VALDOSTA — Walmart is launching a grocery pick-up service at two of its stores by the end of the month.

The new service will allow residents to use the Walmart mobile app or visit walmart.com/grocery to place a grocery order to pick up at a later time, said Lance Newton, assistant manager at the Walmart Neighborhood Market, 4196 Bemiss Road.

Once an order has been placed, the resident can pick a time between 8 a.m-8 p.m. for pick up, Newton said. From there, the store will email the customer about 30 minutes in advance about the order. 

When customers arrive at the store for pick up, they will park in one of six new parking spaces near the pharmacy side of the grocery store, he said. Customers will check in to let Walmart know they are outside using the mobile app or call (229) 326-0888.

The phone number is a dedicated line for the online grocery service, Newton said. It does not link back into store’s customer service line.

Once the customer has checked in, store employees will bring out the pre-ordered groceries and allow customers inspect the meat and produce to ensure it is acceptable to them, Newton said.

When customers approve all of the items, they will sign a tablet to accept the order, Newton said. The customer is not charged for the order until he or she signs the tablet accepting the order.

Next, a Walmart employee will load the groceries into the customer’s car, Newton said. If a customer wants the groceries in the trunk, the back seat or a mixture of the two, the employee will load the groceries for the customer.

Newton said the store’s goal is to have customers in and out of the parking lot within five minutes of checking in.

The customer is not required to exit the vehicle.

“Basically, we are your personal shopper,” Newton said.

The new service does not have any fees or additional charges, but does require a minimum order amount of $30.

The service has a substitution feature that customers can opt to participate, Newton said.

The substitution feature allows store employees to substitute an out-of-stock item for an item of “equal or greater value,” he said. So, if a customer orders a six-pack of Coke and the store is out of six-packs, the customer will be upgraded to a larger size for no extra charge.

However, if a customer opts to not participate in the substitution program, he or she will simply not receive the item he or she ordered.

Along with the Bemiss location, the Walmart Super-Center, 340 Norman Drive, will launch the new service 8 a.m., June 26.

The Bemiss location will have a ribbon-cutting, live music, vendors, a check presentation for a charity and the honor guard from Moody Air Force Base, 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26.

Newton said there is currently not a timeline for the Walmart located at 3274 Inner Perimeter Road to add the online grocery service to its store. 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.