What Happens If You Don’t Pick Up Walmart Orders? (2024) - 33rd Square (2024)

As a loyal Walmart shopper for over 5 years, I rely on the convenience of in-store and curbside grocery pickup to feed my family of four. But with all of life‘s unpredictability, I’ve had my fair share of missed pickup times and late order changes.

If you’re new to Walmart Grocery Pickup, you might wonder — what actually happens if I don‘t collect my order on time? Will my groceries still be waiting for me days later?

Or if you‘re a seasoned pro, you may want tips to dodge fees and hassles when inevitable delays pop up. Either way, I’ve learned quite a bit about Walmart’s order policies from my years of experiences.

Below I’ll explain everything you need to know about late pickups, from how long Walmart holds orders to recourse if you miss your window. I’ll also share my best tips as a “professional” Walmart pickup customer. Let’s dive in!

How Long Does Walmart Hold Grocery vs Retail Orders?

Walmart has different pickup policies depending on your order contents:

So if you ordered clothes, electronics, home goods or other general merchandise for pickup, Walmart stores will hold your order for a full week past the pickup date before canceling.

But for perishable grocery items, bakery goods, and anything needing refrigeration, you typically need to grab your order that same day.

In 2021 alone, Walmart fulfilled over 250 million grocery pickup orders. With such staggering numbers, it’s just not feasible for them to store cold goods for more than a day safely.

Occasionally a store may hold non-perishable items overnight, but don’t bank on it. I had to learn this the hard way after losing several grocery orders!

Step-by-Step: Canceling Your Walmart Order

Life happens – your car breaks down, a family member gets sick, or plans simply change. If you need to cancel your Walmart grocery or pickup order, here is the process:

1. Log into your Walmart.com account and go to your Orders page.
2. Find your order and select “Cancel order” – this is only available before the pickup cutoff time.
3. Walmart will process a refund back to your original payment method within 3-5 business days.

Easy right? Just keep in mind pickup cutoff times are typically 2 hours before your scheduled time. So don’t wait until the last minute!

For grocery, try to cancel at least 24 hours in advance. You may still be charged for perishable items that can’t be resold.

Walmart also reserves the right to charge restocking fees, especially for large or customized orders that require more work to process and return.

Rescheduling Your Pickup Time

Similar to canceling, you can reschedule Walmart grocery or retail pickup orders directly through your account:

1. Log in and edit your order details.
2. Select a new pickup time from available slots.
3. Complete before the order cutoff time.

This works seamlessly as long as you reschedule before the cutoff. But once the window closes, you no longer have the option to change times online.

At that point, your best bet is to call the store and kindly ask if they can accommodate a later pickup. Provide them your new ETA and order number.

With grocery pickup, slots book up quickly so your desired time may no longer be open. Consider choosing earlier slots in the future to allow some wiggle room.

4 Scenarios: What Happens When You Miss Pickup

Wondering exactly what goes down when you inevitably miss your Walmart grocery or pickup order? Here are a few common scenarios:

Scenario 1: General merchandise order, pickup delayed 2 days

Your toddler has a meltdown before leaving for Walmart. You decide to retrieve your order of baby gear and toys in two days instead.

In this case, Walmart will hold your order for up to 7 days beyond the original date. As long as you pick up within a week, you won’t have any issues.

Scenario 2: Grocery order, pickup delayed 2 hours

After work you realize you won’t make your 4-6pm grocery pickup window. At 6:30pm you call the store asking if they can still take the order out.

Since you communicated the delay and it’s within reasonable store hours, they will likely accommodate your adjusted ETA. However, substitutions may be made if inventory changed.

Scenario 3: Grocery order, pickup delayed until tomorrow

You scheduled a grocery pickup at 5pm on Friday but got stuck late at the office. At 6pm you ask if you can pick up the order tomorrow instead.

In this case, the order will be cancelled since you missed the window. Perishable goods cannot be held overnight. Your payment method will be refunded within 5 days minus any fees.

