Would You Try This Bizarre New Shopping Service from Walmart?

Almost three years ago I moved from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to a small village about two-and-a-half hours north of the city lights in rural Wisconsin. Upon moving I lost many things I was accustomed to, but online grocery shopping and delivery is a big one. I am feeling extra secluded in cow-town today, as it’s been announced that if you’re a resident of Silicon Valley, you can not only order your Walmart groceries online, but you can also get them put them away inside your refrigerator for you.

Now that’s a game-changer.

On the heels of this news shared over on Walmart’s blog (yes, that’s a thing), with my current geographical location I feel a bit like a cavewoman who runs around with sharp sticks to hunt her own food. This new idea from the retail giant has some serious advantages and concerns, but it could very easily be the start of the new face of grocery retailers. Let’s take a look at the process.

1. You sign up with the service, wherein you’re given a smart lock from August Home that allows delivery drivers to drop off your groceries and load them into your fridge — even if you’re not home.
2. You order your groceries online.
3. The delivery driver brings them to your house, you are sent alerts via your cellphone that they are ringing the bell.
4. If you do not answer the driver is supplied with a one-time code to enter your property.
5. They then leave the packages and add your cold groceries to the refrigerator or freezer — something you can watch through their app the entire time.
6. You’re sent a message via cell phone that they have left and your fridge will be stocked when you return home!

Now, as someone who lives 10 minutes from the closest grocery store and 25 minutes from a better grocery store and an hour from something special like Whole Foods, this sounds too good to be true. What I wouldn’t give for someone to bring me food when there’s nothing in the fridge! The drive out, shopping time, and drive back alone makes quick food impossible. If I could just have healthy items delivered to me, it would save me from the inevitable pizza delivery.

Additionally, it means that anyone with a physical ailment who isn’t able to come to the door in a quick manner is able to have things brought inside and cold things put away for them, while at the same time feeling like they’re in control of people coming and going from their residence.

Having lived both far away from a grocery store as well as in a city where I often had little time to shop due to commuting, I can for sure see the merit behind the idea.

Is this something you’d like to see in your hometown? Are you too weirded out by folks seeing your leftovers and half-cleaned status of your refrigerator? Let us know your thoughts below!