Walmart launches food subscriptions
(Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com)
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You’ve taken out subscriptions for newspapers, magazines, mobile phones and cable TV, why not food?
Six months after announcing plans to test a food subscription service, WalMart has officially launched the effort by teaming up with www.goodies.co. For $7 a month, you’ll get five to eight sample-size food items in a “Taster’s Box”. The products, which currently aren’t in WalMart stores, are chosen by its Tasting Lab researchers . You try them out and share your opinions about them online.
Wal-Mart, which is also trying same-day delivery in some markets and layaways to get a larger share of the retail market and keep existing customers, hopes the food subscription service will help it spot trends in consumer tastes. So far, at least 3,000 have signed up.
According to The Associated Press:
If customers like the products, they can purchase full-size versions on the Goodies Co. website. Goodies has also created a social community online where subscribers can post reviews to earn loyalty points. The points can be redeemed in the future for items in the store.
Walmart promises, “Only wow-factor foods make it into the Taster’s Box.” Are you ready take out a subscription to test products that may eventually end up on Wal-Mart’s store shelves? What other retailers should consider subscriptions?
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84 comments Add your comment
Kat
November 14th, 2012
11:45 am
No, I am not willing to be a guinea pig for Wal-Mart. You want me to PAY Wal-Mart to sample something new, give my opinion/input, so you can jack up the price to sell it to me later? No, thank you.
mb
November 14th, 2012
11:49 am
Agreed. Most companies pay people to test their products and provide their feedback and opinions. Why would I PAY Walmart?? No way!
robert
November 14th, 2012
11:51 am
Sad thing is somebody is gonna sign up. WALMART wants me to pay them to be part of market research, that they are probably not only using for their own stores, but also selling the data to their vendors. SOUNDS CRAZY
GTT
November 14th, 2012
11:51 am
Yes, I will not pay them to test their products. I will accept pay for providing them honest feedback.
crazyidea
November 14th, 2012
11:53 am
Wal-Mart has run out of ideas.
OMGWTFLOL
November 14th, 2012
11:54 am
Uh…It’d cost me less to visit the store and be hounded by college-age and senior citizen ‘marketing reps’ desperately trying to woo shoppers into trying a free sample of XYZ item.
Alex
November 14th, 2012
11:57 am
What sloppy reporting. Wal Mart is not “teaming up with http://www.goodco.com” as the reporter would suggest. A simple review of their web site indicates that “Goodies Co. is a Walmart brand and not a separate company. Goodies Co. was developed @WalmartLabs, a tech innovation division that operates within Walmart’s Global eCommerce group.”
Dr. Socrates
November 14th, 2012
12:01 pm
Walmart has the concept backwards: You pay people to give their opinions, not charge them. Besides, these are sample-size, not full portion meals. If one wants to eat a sample, they can go to the store or have it mailed to them by the vendor. Walmart intends to sell these opinions back to the vendors and make money on both ends. Whoever came up with the idea to charge people for their opinions needs to be terminated.
pattikay
November 14th, 2012
12:03 pm
How STUPID!!! What if they send you canned sardines or pickeled artichokes to taste. What if they send a small can of soup that would cost 39 cents. You getting your money’s worth??? I made $75 per taste session at a marketing focus group….who would PAY WalMart????
Christopher Seward
November 14th, 2012
12:03 pm
You are correct, Alex.
Sam
November 14th, 2012
12:04 pm
I would sign up for “food prescription” service if they automatically sent my groceries to me each month w/o me having to come to the store. An extra $5 a month would be worth not having to fight traffic, lines to pay, and stupid people milling about the store.
Big John
November 14th, 2012
12:07 pm
Hey all you Walmart fans. Here is a tip. Better price shop any prescriptions you THINK Walmart is cheaper on, especially cash or non-insurance covered meds. Walmart has BIG markups on many prescription drugs. These guys are marketing experts. Have you not noticed that the pharmacy dept is the ONLY dept in Walmart that you cannot SEE THE PRICE without asking.
Jean Dixon
November 14th, 2012
12:09 pm
It’s just another way for Walmart to get some brainless people to pay to test products that are not made in
the U.S. but made in China. How stupid are we Americans to fall for this one!!!
Shane
November 14th, 2012
12:22 pm
@ Sam and Big John: The article is about SUBSCRIPTIONS, not PRESCRIPTIONS. Meds have nothing to do with this.
catlady
November 14th, 2012
12:29 pm
Not for me! I generally avoid the place.
