Walmart Leaks Sneak Peek Into “ShippingPass”

When reports about Walmart’s shipping subscription program rolled out earlier this month (May 13), there were limited details about what the service would entail.

But a leaked internal website from Walmart yesterday (May 26) gave quite a few more details on how the retailer is gearing up to take on Amazon Prime. From the looks of it, Walmart is offering the unlimited shipping pilot called ShippingPass for $50 a year, but there’s no indication if that price would increase. While the price point was known before, the new site indicates how quick that free shipping would be.

That’s going to be three days or less, according to the site. The site allows customers to enter an email address and zip code so they can be alerted when the service becomes available in their area. Also noticeable on the site is Walmart’s website redesign that features dropdown menus for local store options, a value of the day and tips and ideas. Its eCommerce upgrade also appears to be keeping in line with a few other features of Amazon. Walmart also offers a button that directs customers to track any orders — which will presumably include its new service.

While its newly discovered name of ShippingPass has been publicized, Walmart told TechCrunch the sign-up link was part of an internal test that wasn’t designed to go public, but since then the waitlist page has updated to now allow customers to sign up to learn when more information becomes available about the program in their area. Because it will launched in pilot mode, it won’t be widely available across the U.S. to start, but Walmart hasn’t said which locations will get the first test.

In TechCrunch’s report on the leak, it was also noted that, like Amazon, not all items would be eligible for free shipping, but some products could qualify for free 4-6 day shipping. Walmart was also able to confirm that there will be no minimum shipping threshold for its members to receive the free shipping. As a result of the early leaked emails about ShippingPass (which also incorrectly stated that the service would cost $1), Walmart sent out an additional note to those who signed up, providing them information saying they would receive a $50 eGift card for the mixup, along with an invite to be part of the pilot.

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