Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is a fulfillment service offered by Walmart that manages inventory storage, order fulfillment, returns, and customer service for Walmart sellers.
Comparable to Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, WFS allows sellers on the Walmart Marketplace to concentrate on other business aspects while Walmart’s comprehensive fulfillment network takes care of picking, packing, and shipping orders.
As a business owner, who you partner with when it comes to order fulfillment can have a massive impact on your supply chain and ability to reach customers. In this blog post, we’ll explore Walmart fulfillment, breaking down how it works – so you can make the right decision for your business.
What are Walmart Fulfillment Services?
Walmart Fulfillment Services, also known as WFS, is a comprehensive solution offered by Walmart to help businesses streamline their e-commerce operations. This service allows sellers to store their products in Walmart’s fulfillment centers, giving them access to Walmart’s extensive network of warehouses and distribution centers.
With Walmart Fulfillment Services, sellers can leverage Walmart’s vast resources and expertise in logistics and supply chain management to handle various aspects of their online business, including inventory storage, order processing, and shipping. This means that sellers can focus on growing their business while Walmart manages its operational complexities.
How Does Walmart Fulfillment Services Work?
Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) operates through a system where Walmart provides warehousing and logistics services to help sellers store, pack, and ship their products to customers. Here’s an overview of how it works:
Shipping Options: Walmart Fulfillment Services offers multiple shipping options, including standard and expedited shipping, to cater to the needs of both sellers and customers. This ensures that customers receive their orders promptly, enhancing their satisfaction with the overall buying experience.
Inventory Management: The WFS system also provides sellers with real-time visibility into their inventory levels, allowing them to monitor stock levels and make informed decisions about replenishment. Sellers can easily track their inventory and access data and analytics to optimize their product offerings and maximize sales.
Customer Service: Walmart’s dedicated customer service team is available to handle any inquiries or issues related to orders fulfilled through the WFS. They ensure that customers are satisfied and provide assistance in case of any problems or concerns.
Integrations: Sellers can often integrate the WFS system with their e-commerce platform. This seamless integration allows sellers to efficiently manage their inventory and orders, eliminating the need for manual data entry and minimizing the risk of errors. By integrating with their existing e-commerce platform, sellers can have real-time visibility into their inventory levels, enabling them to accurately fulfill customer orders and avoid stockouts.
Fulfillment Fees: Fees associated with using WFS vary based on factors such as product size, weight, and handling. Sellers typically pay fees for storage, order fulfillment, and other related services. These fees are designed to provide sellers with cost-effective solutions, as they only pay for the services they utilize. By outsourcing the warehousing and logistics aspect of their business to Walmart, sellers can focus on other important aspects, such as product development, marketing, and customer service.
Pros and Cons of Walmart Fulfillment
When deciding if outsourcing to Walmart fulfillment or a Walmart 3PL, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. You may also want to get quotes from multiple providers, such as Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Print Bind Ship, to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Pros of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
- Comprehensive Order Fulfillment: Walmart Fulfillment manages all aspects of your shipping logistics and automatically sends out orders as they come in.
- Fast Shipping: Your packages will be delivered to customers in as little as 2 days (aside from peak season, which is September to January)
- Inventory Management: Walmart offers comprehensive inventory storage and management, so you can trust your products will be stored safely.
- Product Visibility: Increase your business’s product visibility and potential sales by being part of Walmart’s expansive marketplace. Customers trust Walmart and partnering with their services can help solidify your brand.
Cons of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
- No International Shipping: Unlike Print Bind Ship, Walmart Fulfillment doesn’t ship internationally. This can limit your customer reach.
- Eligibility Requirements: Not all products or sellers may qualify for Walmart Fulfillment. The company imposes strict product requirements that you’ll have to meet.
- Dependence: Heavy reliance on Walmart’s infrastructure can be risky if their company policies or terms change.
Walmart Fulfillment vs Amazon: How They Compare
At this point, you may be wondering if there are better alternatives. One alternative is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). However, WFS placed a ban on FBA. This way, the retail giant gets a better footing in its competition. Here’s a breakdown of the key similarities and differences between the two.
Similarities Between FBA and WFS
As two leading fulfillment solutions, both providers share a few of the same attributes, such as:
Guaranteed 2-Day Free Shipping and Free Returns
Like Amazon, Walmart offers 2-day free shipping. By storing your products in a Walmart fulfillment center, you can offer this to your customers. Both marketplaces will also pick and pack your orders. In addition to free shipping, Walmart offers to process returns just like Amazon.
Customer Support and Customer Experience
Both FBA and WFS will manage all customer service and return requests on the seller’s behalf. In turn, this allows sellers to focus more time on growing their sales, instead of dealing with customer inquiries. Again, similar to Amazon, this only applies to WFS orders. It doesn’t apply if you fulfill your orders yourself.
Seller Center and Support Tools
According to Walmart’s WFS feature page, Walmart offers dedicated WFS call center associates to answer all your questions. However, the jury is still deciding if it’s better than Amazon Seller Support.
Walmart+
Launched last year, Walmart now offers Walmart+, which is a service that directly competes with Amazon Prime. Moreover, Walmart+ membership costs $98 annually or $12.95 a month and includes a 15-day free trial period.
Additionally, it includes same-day delivery of groceries and other general merchandise, fuel discounts, early access to deals, and other perks.
Walmart ‘Item Page Content’
Another similar feature is Walmart’s version of A+ Content. With Amazon, you need to be brand registered in order to create A+ Content. With Walmart, however, you will just need to be using WFS to be eligible for ‘Item Page Content.’
Differences between WFS and FBA
Take a look at some of the ways these fulfillment networks are different from one another.
