Why your holiday shopping at Walmart could be faster this year

While there are many things to love about the holidays, there’s one activity that can be a massive pain in the neck: shopping. Fighting crowds and waiting in crazy lines to buy holiday gifts is often stressful and time-consuming.

This year, however, Walmart has announced some holiday plans that will hopefully make the seasonal shopping experience merrier.

Not only will the megastore introduce a new checkout experience to speed up the buying process, but it’s also releasing store maps tailored to each location so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

And if you still have some shopping to do online, you’ll find free two-day shipping on millions of items from marketplace sellers.

With the new “Check Out With Me” experience, beginning Nov. 1, you’ll find associates in the busiest areas of Walmart stores — like the garden center or electronics — who will help you bypass regular checkout lines and pay for everything right in the department you’re shopping in. All you have to do is find an associate, swipe your credit card and receive a paper or electronic receipt for your purchase. No more waiting in the normal line!

You’ll also find store maps on the Walmart app which will help you quickly find whatever you need — from toys on your kids’ Christmas lists to everyday essentials like all the fixings for holiday dinners.

Simply open the app and search for the item you need, and the map will show you where to find it. The maps are already created for most stores, but they will be in all stores by early November.

If you go shopping on Walmart’s website, you’ll find free two-day shipping on millions of items from marketplace sellers with no membership fee.

Returns for marketplace items will also be simplified, with Walmart now allowing customers to return the items in-store beginning mid-November. For a step-by-step guide to how marketplace returns will work, visit Walmart’s website.

Do you prefer shopping in stores or online for your holiday gifts?