Walmart‘s Pre-Order Policy in 2024: Everything You Need to Know
Securing the latest tech and entertainment on release day is a top priority for many shoppers. Pre-ordering through Walmart puts you first in line to get new products as soon as they hit the market.
But before you pre-order, it’s important to understand Walmart’s policies surrounding payment, delivery, cancellations, and returns. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before placing your next Walmart pre-order.
How Pre-Orders Work at Walmart
Pre-orders at Walmart are placed through Walmart.com before a product’s official release date.
When a major product is coming soon, like a new iPhone or hot video game release, Walmart will announce the upcoming pre-order date and official release date ahead of time.
This gives customers a chance to prepare and mark their calendars. Popular items often have limited quantities available for pre-order, so you’ll want to act fast once pre-orders open up to secure your place in line.
According to Walmart’s website, “hundreds of thousands” of customers pre-ordered the PlayStation 5 within minutes of pre-orders opening in 2020, so the competition is fierce.
Once you place your pre-order, you’ll receive an email confirmation from Walmart detailing your order number, expected delivery date, payment information, and other important details. This is your proof of purchase and should be saved until you receive your item.
Pre-Order Payment and Authorization at Walmart
Understanding how and when you will be charged for a pre-order iscritical before clicking that “Submit Order” button.
Here is a breakdown of how pre-order payments work at Walmart:
Debit cards are charged the full amount immediately upon placing the pre-order.
Walmart gift cards and Walmart Rewards cards are also charged immediately for the full pre-order total.
Credit cards are authorized for the full amount when the pre-order is placed, but not actually charged until the item ships.
If your credit card expires before the estimated ship date, Walmart may cancel your pre-order entirely, so keep that expiration date in mind.
Your bank may also place a temporary hold on the authorization amount until the final charge goes through. This can tie up funds in your account for several days after the initial authorization.
| Payment Method | When You Are Charged |
|---|---|
| Debit Card | Immediately |
| Walmart Gift Card | Immediately |
| Walmart Rewards | Immediately |
| Credit Card | Upon Shipment |
Bottom line – debit cards, Walmart gift cards, and Walmart Rewards are charged as soon as you place the pre-order while credit cards are charged later when the item ships.
Release Day Delivery Expectations with Walmart Pre-Orders
One big benefit of pre-ordering is getting your hands on new products right on release day. Walmart aims to deliver pre-orders on or before the official street date release.
According to Walmart’s website, “If you pre-order an item marketed as ‘Ships on Release Date,’ we will ship your item so that you will receive it on or as close to the product’s release date as possible.”
However, despite their best efforts, Walmart may experience higher than anticipated demand or supply chain issues that delay some pre-order shipments by 2-3 days past street date.
You should receive an email notification when your item ships with tracking information, so you can follow along with the delivery status. If your order encounters any major delays, Walmart will let you know via email as well.
Eligible Products for Pre-Order at Walmart
Many categories of hot new releases are available for pre-order at Walmart.com. Here are some of the most popular pre-order product categories:
Gaming Consoles: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Video Games: Call of Duty, FIFA, Madden, Super Mario, Assassin’s Creed
Apple Products: iPhone, iPad, AirPods, MacBook, Apple Watch
Books: New fiction and non-fiction releases
Music: Highly anticipated album releases on CD and vinyl
Movies & TV Shows: UHD, Blu-ray, DVD box sets
Collectibles: Funko Pops, action figures, limited edition merch
Basically, if it’s a hot new release in the world of tech, entertainment, books, music, or movies, Walmart likely offers pre-orders. Big video game releases see some of the highest pre-order demand.
For example, according to GamesIndustry.biz, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 secured the second highest number of pre-orders ever in the UK after FIFA 23.
Cancellations and Returns of Walmart Pre-Orders
What happens if you change your mind on a pre-order placed with Walmart? Here are the key things to know about pre-order cancellations and returns:
Cancellations: You can cancel a pre-order if the status is still “Processing.” Once an order ships, it can no longer be cancelled.
How to Cancel: Log in to your Walmart.com account, go to Order History, and look for the “Request Cancellation” button. Or contact customer service.
Refund Timeframe: Any holds placed on your account will be removed once a pre-order is cancelled. Refunds can take 7 days depending on your bank.
Returns: You can return pre-ordered items within Walmart‘s normal return window – 90 days for most products, 30 days for electronics.
How to Return: Issued refund after returning pre-ordered item to any Walmart store or via FedEx/USPS.
If Walmart has to cancel your pre-order themselves, they will let you know via email. You can then re-order the item if you still wish to purchase it.
Conclusion
Pre-ordering upcoming releases through Walmart ensures you’ll get them on release day. But be aware of Walmart‘s pre-order policies, including payment timeframes, delivery expectations, cancellations, and returns. Always check Walmart.com for pre-order announcement dates on major new releases.
