Walmart+ Members to Get Early Access to Black Friday Deals

Walmart said on Monday (Oct. 18) that it is bringing back its Black Friday Deals for Days promotion this year, spreading the discounts that are usually restricted to one day over a month of special deals and savings events.

This year, Walmart+ members will get early access to the Black Friday Deals for Days offerings, with the chance to shop four hours earlier than non-members for all three special events.

“We continue to build Walmart+ to be the ultimate life hack for our customers,” Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer for Walmart U.S., said in the company announcement. “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, but it also means we create extra excitement for them during the big moments, like Black Friday.”

The first Black Friday savings event starts online Nov. 3 and continues in stores Nov. 5 with a focus on electronics. Apparel, home goods and other favorites will take center stage in the second Black Friday deal starting online Nov. 10 and continuing in stores Nov. 12. Walmart said it will reveal the details of the third and final Black Friday Deals for Days event later.

“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,” Scott McCall, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., said in the company announcement.

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Other retailers are getting a jump on Black Friday, too. The Target Deals Event kicks off this month, and the company also has started its holiday price match guarantee. And Amazon has been moving its Black Friday deals up on the calendar.

But supply chain issues may make it more difficult for retailers to keep up with the demand that comes every year with the holiday shopping season, which might mean the savings are less than what shoppers have come to expect from Black Friday deals.