We have labeled Walmart Least Trustworthy because trust, like faith can be blind to obvious inconsistencies. Many people trust Walmart, but are they worthy of that trust? We put that trust to the test with our most vital needs during our Nation’s greatest need for a trusted retailer. They failed us at every turn.

We tested Walmart online ordering in it various forms from grocery to outside vendors found in Walmart’s online catalog. Our direct experience and findings informed this decision. We will lay out each instance of multiple product charges, and exceedingly long shipping times that substantiate our least trustworthy assessment.

It’s gonna be a long long time…

We attempted to test online grocery ordering at the beginning of the pandemic. Grocery pickup times would be randomly erased and whole orders cancelled. This was our experience with the first 2 orders. We wanted to give them a fair chance. We ordered our personal grocery order as we would normally shop to test their statements of normal operations. Our third order had nearly every item substituted. Several items in stock at time of purchase were absent on pickup with no notification until check in.

We sat for an hour after check in to finally receive our partial grocery needs. The rancid odors from the perpetually filthy recycling machines rounded out the ambiance. Two successive orders improved slightly with substitutions but the level of hygiene outside the store where food was being delivered remained abysmal.

Come for the bum fights leave with salmonella

Food was always delivered pre cross-contaminated. Meats packed with boxed goods. Those items were immediately destroyed due to blood from packaged meats soaking into boxed items. Temperature checks showed meats well out of HACCP & USDA guidelines No frozen meat ordered was ever frozen when picked up. Gloves were never observed on any visit.

In all we spent more than we could really afford to replace the damaged or spoiled food. We decided to NEVER buy anything fresh to avoid cross contaminated food. I put my own health on the line for the sake of this article. I got sick twice from food I thought was safe. Just go into a store.

Bottom line: It’s not worth a trip to the emergency room in these times.

Big talkers have little….

We moved over the the other side of the figurative store to hard lines. Walmart had been claiming they could supply anything in their catalog at the long end of their normal delivery times. A boast made to position themselves for a lucrative Federal Contract.

We tested this claim with the purchase of a refrigerator and a kitchen faucet. These are common items that every reader can relate to having to purchase for a home on short notice.

The refrigerator was delayed twice and arrived dented after a two month wait. The refrigerator was shipping from LA to the Oregon California line. The faucet came from Indiana. It took a month to arrive. We were charged 3 times for the faucet and twice for the refrigerator. We have yet to see a refund in spite of several attempts.

Surely it couldn’t be that bad twice?

I dropped the phone I use when reporting from the field. No biggie. I ordered a new phone because Cell phone stores are not deemed essential in my state, or don’t have a location within a 4 hour 1 way trip.

I ordered a reasonably priced Samsung phone that would work with the carrier I use for my website’s phone service needs. I also ordered a power supply for a gaming system. Again, we went with products most people can easily identify with needing.

It was…

We of course tried to communicate with Walmart. Text only communications proved difficult. I was repeatedly told the phone could be reshipped but it would be the end of October before they could ship a new one. The agent implied I was being selfish for wanting the items I purchased delivered on time or at least close to it.

Can the least trustworthy online retailer be trusted to deliver the goods in time for Christmas? With a distinct lack of options and Amazon delivery times not faring much better, it’s looking like a hard candy Christmas.

We really tried to warn you…..

As of publication, both items are still not here. Tracking shows both Walmart packages have stalled in Russell, Kansas a week ago. They were due here 2 days ago.

We tried reaching out to Walmart through Corporate Communications channels, email, and social media. We were consistently directed away from public discussion to a private chat where they would not communicate.

Worst decision since Kodak refused to go Digital

In fair disclosure, Walmart was made fully aware with each order that they were being tested and evaluated for the purpose of an article. We were met with calm indifference to the mention.

“As you wish” we reply

Receipts, chat transcripts and delivery photos are source materials of the writer. All items gathered in mutually agreed to communication with full knowledge of recording. I guess the dealer was that confident in the purity of their particular opiate of the masses.