How To Start Selling On Walmart
A Primer On How To Start On Walmart
Selling on Walmart Marketplace is a great way to diversify your eCommerce business and reduce reliance on Amazon. Walmart is less competitive than Amazon, has lower fees on average, and offers stronger Buy Box advantages for sellers using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS).
This guide will walk you through: ✔️ Creating a Walmart Seller Account ✔️ The difference between WFS & Fulfilled by Seller ✔️ Pros & cons of selling on Walmart ✔️ Best software for Walmart sellers ✔️ How to get ungated on Walmart ✔️ Pro tips for maximizing your success
1️⃣ How to Create a Walmart Seller Account
📌 Good news: Walmart Marketplace does NOT require a monthly subscription like Amazon.
Step 1: Sign Up for an Account
1️⃣ Register as a seller using this link: 🔗 Sign Up for Walmart Marketplace 2️⃣ Provide your business details (name, EIN, tax ID). 3️⃣ Submit a valid address & bank details for payments.
💡 Pro Tip: If a Walmart account manager contacts you asking for proof of a storefront, you can send them your Amazon or eBay storefront link. This isn’t required for all sellers, but some may be asked for it.
2️⃣ Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) vs. Fulfilled by Seller
Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) – Walmart’s FBA Alternative
✔️ Walmart stores your inventory in their fulfillment centers. ✔️ They handle shipping, customer service, and returns. ✔️ Orders are Prime-like with fast shipping. ✔️ Massive Buy Box boost – Walmart reports a 50% conversion increase vs. Seller-Fulfilled orders. ✔️ Lower fees compared to Amazon’s FBA fees, especially with WFS storage promotions.
📌 Join WFS here: Walmart Fulfillment Services Info
Fulfilled by Seller (FBM)
✔️ You store and ship inventory yourself. ✔️ Requires you to manage customer service & returns. ✔️ Lower fees than WFS but requires faster shipping to stay competitive.
💡 Which is better?
If you want to win the Buy Box & sell more, WFS is the best option.
If you prefer more control & lower costs, FBM is a viable option.
3️⃣ Pros & Cons of Selling on Walmart
✅ Pros
✔️ Less competition than Amazon (newer marketplace). ✔️ Lower seller fees than Amazon. ✔️ More responsive customer service (mostly U.S.-based). ✔️ Huge WFS Buy Box boost (50% conversion increase). ✔️ Walmart frequently offers storage fee discounts & promotions for WFS sellers.
❌ Cons
❌ Only available for U.S. sellers & only ships within the U.S. ❌ Frequent website updates lead to bugs & UI changes. ❌ WFS inventory system is more complex than FBA (requires extra details for bulk GTIN uploads).
4️⃣ Best Software for Selling on Walmart
📌 Currently, Walmart lacks tools like Keepa, but here are the best options available:
🔹 Marter – Walmart’s equivalent to SellerAmp/Scoutify, helps analyze product demand. 🔗 Sign up for Marter
🔹 Walmart Seller Center – The built-in tool for managing inventory & tracking sales.
💡 Expect more software to emerge as Walmart’s marketplace grows.
5️⃣ How to Get Ungated on Walmart
📌 Ungating on Walmart is easier than Amazon!
How to Apply for Brand & Category Approvals
1️⃣ Walmart will email you a questionnaire when applying for restricted brands/categories. 2️⃣ They will request an invoice (must be within 6 months – 1 year old). 3️⃣ Answer the following questions (keep it simple!):
What product types will you list? (General variety of items from X brand.)
What brands will you sell? (List a few relevant ones.)
Are all items on hand? (Yes.)
Where are your suppliers located? (Walmart, Amazon, Target, etc.)
How long have you worked with these suppliers? (X months/years.)
Are you authorized to sell X brand? (Yes, my suppliers are authorized resellers.)
Do you provide your own images & content? (Yes.)
4️⃣ Attach an invoice and submit your application.
Pro Tips for Easy Ungating
✔️ Walmart receipts currently work for ungating! Take advantage of this before policies change. ✔️ Knock out some early ungates while Walmart is still lenient.
6️⃣ Pro Tips & Advice for Walmart Sellers
🔹 Walmart WFS support line: 📞 844-937-7778 🔹 Check your returns! Sometimes Walmart auto-approves refunds without requiring customers to return items. Open disputes for missing returns. 🔹 Monitor performance metrics. Walmart’s system can glitch estimated delivery dates—open cases to fix errors. 🔹 Compare Amazon & Walmart sales data. Use Keepa (Amazon) & Marter (Walmart) to determine which platform is better for a product. 🔹 Pay attention to WFS storage fee promotions. For example, Q4 peak storage fees are waived for shipments sent before Sept 30.
Final Thoughts: Why Walmart is Worth Selling On
🚀 If you’re already selling on Amazon, expanding to Walmart is a no-brainer.
✔️ Lower competition & fees than Amazon. ✔️ Strong WFS Buy Box advantages. ✔️ More responsive seller support. ✔️ Less restrictive ungating process.
💡 Take action now while competition is low & policies are more lenient! Walmart is growing, and getting in early gives you an edge. 🚀
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