When selling on Walmart, besides running an effective Walmart marketing strategy, you also need to care about the fulfillment services that might streamline your order management. Walmart Fulfillment Services provides sellers with a complete end-to-end solution that comes with storage, picking and packing, shipping, and customer service.
In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about Walmart Fulfillment Services, including:
- An overview of Walmart Fulfillment Service
- How Walmart Fufillment Services work?
- Walmart Fulfillment Services pricing
- How to use Walmart Fulfillment Services?
- Are Walmart Fulfillment Services suitable for your business?
Let’s get started!
Walmart Fulfillment Service: At First Glance
As you look for the top marketplaces for selling products, Walmart is definitely a platform to consider with its massive reach and growing eCommerce presence. Like Amazon, it does offer sellers convenient fulfillment options so they can focus on growing their business.
To begin with, it’s important to clearly understand what the service offers and how it compares to the popular Amazon FBA program. Let’s take a closer look at the specifics of these Walmart fulfillment services.
What are Walmart Fulfillment Services?
Walmart fulfillment services (WFS) is an order fulfillment service that assists Walmart marketplace sellers in fulfillment management. By outsourcing fulfillment operations to WFS, sellers can focus on growing their business while reducing operational costs.
WFS is part of the Walmart Marketplace, which provides sellers with access to a massive network of delivery service providers. Sellers can rely on Walmart’s extensive fulfillment network for storage, picking, packing, and shipping their products to customers.
Using Walmart’s Seller Center platform, sellers can effortlessly manage and track customer orders, view customer profiles, and manage inventory. It is a cost-effective solution for small sellers looking to streamline their fulfillment process and boost their online sales.
Pros & cons of Walmart fulfillment
Walmart fulfillment services (WFS) can be a game-changer for Walmart marketplace sellers. With WFS, sellers can enjoy several outstanding benefits, such as:
- Two-day free Walmart shipping service;
- Improved product visibility and customer service;
- Exceptional seller support.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are some downsides to using WFS as well. Major drawbacks to consider include:
- No multi-channel fulfillment;
- No international Walmart shipping options;
- Easy customer returns.
Additionally, there are certain product requirements that sellers must meet to use WFS, such as maximum weight and length restrictions. Therefore, it’s essential to have a thorough Walmart marketplace review to understand everything it has to offer.
Walmart Fulfillment Services vs Amazon FBA
As we’ve discussed, Walmart fulfillment services offer several benefits and drawbacks for online sellers on the Walmart marketplace. But how does WFS compare to the other online marketplace fulfillment services giant, Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)? Let’s stack up these two against each other!
WFS | FBA |
No monthly fees | Professional account requires $39.99/month |
Limited size and weight restrictions | No product restrictions |
Maximum shipment weight of 30 lbs | Maximum product weight of 150 lbs |
Maximum product dimensions of 25” x 20” x 14” | Maximum product dimensions of 108” longest side and 165” length + girth |
Fulfillment service fees start at $3.45 | Fulfillment service fees start at $2.50 |
Inventory organized by sellers | Commingling inventory |
No product labeling provided | Provided shipping labels available |
Only available for Walmart.com | Available for Amazon FBA platform and other channels |
No additional fulfillment service options | Additional options include Subscribe & Save and Small & Light |
Requires US tax ID and verification letter | Does not require US tax ID or verification letter |
How Walmart Fulfillment Services Work?
Walmart fulfillment services offer a comprehensive end-to-end solution to Walmart Marketplace sellers, allowing them to outsource their fulfillment operations. This means that sellers can focus on growing their businesses while Walmart takes care of storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service.
To use WFS, sellers must learn how to sell in Walmart and apply to become Walmart sellers. Once accepted, they can set up their accounts, join the WFS program, and add their WFS details.
As you sell through WFS, you’ll need to create new or convert existing products into Walmart-fulfilled listings. This allows your products to be displayed with the TwoDay Delivery and Fulfilled by Walmart shipping service tags, which also help increase visibility and sales.
Once the products are listed, you can send your inventory to one of Walmart’s many fulfillment centers. From there, WFS will take over the rest of the delivery process. The marketplace also handles customer service and returns via its Walmart return center, providing sellers with a hassle-free experience.
Walmart Fulfillment Services Pricing
Just like other Walmart marketplace fees, Walmart Fulfillment Services offer a straightforward pricing structure with no hidden fees, making it easier for sellers to estimate their costs.
The fees charged by WFS are determined based on the weight of the product, the volume of the product being stored, and the time it is stored.
Overall, Walmart fulfillment services pricing includes the following categories:
- Fulfillment fee: Base fee calculated based on shipping weight, with additional fees for apparel, hazardous materials, low-priced items, and oversize items.
- Storage fee: WFS charges a storage fee based on the volume of the product being stored and the length of time it is stored at a Walmart fulfillment center.
