Walmart Shoppers Hit by Outage as Switch 2 Pre-Orders and Walmart Plus Week Surge Interest

Walmart is once again at the center of national attention—but this time, it’s a mix of triumph and turmoil. On April 24, 2025, consumers woke up to multiple headlines about the world’s largest retailer. An unexpected online store outage caused frustration among shoppers, just as anticipation peaked for the Switch 2 pre-orders and the upcoming Walmart Plus Week. Add to that the looming concern over potential price hikes due to recent tariff discussions, and the emotional rollercoaster becomes obvious.

A Rollercoaster Day for Walmart Customers

Early on April 24, Walmart’s online operations encountered a widespread issue that left users unable to make purchases. The outage couldn’t have come at a worse time. At exactly 12 AM ET, Walmart Canada began taking Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders—a high-demand launch that many loyal fans had stayed up to secure.

"Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders arrive online only at Walmart Canada on April 24, 2025 at 12am EST." — Walmart Canada Gaming

Many users expressed frustration as the outage prevented them from checking out during this crucial window, triggering fears of missing out on limited quantities.

Walmart Plus Week Fuels Excitement

Despite the outage, attention has swiftly turned to the glowing prospects of Walmart Plus Week, set to launch from April 28 to May 4. Walmart announced a robust lineup of member-only promotions, including a 50% discount for returning Plus subscribers—a clear move to compete with Amazon Prime's spring deals.

Shoppers are eager for bargain opportunities just as inflation pressure looms, making Walmart’s timing feel almost strategic.

Tariff Talks: The Price Behind the Prices

Behind the scenes, Walmart executives have recently been involved in pivotal trade talks. According to TheStreet, Walmart and other retail leaders met with former President Trump on April 21 to discuss the impact of tariffs on consumer goods. The outcome? Uncertainty and concern.

"We never want to raise prices... But there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers." — Walmart CFO John Rainey

Shoppers, already juggling outages and product launches, are now contending with the reality of potential price hikes tied to trade policy shifts.

The Day Unfolded: A Timeline

• April 24, 2025: Walmart's website crashes, causing major shopping disruptions.
• April 24, 2025: Switch 2 pre-orders launch at midnight, stirring massive traffic, especially in Canada.
• April 23, 2025: Walmart officially reveals Walmart Plus Week event and membership discounts.
• April 23, 2025: Bloomberg reports on Walmart’s closed-door tariff talks with Trump.

Shoppers Speak Through Their Reactions

While there's no shortage of corporate statements painting progress, consumers made their discontent known—especially those who waited patiently for hours only to be met with system errors and checkout failures during the outage.

"We had a productive meeting with President Trump and our retail peers to discuss the path forward on trade." — Target Spokesperson

But on the consumer end, the anxiety is real: rising prices, unreliable services, and limited-time offers make for a precarious buying environment.

Conclusion

✔️ Summary point
Walmart’s moment of trending fame stems from a perfect storm of technical turmoil, product hype, and economic tension.
✔️ Reaction or implication
As Walmart tries to maintain its status as a retail titan, the challenges of digital infrastructure, trade policies, and competitive momentum are testing both systems and consumer trust alike.