Company claims Walmart’s restored “basket fee” has nothing to do with tariffs

In the age of tariffs, secondary price fluctuations can be big news, and many people quickly blame the price increase on tariffs. Just last night, Mashable fact checked Microsoft’s false alarms to raise the price of some surface laptops. Now, it’s Walmart’s turn.

Reuters reported on April 30 that Walmart resumed the $6.99 fee for online grocery delivery and receiving orders in its Walmart+ assist program. The program enables shoppers using food stamps, EBT cards or Medicaid to register for Walmart+ (Walmart+) (this membership, offering free pharmacy delivery and discounted gasoline purchases ($49 per year) (compared to regular $98). During the common crisis, Walmart charged a basket fee for small orders from Walmart+ Assiss members, but the charges resumed sometime in April.

Enter Daily Mailwhich reported that “the new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump” should be attributed to the change. If Walmart handed over the tariffs to low-income shoppers, it would certainly be unusual public relations. However, the company said it was definitely not the case.

A company spokesman told Mashable that the basket fee has nothing to do with the tariff. For most retailers, this is also a standard exercise in online grocery orders and is not suitable for in-store purchases.

Walmart currently operates 4,605 ​​stores in the U.S., and shoppers across the country rely on retailers for low-cost groceries and everyday necessities. Nemerator, a data and technology company, recently released statistics show that 94% of Snap shoppers have purchased groceries at Walmart over the past year, the most popular grocery store to date among the most popular food stamp recipients.

American households consume a large amount of agricultural products and dry goods imported from around the world, which are affected by new global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. But huge companies like Walmart absorb price increases better than small businesses. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon attempted to assure investors on a February earnings call, and the company announced a new plan to help bring more American-made products to the shelves, a program called GRAW with us.