Walmart faced significant technical difficulties on Thursday, April 17, 2025, as its website and app went down, leaving customers frustrated and unable to make last-minute Easter purchases. The outage occurred just a day before Good Friday, a crucial shopping day for many who were scrambling to secure their holiday essentials.
According to outage tracker DownDetector, reports of the technical issues spiked sharply around 2:25 PM ET, escalating to over 3,600 alerts every five minutes. Customers from various states, including Texas, Arizona, Missouri, and New York, took to social media to express their frustration. One shopper lamented, "Damn Walmart... is somebody sleeping on the job or what?!?! This app has been down for a while now. Get your s*** together." Another user added, "Trying to put in a mobile order and both have been unusable for hours."
In response to the growing complaints, a Walmart employee commented on Reddit, stating, "It's company wide... They've got every IT person working on it right now." The situation prompted Walmart to confirm on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the issues had been resolved, assuring customers that "Everything should be back in working order! If you're still having issues, please reach out to us via DM." This reassurance came after a period of chaos for shoppers eager to complete their Easter shopping.
Walmart, which operates over 10,000 stores across the United States, has increasingly relied on online sales, with $18 out of every $100 spent at the retailer being done online. This trend has been mirrored in the UK, influencing competitors like Sainsbury's to adapt their strategies. The retailer had introduced significant discounts on seasonal products, including children’s Easter baskets, to attract customers during the busy shopping season.
Despite the hiccup, Walmart is optimistic about its sales prospects for 2025. The company recently held investor days, where it projected solid sales growth, even amid potential economic downturns in the U.S. However, Walmart's international ventures have yielded mixed results. While its operations in Canada, the UK (with ASDA), Central America, Chile, and China have thrived, its attempts in Germany, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Argentina have not been as successful.
Meanwhile, Goodwill has confirmed that all of its locations will close for 24 hours to observe Easter Sunday on April 20, 2025. This closure aligns with the practices of many retailers that choose to shut down during major holidays, allowing employees to spend time with family and partake in holiday traditions. The Goodwill website states, "Goodwill stores typically close on Easter Day, as a major observed by many, Easter is one of the days Goodwill allows its employees to take off, ensuring they have time to spend with family and participate in holiday traditions."
Goodwill's operations, which are decentralized, mean that each store is part of a local non-profit organization. This structure allows for some flexibility in managing hours, including holiday closures. As a result, while most Goodwill locations will be closed, some may operate under different schedules depending on community needs.
Other major retailers also closing on Easter Sunday include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Homesense, Kohl's, Lowe's, Macy's, and Sierra. Additionally, grocery chains like Costco, Target, Aldi, and Sam's Club will also shut their doors for the holiday. However, Target has confirmed that it will maintain regular store hours on April 19, 2025, allowing shoppers to stock up before the holiday.
For those still in need of shopping options on Easter, Walmart will remain open, ready to capture the business left behind by competitors. The major retailer is set to be one of the largest names operating on Easter Sunday, which could lead to a significant increase in sales. Other stores that will be open include Ace Hardware, Dollar Tree, Jack-in-the-Box, Panera Bread, Taco Bell, Athleta, Domino’s, Jersey Mike’s, Pizza Hut, Trader Joe’s, Banana Republic, Dunkin’, Kroger stores, REI, Waffle House, Burger King, Family Dollar, McDonald’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Walgreens, CVS, Firehouse Subs, Noodles, Sonic, Denny’s, Gap, Old Navy, Sprouts, Wendy’s, Dollar General, IKEA, Olive Garden, Starbucks, and Whole Foods.
As the Easter holiday approaches, many shoppers will have to adapt their plans, especially with several stores closing their doors. For those who rely on Walmart, the retailer's ability to resolve its technical issues quickly and remain open during the holiday could provide a much-needed shopping lifeline.
In summary, while Walmart faced a temporary setback with its online services, the company is poised to benefit from its competitors' closures during the Easter holiday. With a robust online presence and a commitment to customer service, Walmart continues to adapt to the changing retail landscape.
