Walmart pushes back launch of Amazon Prime rival, report says - CNET

gettyimages-1208459461 — Walmart Plus is once again reportedly delayed.
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Walmart has delayed the launch of its paid membership service, according to a Tuesday report by Recode. Walmart Plus, which will reportedly cost $98 a year and include perks such as same-day grocery delivery and discounts at Walmart gas stations, aims to be a potential competitor to Amazon Prime.

The service was first reportedly slated to launch in March or April but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was then set to roll out in July, but that didn't happen either. It's not clear when the new launch date will be.

Walmart didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

In May, Walmart said its e-commerce sales in the US jumped by 74% in its latest quarter, thanks in large part to a boost in online grocery sales in the midst of lockdowns. But Walmart still has a difficult task ahead if it wants to take on e-commerce giant Amazon. As of March, Amazon made up 39% of online sales in the US, while Walmart comprised just 5%, according to eMarketer. Amazon Prime, which costs $119 a year, has more than 150 million paid members worldwide.

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