Walmart refutes claims that tariffs prompted the return of the ‘basket fee.’
In the tariff era, minor price fluctuations can be significant news, and many people are quick to blame any price increase on tariffs. Just last night, a well-known tech site fact-checked a false alarm about Microsoft raising some Surface laptop prices. Now, it’s Walmart’s turn. On April 30, Reuters reported that Walmart had reinstated a $6.99 fee for online grocery delivery and pickup orders under $35 for shoppers in the Walmart+ Assist program. That program allows shoppers who use food stamps, EBT cards, or Medicaid to sign up for Walmart+ — a membership that offers various benefits like free pharmacy delivery and discounted gasoline purchases — at a 50 percent reduced price ($49 annually compared to the regular $98). During the COVID crisis, Walmart waived the basket fee on small orders made by Walmart+ Assist members, but the charge was reinstated sometime in April.
A reporting outlet stated that “new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump” were to blame for the change. If Walmart was passing along tariff costs to low-income shoppers, that would certainly be an unusual public relations misstep. However, the company asserts that’s absolutely not the case.
A company spokesperson clarified that the basket fee has nothing to do with tariffs. It’s also standard practice for most retailers regarding online grocery orders and does not apply to in-store purchases. Walmart currently operates 4,605 stores in the United States, and shoppers across the nation rely on the retailer for low-cost groceries and everyday necessities. Numerator, a data and tech company, recently published statistics showing that fully 94 percent of SNAP shoppers have purchased groceries at Walmart in the past year, making it the most popular grocery store among food stamp recipients.
U.S. households consume a lot of produce and dry goods imported from around the world, which are affected by new global tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. However, large companies like Walmart are better equipped to absorb price increases than smaller businesses. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon tried to reassure investors of this in a February earnings call, and the company has announced a new program to help bring more American-made products to its shelves, an initiative called Grow With Us.