- Problem inventory: Problem inventory refers to any inbound shipment that cannot be received at a Walmart fulfillment center. If this happens, the seller may be charged a chargeback fee for issues such as missing or incorrect labels or poly bags.
- Return shipping & exceptions: WFS charges a return shipping fee based on the weight and size of the product being returned. Nevertheless, Walmart will cover the cost of return shipping for returns that are identified as Walmart’s fault.
- Disposal & removal fees: WFS charges a per-unit fee for disposing of or removing items from inventory and shipping them back to the seller. The fees depend on the weight of the item and whether it is a hazardous material.
Additionally, as a Walmart seller, you can easily estimate your fees using the WFS Calculator. It will take into account the weight, dimensions, and additional product information necessary to calculate your fees accurately.
How to Use Walmart Fulfillment Services?
If you’re a Walmart Marketplace seller and your products meet the program’s requirements, using WFS can help you streamline your fulfillment process and improve customer satisfaction.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Walmart fulfillment services:
- #Step 1: Become a Walmart Marketplace Seller: If you’re not already a Walmart Marketplace seller, you’ll need to apply to become one before you can use WFS. To apply, go to marketplace.walmart.com and click “Apply Now.”
- #Step 2: Apply for WFS: Once you’re a Walmart Marketplace seller, you can apply for WFS. Go to the WFS page on Walmart’s website and click “Apply Now.” You’ll need to answer some questions about your product selection, shipping processes, and customer service.
- #Step 3: Set up your items with the WFS dashboard: Once approved for WFS, you can set up your items in the WFS dashboard. This allows Walmart to keep track of your inventory and fulfill orders for you.
- #Step 4: Create an inbound order: To send products to a Walmart fulfillment center, you’ll need to create an inbound order from the Manage Inventory section under WFS in Seller Center. This tells Walmart what products you’re sending and when they’ll arrive.
- #Step 5: Use Walmart’s preferred carrier program: Walmart has a preferred carrier program that offers heavily discounted shipping labels. Use this program to create a shipping label for your inbound order.
- #Step 6: Package your products: Package your products according to your shipping plan and Walmart’s packaging and prep requirements. This ensures that your products arrive at the fulfillment center in good condition and are ready to be fulfilled.
- #Step 7: Label your boxes: Label your boxes with the shipping labels you created in Step 5 and drop them off at the respective shipping carrier. Walmart will take care of the rest, including storing your products, picking and packing orders, and shipping them to customers.
Are Walmart Fulfillment Services Suitable for Your Business?
While it can offer several advantages for some businesses, it may not be the best fit for everyone.
WFS could be a suitable option if you want to expand your eCommerce business to new marketplaces without handling fulfillment. It’s also a good option if you sell small and lightweight products or don’t have the time or space for shipping. Additionally, using WFS helps with making your products eligible for Walmart+.
WFS may not be the best option if you sell very large and/or heavy items. Furthermore, if you already use a third-party fulfillment service or have your own storage and fulfillment capabilities, WFS may not be necessary.
If you’re considering WFS, it’s a good idea to test it out with a few of your best-selling products before fully committing. You can research best seller Walmart items and test them out. This can help you evaluate its impact on your business and determine if it’s worth investing more resources into.
Keep in mind that even if you decide not to use WFS, you can still request access to Walmart expedited shipping options – two-day and three-day delivery – to improve your customer experience.
Walmart Fulfillment Services FAQs
- What is Walmart Fulfillment Services?
Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is a program offered by Walmart that allows Marketplace sellers to have their products fulfilled by Walmart. This means that Walmart handles the storage, picking, packing, and shipping of orders on behalf of sellers. WFS can help sellers streamline their fulfillment process and improve customer satisfaction.
- How does Walmart FBA work?
The Walmart fulfillment services program enables Walmart Marketplace vendors to utilize Walmart’s fulfillment system for product delivery. Here’s how it works for sellers:
- Apply for WFS.
- Set up your items in the WFS dashboard.
- Create an inbound order.
- Use Walmart’s preferred carrier program.
- Package products.
- Label boxes and drop them off.
After that, Walmart takes care of the storage, picking, packing, and shipping of orders on behalf of sellers. It also helps handle customer service and returns.
- Is Walmart fulfilling Amazon orders?
Walmart does not fulfill Amazon orders as Amazon is among the top Walmart competitors in the eCommerce marketplace. Walmart has its own fulfillment service program called Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), which allows Marketplace sellers to have their products fulfilled by Walmart.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide has been helpful in providing you with a better understanding of Walmart Fulfillment Services and how it can benefit your business. By utilizing WFS, sellers can take advantage of Walmart’s extensive delivery network and quality customer service reputation.
If you’re interested in learning more about eCommerce strategies and solutions, be sure to check out our blog. You can also join our supportive and engaging community of eCommerce sellers for more tips and insights!