Dee-Dee
November 14th, 2012
12:31 pm
Most companies will send you FREE samples for a new product. Why pay to try them?
jw
November 14th, 2012
12:31 pm
So, that’s 12 in the no column and none in the yes column.
Guess this will be another Wal-Mart success!!!!!!
Considering we want to be paid for our opinion and that sure doesn’t seem to work – why not try something completely different?
Lot’s of companies – including WalMart live by that credo – can’t knock it too much!!! They ran Sears and Kmart to the brink of extinction because they tried something different that those two were unwilling to do –
They’ve got nothing to lose, that’s for sure!!!!!
Allison Wonderland
November 14th, 2012
12:33 pm
Rip off!!! Already being done on bzzagent.com for free!
Steve
November 14th, 2012
12:43 pm
Anyone who shops at Wal-Mart is pathetic. Ever seen the people in there? Wow.
Bud
November 14th, 2012
12:45 pm
Ever seen the people in Kroger? Publix? Target? Nothing wrong with WalMart. Stop stereotyping people!
Patricia
November 14th, 2012
12:47 pm
Wal-mart you need to pay me for tasting the food!!! That’s what they do in Vegas, to get the public’s opinion on new food to be in restaurants.
TBone
November 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
How stupid are we Americans to fall for this one!!!
Judging from the election last week, the sky is the limit.
Steve
November 14th, 2012
12:58 pm
Bud, huge difference between Kroger/Publix and Wal-Mart/Target. Don’t be afraid to go by the facts. Funny how everything is in spanish at Wal-Mart.
Warranted
November 14th, 2012
12:58 pm
Ah, what is overlooked here is that most of the people who have commented on this article are not in the “target” group for this Walmart initiative. Everyone here understands Walmart is trying to get paid on both ends, but many will see it as “Wow, I can spend just $7 and get all these samples, what a deal!”.
Oy!
November 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
Lemme get this straight: You (Walmart) want people to PAY YOU for your marketing research (that typically pays the consumer $50/hr through a research group)?!!?!!!!!!!!!!!!! *blank stare* BWAAAHHHHAHHAHAHHAHAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This ish is hilarious. lol… smh….
Ricky
November 14th, 2012
1:07 pm
So at present count, they can count on $21,000/month ($252,000/year) in sales? I must be doing something wrong. I need to come up with a product that will bring in that income.
Oy!
November 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
It’ll work if they take EBT. What do you think keeps SCHWANS going in the metro…
Dee928
November 14th, 2012
1:13 pm
I tried Walmart’s chicken and it tastes HORRIBLE. I asked them why it was so hard and they stated that their food comes in already cooked and frozen..YIKES!, yet I see them frying boxes and boxes of it for customers to pick up and long lines at the counter. This tells me that people will gladly jump on that $7 food sample.
Jill
November 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
Isn’t that what lab rats are for?
Bud
November 14th, 2012
1:21 pm
@Steve – Is there something wrong with being bilingual? What a racist!
Ivory
November 14th, 2012
1:22 pm
This company has too much BRASS, I haven’t a clue why anyone would even shop there!
Bud
November 14th, 2012
1:25 pm
Walmarts prices are awesome!! Thats why people shop there! With todays economy, every penny helps!
Fred ™
November 14th, 2012
1:33 pm
Walmart wants people to PAY to participate in market research? They’ll find idiots to do it. They are called Republicans and they voted for Romney………..
Cobb Shopper
November 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
I would not subscribe to a food-sample-subscription service for $7 month simply because I don’t spend money on anything frivolous. In my budget that $7 is better spent on ingredients with which I can make homemade and better tasting foods for my family. I imagine the samples provided would be processed, ready-to-eat foods which would be fairly expensive once on the shelves.
Regarding Walmart stores, I shop regularly at the Walmart on Marietta Highway in Dallas, GA. I’ve shopped there since the day opened (probably 8+ years, now). There prices are the best on many products, but not all. For that reason, I also shop Kroger, Publix, and Target with coupons. Walmart will match any competitor’s advertised price just by telling them what it is. The store is clean and 99% of the employees are friendly and helpful. Two employees in the deli department are especially wonderful and have worked there for years.
Cobb Shopper
November 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
Darn, I wish there was an editing feature on comments… “…since the day they opened…” and “Their prices are the best…”.