Scenario 4: Grocery order, pickup delayed 3 days

A family emergency means you won’t be able to collect your $150 grocery order for 72+ hours beyond the scheduled time.

Here, the order will be cancelled and discarded. Walmart does not hold groceries more than a day. Expect your refund to be reduced by $10-15+ in restocking fees too.

7 Pro Tips for Walmart Pickup from a Devoted Customer

As a longtime Walmart pickup customer, I’ve gleaned some useful strategies for making the process painless. Here are my top tips:

• Give yourself time buffers. Schedule pickup at least 2 hours before closing and arrive early.
• Add to your order often. Make additions up until the cutoff time to adjust for needs.
• Choose earlier pickup times. Afternoon/evening slots book up fast so go for 10-11am.
• Set order reminders. Calendar alerts prevent forgotten pickup times.
• Check substitutions. If out of stocks are a deal breaker, monitor updated lists.
• Know the fees. Restocking fees typically range from $10-15 depending on order size.
• Call if delayed. Communicate ETAs directly with the store to prevent cancellation.

And of course – be patient, kind, and understanding with store employees. We’re all human trying our best!

How Walmart Pickup Works: From Click to Car

Curious exactly how your order gets from website to parking lot? Here’s a simplified behind-the-scenes look:

• Step 1: Complete your order online and select a pickup time
• Step 2: Order routed to employees who pick items from store shelves
• Step 3: Cold goods retrieved from in-store refrigerators and freezers
• Step 4: Items scanned and packed into tubs/totes organized by order #
• Step 5: Totes stored in temperature controlled dispensing rooms
• Step 6: Notification sent when order is ready for pickup
• Step 7: Associates retrieve prepared order when you check in at designated spots
• Step 8: Orders brought out and loaded directly into your car!

associates have just minutes from grabbing refrigerated goods to loading your vehicle. So changes and delays can quickly snowball. But when it runs smoothly – Walmart grocery pickup is a beautiful thing!

Walmart Delivery vs Pickup: Making the Best Choice for You

Along with in-store and curbside pickup, Walmart also offers delivery through Walmart+ membership. Which is better for your needs?

Walmart Pickup Pros:

• No membership fees required
• Lower minimum orders ($35 vs $50 for delivery)
• Real time order changes until cutoff window
• Get certain items immediately like baked goods
• Avoid delivery delays or missed orders

Walmart Delivery Pros:

• Added convenience of delivery to your door
• Wider delivery windows – schedule several days out
• Ability to tip drivers
• In-home delivery and haul away in some areas

Personally, I find the price, flexibility, and assurance of getting my order immediately with pickup worth the extra effort of driving myself. But with four kids, I can see the appeal of delivery for other busy parents! Evaluate your priorities.

What To Do If You Miss Your Pickup Window

Despite your best efforts, life may occasionally prevent you from getting to Walmart on time. Here are your next steps if you miss that critical pickup window:

• Communicate quickly – Call the store to explain the delay before they close for the day.
• Be available for refunds – Ensure your payment method stays open for 1 week after cancelation.
• Reorder ASAP if needed – Items sell out quickly so reorder cancelled groceries fast.
• Adjust future orders – Give yourself more lead time; choose earlier slots.
• Learn for next time – Understand the policies and risks associated with delays.
• Be kind to staff – Remember they’re doing their best to help despite the hiccup!

The Bottom Line

Hopefully this gives you a detailed idea of what happens when Walmart Grocery Pickup orders go astray. To summarize:

• General merchandise orders have a 1 week pickup window before cancellation.
• Grocery orders must usually be collected within hours of the scheduled time.
• Communicate delays quickly and understand cancellation policies to avoid headaches.
• With preparation and care on both sides, Walmart Pickup can be an incredibly convenient way to shop.

Now you have the inside tips to pick up your order worry-free (even when life throws curveballs). Here’s to many happy Walmart pickups in your future!

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