When contacted, it wouldn't even talk about it. Three weeks ago, it agreed to use Minnesota-based distributor Fingerhut to process and ship online orders. That should help ensure that online orders are handled well. Wal-Mart is the world leader at stocking its stores efficiently. But it has never tried to deliver its products to millions of American doorsteps.
Success is by no means certain.
Many of Wal-Mart's core customers don't yet own a computer, analysts say. They will soon, with PC prices continuing to fall. But the lag may muffle the initial consumer response to the Web site. Low prices may draw shoppers once, says Henry Blodgett, an analyst at Merrill Lynch, but to get repeat customers, the site's ease of use, selection, and customer service matter more.