@!Fred, I’m a fiscal conservative/social moderate who voted for Romney and yet I would not pay to participate in Walmart’s food subscription service. Hmmm.
Cass
November 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Walmart, Are you crazy?!! I usually get paid for this type of service.
No Way……
Elmo Lincoln
November 14th, 2012
1:54 pm
What will they think of next? Making people pay to go to the New World of Sid and Marty Krofft?
lol
November 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
re: Cobb Shopper
You do know there is nothing fresh and non processed in walmart, right? down to their “meat cuts”..
the joke is on you.
you want real food, try whole foods or even the publix deli. only mainstream stores in this state to carry something resembling food
I Shop Around
November 14th, 2012
2:04 pm
Wal-mart is great with clothing, appliances, baby items, canned foods, sugar, milk, etc., but I don’t like their produce or their bakery. Publix has a much better bakery & much better produce. I agree with everyone, Wal-mart should be paying out, God knows they can afford it. And, last, but not least, President Obama won, get over it!! You will be thanking God he is in office if you ever lose your job, home, healthcare, etc. The NERVE of some of you to look down on people that receive EBT and shop at Wal-mart. Unless you are God Almighty, you can’t look down on a living being. The person you step over today may be the same person that will have to pick you up tomorrow. Be careful, you aren’t as high and mighty as you may think you are with your noses in the air. How dare you look down on another human being. Only look down at him/her unless you are picking him/her up. And they lied and said this Country was built on Christianity, that’s a LIE. I bet most of you talking down & looking down on people go to church, ??????????????????????????
rojer
November 14th, 2012
2:08 pm
Enter your comments here
rojer
November 14th, 2012
2:14 pm
Id try this if they dropped it off by the house. Might be fun to taste something different and id look forward to the package, at least at the beginning. Cant really see myself signing up but its not a crazy idea. Why so much offense to an offer from Walmart. Its not like theyre raising prices on other items to pay for it. My only question is whether the goods will really be any different. Id assume that the goods would be worth about the 7 bucks you put in if its really testing info they want.
Free Market Fan
November 14th, 2012
2:18 pm
Here’s an idea: If you don’t like it, don’t try it. If you try it and don’t like it, cancel it. Or are people incapable of making such difficult decisions? Obviously, 3,000 people see at least some value in trying it (unless they all work for Wal-Mart)
Grumps
November 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
No, I am not willing to pay to do WalMart’s market research for them.
Scratchin my head
November 14th, 2012
2:25 pm
If I start glowin in the dark…..or get a free “Redneck Vacation” voucher in the provided sample; how would I get my money back?
zeke
November 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
I already signed up!
Scratchin my head
November 14th, 2012
2:27 pm
You don’t think they would send ya milk, butter or eggs do ya?
Bronc
November 14th, 2012
2:33 pm
Fred…have you read most of these postings…most of these people want to get paid to test the products…if they were free they would surely do it…these like yourself are the idiots…Democrates…always want something for free…free…free…Obama will probably make sure they get it for free…
gagirl
November 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
Steve is a stupid, ignorant racist.
Icarus10
November 14th, 2012
2:50 pm
All I’ve got to say to them is” Don’t let that door hit you in the back when you leave.”
People really shop there?
November 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
Um, no thanks. Walmart is gross. Their produce looks like what’s left on the truck after Publix and Kroger gets theres. Plus, I get way better deals at Publix with their Bogo and coupons. True, Walmart does price match, but they don’t double coupons. Furthermore, they are fine with (and even encourage) their employees relying on the government for food and healthcare, while they continually line their pockets with more $$$.
People really shop there?
November 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
*their’s
squeaky shopping carts
November 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
Walmart is goofy.
Pamela
November 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
So let me get this straight…YOU pay WALMART $7 a month to get a box of food, you test it and let them know if you liked it or not and WALMART will get a lot of money from YOUR opinion that you are PAYING THEM TO GIVE? Wow… For the people that sign up for this….I have swamp land in Florida I want to sell to you….you also can build a house on it..you have GOT to be crazy to do this…wow..
Paquet
November 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
I cannot believe Walmart found another way to get money from the stupid. I am not saying Walmart is all bad, but when they prey on the masses who don’t know better it really gets me hot. Listen people Walmart should be paying you for your opinion not you paying them. The article said 3000 people already signed up. You got to give it to them. They know there UN-educated market.
