BULLETIN: Walmart said today that it was testing a grocery home-delivery concept known as “Walmart To Go” in the San Jose, Calif., market. Walmart.com visitors can test the availability of home delivery in their area by entering their address and Zip code into a form at the Walmart.com website. (Link at bottom of story.)
The news may cause an uproar among affiliates of a Florida-based MLM company known as MPB Today, which charges recruits $200 to become MLM affiliates, assesses a website fee, does not deliver perishable items and charges a shipping and handling fee that could cause the price of $200 worth of “dry goods” groceries to soar to $300 or more.
MPB Today affiliates say the company dispenses $200 Walmart gift cards to enrollees. If Walmart’s own home-delivery business takes off, it could destroy any incentive for MPB Today prospects ever to do business with the MLM because the Walmart program eliminates the middleman and has features that MPB Today cannot touch, including the delivery of fresh food at a far lower cost.
A current promo for Walmart To Go” shows that the company is charging a delivery fee of as little as $5, offering a “Freshness Guarantee” and making items such a frozen foods and fresh produce available. One product viewed by the PP Blog was a 6-oz. package of Foster Farms Grilled Chicken Breast Strips for $2.50.
The website outlined the nutritional content of the product and included a label titled “Nutrition Facts.” As an opening offer, the company published a coupon good for free delivery on a customer’s first grocery order of $49 or more. A photograph of a fresh tomato adorned the offer, and Walmart also said that items such as eggs, dairy products, fresh produce, meat and over-the-counter pharmacy items were available.
Details about how Walmart would roll out the new venture were not immediately clear.
Walmart created a logo for Walmart To Go. The logo features an artsy depiction of a shopping cart. “Need some inspiration?” the company asked. “Start with one of our quick lists.”
The “quick lists” reference included a link that opened a browser window that showed customers a gateway to ordering fresh food for themselves in multiple categories. The page also featured a tab through which customers also could order pet food and items such as laundry detergent.
Many MPB Today members have told prospects that the MLM company was part of a partnership with Walmart. Walmart did not confirm those claims, and today has launched its own home-delivery venture.
MPB Today affiliates have been the source of bizarre claims and sales presentations, including one that depicted President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as Nazis. First Lady Michelle Obama was depicted in the MPB Today promo as having experienced an embarrassing gas attack in the Oval Office after sampling “beans” at a Sam’s Club Store.
Other MPB Today affiliates have claimed there are liars and thieves in the organization, and it was important for prospects to register for the “program” under an affiliate who would not misrepresent the truth in order to gain a downline commission.
MPB Today itself said it was possible for an affiliate who made a “one-time” $200 purchase to receive free groceries for life. Critics immediately scoffed at the claims.
Visit the Walmart To Go page.