Walmart Fulfillment Services is an emerging program offered by the nation's largest retailer. It provides affordable solutions to brands that rely on e-commerce to help their business flourish, and is also a viable option for brick-and-mortar businesses that want to tap into the world of online marketplaces.
SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons for Selling on the Walmart Marketplace
Its streamlined system makes it easy to get your items in front of millions of customers. And rapid shipping, simple returns, and accessible customer care representatives are a few of the benefits your customers will enjoy. Read on to learn more about this program, and whether Walmart fulfillment might be a good option for your business.
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What Should Sellers Know About Walmart Fulfillment Services?
Why should you consider using WFS to bring your product to the online marketplace? Beyond potentially boosting your sales, it offers an assortment of perks to Marketplace sellers, including the following:
- Customer service that entails packing, shipping, rapid delivery, and easy returns
- Straightforward pricing
- User-friendly dashboards to track inventory, orders, and shipments
- Built-in tools to help elevate search rankings for your products
- Dedicated call center support specialists to answer your questions or address your concerns
- Detailed product listings to help increase conversions
It's easy to get up and running with the platform. Once you're approved as a Marketplace seller, mail your inventory to a Walmart fulfillment center and their team will handle the rest. This allows you to focus on making sales and growing your business.
What Are the Walmart Fulfillment Services Fees?
In addition to the benefits WFS offers sellers, the competitive pricing structure also makes this service stand out. There are no fees to get started with the program, and you won't be hit with monthly subscription dues to use the platform. Instead, sellers are assessed a fixed monthly storage rate, and the Walmart fulfillment price is based on shipping weight.
Who Should Use WFS?
WFS is ideal for independent sellers who offer products that are simple to pack and ship, and are seeking ways to increase their online sales without spending a fortune. It's also a good fit for e-commerce entities with high sales volumes who want to outsource the picking, packing, and shipping.
This low-cost solution can also help these brands identify even more prospective customers, increase brand awareness, and scale their business by attracting existing Walmart shoppers.
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How Does WFS Compare to Fulfillment by Amazon?
Learning about WFS may have you wondering how it compares to the Fulfillment by Amazon program, which is available to Amazon Marketplace sellers. To help you out, we've created a table that looks at both offerings.
| Walmart Fulfillment Services | Fulfillment by Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Qualification Criteria? | Yes | Yes (plus extra perks, including a sponsored ads campaign and free monthly storage on select products for first-time users) |
| Product Size Requirements |
Maximum product dimensions: 25" x 20" x 14" Products are limited to 30 pounds |
Determined by product size tier More flexible weight and dimension limits |
| Account Management Dashboard? | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing and Storage Fees |
No monthly subscription fee Fixed monthly storage fee Fulfillment price based on shipping weight |
$39.99 a month plus selling fees for the Professional plan Monthly storage fee determined by daily average volume (in cubic feet) Fulfillment price based on shipping weight |
| Inventory Management | Can be tracked on user-friendly dashboards | Handled through a user-specific portal |
| Return Policy | 90 days (in-store, by mail, or a scheduled home pickup) |
30 days by mail 90 days for select baby items in new, unopened condition |
| Shipping | Two days |
Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime Free shipping for all Amazon customers on eligible orders |
| Customer Support | Personal advisors to assist Marketplace sellers | Free service available day and night by phone or email (a processing fee applies for returns in select categories) |
| Coverage | Nationwide | Nationwide |
How Do Sellers Benefit From Walmart Fulfillment?
Sellers can get higher profit margins from increased exposure, and delegate pesky duties so they have more free time to market their business and scale up operations. Payments are made biweekly, and you can track sales activity and generate summary reports directly from the Seller Center dashboard.
SEE ALSO: 9 FBA Alternatives That Amazon Sellers Should Consider
Customers enjoy expedited shipping with 2-day delivery and the convenience of ordering from the comfort of their homes. There are also call center associates standing by to help your customers with shipping, refunds, return-related issues, and other general inquiries.
What Are the Requirements to Join?
Interested in leveraging WFS to grow your business? Prospective Walmart Marketplace sellers should ensure their products meet the following qualification criteria:
- Products must ship to Walmart fulfillment centers from a location within the United States
- No perishable or regulated items
- Items must weigh no more than 30 pounds
- Products can't exceed dimensions of 25" x 20" x 14"
If you meet the eligibility guidelines and want to move forward, submit a request through the website to learn more. A personal advisor will reach out to discuss the next steps and start the onboarding process if you're a good fit.
Already a seller on Walmart.com? Log in to your online Seller Center portal to request access to WFS. However, note that approval is not guaranteed, as you still must meet the eligibility requirements.
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