Ed
November 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
It appears many readers do not understand the concept and talking out the side of their neck. Let me try to explain so no one below this posting add another misinformed comment.
This is an e-commerce subscription service that sends out food samples, mostly new food companies that are here in America that looking to find their way in Wal-Mart shelves. These are small business that provide local jobs, thank you.
These small and boutique food companies cannot afford to launch a nationwide sample test and get feedback so Wal-Mart provided this channel. Most foodies will likely enjoy this service so there is an audience out there, like the food truck craze.
Many of you are confusing this concept to another business model called SampleLabs that is not here in the USA. This is not a sample pack but something for the genre of foodies out there.
Mountain Man
November 14th, 2012
3:08 pm
I certainly hope the $7 can be paid with Food Stamps…
Susan
November 14th, 2012
3:09 pm
Just so everyone would be informed…Walmart is now owned by private investors. The family that started Walmart years ago sold it. That is why Walmart does NOT have the cheapest and best price anymore. Walmart prices are really high. For a 3 pound pack of ground turkey, you are paying damn near $8…when it USED to be under $6 less than a year ago. I shop at Aldis’. I also shop at Publix more than I shop at Walmart. They are a rip off and people ASSume that they are actually cheaper. Now they used to be a long time ago when the original owner started it, but now that private investors own it…the prices will continue to rise. Let’s not forget to mention their “F” rated customer service… Walmart SUCKS!!! I HATE IT!!!
Alex
November 14th, 2012
3:10 pm
Does the food get shipped to your house direct from China or does it come first by cargo ship, then land?
Fred ™
November 14th, 2012
3:15 pm
I voted for Obama because he promised me that I could do the not not work from home program and still make just as much money as I did when I worked away from home and get ObamaCare for free.
I really love this country.
Herp de Derp
November 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
How about this — Ah give Burger King mah seven dolla and ah git a chicken parm sammich, onion rangs and a orange co-coler outa that there hunnerd-drink fountain they got these days.
Better deal, y’all.
Alex
November 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Sure thing Anti-American Mart. Give you more money to send to China? Don’t think so.
Chilly Willy
November 14th, 2012
3:31 pm
For the person that shops at Aldi…..I used to work there and their products are basic crapola! I wouldnt spend a nickel on anything at Aldi.
SANDRA
November 14th, 2012
3:33 pm
YOU PROBABLY ARE IN CAHOOTS WITH OBAMA! NO WAY. PAY FOR ME TO BE YOUR
GUINE PIG. HUH! SELL IT TO ME! NO THANKS! DID IT COME FROM CHINA? WHAT A
JOKE. SOME FOOLS WILL DO IT.
JENNY
November 14th, 2012
3:35 pm
Enter your comments here
JENNY
November 14th, 2012
3:37 pm
Is it horse meat your giving away for $7. month? did it come from China? No thanks.
No respect for walmart. I found a hair in my fresh cheese there. NASTY.
Captain Midnight
November 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
I read an article the other day stating that the average Wal-Mart S/center takes on average 15,000
EBT cards per month. I had to stand by last night and watch a girl check her EBT balance on her
I-phone. This is the new norm? This is acceptable in America now? I mean she’s so strapped financially that she depends on food stamps (welfare) but can still enjoy the luxury of an I-phone?
This can’t last, and I for one am going to Enjoy watching this particular program implode.
Bread,rice,beans and government cheese in a van down by the river!
Jimmy Foley
November 14th, 2012
3:58 pm
I am doing my absolute darndest to not shop at Walmart anymore. They are a deplorable disease of a company.
DLink
November 14th, 2012
4:12 pm
It’s $7 worth of food which they presumably pay the shipping for. You don’t HAVE to provide any kind of feedback if you don’t feel like it. It’s just $7 to have a strange meal once a month, or snacks/whatever. I’m not into that kinda thing, but, I’m also sure there are more adventurous people than myself out there.
Cobb Shopper
November 14th, 2012
4:18 pm
@ lol
November 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
“re: Cobb Shopper
You do know there is nothing fresh and non processed in walmart, right? down to their “meat cuts”..
the joke is on you.”
Dear LOL:
How on earth could you possibly know what I purchase at Walmart, Kroger, or Target?
