Walmart takes on Amazon Prime; will test free online shipping service

Bentonville, Ark. – Walmart will test a free online shipping service in summer 2015 that will serve as a competitor to the Amazon Prime service from Amazon.com. The service will only cost $50 for a year’s subscription, as compared to $99 for Amazon Prime.



The service will initially launch by invite only and offer more than one million top-selling items from Walmart’s seven million-plus-item online assortment. Shipments will arrive in three days or less. It will not initially provide streaming digital content, as opposed to Amazon Prime, but Walmart will alter the program based on customer feedback.



A Walmart spokesperson said the service is in response to increased customer demand for predictable and affordable shipping and convenience, as well as to the growing number of consumers who research and purchase products online, according to the Associated Press.