Longer Prime Day gave shoppers more time to compare—and many chose Walmart

We wrote earlier about the seemingly amazing deals pumped out during Amazon’s special Prime Day sales. Many RVtravel.com readers agreed: Amazon doesn’t always beat the competition. But here’s an interesting bit of fallout—Amazon’s decision to stretch out their special event to four days may have backfired. It was a case of Walmart versus Amazon Prime Day. With prices climbing and more folks watching their spending, many shoppers—including RVers—took a detour to Walmart’s competing sale instead.

In Walmart versus Amazon Prime Day, Wally’s sales went up 24% more than last year

Walmart’s “Deals” event ran a week and wrapped up on July 13, and by many measures, it beat Amazon at its own game. Sales at Walmart.com were up 24% compared to last year’s sale period—six times the growth Amazon saw from Prime Day. Online traffic at Walmart jumped 14%, while Amazon stayed flat. App use at Walmart soared 22%; Amazon’s app grew just 3%, according to data firms Bloomberg Second Measure and Similarweb.

Amazon says those numbers don’t tell the full story. In a statement, a spokesperson said customers were highly engaged and the sale was a record-breaker for both sales and savings. Even so, the numbers show more shoppers—including RVers stocking up for the road—are checking around for the best prices before clicking “buy.”

Amazon still the e-commerce leader, but…

Amazon still leads the U.S. e-commerce world, grabbing about 40 cents of every dollar spent online. During its four-day Prime Day sale, Amazon drew about 403 million web visits—almost six times more than Walmart during the same time. But traffic doesn’t always mean sales, and this year Walmart grabbed more interest than usual.

For RVers, that might not be surprising. Price-conscious travelers are often hunting deals on everything from hoses and cookware to camping chairs and back-to-school supplies for the grandkids. And Walmart’s growing online reach makes it an attractive alternative. For those shopping the “old fashioned” way—in store—Walmart RV-friendly locations for overnight stays are just an added benefit to the company.

Walmart’s online growth is no accident. The company has built out its own version of Amazon Prime, called Walmart+, which offers perks like free shipping for $98 a year. It also expanded its third-party marketplace, bringing in nearly three times more outside sellers this year than last—offering more gear, gadgets, and goodies for all kinds of customers.

Customers “navigating across multiple websites”

Discounts matter more than ever right now, said Deborah Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research. With inflation and economic uncertainty, shoppers are “more willing to do the work and navigate across multiple websites.” That includes RVers, who often live with limited space and budgets and need to get the most value for their dollars.

Some shoppers, like Shantel Bew, took full advantage of both sales. The 52-year-old project manager spent $1,600 at Walmart to help her daughter furnish an apartment—buying big-ticket items like a couch and bed. She spent just $378 at Amazon for smaller kitchen items. “I was surprised by the cost of things at Amazon,” she said.

Your fellow readers agree. One reader whose screen name is KAS wrote, “I have a free Walmart+ membership through one of my credit cards. I notice that a lot of the products you endorse, when I click on them it brings me to Amazon. I then go to my Walmart app and always find the same product at a better price. Free shipping is always included no matter what the price is.”

Overall, Amazon Prime Day spending rose about 4% this year compared to last year’s sale, according to estimates by Momentum Commerce and Second Measure. That’s much lower than early predictions of around 9% growth. In contrast, Walmart’s sales growth was much stronger.

Do what Mom used to do—Shop around

For RVers, these summer sales—whether at Amazon, Walmart, or somewhere else—can be a good time to stock up on basics. This year, shoppers loaded up on everyday essentials like paper plates, socks, glue sticks, and dish soap—practical items that work just as well at a campground as they do at home.

Sales aside, it seems like a good idea to do what Mom used to do. Before heading out for a big shop, she’d sit down with the newspaper and pull out all the grocery store circulars. She’d compare prices from store against store and make up her list. Today you don’t need to buy a newspaper to get your information. Just fire up your phone, tablet, computer—whatever. Check your prices and save your money. If nothing else, this year’s sales show that even Amazon’s most loyal shoppers—including road warriors and full-timers—are willing to shop around.

This story based partly on information sourced from ttnews.com.

RELATED

• Are Amazon Prime Day deals really a bargain for RVers?
• Walmart says prices are going up. Here’s why RVers should care
• The best RV gear you can buy at Walmart
• Amazon Prime perks every RVer should know about
• Letter to the Editor: How shopping on Amazon helps support RVtravel.com

RVT1219b