I also shop Publix for their buy-one-get-one specials when I like the items. I make home cooked meals at least 6 days per week for our family of 5. Since you assume I can only buy processed foods at Walmart, I’ll share my most recent menues: Monday night we had pan seared salmon (Kroger) with rice (Walmart), and green beans (Kroger). Tuesday night we had Cheese Grits (not instant) with tomato, onion, peppers (all Walmart) and grilled Buffaloed chicken breast (Sam’s Club) with broccoli (Walmart) on the side. None of these things were prepared at the store or in a factory. I did all the seasoning, marinating, and cooking. I have no problem buying INGREDIENTS at Walmart and the other stores. There is no Whole Foods nearby and when I have been there I found their prices to be too high to feed a large family on a budget. No joke there!
Downtown Heffa
November 14th, 2012
4:20 pm
Walmart should be paying me $7 per month! Their “fresh” vegetables need reviving.
Gary
November 14th, 2012
4:35 pm
I dont mind shopping at Walmart, they do have good prices, but I would never shop for groceries there and I agree with those that point out that Walmart is asking people to pay them to do their market research for them. But frankly we have been paying to help market companies for years by buying t-shirts with company logos and cars with dealer’s names emblazoned on them. Shouldn’t those businesses be paying consumers to market them too?
Andy
November 14th, 2012
5:18 pm
My wife buys some groceries at Walmart mostly can goods and a few other things like milk and eggs I think Publix has the better meats and Deli products.As far as products made in China every G Damn store in America sell products made in China. If China made products bother you so much try finding a place that doesn’t sell products made in China.Then you can keep your A$$ out of Walmart. I’m pretty sure they won’t miss you
DocJimsOnTheFly
November 14th, 2012
5:36 pm
No, let’s face facts. Walmart is a great store for stealing items. And, for the most part, so is Kroger & Publix. Our food supply sucks and the quality, overall sucks. I don’t want to pay money for trash. I say rip them off & move on. Maybe they’ll get the message, but I doubt it. Dumb masses will continue to buy the crap being sold.
Warranted
November 14th, 2012
5:39 pm
@Fred, wtf? Take a poll next time you’re at Walmart, I think you will most certainly find 95%+ Democratic leaning shoppers . . .
Andy
November 14th, 2012
5:45 pm
Steve you seem to know an awful lot about the pathetic people who shop at Walmart and all the Spanish language signs in there. You must shop in there a lots then maybe you are just going in to troll the mens bathroom! OK fess up! Which is it?
HootyGoot
November 14th, 2012
6:07 pm
I love Wal Mart and shop there regularly, however I think I’d rather take my $7 to the Aldi store and pick the items I want.
Jay
November 14th, 2012
6:24 pm
The AJC has Walmart spelled two different ways. Walmart removed the hyphen way back and AP and the AJC doesn’t seem to get it.
Andy
November 14th, 2012
6:38 pm
WARRANTED @ YOU ARE SO RIGHT IF FRED TOOK A POLL HE WOULD FIND THAT 95% WOULD BE DEMOCRATS AND 90% OF THEM WOULD BE ON OBAMA FOOD STAMPS.
Ralph Christian
November 14th, 2012
8:05 pm
Walmart’s grocery prices are a rip-off and their produce is 3 to 4 times higher to what I pay at the local markets such as Super H and the Buford Highway Farmers Market. I avoid them like the plague!
Alex
November 14th, 2012
10:12 pm
So you the consumer must pay for test market goods to Walmart so they can decide whether the sell them (therefore saving money from launching unsuccessful products). Then Walmart probably charges the food manufacture for the feedback.
You have to be a FOOL to go for those terms.
Retiree
November 14th, 2012
11:22 pm
I was hoping this was a program to allow customers to order groceries or other merchandise to be delivered to the home. Such a service would be a boon to a lot of handicapped people or people who are confined to their homes.
donatellomarie
November 15th, 2012
7:44 am
from what I understand the products they send you will be worth double $7.00. If you want to try it, try it, if dont want to try it, nobodys forcing you.
Today’s Food News 2012/11/15 | Vida Criolla
November 15th, 2012
9:48 am
[...] Walmart launches food subscriptions – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Alex
November 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
Would you hand your grocery shopping list to the person beside you in the store entrance and tell them to pick up whatever they want? No! Of course not! Truly there is little value in getting food that you don’t want when you have to pay for it out of your pocket?
Food samples used to be free. Keep throwing your money to the Walton family people.