the price point, are all definitely important to take note of. So let’s dive in!
Accessibility
When it comes to buying from these two stores, the shopping methods couldn't be more different. Walmart dominates in the physical retail space, while Amazon is the online leader.
Walmart is the clear choice if you need something right away and are able to physically head out to a store. Depending on how close you are tot he store, you can have your desired item in just a number of minutes. Walmart also has a curbside pickup feature that allows you to order online and pickup your items that same day. And although Amazon rules the web, Walmart has also been stepping up its online shopping game and now offers next-day delivery on millions of items.
For shoppers who either don't need their products immediately or hate going out to the store (or both), Amazon is a great choice. Prime members can also take advantage of Amazon Prime Now, which offers free two-hour delivery on a select number of items, as long as your order is $35 or more.
Products Offered
You can buy pretty much any item imaginable from both of these stores, whether its car tires or nail polish. But it's important to note that in certain areas, Amazon has more brand options, particularly when it comes to clothes. Walmart sells its own clothing lines while Amazon offers hundreds of big-name brands.
When it comes to food, though, Walmart seems to have the upper hand thanks to the extra subscription fees that Amazon charges, which can pose a barrier to some customers. Amazon Fresh, the company's grocery delivery service, costs $14.99 per month, on top of a Prime membership.
Overall Prices
When comparing prices between Amazon and Walmart across five different categories that included home goods, food and beverage, kitchen and appliances, technology and entertainment, and miscellaneous items, LendEdu found that Walmart offered the cheapest prices overall. When looking at individual categories, however, Amazon took the lead in kitchen appliances and miscellaneous items, which included any household goods that didn't fit into the other categories, such as pens or sunscreen. So finding the cheapest item totally depends on what type of product you're looking to buy.
Business Insider points out that an Xbox One, for example, costs $326.75 at Walmart, and $366 on Amazon. Alternatively the same bottle of Neutrogena face sunscreen costs $15.20 at Walmart and only $10.21 on Amazon.
Amazon also offers special deals and free shipping for its Prime members (an annual membership costs $119) that can make their products even cheaper. Walmart, however, also offers free shipping to its online customers (no membership required!) on orders over $35.
Bottom Line
Both stores are absolute power houses in the retail space, but when it comes to choosing which one to shop from you'll have to consider two things: how quickly do you need your items and what store is going to give you the best deal on the type of item you're looking for. Once you answer those, you'll know exactly which store to choose.
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