Sellers Need to Apply and Be Approved to Sell at Walmart
As previously mentioned, to sell at Walmart, you have to go through an application process. On the bright side, you will have less competition from other sellers in the marketplace. Whereas on Amazon, anyone can register to sell – creating a bit more competition.
Walmart Has a Simple Cost Structure
Walmart offers a simple cost structure that includes a fixed monthly storage fee; as well as a fixed monthly fulfillment price. This fixed storage and fulfillment fee is based on the number of units per month.
On the other hand, Amazon’s storage fee is based on how much inventory you currently have in their warehouses. Furthermore, its fulfillment fees are based on the weight and dimensions of your product.
Walmart Does not Have a Monthly Subscription Fee for Sellers
Unlike the Amazon professional selling account which is $39.99 per month, Walmart does not charge its sellers a monthly fee. Although Amazon’s per-month fee is not that much considering how much they do for you, it would be nice not to have to pay for that.
Fewer Sellers Mean More Views Per Seller
According to Walmart, each seller receives roughly 27,000 monthly visitors. On the other side, Amazon’s sellers receive just 2,100 visitors monthly. Because Walmart Marketplace is less saturated, Walmart sellers get 13x more visitors a month compared to Amazon sellers.
Personalized Account Management
Walmart connects sellers with a WFS fulfillment expert. WFS fulfillment experts provide custom recommendations on business optimization and growth.
If you would like to work with one of Amazon’s dedicated Account Managers, you will have to pay a large monthly fee, around $1,600/month. Also, in addition to your monthly fee, a percentage of your sales is included.
Walmart Fulfillment Service Requirements: How to Get Started
There are quite a few requirements to sell on Walmart’s marketplace. In fact, the requirements are in two groups: WFS requirements and product requirements.
Requirements to use Walmart Fulfillment Services
- US Business Tax ID (SSN not accepted)
- Primary product categories, catalog size, and related information
- Planned integration method for your product catalog
Product requirements shipped to Walmart’s warehouses
- Products must ship to Walmart fulfillment centers from within the U.S. (meaning no shipments from third parties out of the country such as China.
- No perishable or regulated products (so no cosmetics or healthcare products)
- Maximum product weight is 30 pounds
- Maximum product dimensions: 25″ x 20″ x 14″
If you’re approved for WFS, you will receive an invitation to set up your Marketplace Seller Account from Walmart.
The next steps include: signing the Retailer Agreement with a Walmart representative, completing the profile registration, and onboarding. Even after all those processes, you have to go through a final review and request to launch your store. Overall, the process can take a few weeks to complete and you’ll want to make sure to follow each step correctly.
Considering a 3PL Partner for Walmart Fulfillment
If you don’t want to deal with Walmart fulfillment, you can opt to outsource entirely. Despite the options that WFS and FBA offer, there are other alternatives that compete with the two.
Alternatives offered by 3PLs can offer Walmart fulfillment and more. Third-party logistics (or 3PL) refers to the outsourcing of e-commerce logistics processes. This can include inventory management, warehousing, as well as fulfillment.
Choosing Print Bind Ship for All Your Walmart Fulfillment Needs
While there are many 3PL fulfillment partners, Print Bind Ship is a great one to consider. When we’re not printing, we’re handling other logistics such as packaging and shipping. There are loads of other services that we offer. Considering we cover Walmart fulfillment, here are some features that’ll help solve all your needs.
Flexible Warehousing
As previously mentioned, Walmart does not allow perishable or regulated products in their warehouse. So, if you’re a health and wellness or cosmetic products seller, you would have a hard time selling on its marketplace.
With our warehouses, you have more flexibility with your products. Our warehouses at Print Bind Ship are FDA compliant which is great considering the sensitive nature of some health and cosmetic products. Ultimately, you can trust that we will handle your inventory with care.
Meet Walmart Shipping Requirements
Our shipping centers at Print Bind Ship are certified centers that are ready to ship worldwide within 24 hours of order processing. This is extremely beneficial because we know what Walmart and your customers are expecting in terms of shipping speeds. You can put your trust in our shipping centers to get orders to your customers fast and in great condition.
Custom Packaging
When choosing to sell on multiple platforms, such as Walmart, you may want to start using custom packaging. Custom packaging provides your customers with unique experiences! This is great for businesses that want to promote their brand in a way that creates value for customers. Not only can your products be shipped in custom packages, but kits and multimedia can be added as well.
At Print Bind Ship, we manufacture, print, and assemble custom packaging. From branding to shipping, we guarantee your customers will be excited to receive their orders.
Get Started With Print Bind Ship
Walmart fulfillment can be a worthwhile solution, but your business deserves a tailored fulfillment approach. Don’t let logistics hold you back from growing your eCommerce business. Our expert team can design a fulfillment strategy that’s perfect for your unique needs, whether you’re selling on Walmart, Amazon, or your own website.
FAQ
Walmart fulfillment refers to the process by which Walmart handles the storage, picking, packing, and shipping of orders placed through its online platform. It ensures a smooth and efficient delivery of products directly to customers’ doorsteps.
When customers place an order on Walmart’s website, their request is forwarded to a Walmart fulfillment center. Employees at the center then locate the products, pack them securely, and send them out for delivery via various shipping carriers. Customers can track their orders through their accounts on the Walmart website.
Using Walmart fulfillment offers several advantages. First, it allows customers to access an extensive range of products available through the Walmart online platform. Second, it ensures faster delivery times as products are shipped directly from Walmart’s specially designed fulfillment centers. Lastly, Walmart’s fulfillment service often offers competitive pricing, discounts, and promotions, allowing customers to save money on their orders.