Since the outbreak of the pandemic, retail chains such as Walmart have applied a series of health and safety measures to protect the well-being of their customers. But now, those changes would be reversed so that the experience of visiting the supermarket is pleasant and fun again.
One of the great benefits that made Walmart stand out above other chains was to find supermarkets open all over the country, and it was even a common practice in other countries where it is present. Before 2019, you were always going to be near a Walmart open outside of office hours, until they started closing at night to be disinfected. In the midst of this difficult moment for humanity, Walmart announced that it was only going to receive 5 customers per 1,000 square feet (93 m²) of surface at its locations, which meant that they would accept a maximum capacity of 20%.
Back to Normal: Shopping at Walmart Like You Did Before
As I said before, Walmart is going to finish revoking its pandemic restrictions, so there will no longer be large crowds to get through to get into the store. However, depending on the situation in each city, specific time restrictions may apply that may not necessarily extend to other places.
Another one of the regulations that Walmart had applied since 2020, and that has angered countless customers, is its reluctance to receive returned items. At the beginning of the health crisis, the retailer refused returned items because it was believed that contact with these objects could help spread the virus. Now, the brand has returned to its original policy, which states that any item can be returned within the 90 days after purchase.
The mask mandate had also been dictated in Walmart stores in all the country. This was no longer mandatory since the end of 2021. Of course, its employees and collaborators will continue to be encouraged to get vaccinated, but they are not forced to respect their right to free choice. For those who wants to get the jabs, the company offer scheduled appointments in 49 states, since May 2021.
There are still restrictions that will stay for an undetermined time. For example, if an employee or costumer has a temperature over 100°F, they will be sent home. And the stores have committed to clean and disinfect the carts and some other surfaces to avoid the propagation of viruses and germs.
Finally, those associates working in the cashiers will have forever their splash acrylic protector, just in case a shopper lets out a sneeze. This plexiglass guard will keep separating costumers and cashiers, and will be installed in stores that still don’t have it.
After all these changes, you will you back to your normal buying experience in the near future. Happy shopping!