Sam’s Club, the membership-based warehouse division of Walmart Inc., has officially launched an enhanced express delivery tier that guarantees member orders will be delivered within one hour. The service, which began its initial rollout earlier this month, represents a significant acceleration of the company’s existing logistics and fulfillment capabilities.
Under the newly established pricing structure, Sam’s Club Plus members can access the one-hour delivery window for a fee of $10 per order. Standard Club members are charged $22 for the same service. This enhanced tier is positioned as a premium alternative to the company’s traditional express delivery option, which promises fulfillment within a three-hour window. The three-hour service remains available to members at a lower price point, costing $5 for Plus members and $17 for standard Club members.
Since the service was activated on April 2, the company has fulfilled approximately 65,000 orders through the one-hour window. Internal performance metrics released by Sam’s Club indicate that the average delivery time for these express orders currently stands at 55 minutes, slightly ahead of the one-hour guarantee. The company noted that the volume of orders during the initial three-week period suggests a high demand for rapid fulfillment across specific product categories.
According to a statement from Sam’s Club, a significant portion of the items ordered through the one-hour service consists of daily essentials. High-frequency items such as bottled water, fresh produce, rotisserie chickens, and paper goods have emerged as the primary drivers of the service’s adoption. The company stated that this trend indicates members are leveraging the rapid delivery option for immediate household needs rather than using it as a general convenience for discretionary or bulk shopping.
The logistics of the one-hour service rely on the company’s existing network of warehouse locations. Employees pick and pack orders directly from the club floor for immediate dispatch via third-party delivery partners. This move follows previous efforts by Sam’s Club to integrate more technology into its fulfillment operations, including the use of AI-driven inventory management and automated exit technology at physical locations to streamline the flow of goods.
The tiered pricing model is designed to provide different entry points based on membership level. Plus members, who pay an annual membership fee of $110, receive a discounted rate on both the one-hour and three-hour delivery options. Standard Club members, who pay a $50 annual fee, face higher per-order costs for rapid delivery. The $12 price gap between the two membership tiers for delivery fees reflects the broader benefits package associated with the Plus membership level, which also includes free shipping on eligible items and pharmacy discounts.
As of April 22, the service is fully operational across the Sam’s Club network. The company has not indicated any immediate plans to adjust the fee structure or the minimum order requirements as the service moves out of its initial launch phase.