With its vast resources and nearly omnipotent presence, Walmart’s website sees as many as 100 million unique visitors each month.
And it’s not just Walmart benefitting from the massive influx of cyber traffic. Third-party sellers have staked their claim in the Walmart Marketplace via the Walmart reseller program.
But what is the Walmart reseller program, you ask? I’ve got the info you need!
What Is The Walmart Reseller Program?
The Walmart reseller program makes space on Walmart.com’s digital Marketplace for trusted, vetted third-party sellers. Potential sellers apply for admittance, and once accepted, can benefit from Walmart.com’s expansive reach and millions of shoppers. Sellers also benefit from Walmart’s referral fee model, which only charges sellers when they make a sale.
To learn more about how to become a Marketplace seller, how much it costs to sell on Walmart, and some reasons your reseller account might get suspended, see your full guide below!
What Is A Walmart Marketplace Seller?
Walmart Marketplace sellers are trusted, vetted third-party sellers who have been approved by Walmart to bring their quality items to Walmart.com.
Sellers control their inventory, price points, delivery, and customer service; the Walmart Marketplace is simply a platform for reaching millions of shoppers (similar to Amazon’s third-party marketplaces).
Is It Hard To Become A Walmart Seller?
According to a few sources, becoming a Walmart seller is on par with becoming an Amazon seller.
Zentail thinks it’s more difficult, and it does appear that Walmart is a bit choosier about who they let onto their Marketplace.
Some of their key qualifications include the following:
- An established online sales presence and experience running an e-commerce shop
- High-quality items that “enhance” the Marketplace’s product offerings
- A history of positive customer service and care
So if you are a total newbie to e-commerce and this is your first foray into it, the Walmart Marketplace might not be the best place to start.
For a closer look into the rather stringent requirements Walmart looks for in Marketplace sellers, check out this article.
How Do You Become A Seller On The Walmart Marketplace?
If you have a unique and high-quality product and a history of positive e-commerce experience, here’s how you can get started on the Walmart Marketplace.
To start your applications, you’ll need a U.S. business tax ID number, W9, W8, or EIN Verification Letter from the Dept. of Treasury, and some way of showing your successful history.
Walmart also requires a product catalog with prices and SKUs that they can view before approving you.
Have all the documents on hand? You can get started on this page.
How Long Does It Take To Get Approved To Sell On Walmart?
According to Tinuiti.com, it can take up to several months to be approved (or denied) as a seller. If you were hoping to make a quick buck, you might want to try a different avenue.
Walmart really appears to want only serious, professional sellers on their Marketplace.
If you do get approved, however, get ready to hit the ground running. You’ll have to start signing documents and onboarding your stock.
That could take up to four more weeks before you’re fully open for business on the Marketplace.
What Does Walmart Charge To Sell?
One major advantage to selling on Walmart’s Marketplace is that there is no start-up fee or monthly seller fee.
Instead, Walmart takes what it calls a “referral fee” every time an item sells.
The fee is a percentage of the price, and it varies by the type of item (e.g., electronics, apparel, etc.), but it tends to hover around 15 percent.
Can You Sell Used Items On Walmart Marketplace?
Unlike eBay, you cannot sell used or secondhand items on Walmart Marketplace.
According to SellerActive.com, used items are prohibited, and “all products sold on must have UPC codes.”
Some refurbished items are permitted, but you would have to check with Walmart to ensure that your items fall under that category.
Can You Sell Handmade Items On Walmart Marketplace?
The Walmart Marketplace does not allow sales of handmade items. Additionally, vintage items that you might have thrifted are also not allowed.
A better site for selling your homemade and vintage goods is Etsy.
Does Walmart Take Returns From Third-Party Sellers?
Walmart merely provides the platform from which sellers can gain exposure to millions of shoppers.
The rest – stock, pricing, shipping, customer service, and, yes, returns – is up to the seller (unless you are participating in Walmart Fulfillment Services).
Walmart is not responsible for handling any returns your shop might have. That is part of customer service aftercare.
You do get to set some terms for returns, but all sellers must adhere to the Marketplace’s general rules:
- 30 days minimum return period
- The return period begins 7 days after the items have shipped
There are a few caveats and exceptions, of course. You can view the Marketplace’s full standard returns policy here.
Why Did Your Walmart Seller Account Get Suspended?
Marketplace accounts can get suspended for a number of reasons. Some of the most common include:
- Performance standards were not met – e.g., your cancellation rate or return rates were too high, for example
- You broke the Marketplace Retailer Agreement – e.g., perhaps you sold something forbidden
- Provided poor shop operations – e.g., a misleading product description, being disrespectful to a customer
- Violated trust and/or safety standards – e.g., selling items that have been discontinued or recalled
To learn more about shopping at Walmart, you can also read our related posts on the Walmart Marketplace return policy, who does Walmart uses for shipping, and our guide on Walmart Pay.
Conclusion
Selling on Walmart’s Marketplace as a reseller comes with great responsibility once you’re approved, but with millions of unique visitors to the site each month, it’s a golden opportunity.
If you are an established ecommerce seller of goods with a proven track record of exceptional customer service, the Marketplace might help you grow your business.
